50 Book Challenge 2021 Part Six

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2021, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read. Could everyone embolden their titles and/or authors as well, please, as it makes the books talked about easier to track?

The first thread of the year is here, the second one here, the third one here, the fourth one here and the fifth one here.

So, we're now almost half way through the year - how's the first half of the year gone for you, reading-wise?

26. Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman (Part 3 only): I’m claiming this one, after a few DNFs, as it was the final section that I’d heard particularly recommended. The book is a memoir written in the early 80s by a Hollywood screenwriter with a final section that worked as a standalone. It starts with a short story and takes you through Goldman’s thought process as he considers how he would adapt it to a screenplay. Once he has a draft, he passes it to other film professionals (designer, director, cinematographer, editor) to get their views on the material and his adaptation. I’m not a film buff but was intrigued by the idea and found reading it really interesting.

I’ve had such a poor year so far, only one stand out.

The Chiffon Trenches - André Leon Talley. The PR team at 4th Estate did a fabulous job promoting this as a tell-all memoir on Vogue and Anna Wintour when actually this is a tame and tedious book with lots of boring detail about who wore what and how they looked. André is clearly very lonely and the book would have been much more interesting if he'd been more open about this and his relationship with Wintour. Very poor.

Just Like You - Nick Hornby. This is an easy read set in his usual milieu of north London and against the 2016 backdrop of Brexit, about the relationship between a 42 year old white woman and a 22 year old black man. As much as I enjoyed his observations, such as the many microaggressions that are experienced, I just didn't believe in the relationship and I think he was a bit out of his depth with this story and characters.

Self-Contained: Scenes From My Single Life - Emma John. Non-fiction kind of memoir mostly about how she feels and how other react to, her singledom. I like her writing and there was much to identify about being perennially single, mainly the awkwardness you can feel with married couples and vice versa, but I felt she was defensive many times and I was left wanting.

@ChessieFL have you read A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson? Charmian Clift is one of the main characters in it. I'm possibly, hopefully, off to Greece this summer (although not Hydra) so may try the Charmian Clift book.

I'm slogging through Shuggie Bain. I'm finding it quite hard reading as it's so relentlessly grim. I don't feel like I can read too much of it at a time.

I haven’t heard of that Stokey, will look it up! Thanks.

Not keeping up with the thread very well, as life is getting in the way a bit.

Nearly finished this which I'm enjoying, but am so tired and keep falling asleep half way through a chapter!

79. She Said by Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey

This covers much the same ground as Ronan Farrow's Catch And Kill but I found it quite the slog as I just thought the latter was much better written.

Particularly I found the way in which the authors refer to themselves in the third person really weird and jarring

"Jodi and Meghan got a taxi"

"Jodi and Meghan were really exhausted"

The prose felt strangely simplistic in that way.

Still, an important account

Hope life isn't getting in the way in a negative sense Remus, if needed!

62. Somewhere beneath these waves by Sarah Monette. Short story collection. I like this author very much, though short stories in general are not my thing. These are Lovecraftian, somewhere in the fantasy/horror/sf nexus. Some are like poems, others feel like the outlines for untold novels. I enjoyed, but probably not for everyone.

Hope all is ok Remus. That does look interesting, will investigate.

I am well and truly stuck into the Sandhamn murders - just finished book 6. Perfect easy reading, certainly nothing challenging. I do wonder how Nora manages to get involved every time and how a tiny Swedish island averages more murders than either Jersey or Midsummer and people keep going there.

Exactly, Best, in the one I've just finished they keep protesting that the population's only about 120 and everyone knows everyone and is lovely so how could there POSSIBLY be a murder? Cue decades of seething family feuds and hidden tensions leading to....yep, murder

Loving this thread. I've been lurking for months, inspired to get back into reading after a couple of years in the wilderness. Here's my list so far.

1. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
2. Dear Girls by Ali Wong
3. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
4. Girl A by Abigail Dean
5. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay
6. People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd
7. And What Do You Do? by Norman Baker
8. Quite by Claudia Winkleman
9. One to Watch by Kate Staman-London

10. Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession 11. Billion Dollar Kiss by Jeffrey Stepakoff 12. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 13. Smile or Die by Barbara Ehrenreich 14. Ramble Book by Adam Buxton 15. Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney 16. Eat a Peach by David Chang 17. Little Me by Matt Lucas 18. The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish 19. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu 20. Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener 21. Notes to Self by Emily Pine 22. Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Givens 23. Those People by Louise Candlish 24. Olive by Emma Gannon 25. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 26. Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth 27. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell 28. The Hungover Games by Sophie Haywood 29. Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham 30. I'll Have What She's Having by Erin Carlson 31. Milk Fed by Melissa Broader 32. Untamed by Glennon Doyle 33. Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky 34. Conversations with my Agent by Rob Long 35. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid 36. Character Breakdown by Zawe Ashton

Welcome to the 50 bookers Arton

I've read a few books and not got round to reviewing so here's a few quickies:

25. <strong>Shuggie Bain</strong> by Douglas Stuart lots of people on the thread have read this fictional misery memoir about the gay son of an alcoholic mother and abusive father and their wider families. It's described as being, not strictly speaking autobiographical, but based on the writers experiences. It was a visceral read, the first time I picked it up was in the depth of Winter and I couldn't get very far as I found it was too depressing. I'm glad I persevered it's a book that will stay with me, possibly a highlight of the year. Certainly memorable.

26. <strong>Things In Jars</strong> by Jess Kidd This is my third Jess Kidd and she has the same themes running through all her books, most noticeably a supernatural element. All three that I have read have had a ghost or several in the mix. I enjoyed this more than <strong>Himself</strong> but not quite as much as <strong>The Hoarder</strong> by the same author. 

27. <strong>The Last Painting Of Sarah de Vos</strong> by Dominic Smith Told in three time lines from three different perspectives this deals with an original painting by a little known Dutch female artist, the art restorer who forged the painting and the man who owns both the original and later the copy. It was nicely done but it didn't set me alight. 

28. <strong>Stasiland</strong> by Anna Funder interesting non fiction account of the injustices suffered by the East German people under the former East German ministry of state security, or Stasi. 

29. <strong>The Bell Jar</strong> by Sylvia Plath introspective, almost stream of consciousness, style novel about a self assured, intelligent young woman's breakdown and antiquated treatment for mental health issues. I'm glad I read it because I know it's considered a classic but it didn't really float my boat. 

30. <strong>Year Of Wonders</strong> by Geraldine Brooks can only agree with other reviewers who have said this fictionalised account of a village, based on Eyam, that cuts itself off from the rest of the country to contain the plague that is ripping through its population is 90% of a fantastic book. The final 10% becomes a different book entirely. It feels like it's been handed to a different author to finish up! However don't let that put you off it's definitely worth reading and if it weren't for the disappointing ending I'm sure it would have been a highlight of the year. 

31. <strong>All The Lonely People</strong> by Mike Gayle a fluffy, feel good novel about a Windrush generation West Indian man in his 80's who finds himself having to find a group of friends and create a social life from ground zero before his daughter comes home from Australia and discovers how desperately lonely he really is. It reminded me of <strong>A Man Called Ove</strong> and had some echos of Evaristo's <strong>Mr Loverman</strong>. I listened to this on Audible and felt the West Indian accent was uncomfortably over done for comedic effect, perhaps this wasn't an issue on the printed page.

I'm now listening to Moon Tiger and I'm about to start reading Small Pleasures on Kindle.

@BestIsWest

Hope all is ok Remus. That does look interesting, will investigate.

I am well and truly stuck into the Sandhamn murders - just finished book 6. Perfect easy reading, certainly nothing challenging. I do wonder how Nora manages to get involved every time and how a tiny Swedish island averages more murders than either Jersey or Midsummer and people keep going there.

Thanks, Best.

Everything is fine - I'm just busy with work.

I finished Sleeping Beauties last night. It was an interesting read on the whole, although a bit repetitive and a bit more centred on the author than I was interested in.

I'd wait until it comes out in paperback, if you're going to get it!

Hello all and long time no see!

My book reading fell off a cliff at the end of April as I started a new job which has been extremely busy. I've also started studying for a professional qualification... And been rewatching The Wire all the way through. So having had a strong start to the year, I'm a bit behind with my reading. And still not finished David Copperfield...

I have finished another book though!

19. Somebody's Husband, Somebody's Son - Gordon Burn An unsentimental yet humane and compelling account of the life, crimes and trial of Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper. Shocking not just in the hideous crimes but also the massive fuck-ups made by the police and the terrible way in which sex workers' lives were seen as less valuable than his "innocent" victims.

30. Needful Things by Stephen King

Very typical average King. Great place setting (Castle Rock again) and lots of back story about too many characters.

I loved the early part of the book as the mystery begins and builds but as is often the case it gets quite silly as you cross the halfway point of the book.

It was a long read and I didn't really feel inspired to pick it up.

Just a quick check-in to keep this on my tbr. Having a bit of a better reading run, but need to catch up on list/reviews

Welcome @Artonthefridge

Have the 99ps been updated yet? Anyone had a look? I'm blocking myself from even opening Amazon until I've finished the work I need to do today.

I've been watching Sandhamn on Prime, though I've currently finishing the last series of The Americans. I wish that were a book!

@SOLINVICTUS I got Gilead which I know nothing about really, but have heard good things. I also got The Ikabog.

Turning up for the traditional lament on how much rubbish there is on the Kindle Deals. Small Pleasures is on there, for anyone who missed it before. Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym is also there. Otherwise, not much to get excited about.

64. In Control, by Jane Monckton-Smith
Non-fiction about controlling men, particularly those who end up killing their partners. The author is an academic and works with bereaved family and the criminal justice system, so she knows what she is talking about and makes some important points about how we let down the (mainly but not exclusively) female victims. She's very good at capturing the self-justifications of perpetrators, and their sense of victimhood and entitlement.

Currently on Nomadland, by Jessica Bruder and enjoying it - she does a good job of capturing the mixture of desperation and hardship along with the optimism and fellowship.

I've spotted Learning to Swim - Claire Chambers and This Must Be The Place - Maggie O Farrell but nothing else this time.

47. Inside Broadmoor - Jonathan Levi

I had high hopes for this book, so maybe that in itself meant it couldn't live up to expectations.

I haven't seen the TV series it references a lot. It talks about what is said in it, so I found the continuous mentioning of it rather annoying and needless. If you're going to mention what is said in it, and then put it in the book i'm reading, then why mention that? Just write about it, we don't need to know where else it's mentioned.

I found out things I didn't know previously and had my attitude/beliefs about the hospital challenged. It WAS interesting, fascinating even, and gave an insight into how the 'monsters' among us are treated. The nurses/doctors/guards at Broadmoor constantly put themselves at risk simply by working with the patients. It gave me a new found respect for them, but also made me wonder how on earth the doing good/helping inmates, can be outweighed by the risk that is often mentioned or stories told of a staff members being attacked.

I am aware that a lot of reviews stated that there was a lot of repetition but I didn't find that there was much. There is also criticism of the writing style, it's not something that jumped out at me, but addressing the 'issue', maybe this is to make it easily accessible to anyone who wants to read it?

If you're into this type of thing, i'd recommend reading it, the detail and research (assuming it is correct), is obvious.

The World I fell out of by Melanie Reid is a 99p deal.

Well reviewed here.

I've picked up some crime procedurals. An Ann Cleeves I haven't got and a Reginald Hill I read years ago. Also got Small Pleasures.
I see it's the usual mash up of swirly navy "spooky" gothic, Little Cupcakes in Cornwall, People Going Up Stairs With Their Backs Turned Looking Like They're About To Be Impregnated By Aliens (but as the book is "the most unputdownable thriller "I stayed up all night!" of the year!" you know they're going to come to a sticky end, The Checkout Assistant's Nephew, and those utterly weird half naked men 50 Shades rip-offs.
I love the first of the month.

32. Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively I didn't know much about Moon Tiger prior to buying it on an Audible two for one deal, except for the fact it was a Booker winner. Its protagonist is an irascible old woman, Claudia Hampton, who recalls her life story as she lies dying. Many of the scenes she describes are replayed through the perspectives of those interacting with her, giving an interesting dimension to the narrative. I think it's one of those books I'll appreciate more in retrospect than I did during the reading of it, this slightly spoilery review from the Guardian sums it up far better than I ever could.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/mar/19/booker-club-moon-tiger?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves is first in her new series, with the second due in a few months. I really enjoyed it last year.. Think it's popped up with the 99ps again.

I have bought quite a few, including some mentioned, plus The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and The Book of Echoes.

Yesterday I picked up an outrageous number of library reservations, and have since discovered that there is one still at the library. Islington Libraries stick them all in paper bags and issue them to you when they become available and have been through quarantine, with an extra week to the return date and one to collect, at the moment. Free reservations (as before pandemic) and, currently, still not fining me. But I have more out than I know what to do with, and still keep logging in to see if they have books yet, or have them on order yet! For now I'm mostly reading what others are waiting for first in due date order, and hoping to be able to return a couple next week. They seem to have totally lifted lending limits temporarily, which is very dangerous with someone as greedy as me for shiny new library books. If they go back to normal restrictions and fines I will just have to return a lot of stuff and make a list of what I've returned to rejoin the queue or request books again.