50 Book Challenge 2021 Part Eight

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the eighth (and probably final) 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, it’s not too late to and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.The lurkers among you are also very welcome to come out of the woodwork and share with us what you've read!

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

How have you got on this year?

LOL Cote when I scrolled down, I thought Oh Goody, Cote's going to rant

I consider Perfume one of the worst books I have read in the last decade

116. Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman I love The Antidote by the same author, exploring the paradoxes around 'positive thinking' and the benefits of the Stoic / Buddhist / other non-attachment approaches to life. The basic premise of his new book is that we have only a limited lifespan on earth, and that the general 21stC obsession with time management, productivity etc actually stands in the way of a fulfilling life.
     Burkeman is always an engaging writer, but I didn't really feel this added much to The Antidote. That maybe though because because worrying about time management isn't something that exercises me much (I"m only too well aware that things I might do but don't like painting my rebuit kitchen aren't because I 'don't have time' but because I don't like doing them!), and while I'm often busy at work the concrete nature of what I do (if you can describe horticulture as concrete, but YKWIM) makes it easier to focus. I suspect people with intangible jobs and small children might find it more helpful.

117. Homecoming Voices of the Windrush Generation by Colin Grant

Colin Grant interviewed a broad range of people who came to the UK (both as adults and children) from the Caribbean in the post WW2 period. This book is made up of excerpts from the interviews, plus some contemporary material eg from published interviews / diaries etc and also with experiences from the author's parents. Each chapter covers a different theme (arrival, work, home life etc).

I found this really interesting, and really good to hear people's own words. I did find it a shame that the excerpts were quite disconnected, and the large number of interviewees meant it was hard to get a sense of any individual person's life. Actually I'd have liked two books - this one to give the breadth of experiences, plus another that perhaps focused in on a smaller number of 'typical' people and looked at their lives in a more connected in depth way. I see that Colin Grant has written a couple of books about his own childhood, so I might try those as well.

Eine - "I consider Perfume one of the worst books I have read in the last decade "

That is surprising. In which respect? What did you not like about it in particular?

It reminded me of Lolita in many ways - innocence and beauty plundered by an unconscionable man, literary prose that beautifies the horror etc. Perfume was much more interesting and better written than Lolita, though.

"Oh Goody, Cote's going to rant"

I have had an unexpected run of good books lately, so I know everyone has missed my rants

@CoteDAzur

Eine - "I consider Perfume one of the worst books I have read in the last decade "

That is surprising. In which respect? What did you not like about it in particular?

It reminded me of Lolita in many ways - innocence and beauty plundered by an unconscionable man, literary prose that beautifies the horror etc. Perfume was much more interesting and better written than Lolita, though.

It was roughly 2012 when I read it so I would be a bit pressed to find my full displeasure

Without posting massive spoils, I remember I was particularly What The Fuckery about the end, which I thought was garbage

I thought the ending was quite apt and very much in character, considering who/what he is and what he strived towards.

This is not my review, but I just found someone's review on Amazon that I concur with

Seldom, if ever, have I read a more thoroughly unpleasant novel.
Its ludicrous plot and obnoxious characters are bad enough but, when taken together with the smug, self-satisfied prose, they become unbearable.
Give it a miss, if you value your short time on earth.

The 50 Book Thread has a new Contender in Love/Hate debates!

That person clearly has no taste

Otherwise, I would like to think that most of us do not read books because they are "pleasant", and will not be surprised when a fantasy story about someone with an extrasensory (suprasenory?) talent that doesn't exist isn't terribly realistic.

Again, some people don't know what they are missing when they insist that books be "pleasant and their characters "likable".

Sadik, interesting review of Burkeman. I'm envious of you as it sounds like you have a really good work/life balance. Time management is something I myself have never got on top of, so maybe his book would be good for me.

Perfume is clearly a marmite book, ha. I tried to read it years ago as a friend whose opinion I respect told me it was one of the best books he had ever read. But it was a DNF for me, I don't recall exactly why but my reaction was strong enough for me not to have any desire to give it another try.

How boring the world would be if we all loved the same books.

I love it when people totally disagree! And how one person's beautifully written is another's smug prose! It's like skinny jeans on style and beauty 🤣. How lucky we are to live in a world of such diversity.
120) 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie. A lovely Marple, which I may have read already this year, but I have covid, and now can't get back to England to see my son for Christmas, so feel appallingly sorry for myself. Any more cosy crime novel (ideally with searing insight into people's fallibilites and idiosyncrasies) recommendations gratefully received!

I LOVED Perfume.
Cote - this must make at least 5 novels that we agree on! :)

Oh Tanaqui that sucks.

Chouette - Claire Oshetsky
When Tiny gives birth to a broken owl-baby, her relationship with her husband changes while she fights for her broken daughter to be herself despite being different and no matter how much it upsets others around them.

This is one of the strangest books I have ever read and yet it was oddly compelling. It explores being a mother despite the many difficulties that are thrown in the way. There are moments of humour and some beautiful writing.

April in Spain - John Banville
Falling into two different series, the author takes two previous characters to Spain. The first to arrive, a pathologist, recognises a face from the past who he thought had been murdered. A call back to Ireland brings a police detective to look into things with a hitman hot on his heels as rumours spread that the previously believed dead woman might be living another life.

This has some beautiful writing and long descriptive passages but is v-e-r-y slow burning. It felt like far too many words, but not enough plot. It felt bit of a cross between Nothing but Blue Sky and Night Boat to Tangiers but could be the Irish connection, or even the narrator. I'm not sure it worked for me overall. I loved Snow by the same author which I read earlier this year, but this didn't live up to that.

@Tanaqui

I love it when people totally disagree! And how one person's beautifully written is another's smug prose! It's like skinny jeans on style and beauty 🤣. How lucky we are to live in a world of such diversity. 120) 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie. A lovely Marple, which I may have read already this year, but I have covid, and now can't get back to England to see my son for Christmas, so feel appallingly sorry for myself. Any more cosy crime novel (ideally with searing insight into people's fallibilites and idiosyncrasies) recommendations gratefully received!

Sorry, Tanaqui. Missed this. I'm so sorry, and hope you're not feeling too poorly.

Do any of the British Library crimes appeal?

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I felt the same way about the Patricia Lockwood. I could see what she was trying to do and why the Booker judges liked it but for me it didn't quite work. Maybe I don't spend enough time on Twitter to really get it.

Perfume on the other hand, I loved. In fact I may have to reread.

I never had any desire to read Perfume, and Richard E Grant didn't convince me (although he did make me want to read Dumas) but this thread is making me want to have an opinion.

@JaninaDuszejko He made me want to read all but the Ferrante (I have tried). I got really excited when he went to Chateau d'If. I loved every single minute of The Count of Monte Christo. I'm also slowly working my way through D'Artagnan Romances which are delightfully bonkers.

I loved Perfume
Yes, it was horrible and the protagonist irredeemably awful, but so beautifully and evocatively written. For me this is one of those rare books with the power to remain in one's consciousness long after reading.

FWIW I Don't require a character to be likeable to enjoy their story in a piece of fiction!

Remus - It's a Christmas miracle

53 The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

To add to the many reviews of this perfect Christmas book. I never read this as a child but wish I had. I've told all the DC they need to read it, it has such a lovely blend of the everyday and the magical. Loved it.

118. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Glamorous surf family the Rivas are hosting their annual star studded party, by the end of which Nina Riva's clifftop mansion will go up in flames. The book moves back & forth between an hour-by-hour account of the day of the party, and the early years of the siblings lives. I saw this was a DNF for Desdemona upthread, but I really enjoyed it as a fun very unseasonal light read. With everything going on in the world, celebrities, sunshine and surfing absolutely hit the spot.

I liked it too @Sadik

I think it might have been your review that sent me looking for it eine.
It absolutely hit the spot for me :)

I think I'm going to DNF the two other novels I've got on the go as being Just Too Much Right Now
Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker gets 10 out of 10 for prescience to the extent I thought it was a lockdown novel (it was actually published in 2019). It's set in a future where a combination of terrorism and a pandemic have left the US in a state of permanent lockdown with gatherings of over 30 people forbidden, intercity buses divided into family pods with floor to ceiling screens, and almost all social and work activity conducted through virtual reality 'hoodies' run by an Amazon-style monopoly corporation. 20 something Rosemary - too young to remember much about the Before - encounters Luce, one-time rock star and now organiser of underground gigs. Perfectly good novel but not for right now!
I also picked up 84K by Claire North in the library, yet more dystopia, yet again everything run by an Amazon-alike, including the penal system which has been reinvented as a route into indentured servitude. Also fine, also not for me right now. Fluffy recommendations much welcomed!

Thanks Fortuna and Remus. I will look up the British Library crimes!

121. Dull People at Christmas by Saki. I love Saki but this is not a good collection- the stories are just linked by being set around Christmas, and none of them are his best. 122 and 123) The Worst Thing about my Sister and Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson. Bit of easy reading- I like Wilson, but neither of these is as good as The Suitcase Kid. Kiss is interesting as aimed at teenagers and although I liked her Girls series, for the same she group, I didn't think the narrative voice worked here. It also very strongly felt to me like it should have been written by Anne Fine or Jean Ure, but I can't put my finger on why.
122. Charm School by Anne Fine. I love Anne Fine but this isn't one of my favourites, the language doesn't quite ring true for me, and the message is heavier handed than in Bill's New Frock. Annoyingly the library doesn't have my favourites, but I guess they are old now , like me!

55. Wolves and Werewolves in History and Popular Culture - Shannon Scott

Was chuffed to bits when I found out a lot of Great Courses lecture series come free with Audible membership now! This one tries to cram far too many works of literature and pop culture into its 4.5 hour run time, but it’s all fascinating stuff (if you’re into history, folklore and/or the gothic genre). New to me and most interesting was the section on werewolves in medieval romances, where the werewolves are typically the good guys, courtly knights tricked into wolf form by malevolent womenfolk, who are restored to their human shape and rightful place in society at the end.