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?

104. The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

I’ve seen this book mentioned quite a few times on mumsnet so when I saw it in the kindle deals I thought I’d give it a go. The idea that the author puts forward is that the ability to decode the behaviour of others, to predict whether they will do us harm, is innate but we (particularly women) have been conditioned not to act upon this information for fear of seeming irrational or rude.

I found the real life examples, where he broke down the warning signs and how to interpret them, more interesting than the theory, but I’d like to have seen more info on how to react to these danger signs, the advice is pretty much “obey your instincts” for every scenario.

Some of the sections weren’t that relevant to the UK (workplace violence) and I definitely didn’t agree with everything the author said by any means (“I believe that the first time a woman is hit, she is a victim and the second time, she is a volunteer”) but there are some lessons I’ll take from this book, and for that reason I am glad I read it.

105. Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

During an experiment at CERN everyone on earth blacks out for two mins and during that time they are able to see what they’ll be doing 20 years in the future. This leads to the examination of some interesting ideas. Is the future set or can it be changed? Do people have free will? How does knowledge of the future shape the decisions people make now? What about those who did not have a vision? I read this book years ago and absolutely loved it so was looking forward to a reread. I don’t know what I was thinking. Despite the intriguing premise the story was unrealistic and so badly written and I didn't enjoy it at all.

MamaNewt I accidentally requested and started listening to the abridged audio version of that from the library a few weeks ago. After hearing the victim/volunteer section on domestic violence I cancelled my reservation for the full verson. I was furious.

I'd heard people raving how good it was and I think he had some good points about social conditioning, but I now have no respect for the author.

I was outraged by that statement and almost stopped reading at that point. It was an an awful statement and I can understand your reaction. I took enough from it that overall I am glad I finished it, but I must admit I feel a bit grubby for thinking that.

I've got a couple of questions:

Has anyone read any Stewart O'Nan and can recommend? I've read Last Night At The Lobster which I loved and am keen to try some of his other books

Also, what's the score with Nevile Shute? I have a couple of his things on my wishlist but if his books are generally rubbish I might rethink that

I got the impression that opinion was divided on Nevil Shute but I read The Pied Piper earlier this year. Here is my review in case it helps:

During the early stages of the Second World War John Howard takes a holiday to France to help him to overcome a recent loss. As the Germans advance through France he finally realises he shoud get the hell out of Dodge (with the benefit of hindsight I felt like it took him a ridiculously long time to get this) and this book is the description of his attempt to reach the safety of England, along with an assortment of children. Although we know Howard survives, as the book begins with him telling his story to a fellow club member, I did find that there was a certain amount of tension as the fate of the other characters was not clear from the outset. I loved the main character who came across as very realistic as a thoroughly decent, old school, kindly British gentleman. This was a really enjoyable read that managed to convey the impact of war on civilians without descending into mawkishness or sensationalism- the focus on the loneliness of old age, as well as the frailties of young and old were also beautifully drawn.

Here's my review of On The Beach (on the 2020 thread):

On The Beach by Nevil Shute. Set in Australia, the northern hemisphere has been laid to waste in a nuclear war and the southern hemisphere is waiting for the same to happen as the radiation gradually spreads south. While I have to agree with the critics questioning whether the characters would realistically behave like this (planting gardens they know will never come to fruition etc), I still really enjoyed reading this.

@InTheCludgie I like what I've read of Stewart O'Nan, which is admittedly not much. Like you, I really enjoyed Last Night at the Lobster, and I've also read and loved Wish You Were Here. It's a recognisable kind of American story, I suppose - a family (older mother, grown-up kids and their children) go to spend the summer at their holiday cabin. But it's going to be for the last time, because the father has died and the mother, Alice, thinks she's going to sell it. There's a very poignant feel about it, but it's spiky and funny as well. I like this kind of thing anyway - families in conflict - but I think he did it well. Alice is a complex, not that likeable character, but very interesting.

There's a sequel to it called Alice, Alone which I haven't tackled. I do also have his fictionalised F Scott Fitzgerald novel, West of Sunset, but similarly, haven't got round to it yet. He's written loads more, I see.

Ha ha.....just checked and the mother's called Emily, not Alice. So the sequel's called Emily, Alone - I promise I did read the first book and it did make a good impression on me! That'll serve me right for not making sure of my facts before I posted

I read A Town Like Alice a few years ago and thought the casual racism was grim, even making allowances for it being "of its time" it spoiled any enjoyment it may have had.

I loved Nevile Shute' Requiem for a Wren - really interesting portrayal of a female character.

I can't stand Requiem for a Wren with the massive Freudian plot line that J must have someone to look after or she'll go a bit crazy. And yy to the raw racism in A Town Like Alice, and The Chequerboard, tbh all of them. I still read them though.

Thank you for all the kind thoughts. I loved Shute's Trustee from the Toolroom, such a comforting read.

I can't remember racism in Alice - it's one of my very favourite books and I've read it many rimes.
Trustee from the Toolroom is just gorgeous.
I was a bit bored by Wren..
Loved Piper

121. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters Follows thirty-something New Yorkers Reese, her ex-partner Ames (previously Amy), and Ames' boss Katrina. I found this a quick and engaging read, but I really wanted to read the story of the three protagonists from the perspective of their older selves - it did feel very caught up in that urban-early-thirty-something vibe (the reason I've avoided Sally Rooney's books).

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie lots of racist language eg "bloody boongs" / "Abos" and the Aboriginal characters are depicted about on the same level as the farm animals.

Agree about Piper and Trustee and also No Highway is one of my favourites. But Alice - the whole reason given that it's such a good thing that Jean does what she does with her money is that one of the station owners has married an Aboriginal girl. This is presented as an appalling tragedy, that this intelligent man has married so far beneath him! That's why bringing white girls to the area is so crucial. I find it fascinating to see the White Australia policy presented in fiction, its an amazing document of its time, but it's revolting as well. I still read it because as a story it has incredible force .

Christmas books received, only the Peanuts one was a surprise but I loved that! Also had £50 voucher for Kindle books too.

Currently need to finish A Christmas Carol as I was too tired to finish pre Christmas 😩

Have completed 36 books to date, so chuffed after managing a paltry 8 in 2020!

I must’ve missed it. Horrible but I still love the story.

36. The Manningtree Witches by AK Blakemore
Essex, 1643. Many village menfolk have disappeared to fight in the civil war leaving the community in poverty. A group of women are scapegoated for the high levels of sickness and death that follow, and tried as witches.

Based largely on records from witch trials of the time, this was an old story retold very well from the perspective of one of the younger accused women. Menacing and dark, poetically written and moving.

I must add that this book sleeve had some of the most unappealing "recommendations" I've read, including something along the lines of "Fleabag meets Hilary Mantel". It very much isn't that, thank goodness.

Thanks everyone for your input on Nevil Shute's books. Trustee From The Toolroom sounds intriguing! Terpischore my local library doesn't stock any Stewart O'Nan at all so I think I'll be dropping hints to DH for ideas for my upcoming birthday, thanks for that

22. On earth we're briefly gorgeous - Ocean Vuong Debut novel. A son writes a letter to his mother, who is unable to read. Raw.

Off in search of a light and fluffy read for the end of the year (still plodding on with Little Dorrit of course!)

I'm reading a Marian Keyes book at the moment, Grown Ups, and I enjoyed The Break last year. I've read most of her books as they came out but there are a couple that I somehow never got round to reading and haven't gone back, possibly to do with the odd year when I read less, like those when my children were born. I'm looking forward to the new Rachel book too. I also enjoy a number of other authors whose work I would call chicklit or henlit - a lot of the original chicklit writers are now in their 40s and 50s and write about women who are only slightly younger than them/me. What does bug me is when the work of writers like Matt Haig and David Nicholls gets treated more seriously because it's by men. There's nothing necessarily wrong with the books themselves, though I don't think they're nearly as good as the best writers and books in a similar contemporary popular fiction vein. I also like historical fiction, including crime, family sagas and books set before, during and after WWII, and books which combine one or more of those elements.

I have been a member of a crime fiction discussion group which still has email list based discussions of several crime novels a month for other 20 years. I think I abandoned trying to join group reads towards the end of 2006 when I was pregnant with DS1, but I've been in various reading groups since, but that was just because it didn't suit me at that particular moment. The discussions were quite thoughtful and high quality, and at one time I was reading emails on lots of groups that claimed to have group reads but whose discussions left something to be desired.

My more recent bookgroups have read across several genres but generally literary books have worked better. The library based one is reliant on what the library service will buy a few copies of.or already has reading group sets.

And thanks for the 12 days of Christmas Kindle deals link. I had already found some of them but I spotted a few more books that I'd been after and others that were tempting.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics is also among the 12 Days Of Kindle deals. It cuts through the heart of the fundamental problems that cause tension in each region. Great read.

@FortunaMajor your Christmas present promises sound amazing! What a fabulous idea