50 Book Challenge 2022 Part One

[southeastdweller]

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

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2022, 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.

If possible, please can you embolden your titles and maybe authors as well of books you've read or going to read? It makes it much easier to keep track, especially when the threads move quickly at this time of the year.

Who's in for this year?

Oh sorry, that was to @MouseTheDog!

5: Will She Do? - Eileen Atkins

south reviewed this at the end of the previous thread and I think I enjoyed it a bit more. Eileen grew up in a working-class family in Tottenham in the 1930s with a controlling mother hellbent on making her a child into a dancing star, but Eileen fell in love with acting instead thanks to an inspirational school-teacher. After a rather chequered early career she eventually had her first major hit in 'The Killing of Sister George' in the 1960s, which is where the narrative ends.

There's nothing especially hard-hitting about this book but I enjoy a good bit of theatrical gossip and there's plenty of it here - and I did find it extremely touching to read Eileen's portrayal of her very poor background and the many frustrations (and humiliations) it caused her, not just in her childhood but well into adult life.

Hello, may I join you all.

I have just finished my first book.

Mrs England by Stacey Halls.
I enjoyed this book, and it seemed familiar then I realised that I had previously read The Foundling by the same author. I wouldn't say there were any unexpected twists or mysteries but all the same I did enjoy it.

I'm looking forward to getting lots of recommendations for new reads by following this group.

DNF - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (audiobook)

YA novel. New York Times bestseller.
"Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction--if they don't kill each other first."

Found it really dull. Listened for the first 30 minutes and wasn't hooked so turned it off. Didn't connect with the characters, the world or the story. Nothing happened to make me want to keep paying attention.

3 - The Body - A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson (audiobook)

Non-fiction book about human bodies, told from head to toe.

A fascinating overview of our bodies in layman's terms which doesn't 'talk down' to the reader. Some really interesting tidbits of information. What I found most interesting is how much is still unknown! Particularly loved the sections on skin, sleep and the senses. Really enjoyed the way the writer highlighted important figures in the history of medicine and anatomy while sharing some 'gossip' about their personal lives. E.g. the man who discovered early mastectomies was a cocaine addict.

I did find it very long and repetitive in its format and I became a little bored at some points in the last quarter of the book. Just felt like I couldn't absorb anymore dates or names by that point. He was also repeating a lot of information he'd already said at other points through the book.

Overall, really enjoyed this. I would give it 4/5. Doubt it will ever be a re-read for me which is what I reserve my 5 stars for

1: Finished A literary Christmas, an anthology from the British Library, love this one for an annual reread over advent/christmas/new year.

2: Read A christmas carol in one sitting on a train journey; another one I read every year, slightly later than usual, but so was the rewatch of the Muppet christmas carol that goes with it

3: The Guinness Girls, a hint of scandal: one that I got for Christmas and really enjoyed, lots of family drama, but they were really well connected and led to lots of wikipedia rabbit holes about the family, the Mitfords, the thirties etc. Now I'll have to find the first one, as this is a sequal (though not at all necessary to read in order)

4: Listened to the audiobook of The Year of Less in a pique of new year resolutions. I didn't particularly enjoy this, it was quite repetetive and just not that interesting.

Currently reading Swell, a waterbiography and have a pile of books from Christmas, plus several Amazon vouchers which are likely to become books, two one4alls and brilliantly a voucher for a Book Spa So while I had grand notions of reading all the books I own but haven't read, it does seem like new books are in my future as well.

Snow by John Banville
I liked this, but didn't love it. Definitely a bit overblown, and I guessed most of the twists because they were pretty clearly signposted. A few diversions (detective has a woman throw herself at him, murder victim given a few pages of first person narrative to explain himself) were pretty much pointless. However, it was better written than the average modern whodunnit, and I'd probably read others by him, although I could happily live without any more literary men of the cloth and their members.

Overall, really enjoyed this. I would give it 4/5. Doubt it will ever be a re-read for me which is what I reserve my 5 stars for grin

Almost everything decent I read gets 3 stars because I am stingy and strict with my ratings.

5* there are 16 books on this list ever
4* are for books I loved, absolutely loved
3* I liked them, something about them
2 meh, often because it can’t quite fit 1
1* utterly dire that I got absolutely nothing from

@StColumbofNavron are your 16 5* reads replaceable or is it not possible to add to that list?

@StColumbofNavron

Overall, really enjoyed this. I would give it 4/5. Doubt it will ever be a re-read for me which is what I reserve my 5 stars for grin

Almost everything decent I read gets 3 stars because I am stingy and strict with my ratings.

5* there are 16 books on this list ever
4* are for books I loved, absolutely loved
3* I liked them, something about them
2 meh, often because it can’t quite fit 1
1* utterly dire that I got absolutely nothing from

It's so funny seeing other people's criteria for their star ratings and just how subjective the whole thing is

Mine goes like this:-

1* - DNF. Awful. Couldn't finish.
2* - Really bad but there was at least one redeeming feature that made me keep fighting to the bitter end and finish it.
3* - Average/okay. Nothing great and nothing bad.
4* - Really good but wouldn't re-read. Would pass on the book to someone else rather than keep it.
5* - Brilliant. Definitely will re-read at some point. Maintains its place on my bookshelf forever more.

1. The only plane in the sky - Garrett M Graff

I picked this one up from the recommendations on last years thread. It’s a collection of people’s stories from 9/11. It is a really good read, though naturally harrowing. I did find it hard to put down.

6. A Bit of a Stretch - Chris Atkins
I know others have read this, so I’ll try to be brief. Documentary maker’s diary from his time in HMP Wandsworth, after being convicted of tax fraud. Prison in the U.K. turns out to be even more bloody horrible than you might imagine. Very readable; unanswerable case for sweeping reform.

@Palegreenstars I do have the Josh Widdicombe book on my kindle ready to read shortly!

My rating criteria is:
5 stars - really loved it, fabulous
4 stars - really enjoyed it
3 stars - it was fine, liked it but nothing special
2 stars - bit disappointing, not really keen
1 star - very disappointed, didn’t like it

I don’t rate DNFs (because I don’t count them as ‘read’ on Goodreads). Most of what I read gets 3 or 4 stars, quite rare something gets a 5. Also quite rare something gets a 1 or 2 - this is because I tend to read things I’m fairly sure I will like and if I don’t it’s often a DNF. This does show that it’s hard to gauge by a rating what someone really thought about a book as some are stricter than others!

DNF #2 - The Store by James Patterson (audiobook)

Futuristic story about an online retail giant who starts to control everybody’s lifestyle and destroy the book industry. Two resentful independent authors start to investigate the Store’s secrets and risk their lives to reveal them.

This was DIRE. Oh my goodness. It read like an R. L. Stein Goosebumps book. That is exactly the writing style I got from this. Except, I quite like Goosebumps books so this was not even up to Stein’s standards. It just didn’t seem like a novel written for anyone above the age of 13.

I thought the plot sounded interesting for me to see it through to the end but I gave up after a third of the way through. It just wasn’t getting better. Awful dialogue, boring characters, dreadful editing, ridiculous writing. I think if you’re the type of author who churns out multiple books a year like Patterson, the writing quality can be expected to suffer.

4 - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (JK Rowling) (audiobook)

A fictional reference book giving brief descriptions of creatures A-Z that exist in the Potter world.

I last read this when it was first published, so a very long time ago! The audiobook was a delight read by Eddie Redmayne and has got me excited for the third instalment of the films coming out in a few months.

I think that you need to be a huge fan of Potter and/or western mythology to enjoy this book. It’s really just a book of bonus material for fans who already have a good existing knowledge of the Potter world. I went into this biased as a huge Potter fan who loves Rowling’s writing for its imagination and humour and charm so I give this 4 stars. I don’t think anyone who doesn’t enjoy the Harry Potter books would like this.

1. On Hampstead Heath - Marika Cobbold

A newsdesk editor is bumped to the lifestyle section after her newspaper is bought out and restructured. When drunk and annoyed, she accidentally files a fake story that goes viral and has huge implications. This is a romance wrapped in a dark humoured look at dying print journalism, the changing press standards and the rise of online clickbait stories. Starts strongly, but peters out towards the end.

My 5 list is moveable and things can be added. My 4 is much more likely to denote my love and enjoyment though as I reserve the 5* for things I think are special. They are the books I think twice about recommending because people might not love them (obviously that is actually fine).

My list would go:
1 Appalling
2 Poor but with some redeeming features
3 Average; entertaining
4 A good, noteworthy read
5 Amazing and will stay with me

Nearly all my Goodread reviews are 3 stars.

[quote ChessieFL]@Palegreenstars I do have the Josh Widdicombe book on my kindle ready to read shortly!

My rating criteria is:
5 stars - really loved it, fabulous
4 stars - really enjoyed it
3 stars - it was fine, liked it but nothing special
2 stars - bit disappointing, not really keen
1 star - very disappointed, didn’t like it

I don’t rate DNFs (because I don’t count them as ‘read’ on Goodreads). Most of what I read gets 3 or 4 stars, quite rare something gets a 5. Also quite rare something gets a 1 or 2 - this is because I tend to read things I’m fairly sure I will like and if I don’t it’s often a DNF. This does show that it’s hard to gauge by a rating what someone really thought about a book as some are stricter than others![/quote]

This is also my rating scale and like you I don't rate DNFs on Goodreads as I haven't read them, but effectively they are 0s anyway.

I enjoyed Six of Crows but I read it in hard copy, and I think it was a bit slow to start. I bought it, and the sequel for my friend for Christmas so I think by my very newly developed (copied!) rating system this would make it 4*

[3] The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Borrowed this from the library based on a recommendation on another thread. It’s a fairytale with teeth. Set in Russia. Full of icicles, talking horses, the Frost King, sprites, goblins, zombies and (of course) a misfit heroine. The first book in a trilogy. Enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the second one. Probably a 3 for now but hoping the remaining books bump it up to a 4.

It's probably only me, but I love reading/hearing about people's DNFs. I know they don't count towards books read in the year, but I'm oddly fascinated by the books that are abandoned, and people's reasons for DNFing them. But with no judging or criticism for doing so, from me. It's interesting to see if they're books that I've also DNF'd or have perhaps enjoyed.

@SirSidneyRuffDiamond

My list would go: 1 Appalling 2 Poor but with some redeeming features 3 Average; entertaining 4 A good, noteworthy read 5 Amazing and will stay with me

Nearly all my Goodread reviews are 3 stars.

That would be mine too.

@LittleDiaries

It's probably only me, but I love reading/hearing about people's DNFs. I know they don't count towards books read in the year, but I'm oddly fascinated by the books that are abandoned, and people's reasons for DNFing them. But with no judging or criticism for doing so, from me. It's interesting to see if they're books that I've also DNF'd or have perhaps enjoyed.

I used to add them as a separate list at the end of my year's reads, but stopped when my numbers got higher. I'm a lot quicker to abandon books these days and will at times dump something quite far in.

We do still discuss them on here as it's worth doing.

LittleDiaries, agree with you that it's interesting to hear about DNFs and why they were abandoned, although I tend not to list them myself. There's a difference between reading a couple of pages and deciding it doesn't suit your mood (looking at you, Hamnet) and getting frustrated with it halfway through (looking at you, Ruins of Kasch).

1. A Place of Execution by Val McDermid

The investigation of a missing girl in 1963, Derbyshire, England.
I found this book totally absorbing. It is tense, close, atmospheric. The story is harrowing, but skilfully told. The characters are interesting and memorable.
It's the second book that I have read by McDermid and I will read another of hers later this year. Five stars.

I do really enjoy people’s reviews of the absolute stinkers There have been some memorable ones. Ken Follett springs to mind as prompting particularly fine write-ups.

Interested in hearing what lighter/ funnier/ comforting books people are reading or planning to?

I’ve started my number 4 10 Minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World which is about a prostitute in Instanbul and I can already tell will be quite harrowing in places. I’ve also started Love after Love which starts with an upsetting depiction of domestic violence, although the tone lightened as I listened on.

So Im planning ahead and think I’m going to need something light and cheering next - I got Bob Mortimer’s book for Christmas (I’m a bit in love with Bob) so probably that, but could do with other ideas to scatter through the year!