50 Books Challenge 2022 Part Five

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fifth thread of the 50 Books 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, it’s not too late to join, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

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

What are you reading?

As usual I have come to the thread to add a review but ended up adding one to the wishlist! @CornishLizard I think Original Sin sounds right up my street growing up in a Christian house but no longer attending church.

38. Let my people go surfing by Yvon Chouinard
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This is the guy who started Patagonia, well known for being an environmentally friendly company with flexible working and welcoming to families.

In one sense I didn't learn much new. I was already familiar with their childcare facilities and the idea you could go and hang out with your kid between meetings. I wasn't surprised their canteen sells organic food and I knew they donated cash to causes.

Despite some flaws, it's still a good reminder to try and be a conscious consumer. Our manufacturing and farming practices are damaging our world and much needs to change. Chouinards thinking is that much of the responsibility lies with us, the consumer and that we should buy less and demand better standard from what we do buy. Written/updated a few years ago, I do think we've moved on a bit from here, consumers have been clear we'd like more environmentally friendly products and this has just led to more greenwashing. And as much as we ordinary people can consider dropping a flight a year, the super rich are carrying on with weekly private flights making a bit of a mockery of my angst about a week in Spain.

My takeaway action, is that I am going to try and buy from B Corp businesses (so there is a proven level of sustainability) as much as possible. However I acknowledge some privilege in that. I don't have kids, so I do have time to research, and I earn an ok wage, so I can pay the higher prices charged.

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Loved them both!

Still ploughing through hundreds of Jeeves & Wooster fun at the moment.

The big question is - do I want to read the new Galbraith? And if I do, do I want to enough to spend £13 on it? Because the search thing is so flipping stupid I can't remember my final feelings on the last one - was it the one where it fell to pieces at the end and the revelation of whodunnit was really stupid? Trying to avoid spoilers!

Just checked on Wikipedia - yes, that's the one. I liked a big chunk of it, but hated the revelation, which (to me) was ridiculous.

I think I may be an outlier remus . I cannot bear the Strike books.

I have very mixed feelings about them, Piggy. I've hated a couple of them, tolerated a couple and quite liked a couple bar the endings (which I've mostly really disliked). But I still want to know what's going to happen between Strike and Robin!

The Beatles - All These Years: Volume One: Tune in - Mark Lewisohn

This covers the childhoods and early years of The Beatles ending on New Years Eve 1962 with Love Me Do in the charts and the band on the brink of Beatlemania. It’s meticulously researched, full of facts and tries to separate truth from myth. It’s fascinating, well written and very easy to read but at a whopping 1340 pages I guess it’s one for the fans I - I am one. I can’t wait for volume 2.

Next up, Strike.

I didn’t mind the end of the last Strike, I thought it was much better than the previous one which was a bit tedious. I’m also invested in Robyn and Strike’s relationship.

I'm afraid I never got far enough to get invested. I think I have read two. Also hated Casual Vacancy...

Was the previous one the horse one? I HATED it - so boring. I'd intended to stop the series after that one because it was so awful, but the let myself get drawn back in.

Not a strike fan, thought Cuckoos Calling was rubbish and didn't continue

I never bothered with Casual Vacancy - thought it sounded terrible.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie yes, the horse one. Zzzzz.

You were correct remus.

It was cringeworthily cliched (Casual Vacancy)

The horse one was rubbish but I loved the last one, I thought it wrapped up nicely and I was gripped through out. Although cuckoo remains my favourite by far.

this new one though - a penny a page why are editors so scared of her!

On your recommendation I have bought this. I am in the same boat as you, have been in France for 9 months & know I am staying here.

Thank you, you have prodded me into reading my first novel in French, which I know I need to do. Will also be my first since A-level & I suspect I did A-levels a lot longer ago than you.

@Palegreenstars It's annoying. Her books would be so much better with some sensible editing.

I enjoyed the very end of the last one (the Robin's birthday bit, if I remember correctly) but I juts thought the person 'whodunnit' was totally farcical. I liked the rest of it.

I think I'll read it, but not until it comes down in price.

Oh Best, so delighted there’s another Beatles fan! I absolutely loved this too, and I felt bereft when it was over, 1340 pages or not. I just have a horrible feeling it might take him about 30 years to write Vol 2.

Terpischore Yay!! It took me even longer than it should because I kept stopping to look up the photos and listen to all the music mentioned. I hope volume 2 arrives soon. A real labour of love I guess. I read it on kindle but I think a paper copy will be on my Christmas list.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie £6 maximum I’m willing to spend!

I've just picked up Still Life for 99p, can't remember if that's been mentioned before.

Is it first of the months we get new deals? Everything on my list is £5+ at the moment, so I won't be purchasing without some money off.

I picked up the paperback of Still Life second hand and after initially finding it a bit tough to get into I absolutely loved it. Gave it 5 stars on goodreads.

I’m jealous of people who have yet to read it.

@FortunaMajor and @GrannieMainland if you like a family saga and haven't yet read Anne Tyler's latest - French Braid - I really liked it.

@RazorstormUnicorn yes, it's the first of the month for the new crop of deals.That's my tomorrow morning taken care of!

22. Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know by Karl Shaw

A potted history of the very chequered exploits of the aristocracy, primarily covering the 18th and 19th Century. I felt it started well but petered out a bit and I will struggle to remember which Duke and which Lord did what within days I should think. It was just OK.