50 Books Challenge 2022 Part six

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth 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.

What are you reading?

I have been a bit rubbish about posting reviews so now catching up:

67. Anti-Social - Nick Pettigrew

Nick was an anti-social behaviour officer and writes about his experiences. I take my hat off to him as his job was incredibly tough. It’s relentless and he was constantly dealing with difficult (and sometimes, heartbreaking) circumstances (and often difficult people). Unsurprisingly, drugs and mental health issues feature prominently. An eye-opening read into which the author manages to inject some humour.

68. Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan

Much reviewed novella set in Ireland. I agree with a previous reviewer (sorry, can’t remember who) that it felt like it was set in an earlier period than the 1980s. Well-written.

69. Notes on a Scandal - Zoe Heller

Been meaning to read this for years. Barbara, a retired teacher, tells the story of her friend/colleague, Sheba, who engaged in a relationship with a pupil. Loved this.

70. London Rules - Mick Herron

Fifth in the series on the sidelines “slow horses” based at Slough House. The country is in crisis as terrorists work to a game plan. Can the “slow horses” save the day? Will they make things worse? Or are they responsible for it all? Another page turner once you can get over the revolting personal habits of Jackson Lamb!

I now need to catch up on everyone else’s posts.

I enjoyed Prep and remember reading American Wife just* *because it was by Sittenfeld. Despite thinking I wouldn't get on with the fictionalisation of a real person - it turned out I really enjoyed it. Havent read any of the more recent ones - might give them a go.

1. Small Things Like These - Clare Keegan

Nothing really to add to previous reviews.

1. Hungry - Grace Dent

A random choice that came up when browsing borrowbox. This is a memoir that focuses on food - Dent became a restaurant critic. I dont know why I chose it, I was only vaguely aware of who she is. I'm glad I did though. Grace & I are northerners of a similar age. Although that is about where the similarities end, so much of the childhood section resonated with me. The foods, the excitement when the big supermarkets first opened, the descriptions of school, the unfairness at brownies ... She has a great ear for dialogue. Despite my interest waning during her early career years (I have no interest in London media life) the final section packed an ununexpected emotional punch. Nostalgic without being twee.

Enjoyed Prep and Eligible, surprised to find her short stories to be pleasingly acerbic.

Popping in.
We've been doing university applications but have finished this week much to my relief.
Health wise it's not good news.
@PermanentTemporary I'm so sorry to hear about your DH.

Oh bett, sorry to hear that but glad you're still hanging out with us.

Sorry to hear that bett, very best wishes💐

@bettbburg Sorry to hear that.

Shit, Betts, thinking of you.

I hope you can rest and recharge a bit now, bett. Sorry to hear things are still so difficult.

So sorry to hear that @bettbburg looking out at the wind in the bushes and hoping you're not alone facing this.

Best wishes to you bettbburg.

PermanentTemporary We all view the books we read through the lens of our own lives and I appreciated you sharing your experience - thank you.

RomanMum Your review of Four Mums In A Boat made me smile! I have had it sitting by my bed since I was given a copy when it first came out. I started it once, enjoyed what I read but got distracted by other books. It somehow never rises to the top of my TBR nor finds it's way into the charity shop pile. I'm glad you enjoyed it - your review made me feel more inspired to pick it up and finally read it. I hadn't expected to see it mentioned on here!

Lots online about Robbie Coltrane - a few years ago I listened to the audiobook of Daunderlust by Peter Ross which was narrated by Robbie Coltrane, a perfect choice of voice for the content of 'Dispatches from Unreported Scotland'. There was a great moment when he stumbled across a word, swore, took a breath and started the sentence again - it probably should have been cut out in the editing process but I loved it!

43. This Girl Ran by Helen Croydon
Running/triathlon memoir that has been sitting in my Audible library for years. I wouldn't recommend it.

44. Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet
Previously reviewed on this thread, and I would echo previous remarks - sadly this doesn't match up to His Bloody Project. I watched an online interview with the author and that helped me to get slightly more out of the reading experience. The author plays around with readers in a similar way to His Bloody Project, leaving your questioning which points of view you can trust, but the plot/setting/characters/emotions didn't grab me in the same way and so it was a bit 'meh'.

45. The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
Set in the 1800s, Frannie Langton is faced with hanging following the murders of her 'employers', Mr and Mrs Benham. She reflects on her life - childhood on a plantation in Jamaica, assisting her 'master' with a project he is carrying out on his property, travelling to London and the twists and turns of her life up to the deaths of which she has been accused. There's a lot of issues in this...race, slavery, love, prostitution, substance addiction, violence and more. When I returned the book to the library I almost spluttered when the librarian commented on the pretty cover - this is not a pretty story, it is dark, and by the time I finished reading I knew what certain elements of the cover referred to! The premise grabbed me from the start and I couldn't have put this book aside without knowing how Frannie's story ended up where it did. I had to really pay attention as I listened/read though - at first I thought I just needed to tune in to the narrator's voice, but realised that sometimes details were glossed over/implied and it took a bit of focus to make sure I was getting the author/narrator's meaning.

Started two easier read yesterday which I am really enjoying. Taste by Stanley Tucci is going down well on audio. Excited to be first to get Wolf Pack by Will Dean from the library (new release in the Tuva Moodyson series). I started it last night, am already a third of the way through the novel and it's rattling along nicely so far.

So sorry to hear this@bettbburg. sending all good wishes.

Giving up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel Brilliant collection of memories from Hilary Mantel. Her writing is superb - elegant, witty, brave and disturbing, (and peppered with semi-colons which I also love). In particular, the treatment she receives for endometriosis from the medical establishment is absolutely horrifying but she writes without self-pity. Her recent death was a very sad loss and this is a great reminder that she was so much more than ("just"!) the author of the Wolf Hall Trilogy.

A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux, translated by Tanya Leslie A portrait of AE's father reflecting on his working-class background and her own upbringing, and the gulf that opens up between them as her education takes her into a more middle-class milieu. I found this almost unbearably sad; her writing is largely dispassionate but every so often she will drop in a paragraph of such pathos that it caught me off guard. It's a short book - 76 pages - but she creates a vivid and moving evocation of provincial French life in the twentieth century (and because she's French, it comes complete with philosophical meditations).

Best wishes Betts.

I've forgotten where I'm up to again, but there's been nothing earth shattering in my reads to report on anyway.

I managed to get books mixed up again and was again desperately waiting for a plot twist that never came. This time with Judy Blume. I never read her books as a teen, but she's come up in convo a lot recently. I picked up Are you there God? It's me Margaret and was wondering how in earth a very dull Margaret was ever going to get pregnant. It seems it was Forever I was after instead. I'm over the curiosity now though.

Devotion - Hannah Kent
A perscuted Lutheran community are granted permission to sail to Australia. Two girls become firm friends before setting out but the journey does not turn out as planned. Allegations of witchcraft put some members of the community in danger as they try to forge a new life.

I usually love HK. Her writing is always sound. This one had an odd pot twist half way through that stuck me as completely ridiculous and I found it annoyed me all the way to the end. It ruined the book for me and I think it would have been vastly improved without. I can really say more without spoilers, but I'd be interested to hear what others think if anyone gets round to it. (I wouldn't rush).

Hotel du Lac - Anita Brookner
Unmarried and unassuming author escapes to an off-season Swiss hotel to avoid conflict over a scandal at home. She observes the other residents and muses on their relationships, slowly revealing the reasons for her banishment. It contains some very fine writing and astute observations, but didn't really so anything for me.

The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
During an Indian uprising, a colonial outpost comes under siege. Convinced of their superiority the residents defend their property and sense of selves.
This is a strange one, quite slow moving. It exposes the ridiculous nature of Empire. It's part of a series, which I will get round to eventually.

The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
A meditation on grief. The author lays bare the aftermath of losing her husband and simultaneous serious illness of her daughter.
An intensely personal portrait of dealing with several major life events at ones and the effect it has on those trying to make sense of it all.

Confessions of a Forty Something Fuck Up - Alexandra Potter
Nell returns to London from the US after a break up and losing her life savings. She hopes to slot into her old life, but is saddened to find her friends have all moved on and the rental and job market have gone crazy. Muddling through and feeling judged, she starts a podcast talking about what happens when life doesn't go to plan and you've failed in the eyes of others which gains a cult following and she realises she is not alone.
I think most of us could probably identify with this. It's a mildly comedic look at women's lives and how they are judged. I quite enjoyed it, despite it all being far too neat and fairytale in the end.

The Diary of a Secret Tory MP - The Secret Tory
Parody of the secret -insert profession- genre. Funny for about 5 minutes, very over the top and just ridiculous by the end.

Mrs Wickham - Sarah Page
Short Audible production of what Lydia did next. Can she regain her place in society and the good opinion of her family? Not all goes to plan for the real obstinate headstrong girl of the family as she comes to terms with what she has done.
Not quite what I expected when I started it, but I absolutely loved this. I have read P&P and watched the 95 series so much that I love being dropped back into that world. This was a fun addition to the spin off genre.

French Braid - Anne Tyler
More slow moving observational family saga fare from AT. Perfect if you like that sort of thing.

*The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser and the Wardrobe - Angela Kelly
Memoir of the woman who started as an assistant dresser to the queen and become her personal assistant and trusted confidante.
While this focuses on the clothes, there are some sweet and poignant moments. It's surprising how much went into the planning and maintenance of the wardrobe. However by the end it gets rather grating that the author takes credit for masterminding every thought and act of the late Queen as if she were the sole brains of the entire monarchy. Definitely overstating her part.

From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran - Jaqueline Spear
Memoir of a British Iranian woman who came of age at the time of the '79 revolution who saw the intense changes brought about by the regime. She explores how a fairly liberal society went to extreme religious rule in a short space of time and the effect it had on women.
I've been meaning to read this for a while, but it is especially interesting given current events in Iran. It's hard to imagine such extreme changes to society.

The Summer Book - Tove Jannson
A very gentle book in which an elderly woman takes her young granddaughter to a small island for the summer and they learn to adjust to one another.
This is simply wonderful.

Decluttering at the Speed of Life - Dana K White
An eminently sensible book from blogger A Slob Comes Clean. She has a very simple philosophy that is hard to argue with and she realistically explores how to do battle with your stuff. She's very no nonsense in her approach and appreciates how hard it can be while the rest of life happens around you. If I can implement it, I'll be very happy!

The Soul of Discretion (Serrailler #8) - Susan Hill
Simon continues to be god's gift to policing and Saintly Cat shoves the rod of self righteous sanctimony so far up her own arse it comes out the other end. I'd finally come to terms with the hate reading and decided to call it a day after this one, but it ends on a serious cliff hanger. I might just imagine it ends the other way and quit. More likely I'll be back in a few months saying exactly the same thing about the next one.

The Cliff House - Chris Brookmyre
Hen do on an isolated island goes wrong when a blackmailer takes control and threatens to kill them all of them if one who has behaved badly doesn't confess her sins. The trouble is all of them have something to hide and none want to reveal their worst side to the others.
This was fine if you like that sort of thing but it's been done to death and felt very samey.

Stone Blind: Medusa's Story - Natalie Haynes
I've really enjoyed her recent series focussing on the women in the Greek myths. This one felt a bit hodgepodge and frenetic compared to the last few.

I've abandoned Jilly Cooper's Octavia as vacuous whittering. Does it get any better?

Wishing you well betty

so sorry to hear that betts

great reviews Fortuna - but I'm gutted to hear the Hannah Kent isn't up to scratch

Very amused by your, er, skewering of the Serailler, Fortuna

Terps she deserves it! How has one author put so many odious characters in one book?

NiceMum it isn't dreadful. She's tried something, it didn't work for me and it skewed my opinion of what could have been a better book without.

As ever, I’m enjoying everyone’s posts, but not keeping up with my own contributions.

@bettbburg and @PermanentTemporary, and to anyone going through difficult times I’ve managed to miss.

I think Affinity is actually my favourite Sarah Waters; it’s beautifully elusive, and the twist is quite unexpected and heart-wrenching.

89.The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs - Steve Brusatte
An accessible and comprehensive account of the latest research on dinosaurs. However, I found his style/approach intermittently annoying. I’ve heard SB on the radio, and he is a very engaging speaker. On the page, he can be a little too chatty and colloquial; he also seems determined to name-check every scientist he’s ever worked with. Nothing wrong with reminding us of the collaborative nature of science, but I could do without finding out the hairstyle/favourite T-shirt/cool hobby of every bloody palaeontologist. I suppose I’ve been spoilt by the incomparable style and erudition of Stephen Jay Gould.

90.The Mermaid of Black Conch - Monique Roffey
An interesting premise - on a small Caribbean island, a fisherman falls in love with a mermaid-turned-woman, as she learns how to be human again - but let down by uneven writing: too much telling and not enough showing.

91.The See-Through House - Shelley Klein
An unusual memoir of growing up in a modernist house, built for Klein’s designer parents, particularly focusing on memories of her larger-than-life father, a Yugoslavian Orthodox Jew who reinvents himself as a designer of unorthodox tweeds in the Scottish Borders. It made me feel as if I were colourblind compared to his ability to see, imagine and recreate colours; Klein’s facility with words is equally revelatory. Klein also makes it clear that both her father and the house were hard to live with at times. Recommended.

92.Transcription - Kate Atkinson
I know this has divided opinions. I found it entertaining and absorbing, although perhaps derivative at times - at least Atkinson acknowledges the influence of Penelope Fitzgerald’s Human Voices - and I found the sudden swerve into Le Carré territory at the end rather unconnected to the rest of the novel. Uneven.

44. Americana (And the art of getting over it) by Luke Healy

So this is a graphic novel but I'm counting it as half my books are Stephen King door stops so I'm taking my wins where I can!

Luke hikes the Pacific Crest Trail and details his walk in pictures and some pages of description of his love affair with all things American. I've read several books on the PCT and a graphic novel interpretation was a nice variation on the theme. I also share his love for American wilderness and feel the pull of the trail... I'm yet to be convinced about pooing daily in the woods though.

I always add a book to my wish list when I pop on to update and it probably won't surprise anyone this time I've added Four Mums In A Boat. It sounds right up my street!

Sending strength to those with health troubles. I hope reading can provide some solace.

**

Razorstormunicorn totally, it's nice to throw a shorter book in from time to time to keep the numbers up!

Sorry to hear about your health problems bett take care and also sorry for the loss of your husband PermanentTemporary, I have a family member who was affected in the same way and know how difficult it was for them. 💐 for you both x

Oh what a wonderful thread, sorry I'm a bit late to the party. Hope it's OK for me to just hop in here. I'm usually in the middle of a couple of reads, one kindle and one audible for when I'm walking the dog/commuting/cleaning the bathroom etc. Currently:

46. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. Took a little while to get into but enjoying it now. I mistakenly expected it to be some kind of Shakespeare biography but its very much an imagining of the experiences of his wife and doesn't even mention her famous spouse by name.

47. The Muse by Jessie Burton. Very different from The Miniaturist. Dual timelines set iin 1930s Spain and late 60's London. Quite a gripping story that has you trying to match up the identity of one of the protagonists in the two stories.

Next lined up is Holy Island by L. J. Ross. I've read a few of this series particularly because I'm originally from the north.east where they're set. My only complaint is that in they keep mispronouncing the place names in the audio version. Blanchland is Blanchlund not Blanch Land. Pedantic i know but it really grates 🤣

Welcome aboard, @LadyFarquinMark

I'm not an audiobook person myself and the mispronunciation thing is partly why! There was a very entertaining Twitter thread about this not so long ago, and a thread on here too, iirc.

13) We Never Die by Matt Fraser Secrets of the Afterlife
Dropped off the thread as my reading has nosedived but I have dipped in and out of this book. I sometimes watch this guy on YouTube and he is well known in America as a psychic medium. I find it all fascinating and found it a good read. He touched on all sorts and if you are as interested as me read this book. Verdict if there is anything who knows but interesting to read about.

The Cornish Hideaway by Jennifer Bibby

I must have got this out from the library at least four times now and still have not finished it. However I do want to finish it so hopefully in half term break coming up I shall. It is about a heartbroken young artist who escapes to a Cornish village and has a good dose of romance. Wanted to read as a summer read but well we are in Autumn now.

Wanted to add that I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and a few weeks ago went to see a play in Bolton about this book. Highly recommended for folks who got on with the book. It was a musical which I was not sure how that would work but it really did and I really enjoyed this interpretation of the book.