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?

Finished a couple of books in the last week or so, but might need a comfort reading prescription for the foreseeable - my mother in law passed away unexpectedly today, on top of my daughter breaking her leg and getting her asd diagnosis in the last couple of weeks. Brain scrambled

64. Language A-Z - John McWhorter
    Fun exploration of linguistics concepts made up of mini-lectures in a A-Z format. Top fact: Maltese is a sort of Arabic with loads of Italian vocab.

65. Play - Stuart Brown
    Exploration of the importance of play to human development and creativity throughout life.

LadybirdDaphne, what a tough combination of stuff. Hope some comfort reading helps you through.

Wishing you well too LadyBirdDaphne ☕️📚

@LadybirdDaphne Sorry to hear you are having a tough time at the moment. I find myself reaching for comfort reads when times are tough too, I hope you find something to transport you.

@ChessieFL I have tried a few times to read Lolita, I know it's a classic but I just cannot get past the subject matter, however well written.

It definitely wasn’t an easy read Mama. I did think about giving up a few times but I am glad I persevered.

73. The Rehearsals by Annette Christie
A couple experience a Groundhog day scenario in the lead up to their wedding, giving them a chance to examine unresolved issues and roads not travelled. Undemanding and bland.

74. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
My English teacher gave my class the first chapter to read when I was about 14 and I was so fascinated by the language of Alex and his droogs that I immediately went and read the full book. The ultra violence is difficult, but I don't think it's gratuitous, and although the language is an effort at first the internet translations made this much easier this time round. I was surprised by how much I remembered, but I wasn’t sure what I remembered from the book and what was from the film. The questions raised around free will and the rights of the individual vs those of society are still relevant and I found the use of music really interesting too. A classic work of absolute genius.

75. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
76. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
77. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
78. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
79. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
80. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

I really enjoyed this series, although I agree with recent reviews that the later books could do with some enthusiastic editing. I’ve loved the relationship between Strike and Robin and this is one of the main reasons that I’d read future books in the series, although my patience is wearing a bit thin.

81. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The tale of Benjamin Button, who is born an old man and then gradually becomes younger as the years pass. I'm so baffled by this book, I’m wondering if I missed the point somewhere. It’s beyond basic, nothing really happens, there no character development, in fact characters just disappear. It read more like an idea for a book written by a 10 year old, than an actual story. The best that can be said of this is that it was mercifully brief and only took me about 20 mins to read.

Neither A Clockwork Orange nor Lolita are easy reads, but both are right up there as some of the best books I've ever read (although Lolita's first half far better than the second imo).

Couldn't agree more!

32 Little Altars Everywhere - Rebecca Wells
Concerning the dysfunctional Walker family as featured in the more famous Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood by the same author. This is a series of short stories individually told from the point of view of various members of this family. Some of this is great fun, most of it is dark and disturbing.

I don't know in which order the two books are meant to be read. I read Little Altars first, many years ago now and it is a far superior book in terms of literary merit. As a result of reading it first I couldn't sympathise with the Vivi of Divine Secrets.

I’m so sorry to hear your sad news @LadybirdDaphne

DNF Berlin by Bea Setton

This is another debut from a novelist about a young lady called Daphne who runs away to Berlin to start afresh. She runs into more drama than she left behind. Things seem very sinister and dark. She has to try and learn German, make friends, online dates and I am assuming this is the beginning of sinister stuff where it all goes wrong. It’s quite disturbing as she starts being stalked but this young lady is also a stalker herself even though she probably won’t admit it as she harasses her ex who just happens to have moved to Berlin too. I gave this up at page 32, I just was not getting into this one or feeling for Daphne. I found it just so depressing and dark and not for me. I would not recommend.

Sorry to hear your sad news LadyDaphne - I agree that I always turn to my comfort reads at tough times: Georgette Heyer and Agatha Christie.

No reading updates from me as I have been reading forever (well, certainly a long time!) The Jewel in the Crown. Watched the TV adaptation years ago and loved it but am finding the book really hard work - it’s very disjointed and there’s just no storyline but I have got so far (62% according to my Kindle) so am now determined to finish it.

Separately, has anyone read Marple: Twelve New Stories? It’s the Agatha Christie challenge book for this month but I am in two minds as one it’s pretty expensive and two it’s not a proper Agatha but I might be swayed if it’s good!

Lady Daphne

Remus I agree that the first half of Lolita is stronger - the second half seems to lose its way a bit but I did wonder if that was deliberate by Nabokov to reflect Humbert’s state of mind as he gradually falls apart? As you can see I’m still thinking about it!

Daphne

I have had a strange, sad and testing weekend but I don't want to elaborate. I do, however have a review :

Paging @noodlezoodle

42. Tomorrow And Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Sadie and Sam meet in a hospital games room. Years later they rekindle their friendship, becoming video game designers.

At first, I was like I don't know what I'll say on the thread to noodle because this is all a bit YA for me, but then it just sort of grabs you and takes hold. Stayed up late reading it, and rather did myself a disservice by reading snatches in a quick 20 mins here and there, whenever I got the chance.

I want to say that it's like Eleanor and Park had a baby with A Little Life. This is because Sam (and Sadie and Marx's behaviour with regard to Sam) reminded me completely of Jude and the unlikely way his friends bent double for him.

I thought it did go off the boil, I was unhappy about the "event", and I didn't like the lengthy Pioneer section whatsoever, or the end, so that's basically the final third.

So it's not a bold for me, but I did really enjoy it and it is a fairly undemanding read, good for a bit of unchallenging escapism.

Yes, almost certainly - but a bit of a slog at times!

Phew, glad it came good in the end Eine. Curiously, although I was absolutely gripped by it while I was reading it, it isn't sticking with me particularly well. So I'm not sure what that says about it!

Also v unhappy about the event, I cried. A lot.

Sorry about your tough weekend, hope things improve.

And for @LadybirdDaphne

Thanks Noodle

I don't think that "the event" was at all necessary actually and there were so many ways the book could have gone instead, and that it was a bit of an lazy, almost cliched, out. But that event also reminded me of something in A Little Life in the "there was no fucking need for this" sense.

I am a bit embarrassed that, in regard to the title, my mind went to Hamilton and not Macbeth even though Hamilton takes it directly from Macbeth

Was lucky enough to visit Mr B's emporium in Bath today - mentioned up thread.
Fabulous place with incredibly enthusiastic and well read staff. We asked them for recommendations and bought almost everything they suggested.
I ended up with Pure by Andrew Miller and a good selection of new to me crime fiction.

DNF'd Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I can see why he is popular as there is some snappy dialogue and lots of pop science, but it's not for me. I gave up after 150 pages of what felt like having the IT helpdesk talk me through their day.

to Eine and LadybirdDaphne.

Amy and Lan by Sadie Jones is in the kindle deals today - I'm halfway through the hardback and really enjoying it.

Sorry to everyone who is having a difficult time.

I’m in the area later this week, so hopefully can squeeze in a visit. Hope they can find me something!

for those who need them. Sorry to hear so many people are going through a tough time. Definitely time for a comfort read.

Thank you! How enticing.

LadybirdDaphne