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?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
I am sure they can find you something!
We gave them a briefing and their selections were spot on !
Good luck and enjoy it!

@Gingerwarthog I'll let you know!

I've read a couple more Michael Palin travel books - Himalaya and North Korea. I thought Himalaya too long and NK too short, but readable enough!

25 One August Night - Victoria Hislop
The sequel to The Island, which takes place on Crete and the tiny island just off its north east coast called Spinalonga. A pleasant enough catch-up with members of Maria's family but nothing earth-shattering. Overall I found it a bit disappointing.

Daphne so sorry, thinking of you.

I seen to be on a quitting streak. Didn't get on with No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy, got to about 50%.

Launched Davina McCall's Menopausing across the room around a third of the way in. If anyone can enlighten me on how wearing matching underwear every day and slightly whacky clothes to make me feel excited and giggly (because I'm worth it) is going to help with the brain fog and palpitations then I'd be really grateful. Impolite words were loudly spoken.

I did finish A Song for Dark Times - Ian Rankin but can only claim to have had half an ear on it. The series has definitely had its day.

Mermaid of Black Conch - Monique Roffey
Late 70s, some tourists catch a mermaid while out fishing and a local rescues her and takes her home where she gradually returns to human form.
This is an odd one, some amazing writing in places, some very distinct voices, but the plot doesn't really go anywhere. It starts well, but gets really boring in the second half.

@FortunaMajor I was bored at the beginning of Mermaid so your review makes me very glad I didn't bother with the rest of it!

to Daphne and Eine.

Fortuna thank you for the warning about Menopausing, I saw it in the supermarket and was tempted but don't think I'll bother now.

56. The Wild Silence - Raynor Winn

A follow up to The Salt Path. The book splits nicely into three sections; dealing with. The physical and emotional aftermath of the south west coast path walk; bring given the chance to renovate and rewild a Cornish farm; and a long walk through Iceland. The Iceland section seemed slightly out of place - I would have liked to hear more about the farm project - nonetheless a soothing read with poetic, beautiful nature writing.

Fortuna Have you read Jen Gunter's Menopause Manifesto? She's American, so not everything is relevant, but I found it very much the most useful of the books Ive read about the menopause. (She's the doctor /blogger who gets very cross about jade eggs & all that stuff, I cant recall the name of her blog)

63 Cream Buns and Crime - Robin Stevens Short stories, tips on how to be a detective, and factual bits about historic and literary detectives: this is a companion book to the Murder Most Unladylike series. It was fine (and DD2, who got it for her 8th birthday, loved it) but the full novels are much better. DD1 got the next book in the series for her 10th birthday so I’ll be reading it as soon as she finishes!

Sadik I have thank you and I think I'll dig it out again. She's very sensible.

I also tried Maisie Hill's Perimenopause Power, but she lost me when she told me to imagine different hormones as celebrities and how they behave. I don't have a "Beyonce" hormone and I don't have the first clue how she behaves. At most, I vaguely know she's a singer.

I don't want someone to be a cheerleader, I want proper advice.
I'm going to try the new Mariellea Frostrup one and if that fails then it's time to hunt down Dr Louise Newson's book. I'm mostly going through what I can get free in the library first.

I also read Perimenopause Power and like you found it annoying and too much 'wellness' stuff though some useful tips.

A random one but can anybody think of any lovely books (fiction or non-fiction) set on trains?
Not Paul Theroux
Not Murder on the Orient Express (although something in a similar vibe would be fabulous)
Not The Lady Vanishes

Posted too early - ideally with a historical setting (pre 1960s)

Hmmm. Ethel Lina White's The Wheel Spins? It’s the book Hitchcock based 'The Lady Vanishes' on. I haven’t read it, though, so I can’t say whether it’s any good!

Sorry, Remus - you said not 'The Lady Vanishes' - I should read more carefully!

There are some books Around the World/India in 80 Trains if you are after travel journal type books. I've heard mixed things about them though.

Graham Greene, Stamboul Train?

Maybe not lovely as it’s about a train disaster Remus but I like the sound of The White Cascade - Gary Krist

Have you read Stamboul Train @Terpsichore ? I hated the last Greene I read (Our Man in Havana).

@FortunaMajor One of those would do, but only if it came with a personal rec. Most of them look like, 'Random book people get for Christmas and then give to the charity shop' sort of things.

This looks fun! Insanely £££ though.

I haven’t, Remus, but I fancy it. DH just suggested another - Accident by Arnold Bennett. But it does revolve around a train crash……it might be difficult to find upbeat fictional train books (apart from The Railway Children!).

Thanks @Terpsichore
They don't need to be upbeat - I'm quite happy with murder and peril, in an old-fashioned sort of way!

I just found Accident online on Project Gutenberg. It looks quite interesting.

Remus Such a good question - I can think of tons of films set on trains but very few books. Will be interesting to see what people come up with.

Just seen there's a British Library Crime Classics story collection, so will get that as a starting point.

Does it have to be proper trains Remus or does the Tube count? If so, you might want to consider the following although these don’t meet the historical criterion:

I See You by Clare Mackintosh
Close To The Edge by Toby Faber
Victoria Line Central Line by Maeve Binchy