50 Books Challenge 2023 Part Two

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the second thread of the 50 Books Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2023, 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.

What are you reading?

I DNFd Labyrinth god that was everywhere 10 years ago or so

Warm welcome to @UnfinishedBusiness we're a friendly lot

@Welshwabbit I felt similarly about Best of Friends which I reviewed on the last thread - I thought the media satire was the weakest thing about Home Fires which I otherwise loved, and that was just magnified here. I agree it was an odd friendship in their later years, I thought the ending was suggesting it had always been dependent and maybe toxic for them both, but that wasn't trailed very well throughout.

@GrannieMainland I agree the ending had that implication, and there were certainly some flashes of that earlier. What I did quite like about the ending (and I think why I found it gripping) was the hints that many (most?) really close friendships have those elements of dependency and toxicity. At one point Zahra says part of her has always hated Maryam, and it reminded me of the end of my favourite book, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, where Sandy acknowledges what she learned from Miss Brodie, despite those really clumping feet of clay. I'm really interested in the idea of not being able to free yourself from those early influences that make you you, even when you know parts of them are poisonous. The kernel of something good in the denouement made me even more annoyed that it wasn't done very well!

I had Labyrinth and another one of hers Sepulchre(?) on my book shelves for years and got rid of it in a cull as I was sure I was never going to read it.

Finished book 7 Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason. This was a last minute add to my Amazon basket as it was cheap and I did think afterwards that I’d hate it. How wrong I was - I absolutely loved it and raced through it in two sittings.

It’s narrated by Martha who’s known there’s something wrong with her all her adult life but doesn’t get a diagnosis until her mid-thirties when things finally start to make sense. It’s about mental health, relationships and the impact mental health can have on those close to us. This really resonated with me, possibly because of my current mental health, and I loved the snappy dialogue and well drawn characters, complete with flaws.

I’m now ready A Terrible Kindness after multiple recommendations on this thread.

@UnfinishedBusiness
I also loved Taste and am now watching his BBC series which is equally brilliant.

Book 6 Romesh Ranganathan As Good As It Gets
Supposedly a book about adulting. Not really sure it hangs together as a whole thing which I think is true of many books written of this type in lockdown but 3/4 of it is pretty funny

Can someone please explain whether we are supposed to bold all book titles or just the ones we'd recommend. I feel like I've seen both things implied.

@Welshwabbit I think it reminded me a lot of the Neapolitan Quartet novels - as you say, these childhood experiences and friendships shaping the rest of your life, and not being able to escape people from your past even if they're not making you happy. As you say, all this could have been drawn out a lot more!

It's not looking good for Labyrinth is it. 😂 I only started it because it was in my 99p kindle pile and because the Queen Consort's book club is talking about it. I think I'll enjoy the present day timeline more than the Crusadey bit.

@UnfinishedBusiness welcome! You'll soon have 487 books on your to be read pile. Trust me 😂

It is both, but confusingly at different times so..

When you put up your initial review it's

As Good As It Gets by Romesh Ranganathan

Some people choose to bold the author too

and then at the very beginning of each thread when you post your list, you only bold the standouts

Eg mine would like this

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke Of Sussex
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Furious Love by Nancy Schoenburger and Sam Kashner

I hope that makes sense?

Thank you @EineReiseDurchDieZeit that's really helpful. I read Pachinko last year and loved it.

8. Threads of Life - Clare Hunter

Apologies, I can’t remember which 50-Booker reviewed this previously and prompted me to put it on my wishlist. Hunter is a sewer and textile artist who’s worked with many community groups, especially womens’ groups, all over the world. She has lots of fascinating things to say about the history and significance of sewing and embroidery, and its huge importance (above all to women) as a means of strengthening bonds of family and community. And, of course, it’s an art of visual beauty that can reach great heights of refinement. As an (intermittent) sewer myself I was eager to read this book.

I have to be a bit on the fence, unfortunately, because there was SO much crammed into it that I quickly felt overwhelmed. Every chapter could have been a book in itself - and there are 19 chapters. It’s great that there’s so much to say on the subject, but at times my eyes glazed over a bit as she suddenly skipped into yet another story about an ancient tribe or the slaves of a remote part of 19thc America, when I’d just been enjoying a really interesting story about a woman embroiderer in Georgian England. And, as someone who sews myself, I think I’d been mistakenly expecting there to be more about the actual process - this isn’t really a book about how sewing is actually done, or not in much detail.

Finally - in my Kindle edition there were NO PHOTOS! Weirdly, the single illustration was of a Victorian advertising poster. Given all the amazing pieces of textile art she mentions, it was beyond frustrating not to see any of them, but just to have a note at the end saying ‘lots of the pieces are pictured online, here are some links’. A publishing decision maybe, but a lazy one!

Oh dear - I haven’t got round to reading Labyrinth but thought it would be my sort of book as I like historical novels and have been to Carcassonne (that’s where it’s set, isn’t it?). Sounds like it could be a big let down and that maybe I shouldn’t bother. Has anyone enjoyed it?

hello folks - just placemarking. So far I've read:

1. In a Good Light by Claire Chambers
2. Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes

3. Lean, Fall, Stand by Jon McGregor

Currently reading The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns, which is fine so far, but I've not really been sucked in yet.

I tried twice, but it was awful. Also right up my street in theory.

Also thought Labrynth was terrible.

I also struggled with Labyrinth many years ago. It was recommended by a friend’s dad who loved it but I just struggled. Can’t remember if I finished it or not.

I can’t really remember much of Labyrinth even though I’ve read it twice.
I’ve read a WEBTOON True Beauty. Not sure if that counts!
I’ve also read Faros Daughter by Georgette Heyer which was lovely. I love most of her books.

I’m currently reading Six Crimson Cranes which I’m really enjoying!

On my tbr pile is Stone Blind and Pachinko.

Thank you all - looks like I shouldn’t e rushing to try Labyrinth any time soon!

I also have Stone Blind near the top of my TBR pile…

Labyrinth was disappointing. Got about 3/4 of the way through and gave up. It wasn't a dreadful read, just really long with some terrible characterisation. It was everywhere about 10 years ago so assumed it would be better. The historical bits did give me an insight into a time I didn't know much about which I found fascinating.

@Terpsichore I think that may have been me, and I felt the same. I had to pit it down between chapters because there was just so much in there.

13. Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

Mira struggles to cope when her wife returns altered from a work expedition.

As good and weird and dark and compelling as other people have already said

14. Maggie Cassidy by Jack Kerouac

I read On The Road two years ago and absolutely loved it. I've even got a quote from it on display. This is meant to be a companion piece about the same character but this time as a high school jock with his first sweetheart. It didn't resonate with me and I really struggled with it.

Glad you enjoyed Wives @EineReiseDurchDieZeit

I've never got past a few pages of On the Road. Like being in a car with the most boring man in the world, going somewhere I didn't want to go.

I also intensely disliked On the Road I really wanted to like it but just found it so pretentious.

The Quantum Curator and the Enemy Within by Eva St John

Second book in the series set in an alternate Earth where quantum curators rescue priceless treasures and works of art from our Earth, before they are destroyed. As well as the time travelling and object retrieval there's a potential conspiracy to be investigated. I'm enjoying this series so far and, as mentioned in my review of book 1, this has shades of St Mary's. Also the series is free with kindle unlimited.

The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound
The story of the discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance.

I liked but didn’t love this. Lots of great Shackleton stuff but also lots of too technical and not very interesting stuff about modern equipment. I also found the writer a bit devoid of personality.