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 enjoyed Labyrinth when I read it years ago, although I can’t remember anything about it now!

I loved Labyrinth - maybe there is hope for anyone planning to read it! I liked Sepulchre too. They’re both a bit spooky/time hoppy which is right up my street.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie perfect review of On The Road.

my favourite thing about this thread is that we can be talking about books as diverse as On the Road and Labyrinth concurrently without it feeling weird. Both overrated in my opinion.

This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay - oft mentioned in these parts over several years. It’s been on my “want to read” list since first reading about it here in 2020 or 2021. In the spirit of getting this list down a bit, when our cat woke me at 04:30 yesterday I downloaded this from the Libby app and was done with it before the end of the day. I’m a bit meh really: I’m probably not the target audience tbh, having a partner who is was a clinician in the NHS, it feels like I’ve heard a variation of most of these stories before. And as the strikeout shows, I’m familiar with the end too: people getting worn down over the years by the poor conditions and eventually doing whatever it takes to get out of the NHS.

Back to Marcus Aurelius &co now…

Thank you all for your views on Labyrinth - I may try it at some point but certainly not moving it up the TBR pile.

6. Crossfire - Dick and Felix Francis

Tom is a soldier who has been in Afghanistan and lost a foot. When he leaves the rehabilitation centre he goes to stay with his mother, a racehorse trainer, with whom he has an acrimonious relationship. He soon discovers that she has problems and sets out to resolve them. Not very much racing but rattles along nicely. An enjoyable read.

7. Long Story Short - Jodi Taylor

Short stories about St Mary’s. I am not particularly a fan of short stories. Some of these were better than others.

I can’t keep up this thread is moving so fast!

I didn’t like On the Road either - though I’m only judging from the first couple of pages.

A Fortunate Man by John Berger: Polly Morland’s A Fortunate Woman was a standout for me at the end of last year and was inspired by this 1967 study of a doctor in the same country practice in the Forest of Dean. Beautifully executed with photographs throughout, this is a lovely book about a place and a time and a compassionate, committed doctor. I loved the cases and the details such as the photo in a hospital with a sign in the background setting out the times of day during which patients were allowed to smoke on the ward! Of the two I preferred Woman as Man veered into philosophical territory for much of the second half and I preferred the case studies, but both are books I feel richer for having read.

I really like this ‘good people doing good jobs’ non-fiction genre and wondered if anyone can recommend others? I also enjoyed Do No Harm and In Your Defence.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit thanks for the welcome, it’s lovely to see what everyone is reading, and how they are enjoying it (or not so much). Also, thanks for your explanation how to list the books I’ve read/reading.

@Gingerwarthog its good isn’t it. I can imagine he throws a great dinner party!

@SolInvictus better keep, that number of books from my DP, he says I have too many all over the place already😳😁 I’ve put quite a good number on my “to read list”, from reading through the thread already, so thank you everyone for the inspiration and recommendations.

Wade Davis - Into The Silence A re-read for me of this magnificent book which culminates in the ill fated 1924 attempt to climb Everest. It starts with the background to the attempt, covering the Indian Empire, geological surveys, Buddhism and spirituality in the Himalayas, rolls through the Bloomsbury set, early mountaineering in North Wales and the First World War. The writing about the War years is some of the most devastating I’ve read - I was frequently in tears.

The 1921, 22 and 24 excursions to Everest are covered in great detail. The arrogance and treatment of the local people by some of the party is horrible but the endeavours of the climbers in gruelling, freezing conditions - absolutely breathtaking and ultimately heartbreaking.

@CornishLizard would Vaxxers fit your brief? First hand account of the Oxford Covid vaccine.

Loved On the Road when I read it many years ago but it's of its time and place so can see why many don't like it. Not read Labyrinth but enjoying the chat on here vs the royal reading room 😀

Finished number 4 Once Upon A Crime by Robin Stevens. Enjoyable easy reading. Next its Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam, which I ordered from the library after reading reviews on here.

Thanks Janina - I’d been resisting thinking it might be too technical but have reserved it and will give it a go!

@UnfinishedBusiness
I have a massive crush on him!
Think it's the dry delivery and lust for life. Good dresser too.

@CornishLizard have you read All That Remains by Sue Black? She's a forensic anthropologist - fascinating stuff.

I also really enjoyed The Dark Side of the Mind by Kerry Daynes (forensic psychologist) and With the End in Mind by Kathryn Mannix (a doctor specialising in palliative care).

@CornishLizard the one that springs to my mind is David Nott’s War Doctor - he’s a really amazing man. His Desert Island Discs was a multiple-hanky listen.

7. A History of the Vampire in Popular Culture by Violet Fenn

All about vampires, as per the title. It’s ok. I’d have got more out of this if I was more interested in vampires.
Starts off with descriptions of vampire superstitions and reports of suspected vampiric activity from a few hundred years ago before vampires started appearing in fiction, and moves on to discussion of depictions of vampires in novels, films and TV.

I've just finished Number 6.

Project Hail Mary By Andy Weir
I love Andy Weir, especially The Martian. I liked Artemis as well, but that was not as good as the Martian. My son in law said I should read this, and I really really enjoyed it. The story opens with the lone survivor of a space mission waking up and struggling to regain his memory. He knows he has been asleep for a long time, and as he works his way through the space ship, his memory and skills begin to return to him. His name is Ryland Grace and he was sent, along with his now deceased crew mates, to save the earth, whose sun is beginning to dies, and earth’s scientists have identified a solution in a distant corner of space.

He seems to be faced with an impossible task, but he makes an unexpected ally in an alien life form who is trying to solve the same problems.

There is a lot of technical problems to solve, and a lot of detail, but it was very readable and moved on apace. Very good read, especially if you enjoyed the Martian.

I'm still slogging through American Dirt on Kindle. I am determined to finish it, but I have to admit despite all the rave reviews, it is not setting me on fire. I have A Terrible Kindness lined up next.

10 Stormy Petrol by Mary Stewart not one of her best but it was written when she was older. The description of the countryside and the birds and seals was lovely. A nice gentle mystery with a subtle touch of romance.

Thanks Tarahumara and Terpsichore - they sound really interesting!

Christie Watson's books are very good Cornish

Interesting to see how many people didn't like Labrynth. I bought it after watching and really liking the TV adaptation, however I've never summed up the will to read it but not quite sure why. Any time the random number generator throws it up I just bypass it in favour of something else.

Or Labyrinth, even

1. The Agency for Scandal by Laura Wood. I wanted something fun after a couple of heavy literary novels. Slightly fantastical YA about a Victorian Charlie's Angels-esque agency of young women solving crimes. They get drawn into a case involving a conspiracy at the top of government. An absolute romp featuring jewel heists, improbable disguises, martial arts and of course a love affair with a duke. Great fun.

1. Cat and Mouse -A.J.Arlidge - I was hoping to love this and then be able to read the rest in the Helen Grace series but I just found the main character Grace very annoying. The whole plot was unrealistic, over dramatic and involved weak characters that I didn't really care about

5. The Husband's Secret -Liane Moriarty

Right.

It's going.

It's not bollocking toshfest material, it's just pffffffft, dunno. I'm 25% in, which is my cut-off, and I'm still not in it. If you were to ask me what it's about, (beyond Holy Grail goings-on) I couldn't tell you, because she's not started telling me yet. But I have a baaad premonition I'm going to be going "FFS Kate, did you even write a plan?"

It's not as badly written "he did this, then she did that" like a Philippa Gregory (which tbh, sometimes, is all you need) but it's definitely not "literary fiction" (under which broad banner I'd always placed Kate Mosse)

What has done it for me is:

Really, really badly written characters. (the tipping point came with the introduction of a female character who is clearly Going To Be Very Important having really really badly written sex - think Ken Collette meets Danielle Steel- lots of glistening sweat drops between fulsome heaving breasts- down Ken)

Stilted conversation when we are supposed to be thinking someone who can't speak fluent French is trying to, and someone who can't speak fluent English is trying to. (I can't stop seeing scenes from 'Allo 'Allo)

Ultimately, I like Holy Grail thrillers. (Use of English aside and shagging women 20 years younger than you aside, I've not got a bad thing to say about Dan Brown); I like historical fiction. And whilst knowing that the former is going to include some of the latter, KM's attempt at the double timeline, (and I can see there's going to be a clunky Lighthouse Witches/Dark ta-da thing) just seems contrived.

Her editor should have sat her down and said "show me your plan" and then crossed bits out.

Hey ho.

5 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (Audible narrator Hugh Grant)

Seasonal! I had downloaded this before Christmas and started listening, but with one thing and another it got forgotten. Last night I was unable to fall asleep again in between constant toddler wake ups so ended up listening the the whole thing with my headphones. Was interested how it would sound with Grant narrating, he does a good job I think - quite a light touch. May well listen again at a more appropriate time.