50 Books Challenge 2023 Part Three

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the third 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 and the second one here.

I've read 6 of the 16 and the hold I placed for one in January was delivered this morning. I've been head down trying to get through a lot of eligible books with mixed results. Last year I'd read one so I'm in a much better position this year.

I've read the obvious ones. Some are clearly debut authors and no signs of the books in any libraries so far.

Demon Copperhead - excellent
Glory - very good, but a few issues
Memphis - I found it a bit boring
Stone Blind - liked, but I'm all Greeked out
The Marriage Portrait - interesting concept but far too long, took ages to get going.
Trespasses - outstanding

I'm always surprised Natalie Haynes is on the list each year. I like her stuff, but I don't think it's anything special.

I'm going to be reckless and call it now - Demon Copperhead will win and I'll be furious because Trespasses is far superior.

I think Maame is a glaring omission.

I will come back and review properly and also discuss the predicted books that didn't make the cut as there have been some decent ones in there, I read 20 in anticipation. I've gladly returned two unfinished stinkers to the library when the list went live.

I need to have a proper thread catch up too as I've seen some interesting comments.

Just a PSA. If your library uses Libby for ebooks, it is compatible with Kindle if you change the app settings.

On the Women's Prize longlist, I've read Demon Copperhead and The Marriage Portrait, both borrowed from the library, last year. Have recently bought the Kingsolver like others here, as it was a Kindle daily deal.

I have another 5 as Kindle TBR, 3 of which I think I'd borrowed from the library first

Glory
Memphis
Stone Blind
Trespasses
I'm a Fan - when I was looking some of the books on the list I noticed this was 99p and bought it. It's not a Daily Deal, and it's still 99p at nearly 1 am at time of posting.

I borrowed Wandering Souls as an elibrary book the other day but am not sure that I'll get it in time to read the whole book before the due date - as books autoreturn if others have placed reservations, I don't want to lose access halfway through. I expect I'll return and borrow again until I either get to reading it or acquire my own copy, as happened already with Glory and Stone Blind.

There are plenty of good books published within the relevant time period, and ones that I have TBR or even as current reads, who are not there, but then I don't think there's room on a longlist of 16 for every author previously longlisted for this prize. I like to see new to me authors there, particularly as this, like the Booker, shapes library buying decisions etc, so it would be slightly dull if the list included books every library already stocks.

Adding absolutely nothing to the conversation about the shortlist, but has anybody ever counted how often Rowling uses the word, ‘stump’?

😂I was counting the cigarettes in Troubled Blood. When JKR gets a bee in her bonnet, she just can't stop mentioning it.

Oof,

just finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and sad to see it’s not on the long list, I loved it!

I’d say I’m gamer adjacent. Play a very little but people in my life play a lot (whilst I read). I enjoy the lore and mythology more than actual gaming - so this suited.

It felt believable and I was completely immersed and sad when it ended.

I think a comparison with The Ink Black Heart is useful, as Rowling’s game world isn’t really believable (has she ever played a game?) which is why those in game chats are so annoying. Whereas here the writer’s love for games really shines through. I fully understood her descriptions even though I barely understand what an engine is it never mattered.

Someone upthread described Marks as NPC and I completely agree - I think the novel might have been stronger without him. A few elements boardered on tragi-porn.

oh and there was one truly awful sex description that I don’t think did what the author thought it did and is a serious contender for the Bad Sex in Fiction award.

Oooh, @FortunaMajor - how does one go about getting books from Libby on to one's Kindle? I love the fact I can borrow ebooks from the library but really dislike reading on my phone.

My understanding is that you can’t read Libby books on a Paperwhite, but you can side load the Libby app onto a Kindle Fire - that’s how I read mine. Not as nice as a Paperwhite but much better than a phone!

21. Snow by John Banville I finished this last night. Can't really fault it for the writing. It was quite a depressing and sad read, with an awful air of inevitability hanging over it, but then you'dexpect that, given the subject matter.

I wondered about Dominic's future, whether he was doomed to follow the same path or whether he had the strength not to. The inference was, sadly, the former.

Recommended, especially for its commentary on the suffocating control the Church had over all aspects of society.

Next up, Borrowbox delivered the audiobook of Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller this morning, so I shall be giving that a go. Also started reading The It Girl by Ruth Ware which is off to a good start. * *

-Menu (middle navigation button, three lines) scroll to bottom
-Settings
-Read Books With...

I haven't tried it, because I don't have a kindle, but it does say "apps and devices" on the button.

Thank you. I think it is only possible with Kindle Fires (I have a super basic Kindle). But I've been toying with a new one at some point so this would definitely swing it for me if it's a possibility.

Just seen that frustratingly it's only an option to use a Paperwhite with Libby in the US. You can tie your library card with your Amazon account.

Sorry to disappoint.

14. The Midnight Game by Cynthia Murphy

YA thriller. A group of teenagers who’ve met on a creepy Deddit thread (I’m guessing this is supposed to be something like Reddit) decide to meet in real life to play a spooky game.

They’re going to play the Midnight Game, summon the Midnight Man, and attempt to follow the rules and stay alive until 3:30am.
Of course, things don’t turn out well.

The narrative does a good job of building the tension and it was quite spooky in places (I was reading this late at night with the lights low, which may have helped set the mood).
I found it very readable.

And I’ve just abandoned Golden Son by Pierce Brown a quarter of the way through. It’s took me almost a week to get that far. I liked Red Rising, but I just could not get into this sequel.

Delighted that I downloaded Trespass when it was on offer the other day. I might make it my next read. Pretty sure I will add Demon Copperhead to my wish list as well.

10. Mad about you by Mhairi McFarlane

I was looking for an easy read and I got it. Harriet has man troubles. Extraordinary coincidences ensue. Much drama between friends. Despite the fact I couldn't get over the many ridiculous coincidences, I liked the characters and I gobbled this up. I guessed really early who was going to end up with who, but I had to keep the turning the page just to check! I'd buy another for 99p!

Invisible Women is in the daily deals (presumably for International Women's Day) if anyone hasn't read it yet.

Making very slow progress here, but at least I've hit double figures.
10. The Game, Micah Richards
I like football and long ago before DD was born had a season ticket. This was a quick read, less of an autobiography and more of a musing on what it is like to be a premiership footballer. Not particularly interesting (or not at all if you don't like football), but passed a bit of time while waiting to pick up DD from activities (including football).

Currently reading Devotion by Hannah Kent I was quite enjoying it, but have just got to 'the twist'. Won't post spoilers, but if you've read it you'll know what I mean. It was both unexpected and unwelcome. I'm now torn as to whether to continue. Have read over half which was quite an investment of reading time so probably will.

Loving the fact that I haven't heard of half the WP longlist - I have picked up I'm a Fan, already have Demon Copperhead, Stoneblind and Trespasses on Kindle. Children of Paradise is also 99p today, if anyone wants to take a punt. It's short (150 pages) and I think it's a coming of age tale centred around a cinema - each short chapter is named after a film, from Rosemary's Baby to Heathers. As a cinephile (at least in my younger days) it piqued my interest.

Currently trudging through several dense books which my cold-addled brain is barely capable of understanding, but making progress nonetheless.

If anyone still wants Trespasses it must be on monthly deal as it's still 99p, & it's also available through Borrowbox (though with a bit of a wait) here. I've reserved from the physical library though as I'm really preferring moving back to paper for fiction.

18 Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld
I know others on here haven't liked this as much as Prep or American Wife, & tbh the premise (twins with psychic powers) didn't appeal to me much either. I only picked it up because it was on the shelf at the library when I was looking to see if they had AW.

I really enjoyed it though, it was a much gentler novel than I'd expected, & I thought the picture of inter-woven family & friend relationships was really well drawn.

22. Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

During the oil boom some of the most wealthy people in the US were members of the Osage tribe who were owners of vast oil reserves in Oklahoma. This books covers a series of murders and suspicious deaths within the tribe, and the investigation by the newly formed FBI. I found this book fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. The investigation, and the role of the FBI, was really interesting but this book provides yet more evidence of the appalling treatment of native Americans - in their own land! - at the hands of the white man.

23. The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. By Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland

I really enjoyed the first half of this book about the Department of Diachronic Operations which investigates why magic has disappeared, and how this is linked to science. I found the central link between magic, science and time travel really interesting but as DODO grows and becomes bogged down in bureaucracy this was reflected in the story, which was similarly weighed down. I did like this, probably enough to read the next in the series, but it was way too long and would have been a much better book if about third of the flab had been removed.

24. Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane

I’ve been working my way through the books by this author and really enjoyed this one. I liked the more serious issue, alongside the romance, especially as I don’t think the chemistry between the main characters was that strong, but loved that this was set in areas of Leeds that I’m familiar with. I especially loved the shoutout to the Roundhay Bakehouse, which is basically someone’s house and they sell the best baked goods I have EVER tasted from their kitchen on Saturday mornings.

25. 29 Seconds by TM Logan

With the recent chat about TM Logan I realised I had this one on my kindle. When Sarah inadvertently does a favour for a mysterious man she receives an offer - provide a name and he will make that person disappear. I didn’t enjoy this much, I mean it was ok, but I found the main situation infuriating and I’m not sure how much this (maybe a bit unfairly) played into my lack of enjoyment of the book.

26. Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

This has been my favourite book by this author so far. I found it really funny (the phonetic alphabet bit really made me honk, to borrow a word from the author 😊) and I loved the chemistry between the main characters. I also really liked the character of Georgina and could imagine beings friends with her, and again the more serious issue was well done without taking away from the ‘feel-good’ vibe of the book.

27. Sleepyhead by Mark Bellingham

I first read this when it originally came out over twenty years ago and also read a few others in the series (Thorne detective series) when they came out which I greatly enjoyed. I then stopped the series when the author became embroiled in a scandal where he used a fake user name to slag off other authors and leave poor reviews so I took against him and he went on my shit list. Except he didn’t. I totally got him mixed up with someone else, which I discovered recently when I saw him on a quiz show and though “but he seems so nice” and did a bit of research 🤦‍♀️. So when I saw the Thorne books on offer this week I saw it as a sign, and as a penance for besmirching the author’s good name (and because they are pretty good) I’ll be working my way through the series.

Children of Paradise on the long list is also 99p. I worked in an old cinema growing up so looking forward to getting to this.

Thanks for the tips, I've snapped up Children of Paradise and I'm A Fan on kindle.

@MamaNewtNewt I've brought 29 Seconds on
My kindle as I want to read all of TML's books. I've also brought his first book, Lies.

I felt the same as you on reading The Holiday, but I think he's one of those authors who gets better with every book. I like his writing style and the way he plots his novels out.

Having just finished it, I am now desperate to know if you had a similar experience 😃

Children of Paradise - Camilla Grodova

It's fairly short, a bit odd, strangely compelling and very atmospheric.
Woman joins the staff of a rundown cinema and takes a while to be accepted by the rest of the team. It's then taken over by a chain and everything changes for them all.
It explores the mundane, inane world of being a public facing minimum wage slave in a team of social misfits with an incompetent manager. It also looks at the modernisation of an iconic experience.
I don't think it's a prize winner, but it definitely kept my interest.
I wasn't convinced at first, but it soon grew on me. It's very vivid and won't be easily forgotten.

I can't really comment on the film title chapters and how they relate to the coming content as I'm not very into film, but there will be something there for film buffs.

Wandering Souls - Cecile Pin
Coming of age migrant experience. A large family escape Vietnam, but are put onto separate boats and only three survive the journey. They navigate life in refugee camps in Hong Kong. Sent on to Britain, the eldest, a 16 year old girl, must care for her two younger brothers against the backdrop of Thatcher's Britain and a hostile reception.
It weaves in folklore and the ghosts of home in a new place.
This is very short but packs a lot in. It's very sensitively done and you can't help but draw parallels with the current migrant experience. It's very thought provoking.