50 Books Challenge 2023 Part Five

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fifth 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, the second one here, the third one here here and the fourth one here.

What are you reading?

Late to this as I‘ve just got home from Oxford…..I’ve got that book 😬

I've not read any Barbara Pym so can't join the discussion, but I do have Excellent Women on my TBR mountain. Not sure it sounds like my cup of tea now.

60. Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovsky

In the near future genetically engineered bioforms are locked into hierarchies, with human masters at the apex delivering the orders. The bioforms are animals that have been developed to enhance certain characteristics to make them ideal for specific roles (this is pretty much warfare in the early part of the book) and they have varying levels of intelligence. To be honest the start of the book was really interesting, and I would have been happy for it to continue down that track, but it developed in ways I wasn’t entirely expecting, and explores ideas around free will and what makes someone / something a human. I thought this book was smart, interesting and engaging and I’ll definitely read more by the author. Also this book is included in Kindle Unlimited so if you have that you can read this for free. Definitely recommended.

61. The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly

The next in the Detective Harry Bosch series set in LA. In this book Bosch has been suspended, is having mandatory counselling sessions and decides that now is the time to investigate the murder of his mother, which occurred when he was 11. I enjoyed the investigation but I’d forgotten what an absolute nob Harry is. He’s arrogant, rude and takes zero responsibility for any of the crappy things he does. He's just a bit of a sulky man baby. That said I’ll still read the rest of the series.

62. I’m Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca Wait

I didn’t mind this, but I don’t think it’s anything special, it's a bit of a run of the mill, middle class, dysfunctional family.

63. Come A Little Closer by Rachel Abbot

The 7th in the DI Tom Douglas series. I don’t really know how to describe the plot of this one without giving anything away, so I’ll just say I found it pretty gripping, despite some elements stretching credibility. Also I have a horrible feeling that Louisa is going to turn out to be as sickeningly, and unrealistically perfect as Cleo in the Roy Grace series - and I had to stop reading those.

64. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I was in two minds about reading this. One the one hand I watched the first series of the adaptation and quite liked it, I absolutely LOVE the adaptation of Sandman, and I find mythology interesting. On the other I find Neil Gaiman pretty smug and irritating, and it’s also a pretty long book so I thought the whole gods thing a bit tiresome by the end. The basic story is that Shadow gets out of prison and is offered a job by the mysterious Mr Wednesday with various figures from mythologies around the world popping up here, there and everywhere. I absolutely loved this book, I loved the gods and goddesses, old and new, especially as the “oh so that person is actually that god" moments were handled pretty subtlety. The story meandered all over the place, but it didnt feel disjointed and I didn't see the ending coming at all. It's pretty rare I am really surprised by a book these day, but this one managed it. Twice. A definite bold for me.

@MamaNewtNewt

Glad to hear you enjoyed American Gods I think it's miles better than the series

I’ve never read any Barbara Pym so all this Pym chat is going right over my head 😜

41. The Rose Cord by J D Oswald

Book 2 in the Ballad of Sir Benfro series.
A fantasy series. Benfro is an adolescent dragon - the dragons here seem to be more of a biped sort of dragon. Like a scaly person with wings. And magical powers. The dragons have been persecuted by humans since humans also learnt to use magic, and are now nearing extinction.

At the end of book 1, while Benfro was out in the forest, the dragon village Benfro grew up in was attacked by human warrior priests, and the inhabitants massacred.
This book opens with Benfro fleeing from the village, and then stumbling across a hidden forest glade, which results in him getting partially possessed by the restless spirit of a long dead dragon mage who’s been plotting vengeance for centuries. And on the human side of things, there’s a lost heir to the throne who’s been forced to join the warrior priests as an initiate, and who’s mostly trying to survive the experience.

It all feels like it’s taking a while to get to the point, there’s lots of detours and introspection, but there’s enough in there to have me reserving the next in the series from the library.

42. Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida translated by David Mitchell & K A Yoshida

This is by the author of The Reason I Jump, which I read earlier this year.
In this book, he’s written more about his experiences of life as someone who’s autistic and non-verbal. This time from a young adult perspective - he was 13 when he wrote the first book.
It’s an interesting read, and a quick one. Lots of very short chapters!

82. The School Of Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Frida goes out and leaves her baby alone. She remains out longer than she intended and in her absence Child Protective Services become involved. Though she is contrite and her ex husband and his partner are very willing to engage, rules have recently been tightened due to incidents with past cases.

Frida finds herself parted from her baby and forced to undertake a strict parenting program.

And the good concept ends here and what follows is 200 pages or so of a laughably absurd secret prison camp staffed by emotional abusers and robot children that apparently have believable teeth but are powered by blue liquid.

Unbelievable relentless misery fest tosh.

I've got the title wrong but I can't be arsed to start again it's The School For Good Mothers

The School for Good Mothers was a DNF for me.

I agree with you Eine, it’s an unrelentless misery fest. It was just too much for me to continue with.

It does not improve and is bleak til the very end.

Sounds like abandoning it was the right choice!

Enjoyed the Dorothy L and Pym reviews!

I’ve been reading Katherine Rundell’s The Girl Savage with the DC and mention it because I wonder if Eva Ibbotson fans would also enjoy Rundell’s children’s books, especially my favourite of the ones I’ve read, Rooftoppers. GS is sadder but all her books are lively and inventive.

The School For Good Mothers for a DNF for me too. Like @StitchesInTime I just found it too relentlessly depressing and just couldn't be arsed. Sounds like we made the right decision.

Stella Gibbons - The Bachelor

Loved this. The third novel by Gibbons I've read, following Cold Comfort Farm (turned on to that by this thread) and Enbury Heath. Despite being set in London, during WWII, it's one of those novels where for long periods middle class English people trundle about whilst not much happens (outwardly). Kenneth, the eponymous Bachelor, is such a great character. I believe the author lived for some time as an adult with her bachelor brother, so this might be somewhat biographical. The book is very comforting somehow. Plus, I love books set in London.

This period of the English novel, from the nineteen twenties to the nineteen fifties I guess, appeals greatly to me. Not sure why that is - maybe it's that mores of the time meant that lots of things had to be said without actually saying them, which good authors could do. Not that that was original for this period, but the time period isn't as remote as something like Jane Austen, and so the characters and events don't feel totally removed from my own experience. Although now I think about it, the comparison with Austen goes further than that, as throughout the book there's constant talk of who is proposing to whom. To such a degree that at the end of the book someone in a letter says "you won't believe who's getting married now!"

Definitely a bold for me.

I had a very tedious period where my washing machine was broken and during that time, as I (variously) hand washed, trudged to the launderette, took advantage of my very kind neighbours and occasionally threw caution to the winds and got a laundry service to pick it up, I diverted myself by doing it "in the style of". Lots of Blanche Dubois relying on the kindness of strangers when I let myself in to the house next door to do a load of towels (they aren't strangers, to be clear ) and sending out the washing felt quite Mrs Dalloway-like. In the end, you do what it takes to get you through because it is SO BORING not just being able to shove everything in the washing machine.

I’m lucky, my washing machine was out of action for 10 days earlier this year and my DM and MiL took turns doing our washing. Everything came back washed and ironed. It was so tempting to keep it broken for a bit longer.

44 Take my Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
I can’t remember who recommended this but thank you as I absolutely loved it and raced through it in a couple of sittings. The main character is Civil, a newly qualified and idealistic young nurse in 1970s Alabama. She starts a job in a family planning clinic in Montgomery with the intention of helping the predominantly black and poor women and girls using the clinic but finds herself caught up in unethical, possibly illegal, practices.

The book is based on a real life case and shines a light on a shameful period of the US government’s recent history where women and girls’ reproductive rights were taken from them. The book also refers to the Tuskegee experiment where 400 men were left with untreated syphilis for 40 years, unknowingly infecting their wives and unborn children.

It was both me and I think Owl - I think I got it off Between The Covers

You really need to read The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks as a non fiction companion piece

Not been on here for ages as a new puppy has overtaken my life 😁 and have totally lost count of where I am up to with reading so not going to even try and remember and have lost my list. However have recently read The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley , yes enjoyable but not as good as The Authenticity project which I enjoyed better.

I really enjoyed this war time book read recently The Memory Box by Kathryn Hughes a story of love and war , I loved it and recommend

a new puppy has overtaken my life

Pics immediately of new thread mascot !

Did someone say puppy? Yes, we need a photo.

The People On Platform Five - Clare Pooley

I think this was a Kindle daily deal book or I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. A group of commuters become entwined in each others lives, ignoring the unspoken rule that you don’t speak to fellow travellers on the train.
It’s ‘uplifting’ and ‘heartwarming’. I hate seeing that in a book description but I did enjoy this. It’s sweet and gently humorous with some likeable characters and a good point to make about the invisible older woman.

Thanks to both of you! I agree with you about The immortal life…., I read it a few years ago and have recommended it to loads of people.

Haven't read another book yet (shame), but popped in to stick up for Excellent Women. Read recently and enjoyed it as an escape from real life. It is rather like watching a Joan Hickson Marple on gold with a cup and tea and a biscuit (an activity I am in no way averse to). Totally get that it would be marmite. Nothing much happens and church jumble sales festure heavily. I've passed it on to my mum, but told her I don't think she'll like it. I'm on holiday next week & have another Pym in the case so will see if it was a one off or I'm a general fan.
Yes - definetely enjoyed Take My Hand. Read it earlier this year after also seeing it on Between the Covers. Glad you enjoyed it @TattiePants

Another Pym fan and I think you’ve summed up why here!

Im getting nowhere with reading again - lots of podcasts but not much reading.

Never read a Pym but I'm tempted! Not read Sayers either although I'm sure I've had one sat on the kindle for a few years now. If they're similar to Georgette Heyer's non-regency stuff I think I'll probably like them

Thanks. Will check it out.

Oooh I am going to bombardyou all now 🐶😁