50 Books Challenge 2023 Part Nine

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the ninth 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, the fourth one here, the fifth one here, the sixth one here, the seventh one here and the eighth one here.

What are you reading?

Great pile of books there @BaruFisher. Carol Shields is one of my all time favourite writers.

141. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Six are called only five will be chosen.

This is an example of the Dark Academia trope. Postgraduate students in a world were magic is normal compete against each other in a fellowship to access the Library Of Alexandria, but is everything all that it seems?

Frustrating. Some real moments of "this is quite good" dragged down by "this writing isn't amazing" it meanders about too much and doesn't sufficiently explain everyone's power, in one case it's just "oh he does this" with little follow through.

The sudden twist is hastily covered in the final chapter, and it feels as though fully plotting it throughout would have made a better book, if the reader had been "in on it" to some degree.

I feel like I do want to know what comes next, but I think the same prose and dialogue problems will be in evidence so we shall see how quickly I delve into The Atlas Paradox, I feel a bit ambivalent at present.

Meant to say, I seem to remember somebody else reading this. @ me

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit we've been having great Dark Academia chats over on Style and Beauty. We started with tweed jackets and leather satchels but have wandered into antique jewellery, wood-panelled libraries, the woes of working in real academia as opposed to the imaginary version, history and literature. It's been interesting.

@BaruFisher what a great pile of books! I spotted Alan Johnson among them and hadn't realised he was writing thrillers now.
He's always seemed like a decent man, which was confirmed when my sister wrote to him after reading his biography. She told him how aspects of his childhood reminded her of our dad (who was very poor when young) and got a four page hand-written letter back. We like him in our family.

Autobiography I should say!

@BaruFisher another vote for Small Island and I also loved The Hours. I see you've got Remus's bloody boring butler there too!

@InTheCludgie
Loved Southern Book Club and have loaned my copy out to three others who also loved it.

@Gingerwarthog I've just finished reading How To Sell A Haunted House by the same author, started off loving it, then struggling and ready to DNF then back to loving it. I know his other books had good reviews so have high hopes for this one. And only lost £1.65 if I'm wrong!

I've read The Atlas Six @EineReiseDurchDieZeit I zipped through it, but I won't bother buying the sequel, I'm waiting for it to be in the library or come up for 99p. I'm sure someone else has read both of them.

@InTheCludgie
Think you'll love it - I might try the Haunted House one.
By the way, years since I heard 'cludgie' - brings back memories!

@Gingerwarthog it's a great word, isn't it? 😁

@InTheCludgie
Certainly is.
See also:
Gallus

28.The Better Sister by Alafair Burke. Forgettable thriller with very little jeopardy.

29.The Founding Cynthia Harrold-Eagles, I was recommended this years ago on this thread as another epic collection in the style of Ken Follett. This is the first of 30(!) books of the Morland Dynasty. Founded by Eleanor Morland when she (a gentlewoman) is betrothed to Edward Morland (a farmer!). We follow 4 generations of Morland’s set to the back drop of the 100 year war. It was so enjoyable to watch the family grown and change over 50 years. Eleanor was a fab character. I’m hooked and going straight on to number 2.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations of where to start with my book haul! I couldn’t believe how many good reads there were in this tiny independent charity book shop. I also had an enjoyable book chat with the volunteers who worked there so I will definitely be back. Remus will be even more exasperated with me as I read the boring bloody butler on kindle earlier this year and I loved it so much I grabbed a copy for my bookshelf.
@highlandcoo DH chose the Alan Johnson and loved hearing your story as he always thought he sounded like a thoroughly decent man.

@Palegreenstars oh! I've never read the Morland Dynasty books but DM was a huge fan and I remember her being so excited when she got the latest from the library, especially if she was ahead of her friends in the queue.

I'm struggling to find something to read. I enjoyed American Wife so started Eligible by the same author but thought it was tosh so discarded it.

@BestIsWest they are definitely on the lighter side (my mum read them when my dad was in hospital) but they feel just right for Autumn and not a Follett like heaving bosom in sight.

Just read The Prime Minister We Never Had, an interesting book by Steve Richards , focusing on 11 20th century politicians (10 chapters : 2 for the price of one in the Miliband chapter).

If nothing else, this will make people reevaluate Jeremy Corbyn! Naturally I found the most recent chapters most involving and probably felt most sympathy for Ed Miliband and Corbyn . Richards outlines quite enlightingly how different history would be if it had taken different paths, including probably no Brexit. He also discusses why men (there is one woman!) of principle often aren't leaders - and frequently how some just aren't ambitious or ruthless enough. He as no time for Johnson, quite obviously, and derides a keratin cult of personality, whilst pointing out the duller people often are selected for leadership by both parties and electorates (looking good, Sir Keir?) and is interesting, too, on the thrall of Thatcherism and Blairism over leadership.

That sounds like a great read Piggy - I'll look out for it. In praise of dull-ness, I have to say that I think the very boring Mark Drakeford does a pretty solid job here in Wales.

That sounds like a great read Piggy - I'll look out for it. In praise of dull-ness, I have to say that I think the very boring Mark Drakeford does a pretty solid job here in Wales.

Apologies for double post, only spotted when it was too late to edit. I've now bought it on Audible!

@Piggywaspushed that sounds very interesting. Does he mention John Smith? He's number one Prime Minister We Should Have Had for me, in fact I think the course of history would have been quite different had he not died when he did.

No,not as a candidate although he comes up. He has criteria which he explains at the beginning of the book. He says had Hugh Gaitskell or John Smith not died, they almost certainly would have become party leaders and then maybe PMs. So, sadly, their deaths exclude them.

Talking of editing , I noticed keratin type of personality somewhat late. MN won't let me edit my post more than once! Maybe it's like a Teflon personality. Smooth and fake health giving credentials

Not exasperated. I'm always happy when people find books that they love - even if they are wrong. . Glad you enjoyed it. I'm back to mindless crime (Patricia Wentworth) because I picked a pile of charity ones up for 50p a shot.

I’ve got a lot of time for our very dull Mr Drakeford.