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?

57 Abandon - Blake Crouch Well this was gripping, but it was also pretty implausible, and very gory and gruesome. Abandon is a godforsaken Colorado mining town in the 1890s; and a ghost town with a mystery in the present day. The two timelines gradually tie up with each other and we get an explanation of why everyone disappeared in the 1890s. I found it far too violent and depressing, and the main female character was not very well-drawn, but I suppose that didn’t stop me reading to the end. It was a slog at times though, especially once I realised that the grimness was not going to let up. That’s two books by Crouch I’ve read now, and I’m not sure I’ll read another.

145, The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (Audible)

Wasn't going to but did waste a credit on this dreadful sequel. Some of the cast were equally dreadful

Absolute tosh, drivel, bollocks of the highest order, wouldn't know where to begin with the critique and don't even have enough energy to really go off on one,

I won't be reading the third because I don't give a fuck. Draining to even try and follow.

Just realised I’m well behind on reviews- probably because I’ve started and stopped so many books recently.

135 The Winter Guest- WC Ryan
A murder-mystery set during the Irish War of Independence and featuring themes of class as well as politics. It isn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it did get me over the hump of finishing something when I was struggling. I do enjoy a crime novel set in an interesting historical period.

136 Born a Crime- Trevor Noah
I’m way behind the curve on this one. I enjoyed it and Noah reading the audio himself added to the experience. For those who don’t know, it is his autobiography about growing up in Apartheid era South Africa. I don’t think it deserved quite as much hype as it’s had but I did enjoy his obvious respect and love for his admirable mother.

137 The Bee Sting- Paul Murray
One of the Booker shortlist and reviewed a few times already on this thread. It tells the story of the four members of the Barnes family struggling through the economic downturn in Ireland. I really enjoyed most of this (though it did take me ages to get through it- I think that was partly the cumbersome big hardback though) but the ending threw me a little. Not quite a bold.

138 A Killing in November- Simon Mason
A really enjoyable police procedural. DI Ryan Wilkins, who has issues with authority and privilege, is sent to investigate a murder in the home of an Oxford don. This was a mistake as it was supposed to be the much more debonair DI Ray Wilkins sent instead. The two must now work together to solve the crime. Lots of humour and a decent mystery, though the interactions between Ryan and his son didn’t always seem convincing. I will definitely continue this series.

139 Holly by Stephen King
Just okay- diverting enough. Holly Gibney from King’s previous Bill Hodges series investigates a missing woman throwing her into the way of an elderly serial-killing couple (not a spoiler- we know from the start). A bit silly and an over-emphasis on covid but the audiobook passed a bit of time on the commute.

140 Tunnel 29 Helena Merriman
This is a bold for me. Based on BBC podcast this tells the story of the attempt to build an escape tunnel under the Berlin Wall in 1962. It doesn’t add a lot of historical knowledge (though there were a few interesting snippets about the Stasi) but it’s a great story of human determination in times of trouble.

Just seen that one of my recent reads is up for 99p at the moment,

88. Takeaway by Angela Hui
    The story of the author's childhood growing up with her parents & brothers in a Chinese takeaway in the Welsh valleys. I enjoyed this, I thought it was a really nicely written insight into life as the child of first generation immigrants trying to blend in with local peers while at the same time living up to parental expectations.

89. I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
    I bought this for another train journey, & it's lot of fun - I think I liked this one the best of the three McQuiston books I've read. It reminded me a lot of late 80s / early 90s high school movies (though not as dark as Heathers, still one of my favourite films). The titular Shara Wheeler - principal's daughter & darling of her strict Christian high school - has vanished, & three ill assorted classmates try to track her down following a trail of clues that she's left for them. (Only for those who are happy reading YA though)

Ooh @BaruFisher I’m listening to the Tunnel 29 podcast at the moment, it’s good!

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit love your review 😂

@sadik, thanks, have bought Takeaway. I’ve seen the author being interviewed a few times.

I love Heathers too @Sadik!

35 Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
Reading so slowly at the moment. I would have to read 10 children's books to get to 50 so I'm not sure it will happen. Never mind.

This is a good effort and I enjoyed it, particularly the second half. The characters are much better drawn and sympathetic even when appalling people, than the previous book of his I read, V2. It is difficult to turn real history into a thriller, so it's not surprising that this has the sort of timescale that isn't very thrilling. It's the story of two of the regicides, the group of men who signed the death warrant of Charles I. But the book opens after the Restoration of the monarchy, when those men are being hunted to death. Over several years, Richard Naylor is in active pursuit of those who go into hiding - in England, in the Netherlands and in colonial New England, where there are still Puritans in charge of many isolated settlements.
Recommended but I'm not going to bold it - these days it has to absolutely blow me away to get a bold.

Covenant of Water is in today's deals - I read it recently and absolutely loved it. It's veeeeeeeeery long though, so not for anyone wanting a quick read!

I also stumbled across some Black Friday Week deals which are mostly rubbish but have a few good things in there. Sharing a link (hopefully) despite the fact that I hate Black Friday and it's not even Black Friday yet, wtf Amazon.

Thanks @noodlezoodle I loved Cutting For Stone so have picked this up.

Still Life by Sarah Winman

I am, of course, the last person in the world to read this book and I'm sure you all have, so in brief, the story of a group of people over 20 years, united by a common thread of art and Italy. It's quite lovely, the characters are for the most part very well drawn, and it's very atmospheric. I did, however, find it a bit......boring.

Thanks for the deals link @noodlezoodle. I've picked up a couple of Christmas themed murder mysteries and also Rizzio that I know a lot on here have read. I already have 250 unread books so I really don't need more but I can't resist a 99p deal. I'm also in a massive reading slump at the moment so not even getting any reading done

Another Cutting For Stone fan here so thank you. I don't tend to remember to check the deals so am always glad to be alerted to bargains!

30.The Dark Rose by Cynthia Harrold-Eagles. The second Morland Dynasty book covering the family from Henry VIII’s rise to power to the start of his son Edward’s reign. I liked this less than the first initially as the head of the Morland household Paul was unlikeable but as the story moved onto Nanette I got into it again. I think this period was going to be trickier as it’s so well known and I found the focus too heavily weighted to court and I was more interested in home life.

Book 49 - nearly there! Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel. It feels different in many ways to her others: more gritty, more focused on real poverty and more radical.

It has a strong , dramatic, if occasionally melodramatic, plot and is really interesting on capitalism, unions, Chartism and the rise of poverty in Manchester. Loads of deaths at the hands of poverty, especially at the beginning.

My copy has an absorbing introduction , some of which draws comparisons between Engels and Gaskell, written by a Dr Sally Minogue. No relation, I assume!

58. London by Edward Rutherford

Rutherford is undoubtedly a clever chap and has done a huge amount of research on London and life through the ages and decided he would like to like to share this knowledge with the world in the form of a fiction book.

Each chapter is a different time period and focuses on a few prominent families. Each chapter is about 90 minutes so essentially short stories meaning you never get to grips with the characters. I also couldn't remember who had done what to or with which families in previous chapters and it was referenced a lot and quite confusing.

The conundrum on scoring this book is that I liked the book as I have learned something about how religion played a huge part in England's life (Catholic Vs protestant) but I also can't remember all that much of it as it was quite boringly written and so obviously a history lesson posing as a story that I glazed over. A lot.

Overall I wouldn't read another of his so I guess I don't recommend but I do have slightly more historical context to England's history than I did two months ago.

Thanks to Eine and Tattiepants - A Woman of No Importance was indeed a great listen.
I’m still on the fence on whether audiobooks are for m. I do have a tendency to drift off and I get very irritated by having to take my headphones out when people (looking at you DH) interrupt me to tell me that Arsenal’s goalie is injured etc.
Going to pause my Audible membership for now but have noted all the other recommendations.

The Other Half of Augusta Hope by Joanna Glen.

This is the parallel story of Augusta, growing up in Hertfordshire with her twin sister, and Parfait doing the same in Burundi with his family, and their criss-crossing lives. It reminded me a LOT of the Poisonwood Bible in the characters of the twins (I think Augusta is possibly meant to be neurodiverse), and there are some irritating clichés and stereotypes in it, but in general a good read.

I still haven't even opened the Wheel of Time. Teenaged me could not get enough of these books, but I feel so daunted by the length of the series I might just abandon.

I am on search of recommendations for my brother for his birthday. He only really reads non-fiction now - prisoners of geography and that kind of thing. I have always bought him a book for his birthday- used to be the new terry pratchett when we were teenagers! He is interested in politics but this is not my genre and I would appreciate advice.. .

@BestIsWest I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have her book on Clementine Churchill to read which I’m looking forward to. I’m like you with audiobooks. The only time I read them is when I go for a walk as I get too distracted at home.

The Clementine Churchill was very good also, I've read it

@PersisFord does your brother like Ben McIntyre? Admittedly it's s more history than current politics.

@PersisFord Ian Dunt and Rory Stewart have both got good UK focussed books out this year.

For something bigger picture, maybe Naomi Klein - Doppelgangers - haven't read it but it sounds interesting.

Mary Beard's new book Emperors also sounds good - but obviously much more historical.

The Rory Stewart - Politics on the Edge is very interesting, Also James O’Brien and Chris Bryant have recent books out which sound interesting. I also enjoyed But What Can I Do - Alastair Campbell*

Finally, for humour, The Decade In Tory - Russell Jones is funny but also infuriating.

Oooh these are great, thank you! No idea if he has read any but I'll ask his girlfriend to check the shelves.

Thanks everyone!

I've just finished the new Mary Beard. It's interesting and engaging, but it's written for the masses, not the serious history buff. Given that men are supposed to think about the Roman Empire daily, it could be a good choice.

Also recently finished the new Hernan Diaz - In the Distance about a young Swedish boy who gets separated from his brother as they emigrate to America. He boards the wrong ship and ends up in California instead of New York and then tries to cross the country to reunite with his brother. He experiences gold rush, pioneer and civil war America all while trying to survive off the beaten track as he travels through hostile terrain.
I really enjoyed this. Really evocative of time and place with strong characterisation.