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?

The Boat House Pretty Beach

More interested in what the plant pots politics are!! @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Welcome @Strokethefurrywall we tend to have strong opinions and there's a number of debates but it's all good-natured. Definitely no pressure to just read literary books, a lot of us read a mix, I know I range from the classics, to contemporary fiction, to sci-fi, to crime, to chick-lit. The important thing is that a book gives you what you need at the time and that you share your opinion here so we know whether to grab it or avoid 😊

I agree Welshwabbit - I liked Little Disasters very much the best, and DNFed Reputation a little way in.

Welcome Strokethefurrywall :) I reckon between us we cover pretty much all genres of books (I quite like a cosy cupcake book myself, especially if there's a bit of a magic/fantasy slant to it.) One of my favourite things about this thread though is that it's pushed my reading boundaries & I've definitely widened out my choices.

Having said that, my most recent two reads were well in my comfort zone:

92. Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
    Third in a YA urban fantasy trilogy, set in her Shadowhunters world during the Edwardian period. It feels like she's been dialling it in with these books for a while now, and this series in particular has a real lack of plot beyond some lackluster love triangles mostly dependent on characters failing to exchange basic information. Having said that, I read this in a day (despite the e-library copy being in a weird format that wouldn't let me adjust text size other than by turning my phone sideways & manually zooming each page). Despite all her faults, she has a knack for making her characters come to life, & I guess in slight mitigation, love-lorn teenagers aren't known for making sensible life choices or having good communication skills.

93. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
    More YA urban fantasy, this time the second in a series. The series starts with Susan's quest to find her father, which leads her into entanglement with a world of magical fighting booksellers, ancient powers, and a corrupt police force. The books are set in the 1980s, and they wear their period rather heavily (perhaps not so evident for the target audience), but other than that they're very enjoyable. I'm not sure if there'll be more, this one wrapped up Susan's story quite neatly, but if there are I'll definitely read them. My only minor gripe is that the audio book seems to be a US edition, despite being read with an English accent, & there's jarring references to pants / overalls in place of trousers / dungarees. Given Nix has a tendency to lots of description of his characters' clothing choices, this is more annoying than it might otherwise be.

I've also got English Food on the go on paper, & Invisible Lines on audio, both fine but not particularly gripped by either.

140. Something to Live For by Richard Roper

This was aiming for the same vibe as Eleanor Oliphant and Ove but missed the mark by a country mile. I think the main problem is that the main character wasn’t really endearing, which is essential for this type of book.

Welcome @Strokethefurrywall - I read a much greater variety of books now I'm a thread regular. Some more highbrow than I used to choose, some definitely not. But it's really broadened my reading horizons and I find I enjoy what I read far more because there is a degree of choosing based on such a wide variety of recommendations. And it's a no judgment zone - people have strong (to put it mildly) opinions but I think rarely is anyone's reading taste judged because in the end we all like different books. But we all really really like books!

I have just finished A Place Apart by Dervla Murphy. I've no idea where the recommendation came from but I ordered it from the library so it must have been suggested to me by someone. If it was any of you, I can't say thank you enough. It's a strong contender for my book of the year and after reading a reasonable amount about the Troubles recently I'd say it's the first time I've come even close to understanding what life in Northern Ireland was like in the late 70s or why things there were so fractured and bleak. It's not a history as such although there is some historical detail - Murphy is a Catholic from the Republic who cycled through Northern Ireland meeting people on both sides to try to understand more about the division and what the prospects for peace were. She has an incredible knack for getting people to open up to her and for depicting the contradictions, humanity and hope throughout the country. It's an extraordinary book full of empathy and humour. Would strongly recommend to anyone as a way to understand more about the Troubles or even just as a great read.

@Tarahumara - A Fine Balance is the most heartbreaking read. I read it when it came out and finally returned to it last year. And it was every bit as devastating as the first time. It's not a misery fest type read like A Little Life which I felt was just trying about seeing how many ways she could make Jude suffer, although it was equally bleak.

I have just finished Reputation too, @Welshwabbit. I didn't love it but didn't hate it - it was very readable though the teen daughter plot was agonising.

@Palegreenstars - I am glad you are enjoying The Morland Dynasty books. I really like a family saga but also enjoy the historical background. I did a re-read of them a few years ago but can see that I stopped after book 26 (which I think was early twentieth century) - perhaps I need to re-start!

@PepeLePew I think I recommended Dervla Murphy earlier this year. I thought it was absolute brilliant when I read it in the late 1970s/early 80s. Her travel writing is also excellent

Oh she’s a DollyPeg, how delightful @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ! ❤️

Welcome @Strokethefurrywall, anything goes here, just about. I’ve picked up a few things I’d skimmed past previously because of reviews on here and been pleasantly surprised. Strong opinions, but not judgmental is very much the tone.

Just don’t believe anyone who says Cuddy isn’t the best book of the decade and was cruelly robbed of its rightful place as winner of the Booker Prize

@TimeforaGandT im a bit nervous about committing to the whole thing but so far I’ve ordered the next one as soon as I’ve finished the previous. Perfect winter reading

The plant pot has very strong opinions. I can't imagine where it gets them from.

@BoldFearlessGirl yes - and what a gorgeous doll she is. I have serious hair envy.

It couldn't win what if wasn't nominated for. @BoldFearlessGirl don't go pushing monks with a corpse in poem form on unsuspecting trusting readers

Love the fairy Remus!

The access to deals for kindle is very frustrating.
I used your link @EineReiseDurchDieZeit and saw books not shown to me when I did kindle store and filtered by deals - eg pirenesi and all the light we cannot see are on there.
Book bub daily email shows Brick Lane at 99p which I didn't see on either of the lists above 🙄

Spoilsport.

@WithIcePlease

I normally just scan my own Wish List but I thought I'd have a look as so many people were asking, it's a weird one alright.

Still struggling with Monthly deals!!

However have just found that Unwell Women which I thought was stunning is on offer

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unwell-Women-Journey-Medicine-Man-Made-ebook/dp/B08HMN732X?crid=1QXWXCH23VG21&keywords=unwell+women&qid=1701437061&s=digital-text&sprefix=unwell+women,digital-text,82&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=jennamorri-21&linkId=8f653e19679a209e415c5e5ede9d86c6&language=enGB&reff=asliiss_tl

Love the fairy Remus! I also enjoyed A Place Apart this year Pepe, loved your review. I’ve been thrown off course by goings-on at work and haven’t been reading much, but have finally managed to settle to read The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. This is wonderful as usual - savage political commentary in the present and a treat to see a younger Lamb under another name in a historical timeline. He’s not the main character in this one, but features alongside another familiar face who is equally good value. Great stuff.

Madame Bovary - read with the readalong so a belated review. A treat to read alongside others but not my favourite novel. Sex and shopping and comeuppance.

It’s very odd because I could see all those books everyone is mentioning, all in the deals.

Sneaking in rather sheepishly after nearly a month out.
I fell off a cliff reading-wise sometime in October - wasn’t exactly tearing through books before that but I seemed to stop dead rather. I’m mortified to admit I discovered tik-tok (I’m over 40 for pity’s sake) and have wasted countless hours I’ll never get back watching people apply make up in ways I’m never going to attempt, cook meals I have no desire to replicate and ‘unbox’ their various ‘hauls’ of stuff I must admit to being occasionally tempted by before better sense prevailed. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me but I’ve deleted the app now and am going to do my best to pretend none of it ever happened.

With that in mind, I forced myself to finish book number 38 this morning - Holding by Graham Norton. It was alright, I didn’t hate it but can’t say I loved it either.

I’m also listening to Shrines of Gaiety on audible (I have had this on the go for quite a long while, I just don’t get much uninterrupted listening time these days which is the only reason I sometimes miss commuting). I am finding it hard to sustain interest I have to say - there just seems to be such a lot of unnecessary detail and waffle, I don’t know if it just doesn’t suit the audio format as much - I know it received mixed reviews on here but I’m generally a fan of everything Kate Atkinson writes so was expecting to love it a bit more. I’ll persevere though.

I'd missed Unwell Women and Piranesi so thanks for the heads up. Also bought Our Man in Havana.

@AliasGrape about a year ago I downloaded TikTok watched it for about 3 hours straight, deleted it and have not been back. It seemed incredibly addictive 🤣

@AliasGrape I also discovered tiktok a few months ago and it completely stopped my reading as I spent far too many hours watching people restock their laundry supplies and make ice. I'm a bit younger than you, mid 30s, but my friends and dh are all very scathing of my tiktok habit as I'm too old apparently. However, I will say I feel I now have it down to a manageable level and have also found some creators on booktok with similar tastes to me

60. Renishaw Hall: The Story of the Sitwells by Desmond Seward
    This was languishing on my Kindle and honestly I have no idea when or why I bought it as I've never heard of Renishaw Hall and was only very vaguely aware of the Sitwell trio. But it was an intereating history of the family and their up and down fortunes. Well researched but honestly I wouldn't recommend unless it's a particular area of interest to you

61. Random Acts of Unkindness by Jacqueline Ward
    I picked this up on stuff your kindle day for free, it's the first in a police procedural series following DS Janet Pearce. I think there are currently 3 books published. It's fairly standard police procedural, Pearce is a loose cannon whose colleagues all think she's not up to the job (why does this seem to be a pre-requisite of a police procedural series?!) following the disappearance of her teenage son a few weeks previously. Jan is convinced his disappearance is suspicious and related to the big case they're working on. Her colleagues and ex husband all believe he's run away. It's a bit darker than many similar series (Tw child sexual assault) although fortunately not graphic with it.

I won't read the rest of the series but it was fine to pass a few hours on a cold winter evening

I bought Unwell Women and Icebound:Shipwrecked at the End of the World. I never did manage to find all the deals, just various lists, but these two were on my wish list.