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?

@PermanentTemporary great review, I loved it early this year. Wierdly the bit that’s stayed with me the most is the farming game - never played a computer game never wanted to but I just loved the world building of it so much

Yes PermanentTemporary - I cared about those people too.

I did wonder if there's some kind of algorithm that sees lots of hits on a book and then reduces it. Perhaps we should test the theory by all looking at something particularly random

Go on, noodle choose something on your wish list that's quite expensive & we'll all look at it and see if the price drops.

I read Tomorrowx3 at the start of the year @PermanentTemporary and think it will be on my top list.

111. Penance - Eliza Clark. Reviewed by @TattiePants on the previous page, I think I liked it a bit more. I feel like I'm not really the demographic for Eliza Clark's books, probably more targeted at late teens or 20-somethings but I do find myself being drawn into her books and quite like the way she's experimenting with different styles and pushing boundaries. I feel like she was having quite a lot of fun here with the world of Tumblr, teen shootings and fanfic. And she loves an unreliable narrator. It's not a book I'd be recommending to people but I'm definitely interested to see what she does next.

I also loved Tomorrow and credit it with getting me back into the swing of it after being in a real rut. I think it will be one of my books of the year

Another lover of Tomorrow here! And even though it's about game design, I thought it spoke to broader issues about the creation of literature and art. A wonderful book.

64. All the Living and the Dead - Hayley Campbell

"A personal investigation into the death trade". A fascinating insight into the occupations around death in the UK and USA, with chapters on the work of an embalmer, executioner, gravedigger and crime scene cleaner amongst others. This was an eye opening experience, brutally honest and hard to read in places - I could only read one chapter at a stretch, and obviously it comes with a trigger warning - but also uplifting and ultimately moving. Across the board the compassion for both living and deceased shone through in the writing and the interviewees.

@RomanMum that sounds interesting. If you haven’t already read it then Smoke gets in your eyes by Caitlin Doughty would make a good companion book.

Also loved Tomorrow x3! Definitely one of my books of the year.

I came on to mention the new Kate Atkinson but see you've got there already. I didn't think Big Sky was that strong but this one sounds intriguing, Jackson Brodie in a country house murder mystery.

82. Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin. This was longlisted for the Women's Prize so I think lots of people will have read it earlier in the year. It follows three teenagers on their journey from Vietnam to Britain, via refugee camps in Hong Kong. The early chapters where they lose their family are almost unbearably sad but I'm glad I kept going as it's a really good book. I knew very little about the experiences of Vietnamese refugees so I definitely learnt a lot. I found it very strong and moving on finding joy in a life shaped by grief, and holding that joy and grief simultaneously.

83. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. A very different tone. I do like CMQ's books in spite of them being remarkably silly. August and Jane meet on the subway in New York and sparks fly, but Jane is actually from 1975 and trapped on the subway line for eternity? Sure! Let's have a fundraising drag show to save the local pancake house? Why not! Very cute and fun.

@TattiePants yes thanks, I read it a couple of years ago.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie it suddenly popped into my head, have you read The Clouds On Both Sides it's by Julie Tullis and is mountain peril. I suspect it's not available on kindle but absolutely worth tracking down a paper or hardback copy.

Her son Chris taught me to climb and we listened to the book on a bouldering trip to Fontainebleau that he led. We didn't quite finish it on the weekend, so I went to buy a copy the second I got home.

It's possible I might have mentioned this one before, as I getting sort of deja vu from writing this....

This is a great idea. Will there be a new thread in the new year? What does it mean when the titles are in bold?

Ha! In that case I nominate Brave the Wild River which is currently a hefty 13.99.

That looks right up my street, actually. I've just looked at it and it says "Featured by Mumsnet". What's that all about?

Yes, there will be a new year thread - come and join us.
We just bold the book titles and authors just so they stand out. Though we also refer to really good books as being a ‘bold’ in that it stands out when we list books at the end of the year.

I’ve looked at your book too @noodlezoodle and I now want to read it! Incidentally, you may have seen it but there was a really gripping 2-part doc recently about exactly such a voyage down the Grand Canyon - recreating the Powell expedition - on BBC2. (Or BBC4 - it’s on iplayer anyway). It was an all-blokes team however, led by Dan Snow. But a fascinating watch.

What the heck?! I've never seen that before. Perhaps it's just because I put a link to it in the post? V weird.

@Terpsichore it looks good doesn't it! Thank you for the tip off, I will check that program out - sounds fascinating.

@MaudOfTheMarches weirdly when I go to the page I don't see that 'featured by mumsnet' message. The plot thickens!

i don't see 'featured by Mumsnet@ either. But the book has gone on my wishlist!.

I will ask on Site Stuff and report back. Presumably Mumsnet gets the commission, but I'm not complaining if it's putting wishlist items in the daily deals!

Hmmm, I can’t see a 'recommended by MN' either.

Here's a link to that programme @noodlezoodle

I’ll do a new thread in the next half an hour.

That book looks great @noodlezoodle! I've added it to my wish list too.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4959078-50-books-challenge-2023-part-ten