50 Books Challenge 2024 Part Five

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fifth thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2024, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

If possible, please can you embolden your titles and maybe authors as well of books you've read or going to read? It makes it much easier to keep track.

Some of us bring over to the new thread lists of the books we've read so far, but again - this is your choice.

The first thread is here, the second one here , the third one here and the fourth one here

What are you reading?

15 Human Croquet - Kate Atkinson
16-year-old Isobel learns about herself, her dysfunctional family and the history of her local area through the medium of time-travelling episodes. A teenager's preoccupations with friends, boys and the meaning of life are interspersed with explanatory chapters detailing fragments of history pertinent to Isobel's present.

This was a comfort re-read of my favourite Atkinson. I love the characterisations of Isobel's misfit friends, her lost mother, her acerbic maiden aunt, the abhorrent neighbour and his gentle abused wife. Humorous throughout and terribly sad in parts. A perennial bold for me!

26 Fall Out by Tim Shipman
This is a book that, if you're going to read it, I'd recommend going for an electronic or audio version. I read the hardback, which my partner (political obsessive) bought, and it's huge and really awkward to handle, so it took me ages to read.

The story of Theresa May's premiership and the 2017 election, told in excruciating detail but excellent journalistic prose by the Times political writer. To me it was quite odd to read this account which very clearly sees the Conservatives as the natural party of government- I've never subscribed to that idea and it's just plain odd when describing such a succession of pratfalls, betrayals and cock-ups. Topically, it is clear that the insider dirty culture of betting on political issues is very acceptable in these circles, which perhaps explains how some have got caught out for crossing the line to use insider information in these bets. A rather depressing book but I will read his others, once my wrists have recovered from the weight.

37. Exteriors: Annie Ernaux trans. Tanya Leslie.

Thank you @cassandre for recommending this one.

Exteriors is a concise and captivating book (arround eighty pages) that takes the form of journal entries spanning across several years between 1987 to 1992; essentially an exercise in people-watching during Ernaux's daily commute on the metro and RER from Paris city centre to her home in the suburbs and in the shopping centre.

I really enjoyed this. Ernaux is an excellent observer and it felt we were sharing her experiences and noticing everyone along with her. Homeless people feature prominently. When I first went to France in 1994 it was all new to me; the metro, the diversity of people, the challenges of getting by and looking after myself. This book brought it all back to me.

It made a change to read a book where Ernaux is not reflecting on her own life story but takes the position of an observer. Even then, she looks at strangers to see how they reflect on her; 'anonymous figures in the metro or in waiting rooms...who revive our memory and reveal our true selves through the interest, the anger or the shame they send rippling through us'.

Ernaux intended this book to be completely free of emotion and commentary. She states it isn't entirely the case. I thought it was finely balanced with her observations to the forefront and occasional reflections. I really admire the acuity of this woman's mind and her keen, elegant style of writing.

38. Nicholas Nickleby: Charles Dickens.

Read for the Dickens readalong from November to June.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable Dickens. A good plot, an interesting cast of characters and good pacing. It is a lively, engaging story that keeps the reader's interest even when only read occasionally. I thought it was much better than 'The Old Curiosity Shop' in this regard which was similar in its episodic format, but I thought dragged along in comparison.

The characters of Smike, Newman Noggs and the Cheeryble brothers were all wonderful. Kate Nickleby was also a strong female figure. More thoughts on the readalong thread. But, yes, this Dickens is one of the better ones.

I'm at a loss for a really good audio if anyone can throw ideas at me? Thanks

I got the Garrett Graff D Day which is the same style as Only Plane but I'd rather read it. It's not really working for me like a few things I've tried recently

Private Revolutions was a recent bold for me on audio @EineReiseDurchDieZeit It's read by a number of different voices (one for each of the women featured), and some worked better than others, but overall I thought it was really good.

I'm the opposite right now, in that I'm only getting on with audio, I've got a number of paper / kindle books on the go, but not really gripped by any of them.

No @Sadik I'm definitely the same as you! Only audio is working for me right now I can't read a thing, that's why I've run out!

I've been reading the various summer books guides, & I think my next audible will be My Family & Other Rock Stars which looks fun.

I've tried the sample for the most recent Armistead Maupin, Mona at the Manor, but the narration has terrible reviews for all-over-the-shop British accents & I can see their point. Might try it on Spotify where I don't have to commit to using up a credit.

I'm a little way into Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy - love the reading, but I really should remember that I rarely get on with travel books unless they're The Road to Oxiania. Hopefully I'll get more engaged once she's further into her journey & less 'my bike got stuck in the snow & a nice person rescued me'.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit Samira Wiley’s reading of The Color Purple is wonderful! Pitch perfect and really brings out Celie’s multifaceted personality.

27 Black and Blue: One Woman's Story of Policing and Prejudice by Parm Sidhu

A quick and gripping read, cleanly ghosted by Stuart Prebble. Parm Sidhu was one of the detectives on channel 4's Murder Island, following a thirty-year career in the Met. She cut across several fault lines that exist in most British institutions - she is Asian, female, working class, ambitious and determined. An inspiring story in many ways due to her record of achievement, despite the many barriers that were put in her way. I gave a dear friend who used to be a senior copper and it all rings strikingly true.

Ali and Nino, Kurban Said, trans. by Jenia Graman

This was written in 1937, originally in German I think, and Said is thought to be the de plume of Lev Nussanbaum, an Azeri Jew who converted to Islam. There is a book about him called The Orientalist which I will definitely look out for.

This is a love story, between Ali, a Shiite Muslim
noble and Nino, a Georgian princess in Baku between 1911-1920. Their romance isn’t particularly opposed by either side, which I had expected, and actually is positively encouraged at times. Rather, their love is a metaphor for the huge changes the region was undergoing at this time and the negotiations between East and West. The novel takes us all over the Causcasus and into Persia, into the world of honour, the Harem and war. It’s small but powerful and epic in scale. The landscapes and cultural practices are wonderfully drawn. Nino is a great character. There are some difficult sections about women but they fit the narrative, the time and feel authentic and Nino, mostly doesn’t tolerate nonsense, but Ali is also a reasonable man who is just trying to do his best.

I have a general draw towards literature set in this region and recognised many of the traditions etc from my own upbringing and cultural reference points, but I don’t think that’s at all necessary to enjoy it.

29 The Secret of Villa Alba - Louise Douglas Irene, a young Englishwoman married to a Sicilian businessman, goes missing in 1968. Thirty-five years later, ex-police officer Alice is enlisted by Irene’s stepdaughter (Alice’s old school friend) to help prove that Irene’s husband is innocent of her murder. The story is dual-timeline, told from Irene’s perspective in the 1960s and Alice’s in the present day (2003), and gradually reveals the secrets of what happened when Irene disappeared.

This was an enjoyable read with a decent story and some nuanced characters. The ending was a bit too neat and Alice doesn’t really do much detective work - the truth comes out without any real input from her! It was nothing special and certainly the weakest of the three books I have read by Douglas, but was engaging and well written which is more than I can say for some of the books I’ve read this year - I’d give it a solid 3 out of 5.

I spent last night thinking about all the things I left out of my review, all the things I wanted to mention and new thoughts that came to me. I also listened to a podcast about it. I think it’s going to be a bold in spite of its sexism and oriental tropes.

25. The Other Emily by Dean Koontz

Halfway just before the end of June!

I was an avid Koontz fan in my teens and 20s but eventually found them a little formulaic. However I wanted something for the plane home I wouldn't want to put down and this fitted the bill.

Typical Koontz it was a bit creepy, some human darkness and some other worldly stuff going on. I do find a little scary how his brain comes up with this stuff! Not great literature and I didn't particularly like the ending but I am going to check his back catalogue for 99p reductions more often as it's good stories.

I’ve given up on Withnail and I - Richard E. Grant audiobook as he was beginning to irritate me.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I just listened to The new David Nicholls You Are Here on Audible which I enjoyed. Different narrators for the different sections, it does veer close to a Rom-com at times but I liked it. I seem to remember you have read and possibly hated Cuddy? I listened to that too and thought it worked well as an Audible if you haven't.

I really enjoyed Offshore @BadSpellaSpellaSpella although agree that not much happens. The atmosphere of the boat society has stayed with me though.

I think The Famished Road was the one I couldn't get into despite it being one of the few books available when I was traveling. I must have started it 10 times but couldn't get into to at all.

Recent reads:

44. Scary Monsters - Michelle De Kretser. This book by an Australian writer won the Folio prize last year. It's a bit like Ali Smith's How To Be Both as it is two novellas which can be read in any order. I boringly want chronologically. One follows Lilli, an Australian of Asian descent, living in France in the early 80s. She befriends white, rich Minna and her boyfriend Nick and we see the contrast between their lives and Lilli's who has more in common with the north African immigrants. Lilli wants to make her mark and stand out, and reads De Beauvoir. The other story is set in the near future in Australia and is narrated by Lyle, also an Asian immigrant. This Australia is far right wing, has banned Islam and has a permanent Fire Zone and a No Climate policy. The two stories are very tenuously linked by one sentence, but the themes of immigration, socialism and belonging are common to both. Thought provoking.

45. Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus. Late to the party with this which I picked up after enjoying the TV series. I think on the whole I preferred the TV show - the book was more overtly schmaltzy. Although I can see why it's been successful.

46. Mammoth - Eva Baltasar, trans Julia Sanchez. This Catalan author was shortlisted for the International Booker last year for Boulder. This is similar in some respects. It follows a 20 something lesbian who wants to get pregnant. She ends up living up a mountain in a very basic lifestyle. It's short and intense but the writing is amazing, very raw. Not for the faint hearted but a very original read. It's like the anti - Claire Keegan.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've read Color Purple twice but the new David Nicholls might be the ticket.

28.The Tuscan Year: Life And Food In An Italian Valley by Elizabeth Romer. In the 1970s Romer moved to Tuscany. She tells in great detail of life on a working farm run by Silvana and Orlando Cerotti. She details month by month what is planted, harvested, cooked, and stored. The family make their own cheese, olive oil, and salamis amongst other things, and Romer also provides recipes for some of the traditional dishes.

As a fatty obsessed with both food and Italy this was a perfect escape. The level of detail was quite fascinating - for example pages on the many different kinds of sausages and their uses - and vivid. Very comforting.

Also a rather MN-looking woman stopped me on the train yesterday to ask her about it, and I did wonder if it was one of you lovely lot?

I have just read the, Slow horses series and then dived into books 1-9 of the Inspector Gamache series. I have thoroughly enjoyed both for different reasons. I normally would read one book in a series them move into something else and go back to the series later but for some reason totally immersing myself into these worked for me. I can leave the Inspector Gamache books now as the narrative arc, for me ended with book nine . I will revisit starting at book 10 at some point.
I am somewhere around book 65

43. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. Already read by many, but to summarise, set in Yorkshire during the search for the ripper in the late 70s. 12 year old Miv becomes obsessed with finding him, and in her detective work uncovers lots of other dark secrets in her community. A coming of age story as she starts to understand the adult world.

This was an easy read and I liked bits of it, but overall it felt too simplistic and saccharine. The racism storyline was at the level of YA, if not even a children's book. Too many new secrets kept appearing - there were some core storylines, but then suddenly you had the Uncle Raymond curveball?! A small thing but I was annoyed by the slipping in and out of Yorkshire dialect. So on the whole, I finished it quickly, but with a fair amount of eye rolling.

Adding my latest reads - I've had a bad spell of illness recently so nothing too challenging!

79. Various - Murder Under The Sun
80. Rachel Burton - The Mystery of Haverford House
81. Vanessa Len - Never a Hero
82. Clare Mackintosh - A Game of Lies
83. Orlando Murrin - Knife Skills for Beginners
84. Jane Steen - Lady Helena Investigates
85. Jane Steen - Lady Odelia's Secret
86. Anthony Horowitz - Close to Death
87. CL Miller - The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
88. Ann Treneman - Finding the Plot
89. Benedict Brown - The Castleton Affair
90. Jodi Taylor - Killing Time

I didn't enjoy Close to Death as much as I did the other Hawthorne books - I thought previous ones were really clever, this one seemed to take ages to get going

The Jane Steen books I thought were very similar to the Lady Julia Grey books, so similar in fact that I checked whether it was the same author writing under a different name, but apparently not! On the whole I preferred the Julia Grey books but anyway, nice easy reads.

Has anyone else read Killing Time yet? I actually think the Time Police books are more fun than the St Mary's series now but found this one overly long - which is not to say that it wasn't more enjoyable than most things I've read recently, because it was! - but it could have done with being a bit shorter...

@BadSpellaSpellaSpella - I do like a houseboat book so may have to look for Offshore! I enjoy the Marie Browne Narrowboat series too, the lifestyle sounds lovely (but hard work)...

I hope you feel better now/soon.

I agree about Close To Death. It was well written, as ever - but definitely less clever, so less rewarding.

I'm another one who is finding audiobooks easier than reading at the moment - I think it's partly the heat, and partly that I'm so busy at the moment and I can listen to audiobooks while doing other things.

I've also just finished my 50th book! Definitely reading less than last year, although I've been reading some big beasty books, but really enjoying my reading. I've read more physical books, non-fiction and listened to more audiobooks so far, which were some of my aims. The low level of bolds doesn't really reflect my enjoyment as I have had quite a few that have been near bold, might do a bit of a review to see if my ratings still stand.

47 The Night Raven by Sarah Painter

There are five magical families in London (with suggestions that the Crow family, at least, is less than legit), and an uneasy truce exists between them. When a member of the Crow family disappears Lydia Crow, an investigator, comes to London to investigate her cousin’s disappearance and attracts the attention of a handsome DI. This very much felt like it was setting up the series as not an awful lot happens. I’m not sure I will bother with the rest of the series, but there was a ghost, who I was very intrigued by so might consider it. Free on audible.

48 Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

I read Postcards From the Edge a year or two ago, and wasn’t that keen, but I loved this memoir. It explored Carrie’s life, including her addictions and mental illness, with her trademark, self-deprecating wit. I found this really funny, and it just really drives home how she was taken way too soon. The descriptions of her parents were especially funny, and the love between Carrie and her mother Debbie Reynolds was really captured, which I think made their deaths, only one day apart, all the more poignant. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

49 The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

I read this story of Bill Bryson’s childhood in the American mid-west when it came out years ago and enjoyed it even more on audible. I liked the way Bill (I like to feel we are on first name terms at this point) interspersed his personal recollections with a bit about what was happening in the US at the time. I think he really captured a sense of the time and place, and I found his description of a way of life that he feels is lost forever to be really interesting, as he managed to avoid going into grumpy old man “in my day” mode.

50 Who’s That Girl by Mhairi McFarlane

I read this last year, but listened to the audiobook (free on Spotify) in preparation for reading the sequel that has just come out. Enjoyed it a bit more this time round.

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl I'm listening to Killing Time next, although I'm tempted to listen to the rest of the series again first. I also enjoy the Time Police series more than St Mary's at the moment so am looking forward to this one!

Have just finished

30 Penelope Fitzgerald The Bookshop

I loved it just as much as Offshore and to be honest I was rather angry for the protagonist at the end. An absolutely spot on portrait of small minded local politics and the effects they can have on people unwilling to bend the knee. I didn't know this but apparently Fitzgerald didn't start her own literary career until she was 60 (although she had been in and around editing and publishing in various roles prior).