50 Books Challenge Part Eight

[Southeastdweller]

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

What are you reading?

I’m still not feeling 100% (can’t shift a nasty cold that I’ve had for weeks) so I’ve brought myself up for an early night with this.

Why didn’t anyone warn me what UTTER CODSWALLOP some/most of it is?!

Edward Ferrars being branded a sexual deviant is possibly her ‘finest’ moment so far, but Colonel Brandon being an evil, lying, materialistic philanderer is rather good too.

I haven’t yet decided whether to finish it or ritualistically burn it for the garbage that it is.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

There's a Mitford one that writes about them with nicknames and such as if they were on personal chums terms. I found it highly annoying

I gave up on Lucy whatshername’s book on Austen for the same reason (well, and for being a really shit writer too).

Indeed. She made Queen Victoria a borefest

Merry Christmas 50 Bookers! I’m enjoying the book hauls vicariously as I got (myself) just the 1: My Good Bright Wolf. biblio you made me laugh as I have in the past bought someone the same book twice so now have to be wary of gifting books!

Congratulations Kinsters - lovely news!

Dangerous news about the Waterstones sale - have resisted so far though tempted by the Tessa Hadley though I’m already awaiting my library reservation of it. I have added the meat-free Mowgli to my reserves too.

Great haul Janina and that’s reminded me I’ve got Your wish is my command on the tbr.

I have a review to post too - Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Went in with low expectations but really enjoyed this. I’ve always been fascinated by the Earthrise picture and the perspective it gives on life on Earth. This book conveys the sheer giddy wonder brought on by contemplating our place on the planet and our planet’s own place in the wider scheme of things, as well as the jolts of terror of thinking about global environmental degradation. I loved hanging out with the astronauts for a day and experiencing the combination of awe and mundanity, and the ambivalence of doing such remarkable work but at such high environmental cost. I’m now deciding whether to pop over to the roundup thread to add this to my reads of the year.

62 The Art of Murder - Fiona Walker One of my 99p kindle deals, and I’m glad I didn’t pay more for it, although it was better than some of the other books I’ve read this year. Very Jilly Cooper-esque, like the others I’ve read by Walker, but this book is slightly different as it’s the first in a murder mystery / cosy crime series. The plot was silly but overall a perfectly ok bit of lightweight fun - certainly much less awful than Murder and Croissants or whatever it was called!

@Piggywaspushed I accidentally read your post as DC got you David Olusoga for Christmas and I was about to throw a tantrum. I obviously read what I wanted to read there.

@JaninaDuszejko after The Count of Monte Christo, we must surely convince people of a Don Quixote readalong!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I want to be a brooch person but can’t work out how to wear one well with the clothes I wear, if you see what I mean. That is so lovely.

Talking of Olusoga, now off to bed to get a step closer to finishing Black and British.

Merry Christmas 50 bookers. I hope you've all had the kind of day you'd like, whether quiet and peaceful or filled with family. And sending to anyone who's been simply grinning and bearing it.

I was given Gliff by Ali Smith by my H, and Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult by my friend. I've not read any of the latter's stuff but I quite like a decent psychological thriller so will give it a go. And my SIL often gives me thoughtfully chosen books so fingers crossed for when I see her at New Year.

Interested to read the Martin Amis chat. I too loved the film of The Zone Of Interest and am on the waiting list for the audiobook from the library. I agree that much of his work can be overly blokey, and I gave up on him for a long while after The Information, but Experience is brilliant, especially his writing about his daughter and cousin. Although H and I still quite often use the phrase "pressure darts, Keith" when in stressful situations, so clearly London Fields made an impact.

stupid drunken bolding fail

I enjoyed Mad Honey recently @StrangewaysHereWeCome

Oh, if I'd got actual David Olusoga for Christmas, I'd be far too busy swooning and giggling to be posting!

I think we can all agree he's our favourite TV historian 😉.

116 Blue Machine - Helen Czerski

Popular TV scientist who studies bubbles is also a keen oars woman and did post doc work in oceanography. I own but haven’t read her first book.

This was an interesting book about how the oceans work. Currents, winds, underwater formations, the fish and other creatures and how they use the features of the ocean and a final plea for the environment. I learnt a fair bit.

My aunt unexpectedly popped in yesterday and gave me Small Islands - Andrea Levy which looks right up my street.

I accidentally managed to unsubscribe to the kindle daily deal email last month and despite signing back up again it has not reappeared in my inbox - any ideas of how to get it back? Am cursing myself of all the 99p deals I have missed!

@AgualusasLover I just shove them on my leather:denim jackets and black work blazers like it’s 1989.

Appropriately @Jecstar I just popped in to say all the Jilly Rutshire books are 99p today. I've mopped the ones I haven't read for a bit of holiday entertainment.

I find some of Martin Amis unreadable, I especially hated Money which I couldn't finish. Time's Arrow was good though.

Just finished a couple more over the last few days:
114. Small Bomb at Dimperly - Lissa Evans. Much reviewed on here. Gentle post war story about a country house trying to preserve the old ways with no money. Amusing enough.

115. Madwoman - Chelsea Bieker. I think I picked this up on a book tubers potential woman's prize list recommendation. It's narrated by Clove, a 30 something mother living in Portland with her two young children. Clove is obsessed with all things wellness but is also living a lie. Her husband thinks her parents are dead but in fact her mother is in prison for killing her abusive father. This was quite good in the vein of things like "really, good actually". The twist was pretty obvious though and I found the descriptions of violence quite intense for a Christmas read!

I also just came on to alert everyone to the Jilly Cooper 99p deal! All of the Rutshire chronicles there except Rivals.

Trying to decide which Jilly Coopers I need. Finished Riders recently and am hooked! Any tips welcome.

Good morning, everyone and I hope you all had a lovely book-filled Christmas. DS bought me The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller unprompted which was lovely - he's autistic and finds gift giving very stressful so now at 18 has got into the habit of going into the local Waterstones and asking an assistant to help select books for people for birthdays and Christmases. And usually nails it.
I got a book token for taking part in some market research last month so plan on browsing the Waterstones sale later. No shortage of books to read at home but it would be rude not to. I'm heading off to stay with some friends later now the DC have gone to their dad's but am hoping to finish Peter Ackroyd's Venice before I go - pulled off the shelf where it's been for 15 years as I bought it when it was published.
Regretting not having read it before as it's fascinating.

Belated Happy Christmas to everyone and @Kinsters what a lovely update, the best of Christmas presents!

I think I had my best ever Christmas for books and received this splendid pile from various family members (you may recognise a number of recommendations from this thread). Should keep me occupied for a while.

I think we need a 2025 thread a few days early @southeastdweller !

I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday.
I got fewer books than usual but that’s fine as I’d ordered myself at least eight after catching up on this thread last week 😁
The True Grace candle fragrance is Library, described as “the scent of leather-covered books, lovingly polished furniture and rows of ancient shelves. A smoky blend of wood, amber and moss”.
In other literature-related gifts, DS gave me two tickets to Pride and Prejudice (sort of..) so looking forward to that in a couple of months.
And Drawn to the Garden is from a neighbour I’ve always liked but don’t know terribly well. She knows we are moving soon to a house with a much bigger garden where I’m planning to grow fruit and vegetables. So a really thoughtful unexpected surprise.

I can't find the 12 days of Kindle today

Oh and many congratulations to Kinsters. Christmas Day with a new baby in the family - how lovely!

@highlandcoo enjoy your present! I saw it in the autumn, loved it.