50 Books Challenge 2025 Part Eight

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the eighth thread of the 50 Books Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2025, 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 or / 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 like to bring over lists to the next thread - again, this is up to you.
The first thread of the year is here, the second thread here , the third thread here, the fourth thread here , the fifth thread here , the sixth thread here and the seventh thread here

Quite a marmite winner I think @elkiedee but I liked it. Apparently his acceptance speech was about as articulate as his main character!

@Arran2024 really hoping the book was Notes on a Scandal!

Ooh @Benvenuto - I dithered over that Attlee biog in a charity shop yesterday. I might go back and see if it’s still there tomorrow now!

My latest:

84. Patricia Brent, Spinster - Herbert Jenkins

This was a complete chance read; I saw it mentioned on a book blog as one of the most delightful novels ever, so I tracked it down. Published in 1918, it’s a little gem of a romantic comedy, but with unexpectedly modern aspects.
The titular Patricia is a young, single girl who lives in a staid boarding-house and works for a rising politician. She’s forsworn men, but when sheer boredom with her dull life forces her into a reckless lie about 'dining with her fiancé', her fellow-boarders are agog and follow her to the non-existent assignation at a posh restaurant. A desperate Patricia, knowing she’s being watched, is forced to attach herself to the nearest single male diner and throw herself on his mercy. Luckily he plays along, is also handsome, witty, rich (and a Lord) - and what happens next is a comedy of manners in which the reluctant Patricia is enmeshed ever deeper in a web of lies, all to keep up the pretence. There is, naturally, a happy ending, but not without many high-jinks first - and some interesting social history, including a WW1 bombing raid on the boarding-house.

Jenkins was also a publisher, who had PG Wodehouse as a client - his first Wodehouse book came out the same year as this - and there’s a similarity in the droll writing style and sheer light-heartedness. I was also reminded quite strongly of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - something about the absurdity and sense of fun. Best of all, it’s currently a mere 0.00p on Kindle!

@Stowickthevast I'm wondering about who the confessional novel author who had been a teacher was, but I didn't think that Zoe Heller, the author of Notes on a Scandal, was ever a teacher!

@Terpsichore I thought that sounded fun and then you totally had me at Miss Pettigrew. 75p now and I’ll start it tonight.

I have to admit I also immediately googled Zoe Heller to see if she was a teacher, but it doesn't seem so!

I’ve also bought Patricia Brent. For 75p it’s worth a go and it sounds right up my street!

Have also acquired Patricia Brent. Thanks, @Terpsichore !

Not even 6am yet and @Terpsichore has brought all the book geeks to the yard. Love it! 🤣

Joined the Patricia Brent gang, and added Miss Pettigrew to my wish list.

Also bought Patricia Brent.

After saying that I don’t do audiobooks yesterday, Radio 4 had a snippet of Under Milkwood read by Richard Burton this morning. I recognised it instantly- my Dad had borrowed it from the library when I was a child.

Just dropped into the thread and now I'm
laughing that Amazon will be scratching their heads wondering why there’s a sudden rush on an obscure 1918 novel 😂 I just hope I haven’t over-done my enthusiasm and people will be disappointed.

The other amazing thing is that I discovered late last night that it was so massively popular at the time they made it into a film only a year later! It’s free to watch on the BFI. I’m going to do that later. Perfect for a miserable wet November day.

For 75p, I’ll take the chance @Terpsichore😂

I’ve also brought the Patricia Brent, anything with a Miss Pettigrew vibe is worth a punt for me.

I will get Patricia Brent as well

I was thinking of getting Patricia Brent but the comparison to Wodehouse put me off.

I'll forgive you if I'm only down 75p, @Terpsichore .

Try the sample and see if it appeals?

I'm going to buy PB as well. I haven't been reading for a while and this sounds like a good book to start with.

I’ve also bought it 😄 Though I won’t get to it until at least 2027 if I stick with my “read oldest kindle purchases first” policy…

I abandoned that policy - my inner sulky teenager didn't like it :>

@FuzzyCaoraDhubh are you back with us? 🤗

No, not Zoe Heller.

Nope!

No it's not her

@Terpsichore thank you for asking.
I have two weeks left on my course, but I'm working on my last lesson plan this week, so the end is in sight.
I think that writing book reviews on this this thread helped me write assignments without too much difficulty. It has been good writing practice over the years :)