Soffitta1's 2017 Category Challenge

I am back again!
I plan to read books from 17 categories, minimum of 1 and maximum of 17 in each one.
I hope to read a stack of 1001 books as well as a number off my bookcases.

Cat 1

1001 Books

Aiming to hit 650 books read.
*** Now aiming for 700!

January
1. Shame
Feb
2. War and Peace
Apr
3. The Crying of Lot 49
4. Essays in Love
May
5. Torrents of Spring
6. Sentimental Education
7. Cheese
Jun:
8. Contempt
9. Living

Aug:
10. Cocaine Nights
11. Cakes and Ale
12. Time's Arrow

Sep:
13. The River Between
14. The House of Seven Gables
15. The Laws

Nov
16. The Mayor of Casterbridge

Dec
17. The Double

700th book read!

So, finally finished War and Peace! I think my favourites were The Double and Cheese.

Cat 2

Scotland - I am a Scot away from my homeland, it is never far from my mind, so I enjoy reading books set in Scotland or by Scottish writers.

Rebus
Jan
1. Black and Blue
2. The Comfort of a Muddy Saturday

Feb
3. The Hanging Garden
4. The Lost Art of Gratitude
5. Resurrection Men

Mar
6. The Charming Quirks of Others
7. Looking for the Possible Dance

Apr
8. Dead Souls
9. Set in Darkness

Jun
10. Fleshmarket Close
11. Exit Music

Aug
12. Outrun

Nov
13. The Atmospheric Railway
14. Day

Dec
15. Selected stories Muriel Spark
16. Findings
17. Standing in another man's grave

I was pleased to read a number of books from 2 series: Rebus and Isabel Dalhousie.

Outrun and Looking for the Possible Dance were my favourite.

Cat 3

Film

Love films. love to compare books and their adaptations.

Jan:
1. The Girl on the Train

Feb;
2. East of Eden

Apr:
3. Cheri
4. Atlas Shrugged

May
5. Silence **1001
6. Adam Bede **1001

Jun
7. Bridge to Terabithia

Jul
8. The Shooting Party
9. The Descendants
10. Tarzan of the Apes *1001

Aug
11. Eye of the Storm
12. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy **1001

Sep
13. Washington Square
14. The Enchanted April
15. Don't Move **1001

Nov
16. Bedknob and Broomstick

Dec
17. Outlander

I loved reading Outlander and Atlas Shrugged was a novel to set my mind to whirring. Really, this was a strong category, I'd read all of them again, though I wish I could edit Bedknob and Broomstick.

Cat 4

Crime, mystery and thriller

Feb
1. Now You See Me ** WBN
2. The Big Sleep **1001
3. The Long Goodbye **1001
4. Farewell, my lovely **1001

Mar
5. Crossfire **1001

Apr
6. Moriarty

May
7. Waiting for Sunrise
8. The Sixth Lamentation
9. Beggars Banquet
10. The Man from Beijing

Jun
11. The Case of the Missing Servant

Jul
12. A Kiss before Dying

Aug
13. The Courilof Affair
14. The White Lioness

Nov
15. L'Ile Noir
16. Someone else's skin
17. Falcon at the Portals

The standout book here has to be Crossfire, not my normal fare - a mix of crime and fantasy - but this was page-turning and thought-provoking.

Cat 5

History
Non-fiction and fiction set in the past.

Feb
1. King Charles II part 1

Mar
2. King Charles II part 2
3. House of Glass
4. Down Second Avenue

Apr
5. The Covenant

May
6. The Man who mistook his Wife for a Hat

Jun
7. Beware of Pity
8. The Violent Land
9. The Miniaturist
10. Atmosphere of Hope
11. City of Women

Jul
12. House of Orphans

Aug
13. 31 Songs

Sept
14. Seeing a large cat

Oct:
15. The ape who guards the balance
16. Guardian of the Horizon

Dec
17. The Mexican Revolution A short history

Such a good mix of books here. It was good to read a number of Amelia Peabody books, but I can't really say which were the best. The shortlist would be The Violent Land and House of Orphans and for non-fiction it would have to be Down Second Avenue.

Cat 6

Geography

January
1. Shadows on the Nile
2. In the Country of Last Things
3. I dreamed of Africa

Feb
4. Tales from Malgudi

Apr
5. The Canterbury Tales

May
6. Mission to Paris

Jun
7. Shikasta
8. Folded Earth
9. The Viceroy of Ouidah
10. Prisoners of Geography

July
11. The Charterhouse of Parma *1001
12. The Free World

Aug
13. King Lear of the Steppes *1001
14. Erewhon **1001

Oct
15. The Last World *1001
16. The Earth

Dec
17. Worth Dying For

Both of Tim Marshall's books were excellent, but if I ever see The Earth again, I will burn it.

Cat 7

Name

Feb
1. Daniel Deronda **1001

Mar
2. Thais **1001
3. Aphrodite

Apr
4. The Gospel of Loki
5. The Radleys

May
6. Molloy *1001

Jul
7. Henderson, the Rain King *1001
8. Larry's Party
9. Stoner

Aug
10. Igraine the Brave
11. My Name is Lucy Barton
12. Beethoven was one-sixteenth black

Sep
13. The Gustav Sonata
14. Little Herr Friedmann

Oct
15. Bruno's Dream
16. Harriet Hume *1001

Dec
17. The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge *1001

Hard to choose my favourites again, but I would have to include the rather fun The Radleysand the great writing in My name is Lucy Barton.

Cat 8

Adjectives

Books with adjectives in the title.

Jan
1. The Poor Mouth *1001
2. The White Castle

Apr
3. Main Street

May:
4. Indigo *1001
5. Reckless
6. Crome Yellow *1001

Jun
7. The Buried Giant
8. Wise Children
9. A Year of Marvellous Ways

Jul:
10. The Dark Circle
11. Bitter Glass *1001

Aug
12. Dead Babies *1001

Sept
13. A Little Life

Oct
14. Naked Lunch *1001
15. A Heart so White *1001

Nov
16. Excellent Women *1001

Dec:
17. A Bloody Chamber

A bevy of 1001 books, the best for me being Indigo and Excellent Women. As for the others, I really enjoyed The Dark Circle.

Cat 9

People

Jan
1. Ghost Knight in German
2. The Third Policeman *1001
3. Perfect Daughter * WBN

Feb
4. The Wild Girl
5. The Paying Guests

Mar:
6. The Stolen Child

Apr
7. The Stand-in

May
8. The Once and Future King *1001
9. The Dead Father *1001

Jun
10. Selected Stories The stories are all about people and most of the titles reflect that, e.g. 24 hours in the life of a Woman

July
11. The Post Office Girl
12. The Interpreters

Aug
13. The Mum

Nov
14. The Absentee **1001
15. Everyman
16. How to be a Brit
17. How to teach EAL Students

For a tongue-in-cheek look at the Brits, I'd have to say How to be a Brit, but for great writing, I'd pick The Post Office Girl.

Cat 10

Series

Jan
1. The Careful Use of Compliments

Mar
2. The Silver Spoon
3. Swan Song
4. On Forsyte 'Change

Apr
5. The Deeds of the Disturber
6. The Falls
7. Devil may care
8. In the arms of Mr Darcy
9. The last camel died at noon
10. The Hippopotamus Pool

May
10. A Question of Blood

Jun
11. The Naming of the Dead
12. Borrower of the Night
13. Exit Music

Dec
14. Peril on the Royal Train
15. Ticket to Oblivion
16. Asterix chez les Britons
17. Les bijous de la Castafiore

A lot of these books were entertaining commute reads, I have been trying really hard to read books I have had for a while, so this is a category that will keep coming up.

Cat 11

Flora and Fauna

Jan
1. At Swim- two-birds *1001

Mar
2. The White Monkey

Apr
3. The Water Horse
4. Jamrach's Menagerie
5. The Snake, the Crocodile, the Dog

May
6. Fish Change Direction in Cold Weather

Jul
7. I was a rat!
8. The Spider King's Daughter

Aug
9. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
10. The Wild Ass's Skin

Sept
11. The Essex Serpent
12. Angels and Insects
13. The hen who dreamed she could fly

Oct
14. The Marble Faun *1001
15. Bitter Greens

Nov
16. Be a Flamingo
17. Be a Unicorn

I enjoyed the stories within stories of Bitter Greens and the Aesop Fables-like tale of The hen who dreamed she could fly.

Cat 12

Travel

My favourite hobby ;) Fiction, non-fiction
Some of my choices might seem tenuous, but if there is some sort of trip, journey, then I'll count it here.

Jan
1. The Longest Journey
2. The Woman on the Orient Express
3. The Weekenders

Feb
4. The Girl who had never been on a Train
5. Seasons of Migration to the North *1001

Mar
6. Ash Wednesday

Jun:
7. The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker *1001

Jul:
8. Trains and Lovers
9. News from Berlin

Aug:
10. Karma Cola
11. From the Land of Green Ghosts
12. Journey into Fear

Sep
13. Vertigo *1001
14. Nights at the Circus *1001

Oct
15. Dark Voyage
16. The Stationmaster's Farewell

Dec
17. Gringo Soup

A mix of books, Journey into Fear seemed rather timely and I enjoyed reconnecting with W.G. Sebald's work.

Cat 13

Spanish-speaking World

Feb
1. Dime quien soy

Apr
2. Nada *1001
3. Piscinas Vacias

May
4. The Things we lost in the Fire
5. The Japanese Lover
6. Monsignor Quixote

Aug
7. This is how you lose her
8. The Skating Rink
9. Strange Pilgrims

Sept
10. Cuentos Mexicanos
11. Merlin and Company

Oct
12. Sacred Sierra

Dec
13. Umami
14. Our Man in Havana
15. The Old Gringo
16. Granta 113 The Best of Young Spanish Novelists
17. Mexico 20

A great selection of books, authors united by a common tongue, but with very different histories and cultures. I am glad I read some in Spanish, I should do more of this and I particularly liked the Mexican focus when I was travelling there.

Cat 14

Award-winning Women

Jan
1. The Little Red Chairs
2. The Stone Gods
3. Americanah

Feb
4. Like Life *1001
5. The Land of Green Plums
6. Meridian

Mar
7. Memories of Rain *1001

Apr
8. The Years *1001
9. Between the Acts *1001

May
10. The Temple of My Familiar *1001
11. The Vegetarian

Jun
12. Written on the Body *1001
13. Fall on your knees *1001
14. Burger's Daughter *1001
15. Gut Symmetries
16. Hotel du Lac

Jul
17. The Grandmothers

Another diverse category, I would read all again and recommend them all. As for my top books, I enjoyed The Vegetarian and Written on the Body greatly.

Cat 15

Women - Feminism

Jan
1. We should all be feminists

Feb
2. All the Rebel Women

Mar
3. Animal: the autobiography of the female body
4. The Power- Naomi Alderman

Apr
5. A Room of One's Own *1001

May
6. Everyday Sexism

Sep
7. The Millstone

Oct
8. Good Bones
9. The Trouble with Women
10. The Passion of New Eve *1001

Nov
11. Introducing Feminism
12. Be Awesome
13. Fear of Flying *1001
14. Why Women will save the Planet

Dec
15. Women and Power
16. A Vindication of the Rights of Women
17. A History of Britain in 21 Women: A Personal Selection

I wanted to inform myself more on this topic at the start of the year and I feel that I have through this selection of books. More to come, more to find out.

Cat 16

Women in History

Jan
1. Queen's Gambit
2. Woman in Berlin
3. The Book about Blanche and Marie *1001

Feb
4. A Durable Fire

Mar
5. Enchanted Evening

Apr
6. Aristocrats

May
7. The People's Queen
8. Hidden Figures

Jun
9. Is it just me?
10. Blonde *1001

Jul
11. The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas *1001

Oct
12. A River in the Sky
13. The Taxidermist's Daughter
14. Chasing the King of Hearts
15. Spectacles

Nov
16. When I lived in Modern Times

Dec
17. I, Rigoberta Menchu

Tough to choose favourites, Woman in Berlin is a book that will stay with me, Chasing the King of Hearts was an amazing find, Blonde was stylistically excellent and Hidden Figures inspiring.

Cat 17

Female Authors

Feb
1. The Tent

May
2. Whatever it Takes WBN
3. The Days of Abandonment
4. The Embers of Heaven

Jun
5. Le Bal and Snow in Autumn

Jul
6. The Gap of Time
7. Passion according to G.H. *1001

Aug
8. We are all completely beside ourselves
9. Woman beware woman

Sep
10. Blaming *1001
11. Elizabeth is Missing

Oct
12. Swing time
13. Disobedience

Nov
14. The Snow Child
15. The Hour of the Star **1001

Dec
16. Ripper
17. Olive Kitteridge

I enjoyed the retelling of Shakespeare in The Gap of Time, Clarice Lispector's books were stranger than strange, but I would probably pass on Olive Kitteridge and Elizabeth is Missing to friends.

Extras

Well, I will be back over the Christmas period filling in more detail. I always enjoy this, but this year got waylaid. I read the books, but didn't get all the reviews in as I try to.

Here's hoping that 2017 is a more stable year.

Great to see you here!!

Ooooo I will be most interested in your personal challenge about Scotland :D Hope you have a great reading year!

Great categories, have fun!

Good luck and happy reading!

Great to see you back again, looking forward to following along.

It's good you are trying again this year. I hope you will at least post the books you read even if you can't write comments. It's a good thing to keep in touch and you might be disappointed if you don't keep a record of your reads. Have a great year in 2017!

Thanks all! I enjoy the challenge aspect so I will keep a note of the books I read as a minimum. I am also hoping to read more of my shelves again.

1. Shadows on the Nile

Not quite what I expected, a mystery set in motion by the disappearance of a brother, this book is more than the cover would suggest. I would recommend it as a good commute read.

Great to see you again, have a great reading year!

Thanks!

2. The Weekenders Adventures in Calcutta

A pleasing mix of genres based in Kolkata.

Glad to see you back!

Thanks!

Congrats on having made so much progress on the 1001 list! I'll be following along to see what you think - I only just surpassed 100 last year and have a long way to go.

3. The White Castle
A book within a book. Enjoyed this a lot.

4. I Dreamed of Africa
Not sure about this one, it has dated a lot as it was written about the last years of colonial expat life. Also there was an overwhelming sense of doom from the writer.

5. The girl on the train
A thriller with an unreliable narrator, I got completely sucked into this. Not sure how this would translate to the States for the film.

6. The little red chairs
One of those books that will stay with you. A war criminal starts up a new life in Ireland and his unmasking has massive repercussions. The author takes you beyond war and into the life of those who survive its darkest acts. Highly recommended.

7. In the country of last things
I do enjoy an Auster book, this one was rather different to the last couple I have read. The main character ends up in a post-apocalyptic world and has to survive as best she can.

8. Americanah
Another of my favourite authors, this book moves between Nigeria, the homeland of the main characters, and the two countries they emigrate to - the U.K. and the U.S. There is a lot going on in this book, too much to glide over in a mini review, but I found the observations based around the main character's blog about race thought-provoking.

9. A Woman in Berlin
I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a war zone, but here is the true story of a woman's life in the last few months of the Nazi regime and then the arrival of the Russians to the German capital. It is a stark tale of what really happens, especially to women, and what people do to survive. The honesty was both refreshing and also a reminder that war is not just soldiers fighting battles, but also the struggle for civilians to live.

10. The Longest Journey
I found this rather sad, a bit of a mess of human relationships.

I have found that the local library has some of the missing books in Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series. I enjoy them, but I do find them tinged with sadness.

11. The careful use of compliments and 12. The Comfort of muddy Saturdays

13. Ghost knight
Parents went over to Germany before Christmas and picked me up a stack of Cornelia Funke's books in German. A boy doesn't like his prospective step father and ends up being sent to boarding school for a bit to cool off. When he gets there, he is tracked down by ghost knights. This was OK, aimed at 10-year-olds.

The library also had Flann O'Brien's books, so ticked off three works on the 1001 list.
14. The Poor Mouth, 15. At Swim-two-birds and 16. The Third Policeman
I didn't know much about the author, the style was certainly different and I did make good use of the end notes. I am glad I have read them and will probably go back later to read ones that are not on the list.

17. The Woman on the Orient Express
A fictionalised account of Agatha Christie's journey on the famous train and a mystery to boot. Entertaining.

18. We Should All Be Feminists
An Amazon recommendation, this is the paper copy of a TED talk, so not as fleshed out as I would like, but lots of interesting ideas.

19 Shame
I am on the fence about this, I did enjoy the style, as I normally do with Rushdie's work, but there is something galling about reading a man talking about women's shame, no matter how sympathetic he is.

20. The Book about Blanche and Marie
A 1001 book sent to me, I liked this a lot and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the unusual writing style as well as the characterisation of the main characters - based on real people (Marie Curie and a friend).

21. Queen's Gambit
Henry VIII's last wife, this book focuses on her and her maid. It shows the frustration of a clever woman not in control of her own destiny and the dangerous situation she finds herself in. I enjoyed this.

22. The Stone Gods
Interlocking stories from a disastrous future. Different setting, but many familiar themes from the seasoned author. I found it interesting.

23. Black and Blue
Rebus is on the case of a copy cat of a famous Scottish serial killer- the strongest in the series so far for me.

24. Perfect Daughter
A WBN book, not my cup of tea, but I can see why it sells. A young mother struggles with how her life has ended up, she is determined that her daughter will get out and take the chances she lost when she fell pregnant. She is also dealing with a sick mother. Cracks begin to form.

Feb

25. Now you see me
A thriller linked with Jack the Ripper, not my usual fare, but I found myself gripped.

26. Seasons of Migration to the North
A chance spotting of a 1001 book in the library. I didn't know much about it before hand, but found it an interesting read. Two cultures clashing, this has resonance today.

I've heard Ian Rankin say that Black and Blue is his favourite of the series. It is a good one!

Wow - mid-20s already?! That's impressive.

Black and Blue is a great one!

I get at least an hour of reading on the bus each day and have decided to set aside time to read each day. I am also lucky that I have fewer classes to prepare this year as I have lots of repeats.

27. The Lost Art of Gratitude
Another Isobel Dalhousie book, a previous character turns up and muddies the waters. An interesting idea was posed - are you just as guilty for doing nothing as for doing something wrong?

28. Like Life
A collection of short stories, quirky and thought provoking. This is part of my plan to read more female authors - especially ones on the 1001 list.

29. All the Rebel Women
A short introduction into the different waves of feminism, one that will help me find new books and ideas.

30. East of Eden
What a read! I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the relationships. I saw the film years ago in an English class and knew this would be a worthy read.

31. The Hanging Garden
Another Rebus book, I am really getting into them. This one included the intrusion of mafia-like gangs into Scotland together with an internal turf war. There was a also a link to atrocities in WW2. Another book that had me thinking of the world of grey we live in.

East of Eden is my favorite Steinbeck novel. It's one I'll probably reread at some point in my life.

32. - 34. A trilogy of Raymond Chandler books.
I read The Big Sleep a few years ago, but decided to re-read it to refresh my memory. Marlowe is a wise-cracking detective with a penchant for getting himself into trouble. As with The Maltese Falcoln, much of the charm lies with the protagonist, but as a woman reading the book in 2017, the female characters, especially, are caricatures. I also read Farewell, my lovely and The Long Goodbye.

35. Daniel Deronda
I kept this for a long day of travelling- definitely a good way of getting into this. There is a lot going on here, the author explores the life of British Jews and also the choices made in characters' love lives.

36. The Paying Guests
Set after WW1, the lines between lodgers and friends are blurred when Frances falls for the wife living in her house. I was drawn into the Book, the downward spiral seemed so inevitable, but there are plenty of twists and turns as well as personal choices to mull over. Recommended.

37. War and Peace
After over a year I have finished! I did enjoy reading This, part fiction, part history lesson, part human analysis. I am glad I saw the recent BBC drama, this helped with remembering who everyone was. I don't think it hurt knowing some of the plot twists, I would say it helped me get more out of the historical side.

>45 soffitta1: Congrats on finishing WaP!!

It is a relief! I enjoyed it, but there were parts that were tougher than others.

38. Meridian
An early Alice Walker - The titular heroine's life during the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.

39. The Land of Green Plums
Life under the dictatorship in Romania, this book focuses on a German Romanian and her student friends. A time of fear and death. Very interesting read.

40. The girl who had never been on a train
A freebie children's book to read on the train in first class. The story of a girl who is mad about trains -steam trains - and what happens on her way to London for an operation.

41. The Tent
Short stories - some very short! I particularly enjoyed the possible plots.

42. Dime quién soy
An enjoyable historical romp through 20th Centruy European history. A journalist is tasked with finding out about his great grandmother who ran off with a French communist. Amelia is linked to most of thw important events of the time - from spying for the communists to meeting Trotsky and from the Spanish Civil War to the end of the Cold War.

>47 soffitta1: The Tent has been sitting on my shelves (actually, my electronic "shelves", as it's on my e-reader) forever. Your mention of it has motivated me to move it up on my reading list!

>45 soffitta1:
Huge congrats on finishing W&P - it's not the easiest of books, but it looks good on the bookshelf once it's read! :) I mean to see the TV series, but I was a bit sick of all of them after finishing, so I'll save it for when I've forgotten the book a little more.

Taking a BB for All the Rebel Women, sounds like a good introduction.

>49 mathgirl40: Could I be the first to coin a phrase - eshelf? Ebooks should have a groaning sound when all the books stored on it reach a certain point. I just got a new Kindle so all of the books I own are listed but not downloaded. It's quite a list. At some point I'll go through and unlist the books I have already read (they can wait on Amazon's cloud for me).

>Mamzel
I like eshelf - rolls nicely off the tongue. I haven't completed moved over to Kindle, so my eshelf is rather eclectic - old 1001 books, new books I have bought when I have run out of books on journeys and Amazon deals.

>Eva
I read it in bursts- the final push was because I was on holiday.

Nice to see others afflicted by BBs - usually it is the other way round!
Really enjoying my reads this year.

>52 mamzel: E-shelf works for me. Yes, we do need some kind of indicator to tell us when we've accumulated way too many books on that e-shelf!

I've had The Land of Green Plums on my shelf for quite a while now and have been hesitant after hearing several negative reviews. Sounds like you liked it, or at least appreciated it?

Great job on reading 42 books so far and for finishing War and Peace!

I went through a bit of a reading slump last year- partially due to work situation - so I decided to set aside reading time each day. Keeps me sane! I have also had access to all my books, when I lived abroad, I had to rely to what books I could find.

Land of green plums is an unusual book, I haven't read many books from the point of view of ethnic Germans living in Eastern Europe. I think it is that aspect that interested me most, the narrative is mixed and often conflicting for the reader due to the heightened fear and paranoia of the main characters. It is not a long book, so I would recommend it for a journey- so as to get better caught up in the atmosphere.

Good idea to set aside reading time each day! Glad to hear it is working out for you. :)

>57 soffitta1: Thanks!

43. A Durable Fire
Three women in Kenya try to move on with their lives after a tragedy. I felt it dragged, I didn't connect with any of them - they seemed too remote.

44. Tales from Malgudi (Penguin 60s)
A short one - but one I have had for ages. Short slices of life in India. No idea why I didn't read it before!

Land of Green Plums has been on Mt. TBR for far too long - it needs to be read this year!!

I am trying to read more books by women this year, it is helping my clear my TBR pile!

45. The Wild Girl
A fictionalised look at the life of the Grimm brothers and the family that lived next door. Dortchen Wild gave them many a story, but her connection went deeper. After reading War and Peace it was strange to see another side of Napoleon's campaigns, the more personal one, as the town is caught up in the fighting. I enjoyed this a lot, as with the tales the brothers set down, there is a magical side and a dark side.

46. King Charles II Part 1 and 47. King Charles II Part 2 (Feb/Mar)
I knew a wee bit about the king, but apart from a drama with Rufus Sewell, I can't say I had retained much. As with previous books by the author, the work was comprehensive and not dry in its delivery. He led an interesting life and it has also awakened in me a curiosity for what came next. I was also caught by the juxtaposition of crown and state in the wake of the death of Cromwell.

48. House of Glass
Had for ages, the Dutch Indies as the independence movement grows stronger. The main character is Mendanese, a police chief educated by the European settlers and the work follows his own political awakening.

>62 soffitta1: Ooh, Rufus Sewell! That was a good drama.

It was good, with Shirley Henderson as his wife. Great combination.

49. Animal: Autobiography of a Female Body
I bought this to read before seeing Pascoe on tour, neither book nor talk disappointed. There were a few details adapted I recognised from the book, but there was also further developments of some of the points she raised.
Pascoe takes us on a journey of a female body with a mix of facts, observations and autobiographical details. I enjoyed the style, while there are many laugh out loud moments, Pascoe does not pull her punches when talking about tough issues women face. I connected even more with the book as Pascoe is the same age as me, so I could relate to many of the references. Pascoe covered a lot of the issues that my friends and I discuss a lot, from abortion to having children, from endemic sexism and our growing confidence in calling people out on it.
Recommended.

50. The Stolen Child
An advanced copy.
Set in the middle of the 20th Century on a small Irish island, where time seems to have moved more slowly than on the mainland, life is unsettled by the arrival of the Yank. Brigid has returned to her family's land from the States in search for a miracle from her saintly namesake. The islanders treat her with suspicion at the start, talking around her in Gaelic and initially keeping her distance, both because Brigid is an incomer and because of her own family's reputation. Emer is the first to come round, a bitter woman who has grown twisted in the shadow of her beautiful and beloved twin, Rose. Brigid has a gift, but using it has come at great personal cost.
I enjoyed the magical elements of the book, the faeries and changelings, as well as the richly drawn female characters. Carey portrays well the insular nature of the islanders, suspicious of change, but also wary of outsiders and those who are different.
The book draws you in, I thought it would be a much lighter read at the start, but Carey builds tension by highlighting the grey areas of life. The ending was a little abrupt, but I am not sure it could have ended any differently.
I would recommend this for a cold day, just curl up with a coffee and the book, or for a group read as there are lots of points to be discussed.

51. Ash Wednesday
It was on my radar for a while and I picked it up at a book sale. I have mixed feelings, there was a lot of the writing that I liked, but I found it hard to connect with the two central characters. Life is changing, pregnancy galvanises a dysfunctional couple into moving their lives on, unfortunately not in the same direction.

52. The White Monkey
Book one of the second instalment of The Forsyte Saga, life is moving on and the Forsytes are in between wars. Soames is struggling to reconcile his generation with the next. It was like meeting up with old friends, the ones that annoy you at times, but deep down you feel real affection for. Starting the next book later!

53. Down Second Avenue
I got this through Bookcrossing, a 1001 book I knew nothing about. It is an autobiography, but I enjoyed the forays into language discussion. Written under Apartheid, the book shows the reality of a black teacher's life and the constraints of living under rules that class you as less than other people. Mphahlele also talks about the forced movement of people and the break down of the traditional family units. I am glad I have read this.

54. Memories of Rain
Another 1001 book, I am trying to read more female authors than male this year and chose 5 books from the list by women from Amazon as a treat. Such a sad, poignant book, I was caught up in the story and didn't want it to end. The book deals with the breakdown of a relationship between a British man and his Indian wife, who he met during the monsoon in India. The book reminded me that we never come as a completely blank page to any relationship, whether it be family or cultural influences or different expectations.

55. Silver Spoon and 56. Swan song

Two more Forsyte Saga books, Soames' past decisions come back to haunt him. He goes back to his family roots, which leads to discussion on how the British have become detached from the land, a fact his son-in-law is bringing up in parliament. Reading the books nearly a century after they are set, there are a number of worrying seeds planted. Michael is a Foggartist, following the ideas of a writer who advocates sending British children to the colonies, to "balance" the number of white British subjects. My first reaction to this idea was horror, especially in the wake of the stories finally told of those children sent to Australia who were abused and neglected in the name of Empire. The disconnection with the land is more worrying, we import so many different food stuffs from all over the world, regardless of distance or season. One more book left to read - a series of short stories. It would be interesting to see what the family were up to in the 21st Century.

57. Looking for the Possible Dance
There is not much of a plot to cling to, but the book doesn't disappoint for it. The main focus, in my opinion, is the relationship between Margaret and her father. It is this relationship that builds the template for her love life, with an on/ off again boyfriend, and with those around her. I enjoyed the interaction between Maggie and the boy on the train, I do a lot of my thinking when I am travelling, and a long journey gives you the time and space to figure out what is really happening. I liked the writing style and look forward to sourcing more by the author.

58. Thais
Hmm, not really aimed at me as an atheist feminist. It is a short book, but for me, it was absolute drivel. Saving the fallen woman, helping her find God, written, unsurprisingly, by a man.

59. The Charming Quirks of Others
Another Isabel Dalhousie book, a slow burning book, with more focus on her insecurities of having a younger partner. Ultimately, the two are a good fit, and perhaps in ten books' time, they will marry. The mystery was to do with the appointment of a head teacher, with the addition of society scandal.

60. Crossfire
Bought second hand as part of my personal challenge to read more 1001 books written by women and it didn't disappoint!
Not my useful fare, this is part thriller, part sci-fi, part moral questioning. I loved the fact that the detective and the vigilante were both women, 3-dimensional and strong.
A woman with a strange gift comes across a group of young men stashing a body, after she intervenes, she realises they are part of a gang that have been preying on young girls. Killing the women, dumping the bodies and getting away with it. But if the law doesn't have the resources or the teeth to deal with such criminals, can those with the right powers? Do any of us have the right to go above the law? Even if it is to correct an injustice?
I found this gripping and thought-provoking. It does, as another reviewer wrote, bare resemblance to Stephen King's work, but the rich Tokyo backdrop and the well-drawn female roles set it in its own category. Highly recommended.

61. On Forsyte 'Change
A collection of short stories and outtakes from the Forsyte series. It has been a while since I read the first three books, but I enjoyed revisiting some of the colder characters. Some of the vignettes were rather poignant, letters and diaries read by later generations. It was sad to see thwarted love affairs and reminded me of how little we really know about our parents and their youth.

62. Enchanted Evening
The third volume in the author's memoirs, but you don't need to have read the others to get the benefit of this one. This volume takes the author to China with her family, back to India and up to the break out of the Second World War. I was caught up in the snapshots of long days, the fragile peace of the interwar periods. As ever, it was interesting seeing places that I have been to or heard of.

63. Aphrodite
Food and love mixed together in a series of recipes, anecdotes and musings. I enjoyed this very much, made a delayed train journey more pleasant!

I've been enjoying your comments on the 1001 books you've been reading. Some of these have just not hit my radar screen yet and I need to move them up: Down Second Avenue, Memories of Rain and Crossfire.

I am over half way, so am now seeking out more unusual books. I am also trying to read more books written by women and from outside the U.K. and the States. It is really making me find some gems. I also get a lot of the suggestions from the 1001 book group here, as I add books others have read to my wishlist, I look around to see if there any copies easily available.

I am enjoying your comments about the Forsyte Saga books! I have been thinking of reading that one for some time now. You are nudging my closer to the books.

Thanks. I have enjoyed reading them - my mother is a big fan.

64. The Power - Naomi Alderman
I saw the author at Latitude Festival last Summer at on a female writer panel and she talked about her new book. It didn't disappoint, though it was not what I had imagined. One day, women start being able to deliver powerful electric shocks, which means they are no longer the "weaker sex". The book what happens next, how women use this rediscovered power and how gender relations are affected. Intriguing and page turning. Highly recommended.

65. The Covenant
Epic is the right word! I had a couple of long journeys this week so was able to get stuck in. The book takes you through the history of South Africa by looking at three family lines - it was interesting seeing how these lines intersected. At times matter of fact, at others more focused on the people behind famous and infamous events, it is a good read. I have family connections to South Africa, Dad spent his childhood there and my brother in law is Cape Malay, so I enjoyed finding out more about places I have visited and fleshing out the history I already knew.

66. Devil May Care (James Bond)
Not a hard read, page turning enough, and faithful to the 60s vibe. I read a number of the Bonds years ago and as an older reader, I am more critical of the gender dynamics and far fetched plots than before. That being said, this would be a good beach or commute read.

Enjoyed reading your comments on The Forsyte Saga by Galsworthy. I was a big fan and bought all the books that have since been passed on to another fan. I'm kind of sorry because I'd like to read them again. Fortunately they are all available in ebook format.

67. The Crying of Lot 49
A 1001 book, not very sure about this one. There were element of interesting experimental writing, but there wasn't much to hang a plot on.

68. The Water Horse
Head strong girl flees Wales to make her own way as a nurse. Sent to help troops fighting in the Crimea, Catherine has to overcome many difficulties to give her aid. Add in a lover from home and you have the making of a good historical romance. Unfortunately the historical detail doesn't hide a lack of originality in the plot and the ending felt rushed. Shame as I have enjoyed her previous work.

69. Jamrach's Menagerie
Jaffy is plucked from the streets of London to spend three years on a boat in search of a dragon. I enjoyed reading this a lot, having read Moby Dick and about the Essex whalers, this was a book that had a familiar premise, but the magical elements set this one apart.

70. Main Street
A satirical work based around the life of Carol, a woman who wants more than a small town life. At times, Carol was hard to like, but on the other hand, her frustration was an echo of that felt by many women at the time.

71. Essays in love
I found this in a local charity shop and recognised it as a 1001 book. De Botton takes us through the narrator's relationship with Chloe from a chance meeting on a plane to its end. Different stages in the relationship are analysed through relatable anecdotes. I really liked the premise and the writing style.

72. The Deeds of the Disturber
Book 5 in the Amelia Peabody series, this time the action moves back to England, but she becomes mixed up in a mummy's curse. A lighter, more tongue in cheek version of Holmes, the book was page-turning, and I did enjoy the family subplots.

73. Moriarty
Following the events of Reichenbach Falls, an American detective comes to Europe on the trail of the next crime lots. Very easy read, lots of twists and turns and nods to Arthur Conan Doyle's original characters. I will be bumping up the Stormbreaker series on my TBR pile.

>83 soffitta1: I read the entire Stormbreaker series a few years back. I was amused that Alex was never allowed to carry a weapon but still managed to knock off more than a few bad guys! Great reading for reluctant boys.

That's why I picked them up - I am a teacher and have often had junior secondary school tutor groups. I am always on the look out for books for my book box.

74. The last camel died at noon
Another Amelia Peabody book, this time the action gives more of a nod to She. More daring plot choices and characters with a number of masks. Entertaining.

75. The Gospel of Loki
A story of gods and intrigue through the eyes of the chaotic character of Loki. A lot of fun, Loki's tone is conversational and draws you in. What I couldn't decide was whether this was aimed at YA or adults as the tone was the former, yet the content and some of the references went with the latter.

76. The Radleys
I blasted through this one! I loved it! This is the story of a family trying to be normal, except how can they be normal when they are vampires. Not Twilight vampires twinkling in the sun, rather they are the model of a middle class British family. Life at the Radley house is not going well, the strain of fitting in and trying to not give into their urges to feast on blood has left the family fractured and unfulfilled. Trying to give their children an average upbringing, they have kept them in the dark about their dark heritage, which adds more woes to the dreaded teenage years. A life changing event brings the father's brother back into their world and nothing can be the same again.
The style is fun, taking a familiar story of family woes and giving it a tongue in cheek twist. I highly recommend it.

77. The Stand-in
I bought this because I recognised the author's name from previous books. This book focuses on the life of a small time British actress who gets a break due to her resemblance to a famous American. Jules is picked up by the actress who lets her into her life, taking her back Stateside, but there are sacrifices to be made. The line between reality and fiction is blurred, as is the line between actress and stand-in. Quite a quick read, good for a commute or a holiday.

78. The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog
Another instalment of the Amelia Peabody Egyptian mysteries. A new season beckons and Peabody and Emerson leave their son and ward in England while heading back to Africa. The past is all around them as Emerson is kidnapped, but which previous foe is behind it all? Another fun episode.

79. Nada
My father picked up this book at Wimpole because it was written by a Spaniard, turns out it is a 1001 book. Andrea arrives in Barcelona to stay with relatives, a green 18 year old. Life with her family is not easy, with the toxic relationship of her uncle Juan and his wife Gloria and the intensity of her other uncle, Roman. Andrea tries to find her own way, making friends with Ena and other well-to-do students. The writing style is good, you can tell that the writer was young when she wrote this, but not unskilled. Sadly, the relationships between men and women in Spain 70 years later still do not seem to have improved enough, with domestic violence being a seemingly unshakeable headliner. I will look out more of her work.

80. Cheri
I saw the film a few years ago, so grabbed this from the charity shop. A French courtesan is coming to the end of her time with her younger lover, the son of a friend, and is waiting for him to marry. Lea decides to leave town to get away from it all because she believes that Cheri isn't as invested in their relationship. Cheri is a mystery to Lea, a young man who seems to keep his feelings well hidden. It is a short book, unusual in the fact that there are many more examples of older men with younger female lovers, and also not moralising in terms of her profession. I will look out for by the writer.

81. The Years
The life of a family seen through episodes over different years. It was interesting to see the characters age and also the change in attitudes in reaction to the events unfolding around them. Not my favourite Virginia Woolf, but still an interesting one.

I am really enjoying the Easter break - I spent the first few days preparing classes and now can smugly sit back and read! Pity the weather at the moment isn't as good, but I have picked up some excellent books. I am also doing well with my personal challenge of at least 50% of the final reading list this year to have been written by women. I have resorted my shelves at my parents' and put all the books by female authors together. I was saddened to see that only 20% of my TBR books were written by women. So, I am sticking to my guns of only reading a book by a man if I am ahead with women and I am now only going to by long-term wishlist books or 1001 books by men for the rest of the year. It means I am getting to know more authors, which is a bonus.

>88 soffitta1: I'll take a BB for The Radleys - sounds like a lot of fun!

:) I hope to read more of his work.

Having a bit of a Virginia Woolf fest, I do really like her work. This is one thing that I have really liked about the 1001 list, giving me an extra push to read some great writers.

82. Between the Acts
A play within a book, literature surrounded by literature, there is a lot going on here in a book that isn't that long. It is one of those books I'd like to read again and discuss with a group as there are a lot of references in it. I am not really sure how to describe it or the plot. I suppose it is one of those books you thoroughly enjoy reading, but once you put it down, you are not sure what its spell was.

83. A Room of One's Own
Feminism through the eyes of Woolf. This a short, yet powerful work looking at the low numbers of female writers and how much financial independence affects women's independence.

84. The Hippopotamus Pool
Another Amelia Peabody book, this time it is the lure of an undiscovered queen's tomb that is the centre of the action.

I am currently reading Atlas Shrugged - even with a long journey to start reading this, I may be a while!

Actually not so long a time. I really liked this and it has been the perfect antidote to back to work blues.

85. Atlas Shrugged
I bought this from a charity shop because I recognised the author's name from a list of books your should read. I then left it on my shelf as it was rather big! Dusting it off this week and getting going while travelling back home allowed me to get stuck in, despite the fact I had forgotten that every English football fan in the country would be travelling back from Easter games en masse and my concentration would be put under pressure by the singing of stadium anthems.
You could see the book as having more than one protagonist - the main character is a woman - Dagny Taggart - part of a railroading family, but there is also the railway itself, or industry or even John Galt. Despite her gender, she has the vision needed to maintain and extend the railway, but her main opponent is her less than visionary brother. It is set in America, a dystopian one where shady government intervention is dragging down ideas and advances using sinister cloak and dagger methods. Those pioneers at the top of their industrial game are bringing advances on, but Dagny and her ally Reardon are seeing their work being stifled by other's need for power. This power struggle needs talented men and women controlled so their work is controlled. Luckily there is a movement fighting back, with its figurehead a shadowy figure, a name whispered at strikes and cursed by the elite, John Galt.
Lots to think about here, with ideas of free markets and how far governments can and should control industry and ideas. I highly recommend it.

86. - 88. A spate of Rebus crime novels: Dead Souls, Set in Darkness and The Falls.
Rebus police skills are singular, in the first book, he is drawn into a missing person's case as it involves the son of school friends and his personal life is up and down as usual. In the second, Siobhan, one of his subordinates, is starting to move out of his shadow and possibly up the ladder. I am enjoying her character being a more integral part of the storylines, though it is sad to see her struggle outside work.

89. The Canterbury Tales
I started this a while ago and finished it off this weekend - still taking advantage of being ahead of my planning (and avoiding marking tests).
This is an interesting collection of stories, it would be better to do this at school / uni, to get all the references, but I did use the notes in the book and the internet to get as much out of it as I could. As a Scot and a German speaker, I found the language fascinating, seeing many recognisable words that are now very different in English or unused.

90. Piscinas Vacias
I bought this when I was in Spain, a series of short stories. They are varied, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the glimpses into other people's lives.

91. Aristocrats
I found this really interesting, the story of society sisters. I enjoyed reading about their lives, but also the detail about how other people lived and how their lives were kept up.

92. In the arms of Mr. Darcy
A fluffy continuation of a series of post Pride and Prejudice books. Passed the time in the car, although the author seems determined to match up everyone every mentioned in the original book!

93. Fish change direction in cold weather
Canada is frozen by an ice storm, with a bit seeing the benefits of strange times on his family, friends and neighbours.
Actually quite a quick read, I liked this for its quirky characters and the condensed timeline of the narrative. It did put me in mind of other French-speaking writers that I have come across. I think it is the way that the book is more character driven rather than plot driven.

94. Molloy
My first by the Irish writer, it is a whirlwind of a book. The style is unusual and, I imagine for the time, rather ground breaking. I would like to read more of his work to get a better feel though.

95. Waiting for Sunrise
A young man goes to Vienna just before WW1 to take advantage of the flourishing offer of psychology. An actor by trade, the people he meets draw him into an even more exciting life, one that will affect his role in the upcoming war. A mix of intrigue, a belated coming of age and well-drawn characters. I did enjoy this a lot.

96. Adam Bede
An interesting read about a girl whose head is turned by a local gentlemen with tragic consequences. Parallels to Tess of the D'Urbervilles are clear, with Eliot focusing more on religion here. I thought the plot and general theme of the book was well-addressed, but was left cold by the religious references.

97. The Temple of my Familiar
Another great Alice Walker book, with a sweeping range of characters and locations. It is hard to talk about the plot, but I found the character-driven prose page turning.

98. Quartet in Autumn
A quick read, but don't discount the observations of an overlooked third age. Funny and sad, I am glad to have read it.

99. Spring Torrents
I connected more with this as I got further into the novella. At first I had flashbacks to English GCSE and Romeo and Juliet, a play whose premise always annoyed my own particular brand of romanticism / cynicism. As the story moved on, I felt more forgiving of Dmitri's changing affections. I wouldn't say I liked this as much as Fathers and Sons, but I am glad to have read it nonetheless.

100. The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat
I found this fascinating, this is a book that I have looked at in many a shop, but buying my own copy last year. The book is a journey through the mind, it is a fascinating organ that we are still only on the edge of understanding it.

>101 soffitta1: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat was my favourite book last month. Very interesting, and what a title!

I hadn't realised he was the doctor behind "Awakenings". I am so glad to read it, you are right, the title is such a draw!

101. Resurrection Men
Rebus is sent for a rehabilitation course for finally stepping over that line with his boss - throwing a cup of coffee over her head. He, and other difficult officers, are set to work on an old case. Police corruption and the inevitable long arm of Cafferty. Another good read. I have the rest of the Rebus books, but as I move into the second half of the series, I am starting to ration myself.

102. Indigo
Bought earlier in the year to bring up the number of 1001 books written by women. This a saga of a book, with the colourful characters and locations really brought to life by the author. With inspiration taken from Caliban, the book moves through the history of the central family and the seeds of its own downfall sown in the first interaction with the British and the Caribbean islanders. Other themes are discussed are racism, especially in how Kit sees himself and others, the life of women and the change from colonial times to independence. Highly recommended.

103. The Sixth Lamentation
I have had this for a while, and now having read it, I can't see why I kept putting it back on the shelf. The book is a multi-layered tale, one that stretches back to the Germans arriving in Paris in WW2 and a betrayal. In the present of the book, a man believed to have taken advantage of that betrayal seeks asylum in a priory. There are so many questions to be answered, why did the British take in and rename a German responsible for the deportation of many Jews and people of Jewish ancestry from Paris and a French collaborator? Central to the story is Agnes, a woman whose health is failing at the very moment she is able to confront her past. I thought the book was well-written, with many shades of grey and a study in human failings and bravery under horrendous circumstances.

104. The Once and Future King
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had never heard of it before the list. I studied Celtic Civilisation in my first year and have always been fascinated by the Arthurian myths, so it is surprising that this one hadn't come across my radar before. The first book was very familiar - I could see scenes from Disney's Sword in the Stone in my mind's eye as I read, which was based on it (according to a quick online search). At first I thought it was going to be a typical Bildungsroman, as Wart grows up to become the famous King Arthur, but the books get progressively darker and more complex. I really enjoyed the interjection's of the modern world into the text and references to other Arthur writers.

105. The Vegetarian
This book has been on my radar for a while, it was the perfect storm of having 2 important stickers on the front (International Booker Winner and BOGOHP), an eye catching cover and the need to buy new books.
The titular character suddenly stops eating meat and this seemingly simple choice sets in motion family chaos and mental health issues. Terribly reductive description of a short, but very powerful book. Yeong-hye is inspired in her new lifestyle choice by a disturbing dream, not only is she not able to eat meat, but ahe can no longer stomach the advances of her meat eating husband. Family confrontation reveals even darker possible reasons for her decision, certainly the issues of men dominating women and consent are very apparent. The first two sections of the book are seen from the point of view of first her husband and then her brother-in-law, with the final chunk mainly seen through the eyes of her sister. This leaves the book open for further interpretation, but also stresses the lack of control of the vegetarian. Fantastic book.
My copy came with an extra short story - The Fruit of my Woman, a tale in which a woman turns into a fruit tree. Short, but poignant.

106. Beggars Banquet
A collection of short stories including some about Rebus. The last one is a novela that was incorporated into Dead Souls. A mixed bad, quite fun to see some of the action from the criminal's side.

107. Mission to Paris
A European actor who has made it big in Hollywood returns to the old continent on the eve of WW2. Paris is a city on the edge, Nazis have infiltrated the press, the higher echelons of society and are trying to exert their influence over Stahl as he was born in Vienna. There are many threads here - émigrés in Paris ready to flee further from the Nazis, the freedom of the press, the varying American positions and a real fear of returning to the battlegrounds of WW1. Easy to get caught up in this.

108. Whatever it takes
Not my usual fare - a World Book Night book.
At the centre of the book is the analysis of a friendship between two women and how it evolves under pressure.
There is enough here to keep you reading, but I can't say that I was a fan of any of the main characters so empathy was hard to muster.

109. Silence
I have quite mixed feelings on the book. As an atheist, but one brought up with Christian traditions, I have left aside a number of the more overtly religious books, but that does not mean I discount them out of hand (I recently read and enjoyed Ben Hur). The book intrigued me, I remember studying a little bit of this topic as an aside to the Portuguese voyages of discovery, but the narrative made connection more human. At the time Japan was a country closing itself off from the influences of the outside world and the Jesuit priests and their converts were heavily penalised for their foreign faith. Father Rodrigues goes to Japan to find out what really happened to Ferreira, his mentor and apostate. Rodrigues is on a journey, treacherous in the political climate and also eye-opening as he sees first-hand how Christianity has evolved in a new land. The torture of the priests and the converts is brutal and heinously creative, but it is also psychological as they are forced to renounce their god and trample on an image of Christ. For the priests they are given the choice of renouncement or the Christians they are with will be killed. In this situation, there is certainly room for introspection, a time for questioning faith, with the victims becoming ever more tired and isolated. The style is good, I found it page-turning and thought provoking. The characters were human, rather than stylised saints in waiting. It is also easy to judge episodes in history, but not always easy to remember they were different times. I oscillated between anger at people being tortured for their faith and also understanding the fear of another faith coming in and taking over an indigenous one.

110. Reckless
The first in a series of books influenced by the Grimm Fairy Tales. Jakob goes into Mirrorworld in search of his father and is caught up in an alternative reality. This is a lot darker than other books by the author, but, while I was interested enough to keep reading, there was a lot that could have been more fully developed. Good German practice.

111. Crome Yellow
His first book, yes, there were flashes of what I enjoyed in Brave New World, but not as much depth. Funny at times, had me in mind of Gulliver's Travels.

112. The Days of Abandonment
Bought in a charity shop because I recognised the author. This book doesn't disappoint, but it is a dark and sad portrayal of a woman's breakdown after her husband leaves her for another, younger woman. At times it was hard to read, especially when you see how much she is neglecting her children and dog, but you could see how this could happen.

113. The Dead Father
Experimental, odd, I kept reading to see what else might come up.

114. Cheese
A short, but great 1001 book. A very average man gets himself caught up in a venture to sell cheese. You see the dreams, the schemes and the failures. Sad, funny and he is definitely recognisable.

115. The Things We Lost in the Fire
A collection of short stories, I enjoyed the writing style. As you would expect there is a mix here, some work very well, there are other stories you'd like to read more of and a couple that didn't quite hit the mark. Another dark read, the veneer of civilised city and its more dangerous underbelly are explored again and again, as well as gender dynamics and life post dictatorship. I'd like to read more by the writer.

Stopping by to get caught up. Great reading since my last visit and making note of your glowing review for The Radleys, one of the books lurking on my TBR shelves. Looks like it would be a fun read for October/Halloween.

Definitely a good read for that time of the year.

116. A Question of Blood
A school shooting is the main case of this book, it harked back to the incidents of Dunblane, coincidentally in my mind after the death of Robert Miles whose track Children was number one. There is also the side case of Rebus' closest ally and the death of her stalker in a fire. I saw the outcome of the school shooting earlier on, but it was the back story details and the fleshing out of Siobhan's character that made me keep reading.

117. The Embers of Heaven
A very long-term TBR set in a fictional version of China, Syai. It is the second novel in a series, but it is not necessary to have read the previous one due to the difference in time of both books. The two central characters' fates are bound together, but the world has plans to keep them apart. I really enjoyed this, especially the nods to Chinese history and figures.

118. Monsignor Quixote
What an odd wee book, I picked this up as a hispanophile and because it was written by Graham Greene. The titular priest goes on a journey, like his namesake, with a communist mayor acting as Sancho Panza just after the death of Franco. There are familiar episodes given a modern twist and also visits to parts of Spain I know well all bound together with religious musings. I would be interested in seeing the TV adaptation on the cover, Alec Guinness as Quixote.

119. Sentimental Education
The coming of age of Frédéric, a young Frenchman. This is a tough one, I can't decide if I was blinkered by the memory of the brilliant Madame Bovary, but I found that I couldn't really get into this.

120. The Man from Beijing
The book opens with a man coming across a village gruesomely slaughtered. Through the work of a judge who has a distant connection to one of the families that was killed, we are taken back in time and across continents to find out why these people were targeted. I read this on holiday and it was a great way to escape in the sunshine.

121. The People's Queen
I picked this up because I recognised the writer and was not disappointed. This time, the action centres around Alice Perrers, who from humble beginnings rises to become the mistress of Edward III. Alice is born as her mother dies from the plague and becomes one of many charges of a local woman. Through marriage and other relationships, she slowly moves up in the world, but will she be able to beat the wheel of fate and hold on to her good fortune? I enjoyed the political machinations and also the inclusion of Chaucer, a courtier of Edward's, especially as I have not long finished The Canterbury Tales, indeed there is a nod to Alice as inspiration for one of his tales. Such an interesting time period, with danger all around, I especially liked to read about how women lived.

122. Hidden Figures
I grabbed this when I recognised the film poster on the cover, I am yet to see the film, but it is on my wishlist. This was a really interesting book, the style is a bit unusual for a history, but I felt that focus on the personal stories help to make this book more tangible and memorable. There are many moments where the 2017 reader will stop and question how this could be true, but sadly it was and it is great that finally these women are starting to get recognition for what they did for women and the black community. Readers expecting a narrative that reads like a work of fiction should be aware that this is not faction, rather a well-researched book with more facts.

123. Everyday Sexism
I came to this through twitter and I thoroughly recommend it. The book is split into chapters dealing with, as the title says, sexism suffered everyday worldwide. Each chapter opens with stats and tweets from women and men about their own experiences. I read it in stages, firstly because I wanted to reflect on each section and secondly because many of the experiences inside made me angry. There were moments that I could say, me too! This made me feel both better and worse, as others shared my experiences. There were other moments that made me think about what I would do in this situation and what I could do in my role as an educator to try to reduce sexism.

124. The Japanese Lover
A sweeping story of love blighted by race relations in WW2 and its aftermath in the States. Alma escapes Europe in the wake of Nazism to live with her extended family in California, with her family facing death in the camps for being Jews. Her uncle tries to give her everything he can to make her happy, but she finds most happiness in her relationship with Ichimei, the son of his gardener, and also friendship in her cousin. After the attack on Pearl Harbour, Ichimei and his family are sent to camps in Utah, a desperate and dark period of US history. The second thread of the book is based around Irina, a young immigrant who is helping the aging Alma, and Alma's grandson, Seth. It is not my favourite Allende book, there wasn't enough depth in it, but I did enjoy it as a beach read.

>113 soffitta1: I'm reading Hidden Figures at the moment and really enjoying it - but yes you're right, there are a lot of "how can it have been like that, so recently?" moments. And of course it's not just the US - here in the UK we have a less than stellar recent history too in this regard.

June

125. Fleshmarket Close
Back to Rebus and the dark side of Scotland. An immigrant is murdered on an estate in Edinburgh raising tensions and questions about the multicultural nature of Scotland. I remember this time, while there have always been different cultures in Scotland, at the end of the '90s and early 2000s in Glasgow when immigrants were moved into the estates on the edge of the city into communities that weren't always welcoming. The book, unfortunately, still resonates today. Siobhan is working on a different case, the connection between a missing young woman and the release of her sister's rapist back into the community. This case shows how a crime affects more than the life of the victim, especially when a young woman is left to deal with the full weight of the grief of her parents.

126. Shikasta
Rather out there for me, but I found Lessing's treatment of Apartheid and the modern world through science fiction rather interesting. The format of the book is also unusual - narratives, reports and observations. I feel it would be worth reading a second time.

127. Contempt
It is hard to say if I would recommend this, the writing style is great, but the subject material made me madder and madder as I read through the book. The central character destroys his relationship through his own petty jealousy, constantly asking his wife when she stopped loving him. I would like to read another of his books to see what he can do with a more palatable topic, but for me, this is another example of a "woe is me" man book.

128. Written on the Body
One of my favourite authors and this book is a departure in style from some of the others I have read. A book about feelings in relationships, with the main focus on love and the joy and pain it can bring. Rather than a fixed story, there are meandering threads which highlight emotions, I enjoyed this. I loved the fact that the narrator was ambiguous in gender, this kept me rethinking my reactions to what they did. It is a short book, but I deliberately put it down to savour it and give myself time to think about it.

129. Wise Children
Twin sisters receive an invitation to their father's birthday party, coincidentally it is their own birthday as well, and the sisters reminisce about their lives. And what a life they have led, following in their family's footsteps by treading the boards. The narrative shows episodes of their career as well as their changing relationships with their family, especially with their father who doesn't recognise them officially as his. The sisters have a cheeky, go-to attitude and this makes the reading of the book fun, especially when dealing with the more unusual incidents.

130. Burger's Daughter
Written under Apartheid, Rosa is the daughter of 2 Afrikaner communists fighting against the regime. Gordimer uses Rosa to discuss the life of a young woman born into a family of dissenters and how this affects her own fate. On a government list from birth, Rosa spends her childhood, and later adulthood, visiting her parents in prison, passing messages and also living under suspicion. Part two takes the action overseas to Europe, where those against Apartheid lived in exile, before moving back to South Africa. Gordimer shows us how hard it is to maintain personal relationships under such circumstances. What sets the book apart from others is mixture of writing styles and changing perspectives. I found this enriched the novel as I felt you got a deeper understanding of Rosa. Highly recommended.

131. Beware of pity
Hmm, another tough one to describe. Zweig is a fantastic writer and the premise of the novel is interesting. A young cavalry officer commits a faux-pas, asking a girl to dance who can't. His guilt about embarrassing the girl and also running away from the ball leads him to go and visit the family. The officer is drawn into the family life, ever deeper, but he starts to question his motives - guilt, pity or something else. It is a sad book, a series of events that seem to be inevitable. I would recommend it, even if the main characters can seem frustrating at times.

132. City of Women
Set in Berlin during WW2, the men are away fighting, leaving the women behind to make the best of it. Sigrid meets a man in the cinema, an unhappy woman looking for an escape from her unhappy life. She is drawn into the underworld of the city by a young woman assigned to her building, becoming a link in the chain helping people to escape Germany and Nazi persecution. It is a page turner, I liked the ambiguous characters and how they acted under the different pressures in the book.

133. The Buried Giant
Quite a departure from the other books I have read by the author, The Buried Giant is a novel surrounded in mysterious fog based around the legend of King Arthur. A mystical journey of memories and half-forgotten details. Interesting, but may require a second reading.

134. Is it just me?
A conversation about life between Miranda and her 18 year-year-old self. I can imagine her saying everything in the book and it is a lot of fun, especially with a gin and tonic on holiday.

135. Le Bal and Snow in Autumn
Two very different novellas from the writer of Suite Francaise, the first based around a ball and the snobbish of Parisian society and the second based around the Russian Revolution. Very different tones, but the writing captures the feelings and characters well.

136. The Miniaturist
Such a lovely premise, but I wanted more. The historic detail of Dutch mercantile life and the machinations of society are well-drawn, but the plot fizzled by the end.

137. Prisoners of Geography
A fascinating look at maps and how the location of countries has affected their politics and history. Highly recommended.

138. A Year of Marvellous Ways
I really liked this, a meandering and interlocking life stories. Another hard book to categorise, if you are looking for a lineal narrative, this is not the book for you, but if you want to get wrapped up in a yarn with interesting characters and plenty of opportunities to think about life.

>117 soffitta1: I also enjoyed City of Women. You've been busy!

I have! A combination of a week of for half term and also a finally being able to reuse teaching resources. I am enjoying really getting time to read, long journeys also help.

Popping in to say hello. I see that you have been reading some Forsyte books/stories. I was looking through my books to see what I would like to tackle for next year as far as Big Reads go. I've had this collection for a few years. Perhaps I'll do a year long read next year.

>123 soffitta1: Going to look for Everyday Sexism.

Hello! The Forsyte books over a year would be good, that way you could dip in and out.
I got Everyday Sexism on Kindle, great way to read it in chunks.

139. The violent land
A Brazilian classic, a look back at the clearing of land for cacao plantations. The lawless wilderness, where feuds and mistrust are rife. A really good book, the plot helps to underline the bloody history.

140. The Case of the Missing Servant
A successful detective is brought in to investigate the titular case, a far cry from his normal fare of checking out the backgrounds of potential spouses. I liked the fact that the characters were multi faceted, the detective still had his mother interfering in his life and it also looked at the different lives that different castes lead even today in modern Indian society. Good train read.

141. The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
A travelogue written in a series of letters by different members of the party, this one grew on me. The writers showcase their characters in their letters, from hypochondria to romance and also the styles inform the reader of more. I hadn't taken on board the timing of the writing, so was really interested in the Union talk. I'd recommend this, it is one I think I would read again to get even more out of it.

142. Blonde
I think this might be the 1001 book of the year for me. This is life of Marilyn Monroe, partly based on source material, partly imagined, this was a book I savoured. Oates has an innovate style, with the writing almost become more breathless and rambling as Monroe reaches breaking point. Such sadness in the book, naivety and dreams. At times, it was uncomfortable, especially the rather twisted relationship between Monroe and her mother which informs all her relationships. Excellent book.

143. Living
Set in the inter war period in Birmingham, looking at life in an industrial city. Interesting writing style.

144. Selected Stories
More Stefan Zweig! I had one of the collection before, but I enjoyed returning to the Austrian writer's observation on human life. I particularly liked the one about the book pedlar.

145. The Viceroy of Ouidah
I picked this up having read both fiction and non-fiction by the writer, this short book didn't disappoint. The viceroy comes from humble beginnings in Brazil to a high station in Dahomey. Generations later, his large number of descendants still meet up and celebrate his life every year. Slavery is what Da Silva makes his money, taking advantage of Dahomey being the last place it was legal after the ban. Dark, but one criticism would be that we never really see the slaves being taken as more than products, rather than as people.

>125 soffitta1: Given the number of 1001 books you read, "the 1001 book of the year" is a strong recommendation indeed! I'll have to keep this one in mind.

146. Folded Earth
After her husband dies climbing, Maya moves to a Himalayan village in search of a new purpose and possibly the closure denied her from never seeing her husband's body. She teaches at the local school, much to the disapproval of her fellow teacher. She is drawn in deeper into the community and strikes up a friendship through typing an ever changing, but seemingly never to be finished history by a neighbour. I bought this on the spur of the moment from a local charity shop and don't regret it, though I wish they had gone with a less chick-lit cover as there is more to this book.

147. Hotel du Lac
A woman goes to a fading hotel to write, many of the guests are there to escape, and she is no exception. The quiet hotel with two matriarchs jockeying for position gives her the time to re-evaluate her personal relationships, especially her current one with a married man. Short, but I liked the reflection and how her confidence grew.


148. Bridge to Terabithia
A children's classic. A boy's life is changed forever when a girl moves into town. She takes him out of the drudge of chores and into a magical imaginary world. There is a lot going on in this book, it is part coming of age, part self-discovery. I can't say more without ruining the book for those who haven't read it, but I would highly recommend it.

149. Fall on your knees
I bought this as I wanted to read more female writers on the 1001 lists. This is a family saga, full of dark secrets and pain, but the writing is excellent. Tough to read at times, with incest and family politics casting a long shadow. I'd definitely read more by the writer.

150. Gut Symmetries
A love affair becomes more complicated as the other woman falls for the wife. A transatlantic love story. The plot comes and goes, but I was more interested in the writing. I am a big fan of Winterson's, I like the way she plays with language.

151. The Naming of the Dead
Another Rebus book, this one is set during the G8 summit, something seems to be connecting a series of murders and the outlier will use his own ways to work it out. It was interesting to see more about Clarke's background, a rebelling child of hippy parents.

152. Exit Music
Rebus' time on the force is almost up, most people would be content to sit back with their feet up, but he still wants to be in the mix. Clarke is also tipped to move up, but will she be able to come out of his shadow.

153. Atmosphere of Hope
Ways to stem the flow of Climate Change, unfortunately I read this not long after Trump refused to add his signature in his Paris.

154. The Borrower of the Night
I have read a number of the writer's Amelia Peabody series, but snagged this one from a book exchange due to German setting. Twists and turns, good for a commute.

July

155. The Charterhouse of Parma
I liked The Red and the Black, too. There is a lot of detail, but the plot isn't really hard driven. I am glad I got stuck in on the bus this morning as I am much more likely to keep on with it. Reading this back, it sounds like I don't like it, but that's not the case. I do feel I will need to do some googling of events mentioned in the book to get more out of it. The plot rambles, but I did enjoy the descriptive passages.

156. Henderson, the Rain King
I think this was a miss from Saul Bellow, of course that could be because I reading this so many years later and the depiction of Africa brings up allusions to 60s films. From reading online, this looks like it was deliberate, but I don't think the genre was successfully subverted.

157. Bitter Glass
Ireland is at a bloody stage in the war for independence and a family get caught up in the fighting. Cut off after the IRA blow up a railway bridge, their house is taken over by guerrilla soldiers. The plot follows the war becoming real for this family from Dublin. I have mixed feelings, the writing is lyrical, but it is a bit slow.

158. I was a rat!
I do love Philip Pullman, his books are fun with dark twists on familiar themes. Rat is a boy who turns up as Cinderella marries her Prince Charming, he has no memory of being a boy and claims to be a rat. He is taken in by a childless couple, who try their best to find his home and family. Rat's naivety unfortunately leads him to be taken advantage of. An enjoyable afternoon read.

159. The Dark Circle
I saw this in Waterstones and just had to get it, the cover was striking and it was shortlisted for the Bailey's Prize. My first by the writer, the novel takes us back to a TB sanatorium newly taken over by the NHS. The patients a mix of servicemen, private patients and now a pair of Jewish twins from London. Social classes mixing, united by a disease, an illness which could strike anyone. I have already bought a second book by Grant.

160. Larry's Party
Starting with a young Larry walking down the street in a wrongly taken jacket, full of insecurity and dreams about the future. Shields takes us through his life, through his interactions with the women in his life, his friends and his work. I really liked this (especially the dinner party scene with everyone talking over each other), I look forward to reading Swann, also on my list.

161. News from Berlin
Read from cover to cover in a café, Europe is already at war and one Dutch family is separated. Oscar is a diplomat in Switzerland for work, his wife, Kate, is in London and his daughter, Emma, is in Berlin with her German husband. Emma meets her father in Switzerland and passes on vital information about the Germans about to turn on Russia which has come from her husband's office. Oscar needs to pass it on, but how can he do it without harming his daughter? A poignant tale about dangerous times and how families deal with them, especially when they find themselves on opposing sides. Really good.

Fabulous reviews! I have made note of your comments regarding Hotel du Lac, Fall on your knees and Larry's Party as I have copies of those reads currently lurking on my TBR piles.

Thanks! I am in another good run of books.

162. A kiss before dying
A young, rich student reveals her pregnancy to her boyfriend, he knows that her father will cut her off if he finds out, so looks for a way out. Twists and turns, very entertaining.

163. The Interpreters
I found this an interesting read, but knowing little about Nigerian society, I am not sure I got the full picture.

164. Tarzan of the Apes
You know this one, there have been so many films, cartoons and adaptations that it felt familiar reading it. Very much in the vein of King Solomon's Mines, the book is about the orphaned child of white, aristocratic parents who is adopted by an ape after their death. Lots of derring-do, but what I found hard was the depiction of Tarzan's innate superiority, his ability to teach himself to read is one example. Yes, I am a 21st Century reader, but the comparison of Tarzan both to apes and black people was uncomfortable and full of stereotypes.

>134 soffitta1: I loved A Kiss Before Dying.

Lots of interesting 1001 reads. I'll take a BB for Everyday Sexism.

165. The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas
Or is it the story of Stein and the famous people she knew? I did like this, it felt like I was reading about THE arty set of the time. Lots of anecdotes and name dropping, an interesting read.

166. Passion according to G.H.
A really unusual book, taking an existential look at a dead beastie. One of those books you need to read more than once.

167. The Free World
The Soviet Union has relaxed visa restrictions for Jewish citizens, but leaving is only the first hurdle as the émigrés try to find their way out of Italy and the precarious life they lead there. What makes the book unusual is that this is the part of the journey that is usually reduced to a short chapter in other novels, rather than focusing on the uncertainty and its destructiveness on the characters themselves.

168. The Shooting Party
I picked this up because I remember seeing the film. Class analysis and the tension in the interwar period make this a quick read.

169. The Post Office Girl
Set in the harsh economic climate which aided the rise of Nazism, a young Austrian woman is picked up by a relative and taken on a high society holiday. For me, Zweig uses the novel to show how important face is, even to the detriment of family members.

170. Trains and Lovers
Four strangers chat on a train about other important journeys they have made. As a train fan, I couldn't resist picking this one up and it certainly made a journey go quicker.

171. Stoner
A slow burning book, the life story of an academic against the backdrop of a changing world. Very sad at times, especially as Stoner stoically tries to keep going when the odds are often against him and the students around him.

172. The Gap of Time
A retelling of The Winter's Tale, a work I am not familiar with, a modern version of mistrust and recriminations. I really liked it.

173. The Grandmothers
A set of four novellas, each one treating very different topics. I got caught up in them - the social drama, the interaction between, sometimes, very different characters who have been thrown together.

174. House of Orphans
Finland at the turn of the 20th Century, Finns and Swedes live together uneasily, with Finnish ways seen as backward by the elite. Eeva has become politicised in the city, but is sent through the orphanage to work for a doctor in the north. I found this really interesting, not only for the historical backdrop, but also for the characterisation.

175. The Spider King's Daughter
A young man meets a young woman, but the course of love never seems to run smoothly, especially as she is the daughter of an important man and he is currently a street vendor, trying to support his family in the aftermath of his father's death. Good read.

176. The Descendants
Another book that I have seem the film adaptation of, and one of the few in which both book and film have merit. Matt has a lot to deal with, his family are negotiating land deals and his wife is in a coma in hospital. A book full of serious issues, but very well dealt with.

August

177. Time's Arrow
A life backwards, each step back giving you insight into what the narrator had done. Interesting writing strategy and it is a rather quick read.

178. Cakes and Ale
A writer is drawn back into a former life, when he met a writer and his vivacious wife. I am on the fence about this book, I did enjoy the writing and the story, but I think that the work is so entrenched in the time it was written, it would be easy to overlook.

179. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The search is on for a mole, the mole at the centre of operations who has caused so many deaths. A sad book in its portrayal of lonely spooks and their broken relationships, but great detail in working at the Circus and the high level of suspense.

180. Cocaine Nights
Not what I expected from the title, Ballard takes us to Spain and a coastal resort full of expats. The narrator's brother is awaiting trial for murder, very much out of character for those who knew him, but this sunny dream location hides a darker side. Recommended.

181. Dead Babies
Ugh, really did not like this. The black comedy of it was lost on me, rather I was more irritated by the characters and their inane conversations.

182. Erewhon
A utopian land where beautiful people live, but with different morals and ways of living. I liked the discussion about machines and their rising importance, what they would be like as they became more powerful. The idea of machines being able to evolve as the humans who have created them make them better. An interesting read.

183. A Lear of the Steppes
A take on King Lear, but with an even bleaker backdrop. Not a long read, but I think I preferred others by the writer.

>143 soffitta1: Erewhon is on my list after it was referenced in Doctor Who this past season. Glad to hear it was interesting!

>140 soffitta1: - Stoner was one of those books where not a lot was happening but I couldn't help but be completely drawn into the story.

>137 LisaMorr: Nice to send a book bullet rather than receive one!

>144 rabbitprincess: There were ideas that were so far ahead of its time, very interesting.

>145 LittleTaiko: Exactly!

184. Strange Pilgrims
A collection of stories around age and death. Interesting set of stories, with a link to travel as well.

185. From the Land of Green Ghosts
I have had this for a while (some how managed to lose it for a few months!). There are not many books coming out of Burma and it seemed rather topical to read this one now. This the biography of a man who made it out of Burma to England, where he went on to study. I found the narrative fascinating, I haven't read much about this country and the author was right in the centre of what was going on. Recommended.

186. Igraine the Brave
A short book by the German writer, I was looking for books for my niece and nephew, both of whom like history. It is a reversal of roles, with Igraine wanting to be a knight. Add in magic and some good villains, and you get a fun read.

187. The Wild Ass' Skin
A rather melodramatic book about the excess of a man's life. Interesting, but not his best.

188. Jonathan Living Seagull
A seagull refuses to live his life within the normalised boundaries of his flock. He tries to improve his life and himself despite many trials. I tried, but this was really not my cup of tea.

189. Journey into Fear
Reading this made me feel like I was in a 1940s spy film, shady characters and a reluctant hero. I rather enjoyed it.

190. Karma Cola
Scratching past the India seen by travellers, bursting the bubble of their myths. I liked this a lot.

191. The Outrun
A tale of addiction and drying out. This was a rather honest book of how you can dragged down by alcohol and how the threat of relapse is ever present. The Orkneys also play a role in juxtaposition to London. Highly recommended.

192. The Courilof Affair
A young Bolshevik is sent to the house of a high ranking official as a sleeper. As he gets to know the man and his family, the man finds it harder to pull that trigger. Short, but very tense.

>148 soffitta1: The Outrun (touchstones playing up again I think) is one of my top books of this year, I thought it was brilliant.

193. This is how you lose her
A series of short stories by the author of the brilliant The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, but for me, this did not live up to it. Partially because the treatment of women in the book and the attitude of the men grated, leaving it hard to find the empathy necessary to engage fully with the book.

194. My name is Lucy Barton
Lying in a hospital bed, the narrator is visited by her estranged mother, leading them to go over old ground. Nothing in life is maybe as complex as parent-child relationships, especially as the younger generation have less reliable memories of the start of it. Short, but one that will have you think it.

195. The Skating Rink
3 narrators give you the story of death in a Spanish town. Short, but I enjoyed the detail.

196. Beethoven was one sixteenth black
Picked up because I have enjoyed the Nobel Prize winner's previous work, this collection of short stories did not disappoint. Themes of race, age and adultery.

197. The Eye of the Storm
I had two goes at this, reading the first half on holiday, but unfortunately putting it down on my return. Aging is a hard pill to swallow, but even harder when your children are half wishing you gone. The protagonist has surrounded herself with loyal carers, people with some spark, and this characterisation is what I liked most about the book.

198. We are all completely besides ourselves
Growing up is strange, but not more so than growing up along side an ape as part of an experiment organised by your parents. Problems come as the chimps grow older and stronger, in this case the chimp is sent away. Much of the book is about what happens next, both to the family and the chimp. I saw the ending coming, also I feel that the story could have been tightened up.

199. 31 Songs
Read on a car journey- a right mix of tunes and his (sometimes) meandering thoughts about the tracks of his life. Interesting, though I must confess I didn't know a lot of the tracks.

200. Woman beware woman
Death brings a woman back to Ireland, back to the family she loved, but was ultimately shut out from. Coincidence and machinations, there is a lot going in this strange, short book. I liked the style, but feel it is probably marmite.

201. The White Lioness
I have seen the TV version (British one), but they had adapted a number of elements. I enjoyed this thriller, complex and page-turning.

202. Seeing a large cat
Another Amelia Peabody mystery. I am enjoying the extra involvement in the series of Amelia's son and ward.

203. Washington Square
Catherine is a plain woman with a protective father ready to see off men in want of her fortune. Catherine gains a suitor, but can their relationship survive her father's meddling? Not as gripping as some of the books I have read by the author, but an interesting enough premise.

204. Cuentos Mexicanos
I bought this on a holiday to Mexico, a nice range of short stories from some of the country's best writers.

205. The River Between
Traditional beliefs are under threat of those brought in by colonists in this book. A short 1001 book, but one I'd like to read again.

206. Little Herr Friedmann and other stories
Quite a sad selection of stories about the human condition.

207. Blaming
I have been looking out for a book by Taylor since seeing her inclusion on the 1001 list, this one didn't disappoint. A very British book - with a relationship forged under difficult circumstances is kept up despite the main character not really wanting to. I am really glad to have read it and would like to read more, but it is hard to say why without spoiling the plot. I would say it was the development of the story that I enjoyed.

210. Vertigo
I do find myself drawn into the journeys described, this time in Italy, where it is the travelling that is so much more than arriving. Historical sections mixed up with the narrator's (Sebald himself?) own travels in Italy and his trials and tribulations.

211. Nights at the Circus
An over the top heroine - half bird half acrobat - and the man drawn into her web. Carter paints circus life in vivid detail and, while the story gets more complex, it never loses the entertainment factor. I will look out her other book on the 1001 list.

212. Merlin and Company
Merlin and Guinevere have left Camelot for Galicia, with people coming far and wide to seek out his wisdom. The book is a series of mythical episodes, good for a commute.

210. Elizabeth is Missing
Maud is suffering from Alzheimer's, with the past and present confused. She knows there is something wrong, she needs to find her friend Elizabeth, it is all she can think about. Elizabeth's name is on little pieces of paper scattered around her possessions, but no one around her seems to care. The mystery keeps you turning the pages, but it is the sadness reality of the writing that will make me remember the book.

212. Angels & Insects
Two very different novellas based around bugs, the first was familiar - I saw the film a number of years ago - and my favourite. A scientist is taken in by the angelic exterior of the daughter of a benefactor, but learns that, as in nature, you should remember that not all that glitters is gold.

213. The Gustav Sonata
Tremain takes us through the life of Gustav and his friend, Anton. Both boys grow up in Switzerland, but have very different parents. Gustav's mother finds it hard to love her son, the offspring of a dead father who has left her in penury. Her aversion to poverty leads her to hatred, damaging her son's upbringing, especially when he becomes friends with musical prodigy Anton. The sadness of dysfunctional people and relationships is sensitively told by Tremain.

214. The Essex Serpent
I kept seeing this around and was unable to resist the cover and title. Part historical novel, part discourse of relationships and the role of gender, there is a lot going on in the book. Mystery is added in the search for the Essex Serpent and the misfortune it brings. The book moved in ways I didn't expect, not unpleasingly so, it did keep me turning pages.

215. The Enchanted April
A group of English women rent a house in Italy, four women who know little about each other and are worried about being stuck in roles. As I read this, I envisioned Maggie Smith or Judy Dench, it has that Little England feel to it. Entertaining.

216. The House of Seven Gables
A man does another man out of land and has his descendants cursed. Very different in tone to The Scarlet Letter, but (from what I remember) similar in characters.

217. When I lived in modern times
I am really pleased that I came across Grant, her novels both entertain and make you think. In this novel, the main character leaves dark rationed Soho for a new life in a new land, post war Israel. Evelyn starts her life in the promised land on a kibbutz before moving on to Tel Aviv, struggling to find herself. Prize-winning for a reason.

218. The Laws
It was an interesting premise, I found some parts more interesting than others. The narrator's voice was rather detached, which made it harder to empathise at times. I would be interested in reading more by the writer, but I am not sure that this book was my cup of tea.

219. A Little Life
I was completely sucked into this book, as unrealistic as the storyline was. The plot is too convenient and far-fetched, the book is a tome and a half, but the writing is good. A group of friends become the family they choose.

220. The Millstone
Drabble is one of the authors I have got to know from the 1001 list and I saw this reprint of one of her older works and snapped it up! Like Atwood, Drabble is a seminal female writer and you can see the progress of women through the differing issues brought up in their work. In this book, the main character falls pregnant and decides to keep the child, despite social pressure. There are times when you wish that the characters would just talk properly together, but I had to keep reminding myself that it was not set or written in 2017.

221. Don't Move
A confession of a doctor's illicit relationship to his daughter while she is undergoing surgery. I would praise the style, it certainly keeps you thinking and reading, but the main character's actions made me angrier and angrier.

222. How it works: The Mum
I do like this series, it is a blast from the past as I grew up on Ladybird books, but with a fun twist.

223. The who dreamed she could fly
A hen wishes for more than a life sitting on eggs that will never hatch, she wishes so for her own chick to rear. Thrown on the scrap heap, she takes a chance and finds her world ever changed. I read this in an afternoon, a lovely wee book - much better than Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, though I can see how it would appeal to readers of it.

October

224. The Ape who guards the Balance
More Amelia Peabody, with her son, adopted daughter and friend gaining more importance. I am currently reading the next in the series, which makes this feel more of a filler- moving on the ever more inevitable love story between Ramses and Nerfret. What stands out most here is how David, son of Abdullah (their Egyptian fixer), is seen by those around him, even subconsciously by Peabody and her husband.

225. Bruno's dream
Bruno is the centre of this human drama, which could be dismissed as soap-operatic with all the partner swapping shenanigans, but Murdoch details the characters to such an extent that I found myself thoroughly drawn in.

226. The Marble Faun
Another Hawthorne - and this is very different to the two I read before. The action involves Americans in Europe and the very different culture and morals of the characters. Meandered at times, I can see why it is read, but I am not sure I would keep it on the list.

227. Dark Voyage
WW2 intrigue, this time the author shows the war from the point of view of a Dutch naval captain and his clandestine missions on a disguised ship. Page-turning as usual from Furst.

228. Sacred Sierra
I have read a number of Webster's books about Spain, from Duende - a look at his experiences with flamenco- to Andalus - about the Moorish heritage of Spain. Webster moves with his partner, Salud, who he meets in Duende to a mas in rural Valencia. The book is a year in the life of new crofters and their trials and tribulations I did enjoy Webster's introductions to each month, his use of an old Moorish book on agriculture, and also the inclusion of local myths.

229. The Stationmaster's Farewell
I haven't read one of the Railway Detective series for a while, but fancied a bit of mystery and cool logic. The detective's skills are needed outside London again with the death of a beloved stationmaster. Perfect commute read.

230. The Guardian of the Horizon and 231. A River in the Sky
More Amelia Peabody, in the first, we revisit the lost oasis where Nefret was rescued from. There is development in the relationship between Nefret and Ramses, but with added complications that seemed rather contrived for me. I was wondering if this is to explain a later plot twist as this book was written later than the reading order would suggest. In the second, the Emersons follow Ramses to Jerusalem where pre wartime spy games are playing out. I am on the fence about the change of scenery, more because I felt the archaeology side of the series was lost.

232. Harriet Hume
Harriet and Arnold have an on-off affair with Arnold. She is able to see his innermost thoughts, his hesitations about being with her. Their paths cross many times, but will he ever be able to commit? Very different from The Return of the Soldier and you could be forgiven of thinking that that this is a soap opera-esque drama from my description, but there is more here. I can understand why it was removed from the 1001 list, but it shouldn't be disregarded.

233. Naked Lunch
Hmm, so I have read more of his work, but I have little time for the Beat Literature I have read as I find it sensationalised, male dominated and so heavily drug influenced that there is not much for me to take away. Sure, so maybe this is "satire", but for me it is another example of derogatory white male attitudes.

234. The Last World
I loved this, a book I probably never would have heard of without the 1001 list. Ransmayr takes the characters of Ovid's Metamorphosis and people from the Greek's life and creates a new fabulous tale. I begrudged work for making me put it down.

235. A Heart so White
Marias takes us to the middle of a family drama. With the marriage of the main character, his mind takes him back to the life of his father and the marriage he knows little about, the previous marriage to the narrator's aunt, who killed herself seemingly without explanation. On his honeymoon in Cuba, the narrator ruminates over the circumstances of his own marriage and also the possibility of his father having a Cuban wife before moving back to Spain. A hard book to review without spoilers, I would like to praise the style and the way Marias weaves a web around the reader, keeping them close, but ever aware there will be surprises.

236. The Passion of New Eve
Evelyn, a British male, is captured and turned into Eve, this is his and her story, highlighting the plight of women in this dystopian world. Recommended.

237. The Trouble with Women
There is an independent bookshop in Norwich that I love - The Book Hive - and I always make sure that I go and support it when I am in the city. They have a very eclectic selection of books and I always come away with a couple of gems. I saw The Trouble with Women by the counter and had to get it. Great drawings and a high level of snark. Brilliant Christmas present for this year.

238. The Earth
It is hard to write about this book without reliving the anger I felt when I read the most ridiculous part about a victim of rape realising that this rape was the best sexual experience of her life. Zola was a talented writer and I have no doubt that the sad drudge of a life he describes is realistic, but as a woman I can't bear to read such tripe about a situation that is horrific.

239. Bitter Greens
I thoroughly enjoyed this, stories within stories, familiar fairy tales mixed with history. Forsyth pulls you in with the promise of a good story, but, very much in the vein of Arabian nights, the different stories are picked up and put down making you read on. I highly recommend it.

240. The Taxidermist's Daughter
The titular character is a young woman missing part of her own memories, she has flashes of them, but they lie tantalisingly just out of reach. Her father is a broken man and occasionally lets his guard down, but as the weather turns the past comes back to haunt them both. I have mixed feelings on Mosse, she has fabulous ideas, but at times the books don't quite deliver or move too far into the supernatural world for me. This was great, the balance of the macabre, a cracking story and brilliant characterisation.

241. Good Bones
Short stories and musings from one of my favourite writers, strong female message needed in this time of struggle.

242. Chasing the King of Hearts
I wanted to read a Polish book on my recent trip to Gdansk and this one, almost picked at random, was a fantastic read. It is not an easy read, as could be expected from the pen of a Jewish survivor of WW2, taking as its base a woman's search for her husband in occupied Poland. Through the main character's experiences, the reader gets a personalised look at what happened to Jews in Poland, as well as Poles under first German and then Russian occupation. It is the kind of book that stays with you, making you think about your actions and how you would react to what is happening around you. It is also how important hope is for survival, without the hope of finding her husband, the main character would give up, which would be a relief from the terror and cruelty.

243. Spectacles
I have been wanting to read this for ages, I really like her style and wanted to see if her written work held up. The book doesn't disappoint, you can almost hear Sue narrating it to you. Highlights include her relationship with Mel and her family. I read this on the train, probably giggling out loud!

244. Disobedience
After reading The Power, I have been looking about for more of her work. A young lady returns home after the death of her father, a traumatic event for anyone, but with the added complication of her father having been a rabbi and with the woman having left the orthodox community. As she returns home to her family home, she finds out that her cousin has married her secondary school girlfriend. Alderman brings to life the struggle of faith and heritage, of rebellion and also being free to be who you are.

245. Swing Time
Another strong book from the author of White Teeth. The narrator is comes from London, with a white working class father and an Afro-Caribbean mother, and the book takes us on a journey through her life with a focus on the main relationships she has - with her mother, her best friend, Tracey, and Aimee, an international pop star she works for. As two women with similar heritage, Tracey and the narrator are both friends and rivals, comparing themselves and also using themselves as bench marks for success. Tracey's less stable home life makes her jealous of the narrator, but as the narrator's job takes her further away from her own life, it is hard to see who is winning. The narrator's relationship with her mother is complicated, uneasy at times. It is hard to write more without spoiling the plot, but Smith's style is fantastic and she creates both realistic characters and also situations that cause you to question your own relationships.

>164 soffitta1: Spectacles is on my TBR too, I've heard lots of good things about it from friends.

Worth the read, I had heard such good things but was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. It did!

That's always good to know! :)

Stopping by to get caught up and making note of all of the reading you have been doing!

Stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Thank you! What a lovely image! I hope you are enjoying the festivities. I have been away in Mexico with not much internet access, so will be trying to get this up to date over the next week or so.

November Reads

246. Falcon at the Portals
Peabody and co return to Egypt, this time the crime is personal from the off. Artefacts are being faked and the blame is being laid at David's door. Standard crime caper, good for the commute.

247. Someone else's skin
A crime story with lots of twists and turns, the main detective also has her own deeply disturbing back story. The book keeps you wondering what is happening and how it is all connected.

248. The Mayor of Castorbridge
A drunk man gives away his wife and daughter away at a fair, an act he regrets when he sobers up, but by that time, they are long gone. Years later they reconnect, with mixed results. Such a strange premise, but intriguing to see the drama unfold.

249. The Snow Child
A childless couple catch sight of a young girl in the snow, at first they wonder if she is real, but she soon becomes integral in their life. Beautifully written, the Alaskan landscape is a fitting setting for this other-worldly tale.

250. The hour of the star
I am not sure how to explain this one, I did prefer it to The Passion According to G.H., it seemed more personal, though still very philosophical.

251. Excellent Women
Pym captures the ordinary and makes it funny without losing the satirical edge. I have really enjoyed getting to know her work.

252. The Atmospheric Railway
A short story collection bought for the title, a great impulse purchase.

253. Why Women will save the Planet
A selection of essays on how women will save the planet through the environment, education and banding together. Fascinating, I am sure I will have to get myself a copy.

254. The Absentee
Edgeworth shows the life of the Anglo-Irish ruling class, often misruling at a distance.

255. Fear of Flying
I have wanted to read this for a long time, this ground-breaking feminist book. I have mixed feelings, I can see how it caused furore at the time, but the distance of time has made it dated. Sad to say though that many of the issues in the book ate still not resolved.

256. Day
A book taking us through the war experiences and beyond of RAF gunner Day. Pay attention and you will be rewarded by the slow unfolding of a man's life and his changing perspective.

257. The Bloody Chamber
Dark retelling of fairy tales, another great book by my discovery of the year!

258. Introducing Feminism
An interesting book with a bite-sized look at feminism, I bought it to help me find more books and get a better grip on the topic.

259. Everyman
A sad book, rather self-indulgent as well, not one of his best, but passed the time in the coffee.

260. Be Awesome
Borrowed from the shelves of a friend, pithy read for a spot of Kaffee und Kuchen.

262. Bed-Knob and Broomstick
I love the film and was so pleased to see this on the exchange shelf at a local railway station. The danger of accessing a beloved childhood favourite as an adult is you see it through a very different lens. While much of the book was familiar and was entertaining, there was a whole section that was new to me about cannibals which was rather cringe-making.

263. How to Be a Brit
I have read part of this before, inspired to by a short extract in an EAL book. It is a funny book, Mikes discusses the quirks of the British with humour and affection. Good fun.

264. Be A Flamingo and 265. Be a Unicorn
Two stocking filler books with great images and tongue firmly stuck in cheek.

266. Les Aventures de Tintin: L'Ile Noire
I have started a French class and so gave the book a go in French. As I have read it before and the pictures are so descriptive, it wasn't that hard to get the gist. Fun

267. How to Teach EAL Students in the Classroom
Lent to me by a colleague, always interesting to pick up new ideas to work on in class. Gershon is readable and gives you very practical advise.

December reads

268. Our man in Havana
I have been wanting to read this for a while, I have vague memories of a film with Michael Caine, but I didn't really remember much as I was reading. A salesman in Cuba is recruited by British intelligence and ends up in a ridiculous made-up world. Amusing.

269. Peril on the Royal Train
A Railway Detective book, this time the drama moves to the Royal Train and a royal visit to Scotland. Once again, the plot is centred around the positive and negative sides to mechanical progress. Colbeck gets there in the end, using his sleuthing skills and listening to the small people.

270. Ticket to Oblivion
Another instalment in the Railway Detective series. In this book, Colbeck is searching for a woman who vanishes mid journey. Nothing is what it seems, a solid crime read.

271. Olive Kitteridge
I really enjoyed reading this book despite the gloomy nature of the story. The prose is beautifully written, with such a sense of melancholy for the life unlived.

272. The Old Gringo
An interesting read, I think I preferred it more for its setting rather than the tale itself. In the case of the Mexican Revolution, sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.

273. Granta 113: The best of young Spanish novelists
A collection of short stories from the Spanish-speaking world, I enjoyed getting to know some new authors and it serves as a good reminder of the diversity between and within these countries.

274. Worth Dying For
A fantastic history of flags, the iconic symbols we don't often think about. It is really fascinating, especially in the making of new flags for "new" countries.

275. Standing in another man's grave
A Rebus book. Rebus is working with cold cases and is asked to look into one about a missing girl. This snowballs into a possible serial killer. Clarke now has the upper hand, so it was interesting looking at their different relationship.

276. Umami
I bought this for the cover and the fact it was set in Mexico City, so took it along on my Christmas holiday there.
Covering the lives of a group of people living in a chopped up building in the city, this a look at human interactions and the realities of Mexican life. I liked it a lot.

277. Mexico20
A selection of short stories by Mexican writers, I enjoyed about half, it was a good way to find new authors.

278. The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
Little plot, but lovely lyrical work.

279. The Double
A Kafkaesque novel of a man who sees his double in a film and tries to track him down.
This is one of those books that plays on our fears and our own paranoia, I couldn't put it down.
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280. Women & Power
I just had to get this, I am a fan of the historian and was curious to see her take on women in history. Short, but very thought-provoking text. It is a book I will keep to reread at a later date.

281. I, Rigoberta Menchu
I have read this before (at university), but reread it before giving it to my brother. Much has been made of the writer and the veracity of the work, for me it is still a seminal book about a country we know very little about. Indigenous rights are still being fought for in the Americas and this is a very emotive book.

282. Gringo Soup
A fictionalised account of a group trip in Mexico. I was doing a similar trip myself, so added it to my bag. From the outside, this is a funny book, if you have ever travelled, you have met all of the characters in the book. There is the guide doing it for tips, sloping off whenever she can, the fun-loving drunk, the man with all the facts, to name but a few. Entertaining.

283. A vindication on the rights of women
Great book, one I will keep coming back to.

284. Les bijous de la Castafiore
I was practising my French, this is one I have only ever seen, so it was fun to read it.

285. Asterix chez les Bretons
I remember the cartoon very well and have started to pick up some fun vocabulary through reading the book.

286. Muriel Spark selected stories
Just a quick read, I have enjoyed a number of her books.

287. Ripper
Quite a departure from the Latin American writer, it started its life as a project with her husband. A group of online friends try to help solve a series of murders. Interesting, I do prefer her historical books, but this was good for travelling.

288. Outlander
I have seen the first two series, so was curious as to how the book matches up to the series. There are a few changes, but it seemed fairly faithful. I enjoyed the development of the two characters and, despite its length, I found the pages flew past.

289. The Mexican Revolution A Short History
A short, but very accessible book with key people and dates.

290. Findings
Borrowed from a fellow traveller, read because of its setting. Very poetic, but not really my cup of tea.

291. A History of Britain in 21 Women: A Personal Selection
Another book borrowed from a friend. I knew a number of the women already, but it was interesting to see who Murray had picked and why.

I can finally say I am finished with this challenge. I enjoyed it greatly and am thoroughly enjoying this year's!

Wow, you had an awesome 2017!

It was a good year for books!