I’ve just started White Queen by Philippa Gregory. It’s a bit trashy but I enjoyed it on TV and it ticks these boxes:
18. A book based on a true story.
19. A book from the bottom of your to-read list/pile.
36. A book with a colour in the title.
38. A book with magic.
48. A book based on or turned into a TV show.
And for Bernard’s bedtime story, we are on the umpteenth Harry Potter book, HP&THBP. This ticks these boxes, but will take foreverandaday to finish, even with me skipping every other paragraph (a trick that does nothing to diminish the flow or sense of the book):
1. A book with more than 500 pages.
3. A book that became a movie.
7. A book with non-human characters
33. A book with a love triangle.
35. A book set in high school.
38. A book with magic.
50. A children’s book.
What are you reading?
Since last week, I have finished “Christmas Pudding” by Nancy Mitford which conveniently ticks off #43, a book set during Christmas – I took it out of the library a month ago, before we had this challenge list. It also fulfils #6, a novel written by somebody under 30, but irritatingly not #14, being her second novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
Currently reading HP&TOOTP at bedtime for Tom, with just twenty or so pages to go (ticks off 1, 3, 7, 35, 38, 41 and 50).
For my own pleasure, Haruki Murakami – Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (satisfies 4, 8, 9 (just), 12, 15 and 28).
So far this year, I’ve also read Haruki Murakami – The Strange Library (4, 8, 15 and 26) and Jim al-Khalili – Paradox (13 and 40).
16 categories done. 34 to go.
Actually, the Uborkans can help me. I’ve already eliminated all the books received for Christmas. I’m going to be passing through Gatwick on Monday morning – what should I buy in the bookshop there to sustain me for a week at a German trade show? Fire up the Recommendation Machine!
Have you read Wolf Hall?
Ooh, good suggestion. That would tick a lot of boxes *and* is on TV tonight! But no cheating…
I’m enjoying Why Does E=mc2? by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. It’s a beautifully clear explanation of relativity for curious non-physicists.
I can heartily endorse Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. Even those of us who are sick to death of Henry VIII and his heir quest should find the imagined Thomas Cromwell perspective interesting. I don’t know about you, but in school we were taught that Cromwell was EVIL.
I’m currently reading The Assassination Of Margaret Thatcher which is a collection of short stories– ( so far very good)
Trying to think of something that would be stocked at an airport– We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves– which so far, is very good indeed. ( I tend to have a pile of books on the go at any one time)
I’m also a few pages into Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Graybo, I’m interested in your thoughts on it.
Just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.
This was a case of a movie causing me to finally start reading the books. As a sequel to The Hunger Games, I found it all a bit thin on character, but it does provide some detail on the political structure and reasons for how this world exists.
It ticks 1/3 of 31, 33,34, 41,45
Hels has just read Completely Beside Ourselves having been pointed to it by our neighbour. She enjoyed it and found the plot twist rather surprising, to say the least. Our neighbour loved it, although she found it emotionally exhausting to the point that her partner thought she should set up a support group for readers.
I’m enjoying Colorless and am near the end (might finish it this evening). It is a little less odd than some of Murakami’s other work and I think is rather better than 1Q84, which I thought was one of his weakest (Kafka On The Shore is probably my favourite). That said, and without wanting to spoil the plot, by the time the protagonist reaches Finland, you do wonder if the main part of the story actually holds up – would people really treat one another that way? Wouldn’t anyone pick up the phone? Also, not enough talking cats.
Just noticed that Paradox fits category 10, so that’s another one ticked.
Graybo– thanks. I wondered how this one would stack up. Agree about Kafka on the Shore.
Also noticed Catching Fire qualifies for a #3 tick (turned into movie)- so I’m adding that to my list.
I am not quite halfway through WAACBO- haven’t read anything about it, so I am glad that you prepared me a bit. I admit I’ve already been surprised, and have started suspecting THINGS.
Are either Hens Dancing or The Snow Child likely to make me cry?
The snow child *might*, if you’re feeling a bit emotional anyway. I probably sniffled a bit. Hens Dancing did not make me cry and I can cry at almost anything. Have you read calling me home? I tried to finish it in a cafe but sobbed so loudly I had to put it away and read it quietly on my own that evening.
What about Human Croquet? And what if I haven’t been told it would make me cry, does that still count?
Are you suggesting Human Croquet for Graybo, or asking if it will make you cry?
And to answer the second part: I don’t know. The thing actually reads “that is reputed to make people cry”, so you yourself don’t have to.
There are a few categories that need clarification: do YA books count as “written for children” – what is the age cut off for that one?
Oh it does’t say written for children, it says a children’s book. Question still stands.
I changed it from “A book that makes you cry” because how will you know it makes you cry until you have read it?
As for the children’s book, I don’t know. Yes, I think that could include YA. It definitely includes Harry Potter.