50 Books Challenge - 2nd Thread.

Sara1954

Book 56
The Silence Between Breaths - Cath Stainclffe

This was unexpectedly brutal, the subject, a terrorist attack on a crowded train.

The first half of the book introduces the reader to a bunch of the travellers, an elderly gay couple and their dog, a young family, a student on his way to a job interview, a young woman heading to London on a training course, and a few others, all ordinary, all unsuspecting, that is until one passenger does become suspicious of a heavily sweating man clutching his backpack, she passes her suspicions to the train cleaner, a young man named Naz, who rises to the occasion with calmness and determination to isolate the passengers from the suspected bomber.

But it’s too late, the terrorist detonated his bomb.

The second half of the book is brutal, I didn’t expect the massive death toll, or the graphic descriptions of the dead and dying, I felt impressed that didn’t feel the need to water it down.

It also dealt with devastating fallout for the bombers family

Would recommend.

Yes, I agree re this book Sara - it was gripping.

#61 Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink

This is a lovely book and I raced through it. The characterisation is wonderful and realistic and true. These people are complicated and flawed and usually well-intentioned.

It tells the story of Ann, a woman in her 40s, and her marriage and her son. It's witty, tender and compassionate, describing the huge feelings that often underlie our everyday lives. It made me both laugh and cry. I feel bereft now that I've finished it. Definitely 10/10

73 The Women Kristin Hannah

I know there has been a thread on this recently and many have read it. I knew it was coming up as a book club choice, I didn't go on that, I wanted to come to it cold without any preconceptions. What a book! The subject really is vast, the Vietnam war the backdrop of our growing up lives. I didn't always give it the attention it deserved, at times it washed over me back then. I do remember the fall of Saigon that brought the whole sorry conflict to an end, boy was Harold Wilson's government right not to involve us, such a long futile war, all those young lives lost and those that did return maimed physically and mentally to be virtually ignored. All this is relayed through the prism of young nurse Frankie McGrath who sets out on her idealistic path to return broken by the interminable injuries and deaths of young men and Vietnamese civillians she has to deal with particularly those of a couple very close to her heart. All the while the two successive presidents Johnson and Nixon, just sent more and more young men to their probable deaths or to come back as paraplegics. The one positive is the tight knit friendship and support she forms with her nursing colleagues "The Women" who continue to support each other through the trials and tribulations they experience both in Vietnam and on their return to the states. It was a very affecting read particularly as to the difficult path a world weary and very angry Frankie has to negotiate on her return to the US, bearing losses so devastating leading her at times on a downward spiral drink, drugs as a chasm opens up between her and her well healed "country club" parents. It's a long haul, with a couple of unexpected twists, to find her eventual path and peace of mind with the support of her stalwarts "The Women". As well as the horrors the writer did evoke memories of the music that drove that era of the late 60s early 70s along, The Doors, The Beatles, Hendrix and some of the other greats of that era.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Women, TerriBull
I am one of the people who loved it last year, and it's a book that has stayed with me plus, like you, I learnt such a lot from it.

Yes an incredibly absorbing read, as you say Sparklefizz it stays with you. It makes me want to read more about Vietnam, and that war although thanfully that country seems to have recovered from those times somewhat.

The Women taught me a lot about the Vietnam war that I didn’t really know. But possibly the most shocking part was how Frankie was treated when she returned home, the rights and wrongs of the war can cause strong emotions of course, but I can’t accept that a nurse, doing only good, could have been so cruelly treated.

114-Everyone Here Is Lying-Shari Lapena
William is having an affair but his lover ended it this afternoon. So when he arrives home angry and upset, and finds his difficult daughter is there instead of at school, he loses his temper and slaps her. This is just the start of an avalanche of events that he could never have imagined would happen.
A great page-turner.

60. I Will Find You, Joanna Connors

Written by an American journalist who decided to track down the man who raped her nearly 20 years earlier. As he left he swore that if she went to the police he would find her and kill her. As it happens, she ran to report the attack and he was caught and convicted. She discovers that he died in prison, but went on to seek out his family and learn his history. Chilling in parts, but worth the read.

#65 Same as it Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
At 57 Julia finds herself with a happy and contended life in the suburbs, a loving husband and two children. A random encounter with someone from her past and a surprise announcement from her 24 year old son cause a resurgence of the unhappiness and discontent she experienced as a younger woman. The book alternates between Julia’s previous life, right from her childhood, and her present day life. It is a bit of a saga, though well written and enjoyable, at the end I felt like I had read a trilogy, not just 500 pages. At one point my OH said to me “it seems like you’ve been reading that book for ages”, I had to agree with him. 8/10

#66 Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle. This was the follow up to The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, which I read years ago.
It’s set about 10 years later, Paula is now approaching 48 and a recovering alcoholic. She is working and doing everything she can to keep herself and her 2 younger children together. Her daily struggles as she strives to keep it together and improve their lives is very affecting. She is a powerful character and I loved this book. 9/10

Sara1954 I read The Silence Between Breaths after recommendations here too. It was very powerful. Sunburn by Laura Lippman was another one I enjoyed very much too.

#83. The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves.

Just started this, the return of Jimmy Perez.

I've just finished 'The Light Behind the Window' by Lucinda Riley. A lovely story set in two time periods. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

61. The Quizmaster, Jay Flynn

Jay may not be known to many on here, but became part of our life when he launched his online pub quiz in lockdown for what he thought were a few Facebook friends, and found himself quizmaster to a worldwide audience of half a million teams. He kept our quizzing brains active all through that awful time, and DH and I still tune in to his 50 questions on YouTube on Thursdays and Saturdays when we’re at home.

This is his life story, of how he went from childhood abuse, to living for two years on a bench by the Thames, to raising millions for charity and receiving an MBE. It’s a fascinating read, simply written and very touching. I’d recommend it.

115-Death of a Macho Man-M C Beaton
Another lighthearted murder mystery set in Scotland.

#62 The Grape Vine by Kate Kemp. I didn't think much of this book, quite frankly. It jumped around all over the place, and the good reviews didn't seem to apply at all. I'd give it 5/10.

62. Deadline, Steph McGovern

A presenter is interviewing a senior politician live on air when a strange voice cuts in on her earphones. He is now in control of the broadcast and she will ask the questions he wants her to ask. If she ever wants to see her wife and son alive again…

I listened to the audiobook version. Not bad, but too much info about broadcasting for my liking, at the beginning and end. I enjoyed the middle though, and there’s a good story in there.

#84. Deadly Little Secret by Jack Cartwright.

Book 57
Anna of Kleve - Alison Weir
The fourth in the Six Tudor Queens series.
Anna of Kleve, sent to England to marry an already sick and obese King Henry.
She is at first revolted, and King Henry is unable to make love to her, he finds her unattractive, and eventually the marriage is annulled.
Against all odds, they become close friends, Anna is his confidante, and remains friends with his daughters, and also with his new young Queen.
But at the Tudor Court, intrigues and plots are never far away
I am enjoying this series.

74 One of Us Elizabeth Day

This was mooted as a state of the nation book in one review I read. It appears to be set in the present, only it now all smacks of yesterday given this is Britain with a Tory government at the helm.

The main protagonist is Ben Fitzmaurice, from a background of privilege and old money, the anointed successor to take over the helm as party leader from the current PM who is standing down. Ben has skeletons in his cupboard which would prove hugely damaging to his future ambitions. In that he needs to keep on side his old school friend Martin, a scholarship boy and social misfit at their public school. As a teenager Martin, whose crush on Ben was unrequited, was persuaded to be paid off by the Fitzmaurice family to take the blame for a terrible event that Ben was responsible for. The story expands to encompass supporting family members, Ben's wife Serena suffering from a gamut of afflictions, menopausal symptoms, neurosis and general dissatisfaction with the state of her marriage. Eldest of their 4 children, daughter, Cosima, still at school but nevertheless covertly immersed as an activist for a Just Stop Oil type organisation. The book commences with the funeral of Ben's sister Fliss and there are retrospective chapters as to the demons that brought her to take her own life, and the role Ben's former amoral, sleazy school friend, Jarvis and latter day bank roller to Ben's political ambitions who figures as a destructive force within the Fitzmaurice family dynamics. Reminiscent of Anatomy of a Scandal. I quite enjoyed it although the theme was somewhat passe now given the Tory ship has sailed off and is well and truly over the horizon.

116-Elderwoman-Marian Van Eyk McCain
A very informative non-fiction book this time. A source of inspiration for women in or about to enter their 'Third Age'. This book made me think about events from childhood through to retirement that have shaped me into the person I am today.

117-The Wild Silence-Raynor Winn
The sequel to The Salt Path, this time documenting the challenge of taking on a run-down cider farm, and a walking holiday in Iceland. Despite all the adverse press around Ray and Moth's previous travels, I must say RW does have a way with words. I enjoyed this.

#67 My Father’s House by Joseph O’Conner
Set during the Nazi occupation of Rome. An Irish priest, Hugh O’Flaherty, creates an escape route via the officially neutral Vatican City for escaped allied prisoners of war and others at risk. It’s inspired by a true story and real characters, but is a work of fiction. There’s a brooding sense of claustrophobia and impending terror of capture and torture by the SS, incredible bravery by everyone involved and the constant fear of exposure or discovery. A very engrossing book, very well written.10/10
It has inspired me to investigate the circumstances of the Vatican escape route, apparently there is a movie from 1983 called The Scarlet and the Black starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer (available on YouTube), I am going to have a look at it.

118-Cherry Tree Lane-Anna Jacobs
One of my favourite authors again, with a heartwarming story set in 1910 Wiltshire; the first of a trilogy.
When Mattie's step-father arranges a marriage for her to one of his drinking pals, she sees no way out other than running away. If she refuses his plan she knows she be beaten, which he has done before when they have argued. Feeling ill with pneumonia, she gets as far away as possible, then collapses in a village lane.
AJ has a way of writing, that warms you to the characters.

Book 58
So thrilled for you - Holly Bourne

Basically the story all takes place at a baby shower, four friends, best friends, come together to celebrate Nikki’s imminent birth.

Nikki doesn’t want it, she feels enormous, and they are in the middle of a heatwave, Lauren has Woody who is nine months, she is still recovering from a traumatic birth, is sleep deprived, and only just holding it together. Steffi, who never wants children is dreading the day, she’s on the brink of making her fortune, and Charlotte, really hard to like, or even to believe in, manic ridiculous Charlotte who has masterminded the whole day, desperate to have her own baby, and unbeknown to her friends, in the early stages of pregnancy.
But they are all holding grudges, keeping secrets, and their group is barely holding together, then a fire, destroying Nikki’s parent dream home suddenly puts them all in danger.

I thought the women were generally quite unlikeable, and I thank Goodness that I had my children at a time when having children was free from all these ridiculous events, and also from the terrible pressure to get everything right.

I enjoyed it, some of it I related to, I felt for Lauren, but maybe it’s not aimed at my age group, for the most part I found them all massively irritating.

63. Raising Hare, Chloe Dalton

A reading group choice, and despite 5 star reviews here and elsewhere, one I didn’t expect to take to. I couldn’t imagine how it would take a whole book just to document a wild hare being taken in and, well, raised. But it does work, and it’s beautiful.

64. Festive Spirits, Kate Atkinson

It took me just over an hour today to read these three very short stories set at Christmas. I don’t normally start getting into the festive season so early, but my reading group has a tradition of exchanging pre-loved books at our December meeting, and I wanted to check that this would fit the bill. It will.