Paul C's 2017 Reading & Life - 37 and a Wrap

This is my wrap-up thread for 2017. Thank you so much for all my friends visiting my threads in 2017 and making this place so special for me.

BOOKS READ

JANUARY

1. The Magician's Wife by Brian Moore (1997) 229 pp
2. Maus I : My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (1986) 159 pp
3. Midwinter Sacrifice by Mons Kallentoft (2006) 440 pp
4. Out in the Midday Sun : The British in Malaya 1880-1960 by Margaret Shennan (2000) 471 pp
5. Blood Child and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler (2003) 214 pp
6. The Assault by Harry Mulisch (1985) 185 pp
7. 100 Prized Poems : Twenty-Five Years of the Forward Books (2016) 176 pp
8. The Broken Shore by Peter Temple (2005) 400 pp
9. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost by Ismail Kadare (2000) 182 pp
10. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (2010) 352 pp
11. Varamo by Cesar Aira (2002) 89 pp
12. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1935) 250 pp

FEBRUARY

13. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (1970) 456 pp
14. A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine : The Last Diaries by Tony Benn (2013) 294 pp
15. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (2016) 190 pp
16. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (1983) 210 pp
17. The Poetry of Jaroslav Seifert by Jaroslav Seifert (1998) 246 pp
18. Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien (2011) 253 pp

MARCH

19. Up the Junction by Nell Dunn (1963) 133 pp
20. Middle Passages by Kamau Brathwaite (1992) 120 pp
21. Maus II : A Survivor's Tale : And Here My Troubles Began (1991) 136 pp
22. Sapiens : A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (2011) 466 pp
23. Fences by August Wilson (1985) 101 pp
24. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod (1999) 262 pp
25. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (2001) 399 pp

BOOKS READ

APRIL

26. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003) 343 pp
27. Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indridason (2010) 296 pp
28. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (1967) 415 pp
29. When I Was Old by Georges Simenon (1970) 452 pp
30. On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin (1982) 262 pp
31. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (2013) 444 pp
32. The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald (2013) 307 pp
33. I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish (2010) 236 pp
34. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965) 81 pp
35. Shout at the Devil by Wilbur Smith (1968) 391 pp
36. A Perfidious Distortion of History : The Versailles Peace Treaty and the Success of the Nazis by Jurgen Tampke (2017) 269 pp
37. Doctor Who and the Web of Fear by Terrance Dicks (1976) 150 pp
38. The Haw Lantern by Seamus Heaney (1987) 51 pp

May

39. Then by Morris Gleitzman (2009) 196 pp
40. March: Book One by John Lewis (2013) 121 pp
41. Selected Poems : 1940-1982 by Norman Nicholson (1982) 78 pp
42. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1992) 587 pp
43. The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe (1997) 402 pp
44. Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth (1800) 97 pp
45. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee (1999) 220 pp
46. And the Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yaris Varoufakis (2016) 246 pp

June

47. Il Postino by Antonio Skarmeta (1985) 112 pp
48. How to Fight Islamist Terror from the Missionary Position by Tabish Khair (2012) 190 pp
49. 1914 by Jean Echenoz (2012) 118 pp
50. Resistance by Carla Jablonski (2010) 121 pp

BOOKS READ

July

51. The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig (1968) 281 pp

August

52. Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson (1936) 299 pp
53. Amok by Stefan Zweig (1922) 121 pp
54. The King's Revenge by Don Jordan (2012) 328 pp

September

55. A Voice in the Night by Andrea Camilleri (2012) 278 pp
56. Listening to Van Morrison by Greil Marcus (2010) 183 pp
57. The Trouble with Poetry by Billy Collins (2005) 85 pp
58. S. : A Novel About the Balkans by Slavenka Drakulic (1999) 201 pp
59. The World's Two Smallest Humans by Julia Copus (2012) 52 pp

BOOKS READ

October

60. Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer (1976) 334 pp
61. My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl (1979) 264 pp
62. Words Under the Words by Naomi Shihab Nye (1995) 157 pp
63. The Dig by Cynan Jones (2014) 156 pp
64. The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata (2005) 292 pp
65. Tudors by Peter Ackroyd (2012) 471 pp
66. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017) 231 pp
67. Tenth of December by George Saunders (2013) 251 pp
68. Poems New and Collected by Wislawa Szymborska (1998) 270 pp
69. Now by Morris Gleitzman (2010) 182 pp
70. When Adam Opens His Eyes by Jang Jung-Il (1990) 126 pp

November

71. For Bread Alone by Mohamed Choukri (1973) 215 pp
72. The Other Country by Carol Ann Duffy (1990) 53 pp
73. Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (2005) 115 pp
74. Embers by Sandor Marai (1942) 249 pp
75. The Spectre of Alexander Wolf by Gaito Gazdonov (1948) 167 pp
76. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2002) 615 pp
77. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966) 126 pp
78. The Barbary Figs by Rashid Boudjedra (2010) 191 pp
79. The Many Days : Selected Poems of Norman MacCaig by Norman MacCaig (2010) 121 pp
80. The Family of Pascual Duarte by Camilo Jose Cela (1942) 166 pp

December

81 The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2013) 243 pp
82 Six Poets Hardy to Larkin by Alan Bennett (2015) 206 pp
83. To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway (1937) 180 pp
84. Night School by Lee Child (2016) 462 pp
85. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver (2012) 77 pp
86. A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin (1982) 220 pp
87. The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton (2008) 317 pp
88. A Month in the Country by JL Carr (1980) 111 PP
89. Remembrance of the Daleks by Ben Aaronovitch (1990) 211 pp
90. November by Sean O'Brien (2011) 83 pp
91. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (2015) 179 pp
92. The Kremlin File by Nick Carter (1973) 184 pp
93. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi (2016) 225 pp
94. Last in the Tin Bath by David Lloyd (2015) 291 pp
95. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (2002) 116 pp
96. A Change of World by Adrienne Rich (1951) 52 pp
97. Last of the Vikings by Henry Treece (1962) 124 pp
98. Reality and Dreams by Muriel Spark (1996) 160 pp
99. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1962) 232 pp
100. Burma Boy by Biyi Bandele (2007) 215 pp

BAC

AAC

CAC

ANZAC

OTHER CHALLENGES

CURRENT READING

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

IRISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2018

BRITISH AUTHOR THEME CHALLENGE 2018

NEXT IS YOURS

Happy last thread, Paul, you are very near your goal!

>16 FAMeulstee: No little thanks to you, my dear lady. I have loved sharing this year on line with you, Anita.

Good day, Paul! and happiest of new threads to you! It's been a delight to share your books and news throughout 2017 and look forward to what the new year has in store!

>18 Carmenere: Thank you so much Lynda. Likewise your book travels are always a delight to follow. xx

Hi Paul!

My, my, 37 threads. Excellent.

How is the last minute rush to hit 100 going?

Happy ultimate 2017 thread, Paul!

One last one? Happy new thread!

I had lost you, but now you are found again. Just in time for the New Year. Heh. Hoping your weekend is full of fabulous!

Enjoy your last thread of the year, Paul!

And I hope your travels have gone well....

Paul--I am quite confident you will break the 10,000 post barrier. How are the books going?

Happy Last Thread of the Year, mate!

>17 PaulCranswick: I feel the same, Paul :-)

And now...

... I am unable to stop,

because you have reached you target!!!!!!

Happy new thread

>13 PaulCranswick:

Has the IRISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE been posted yet?

Thank you.

#30 oooh was that it? You did it? HuzzzzahhhH!

Woop woop! Well done Paul!

Happy new thread!

WOOT!!!! 10,000+ posts. Awesome.

Happy new thread, Paul, and congrats on reaching 10,000 posts. I hope that you have a great time in the UK!

Yay Paul!

Happy new thread mate.

Wow, congratulations Paul, that is quite a haul of posts, how many books would that amount to do you think?

Just reading all the ending 2017 and the new 2018 Threads posted should definitely count as a book!

>20 karenmarie: Thank you Karen. I should finish two more today and I am going for two more on New Year's eve to bring me home with exactly 100.

>21 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry. I wish that the internet at my mums was better as it is hampering my efforts posting wise - getting around the threads.

>22 drneutron: Yes Jim, I can confirm that this will be the last one in 2017!

>23 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. I am a little lost having travelled back to the UK and arriving in a timely manner for a snow blizzard. Kyran at least was ecstatic - he doesn't drive of course!

>24 Dejah_Thoris: So far so good Princess. I guess Belle was pleased to see me. She is so uncommunicative at the best of times but I did sort of get a hug from her.

>25 Berly: I have a better than even chance of keeping up my 35 year unbroken record of making it to 100 books, Kimmers. xx

>26 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I hope that the internet connection around here allows me to get around the threads a little bit before the new year.

>27 FAMeulstee: >28 FAMeulstee: >29 FAMeulstee: >30 FAMeulstee: You are a gem Anita and, like a gem, piloted me to 10,000 posts. Something not achieved in the 75ers before and definitely not on LT before.

Thank you so much to all my friends who have posted or visited here in 2017 and made the place a special home for me. xx

>31 The_Hibernator: Thank you dear Rachel.

>32 m.belljackson: I will try to get to those on New Year's eve, Marianne, connections allowing.

>33 BekkaJo: By my reckoning it was on post >31 The_Hibernator: but definitely now over 10,000 posts, Bekka.

P--Record breaker!!! With a little help from your friends. Way to go. : )

>34 charl08: Thank you Charlotte.

>35 amanda4242: Lovely to see you Amanda.

>36 EBT1002: I am impressed too Ellen as my third quarter was almost a dead loss mired in self pity and self-loathing as I was. I can reveal that a couple of things spurred me on:

1 The return of RD helped get my mojo back
2 Some straight talking by one of my friends in the group that my thread made uncomfortable reading and this caused me to realise that I needed to get back to be upbeat old self.

>37 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. Fish and chips twice already and some quality time with my mother is good.

>38 karenmarie: Thank you Karen. xx

>39 johnsimpson: Cheers John. I am looking for your mobile number mate as I lost my phone in the USA earlier in the year and with it, your number. Thought to meet up for a coffee and a cal as they say in our parts.

>40 Caroline_McElwee: Hahaha Caroline I should have thought of that. If I said every 12 threads I could add 3 books and be sure to make it to 100!

>41 m.belljackson: Well I suppose you are right, Marianne, but I cannot change my own rules at the 23rd hour!

>46 Berly: Much more than a little help, Kimmers. xx

94.

Last in the Tin Bath by David Lloyd

Date of Publication : 2015
Pages : 291

David "Bumble" Lloyd was an England cricketer and later coach and is now a TV pundit. He was famously retired hurt hit in the balls by the fearsome Australian bowler Jeff Thompson in 1974 and his test career never really recovered.

Mildly entertaining read on a subject that many know is dear to my heart. A decent player, a decent coach and a good man.

6/10

95.

Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

Date of Publication : 2002
Pages : 116

Much heralded novella which starts with a very vivid scene of action and violence and prejudice on the building of the Western railways. It then meanders across timber clearing and a tragedy of enormous proportions as the leading protagonist loses his family to a bush fire.

Sparely written but overall too spare and too insufficient to fully justify the considerable hype that this good but not great book generated.

7/10

Happy New Year to you,Paul. Hope to see more of you in 2018!

96.

A Change of World by Adrienne Rich

This was Adrienne Rich's first poetry collection published way back in 1951 and with a preface by WH Auden no less.

For many familiar with the work of this very accomplished poet there will be a few surprises here at the formalism of some of the efforts here but her concerns particularly on gender and mortality are both mature and typical of her oeuvre.

There are very clear auguries here of someone who would become a major poet and of a poet seeking a distinctive voice.

This is the title poem A Change of World

Fashions are changing in the sphere.
Oceans are asking wave by wave
What new shapes will be worn next year;
And the mountains, stooped and grave,
Are wondering silently range by range
What if they prove too old for the change.

The little tailors busily sitting
Flashing their shears in rival haste
Won't spare time for a prior fitting -
In with the stitches, too little to baste.
They say the season for doubt has passed:
The changes coming are due to last.

8/10

>52 AMQS: Thanks Anne. I would like that too. xx

>44 PaulCranswick: You are very welcome, Paul!
You have been a great companion in the group this year, I was glad to do something for you in return :-)

>51 PaulCranswick: I loved this little novella so much, I read it twice in one year. Time for a reread soon perhaps.

I’m a few behind you, but have three volumes nearly through, so may hit 95 which I’ll be happy with.

Happy new thread, Paul, and good to know you're safely with family.

I miss England. Enjoy it for me :0)

Congratulations on reaching 10.000 posts.

And wishing you a happy new year, and happy celebrations!

Happy New Thread and CONGRATS on the posting record!!!
Read you again in 2018, I‘m off to an (yet another) aperitivo with my parents and some friends. Wishing you and the family a great NYE and start into the new year!

>55 FAMeulstee: That is such a lovely post, Anita. Thank you so much.

>56 Caroline_McElwee: I thought that where it was good, it was jolly good, Caroline but it was still a little slight overall.

>57 humouress: I am trying to do so, Nina. It is difficult not to enjoy England in the week between Christmas and the New Year; a sort of suspended animation.

>58 EllaTim: I am not such a party animal Ella but it would be nice to have a little celebration for my posting year.

>59 Deern: Thank you Nathalie. Aperitivo is such a suggestive word, isn't it? - enjoy!

Happy New Year, Paul.

I'll be trying this reading business anew in 2018, hoping to do better both in numbers (just...just...well, uh....a half-dozen more would be satisfying) and in being more social (getting around the threads, tipping the hat, sharing a smile). See you one the other side, my friend.

Buh-bye 2017...

>62 weird_O: What a great image, Bill!

Happy New Thread, Paul, even if it is only for 3 days. Congrats on the posting record, and stop reading this! Go read your final 3 books for the year! Glad you are safely with the family in England.

Hi Paul, I will message you my number mate. I am getting over this flu virus and it looks like Karen is starting so we should be ok by Tuesday mate, wouldn't want to pass anything on to you and the family mate and it would be good to have a coffee and a cal and chew the fat over things, lol.

>49 PaulCranswick:

Hey, no, not yours - I meant ALL of the updated 2017s and the new 2018s pouring in!

Congratulations on your record-breaking posting! Happy New Year!

Probably my last post on your 2017 thread, Paul, I move on to 2018 later today.

Happy New Year, Paul. I see you are burning up the last thread of the year! You sure went out with a bang!

Hi Paul!

Happy times to you in the UK with your family.



Peace, Health, and Happiness in 2018

Hi, Paul. Happy New Year to you and your family.

>63 ronincats: Thanks Bill. I am sure that you will burn up the threads next year.

>64 johnsimpson: Get yourself well first mate! Coffee later in the week would be great.

>65 m.belljackson: Ah! now I understand, then we all get an extra book each.

>66 amanda4242: Amanda, I wouldn't have broken any records without you, my dear lady.

>67 FAMeulstee: I have treasured all your posts this year, Anita and look forward to more of the same in 2018

>68 msf59: Thanks Mark. My hot and cold technique eventually and, to me, surprisingly overtook your amazing consistency. Lovely having you along for company all these years.

>69 karenmarie: Karen, thank you so much. I am still struggling on line with a very intermittent internet connection.

>70 ffortsa: Judy, thank you. Wishing all the best to you and Jim always.

>71 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary.

Happy new year, Paul

>75 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley.

Congrats for breaking the post record!

>77 rretzler: & >78 rretzler: Thank you Robin. xx

Well it ran late into the night but I made it to 100 books!!!

I will do the reviews and other sign-offs later as I am struggling with the internet.

I do want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been in the group or visited here in 2017 and I wish everyone a happy New Year.

Congrats on reaching 100, Paul!

>82 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. xx

Congratulations on reaching your goal of 100 books in 2017!

Congratulations on meeting your 2017 targets.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful 2018.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Paul.

Congrats on making it to 100!

Good for you, Paul, for making it to 100. You bounced back in great style. My December was pretty good, too, but I fell short of my goal. I have about 30 pages left in DE Stevenson's Mrs Tim, which will be my last official read for 2017. It's a lovely little book of Scotland, which I read thanks to your BAC.