Rock, down under, reading 50 books this year standing upside down

[Mark]

Lets start with four I have read already this year.
Broken Shore by Peter Temple. If anyone is looking for the finest example of Australian crime reading this is it.
Father and Son by Larry Brown. Big fan of his, loved all five of his that I have read so far. Rates along side Cormac McCarthy in style and class for me. Will be hard to beat as one of my favourites for this year, already.
The Execution by Hugo Wilcken. Another Australian crime writer, although to me not strictly belonging in that genre. More psychological that crime fiction but a well crafted story. Also more english in style and location than Australian or more accurately, straine.
The Empress File by John Sandford. I discovered Sandford last year and this is the sixth novel that I have read since. I thoroughly enjoyed the novels from the prey series, less so this one. But I have been looking for another crime writer, now that I have exhausted, almost, Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, Elmore Leonard and some others. And I will gladly continue with Sandford.

This challenge is ideal for me. I am entering a new phase in my life and with new reading glasses this enables me to enjoy my reading again, and this is just the challenge I need. I have only once before read 50 novels in a year and that would be over ten years ago now.

Only one more this month and I will be in front of my quota for the month.

[Mark]

Cloudsplitter: A Novel 5. Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks. As a former student of American history this book appealed. A great big enjoyable read. I now want to follow up with Gilead.
A Confederacy of Dunces 6. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. A huge hilarious frolic but decidedly over the top.

[Mark]

An excellent month for me. 10 books.
Breath: A Novelby Tim Winton #7
Winton is easily Australia's best contemporary novelist. This continues in his love of the sea and surfing in a rites of passage story.
Out on the Cutting Edge by Lawrence Block #8 Matthew Scudder series. This for me is going back to an old favourite, it is my 20th book of his. Unfortunately there is a sameness with his books which means it pays to spread them out. I prefer his burglar series to the others.
Dead in the West by Joe R Lansdale. #9
This was a horror western. I am a big fan of Lansdale's and I can't work out why he isn't getting more acclaim. The Bottoms was one of the best books that I've read in the last couple of years.
The Goodbye Look by Ross Mcdonald. #10
I have been acquiring old classic hardboiled crime writers for a while now. You have read them occasionally. Dated now.

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: and Other Stories by Carson McCullers #11
I continue my love affair with southern gothic literature. Delightful stories.
Known Dead: A Novel by Donald Harstad #12
A pleasant surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed this crime fiction novel. It also ticks off Iowa in my desire to read a book from an author from every state.
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane #13
I laboured through this book. I have enjoyed Leehane in the past but I will not be making the effort to see the film. Disturbing in parts like a bad dream.
Provinces of Night by William Gay #14
Wow. Great book. The story and the writing is so lush that I could only read it in 20 or 30 page chunks. Never wanted it to finish. Best book in years.
White Crosses by Larry Watson #15
Probably perfectly captures the mood of Montana. The analysis of every action probably ruined it for me.
The Big Thaw by Donald Harstad #16
I liked the first one so much that I went back for more. Almost as good as Michael Connelly. I can relate to Deputy Sherriff Carl Houseman, great humour.

That's ten different states out of the sixteen books.
MS, MN, NY(2), IA (x2), TX, TN, GA, LA, MA, & WI.