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Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

(805 Posts)
TerriBull Tue 01-Jan-19 07:58:29

Here it is then, GN very own 50 books a year thead, or as the title suggest for those who think that may be a tad too many for them, whatever your personal best may be after a culmination of reading for a year. Don't be daunted by the "50" benchmark, as this is the first thread of its kind, it is experimental and will evolve as it progresses.

So to recap, start off with what you are reading now, or with a new book. How often you come to the thread is up to the individual. Over on MN, some seem to up date every so often with the next few they've read. If you feel so inclined post a review or a synopsis of the book. Definitely share if it's something you've loved......or hated, or shelved hmm Reading material is not restricted to fiction, it can be anything, factual, audio, childrens, The Hungry Caterpillar or the like even!, such books count towards the 50, so who knows, you could be at that figure by the end of today grin

At the end of the year post your complete list with your best read in bold, worst in italics and mention your top five, or top book if you've just read five sad

Here's wishing those who partake a great reading year ahead in 2019.

Greyduster Wed 23-Jan-19 18:40:47

I have read ‘Dictator’, Tartlet. I enjoyed it but I think it might have been better if I had started with the first book instead of the last!
Coming to the end of ‘Circe’ ?. I so enjoyed reading it (a library copy with a huge waiting list) that I have bought a copy for my daughter, who I know will also enjoy it (and I can borrow it back if - when - I want to read it again!).

nanaK54 Wed 23-Jan-19 17:54:53

Have just finished my sixth book The hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne - many thanks to all who recommended this here

Alima Wed 23-Jan-19 17:50:06

Finished the third book Dark Fire yesterday. Really enjoying the Shardlake novels, Jack Barack is a handy chap to have onside. My next one will be The Stranger Diaries, Ellie Griffiths’ latest.

Tartlet Wed 23-Jan-19 15:50:30

I’ve just abandoned ‘A Summer of Impossible Things’ by Rowan Coleman. Not a dreadful book but I don’t think it merits the excellent reviews and I just became a bit irritated with it.

Now on with ‘Daughters in Law’ by Joanna Trollope.

I’m also looking forward to Second Sleep by Robert Harris but I’m waiting for it to come down in price. Has anyone read his Cicero books? They’re extremely good.

KatyK Wed 23-Jan-19 15:21:37

I'm halfway through I Did It For Us by Alison Bruce. It's only book 3, I'm a bit slow. It's OK so far.

Jessity Wed 23-Jan-19 12:25:53

Just finished "Bookworm" by Lucy Mangan, a 99p Kindle book. Tells of the books she read as a child. I didn't realise till I'd started it that she's a generation younger, so reading in the 70s and 80s and at first that put me off.

I persevered and am so glad I did, some of the books I remembered from my children's reading at that age, but then she looks back at children's books over the last 150 years. Her prose is good, entertaining and amusing. There are three or four 4-letter words but I simply skimmed over them.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. About to start "Death on a Shetland Isle" by Marsali Taylor. Have read a couple of others in this series.

Parsley3 Wed 23-Jan-19 11:11:34

Book 4 The Guernsey Literary &Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer &Annie Barrows.
Not sure if I am going to enjoy this. The writing is a bit stiff and old fashioned so far. But I am reading letters so it may improve.

raggyanna Tue 22-Jan-19 21:52:11

Just finished number 4....Peter Robinson ....Children of the Revolution. An Inspector Banks detective story spanning many years, a really good read and an ingenious solution.

Stansgran Tue 22-Jan-19 18:11:56

The Zylberman one I just couldn't get into.
Some very useful suggestions here thanks.

Stansgran Tue 22-Jan-19 18:06:58

Just been in hospital with a new knee so between physioterrorists I've read to keep my mind off things. I'm a cheap skate so most things are 99p kindle. Mostly ok and undemanding.

kackie Tue 22-Jan-19 18:05:24

Finished Faith by Peter James. An easy read enjoyable thriller. Just started Little Lies by Caz Frear

matson Tue 22-Jan-19 17:43:42

Finished Ruby Wax...How to be human, combines opinions from a monk and a neurologist, interesting read, but similar to her previous books.
Book 5.My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent, a book given to me, don't know the author, so will give it a chance.

Overthehills Tue 22-Jan-19 17:38:45

Started my 4th book - Quintin Jardine’s “Cold Case”. So far, so good!
Have just requested the latest Ian Rankin from the library but hopefully the pile beside the bed will have diminished before it becomes available! Am
looking forward to “The Second Sleep” by Robert Harris.
Lots of authors I haven’t sampled on here (you can see where my taste lies from the above mentioned!) so thankyou for that.

trisher Tue 22-Jan-19 14:38:58

Finished The Second Sister-Claire Kendal
The Lost Girl -Carol Drinkwater
Terrorist-John Updike
Just realised the last two are about terror attacks. The Terrorist is particuarly good- the story of a teenage boy who becomes a fervent Mulim and thinks his destiny is to die a martyr. A brilliant depiction of life in the downtrodden and under priveleged districts of America.

Milly Mon 21-Jan-19 14:29:36

Just finished " Holy Island" a DCI Ryan book by K J Ross, this is the first in a series and it was a good read so I'll probably read more of them but not straight away or I'll get confused !
Now starting on "raven black" first book in series by Ann Cleeve because a lot of you mention her. I have treated myself to a Kindle for my 84th birthday so can download all your recommendation! Hooray!

SueDonim Sun 20-Jan-19 23:40:32

Ok, Tartlet, I'll try not to fall asleep this time!

Tartlet Sun 20-Jan-19 23:11:01

Sudonim, I meant the sealwomans gift.

Mopsx4 Sun 20-Jan-19 22:50:58

Hello Alwaysreading1. This was the 1st book of hers I have read but will look out for others. I enjoyed it hope you do to when you get round to reading it.

Alwaysreading1 Sun 20-Jan-19 22:23:14

Hi Mopsx4, I've got The Glove maker's daughter 'in my pile of to be read. Was it a classic Leah Fleming

Greyduster Sun 20-Jan-19 21:42:12

Halfway through Madeline Miller’s ‘Circe’ and eaking out every page as it is one of those books that, when you’ve finished it, you feel bereft. A new twist on familiar characters brought to life in captivating prose.

Jessity Sun 20-Jan-19 20:36:44

Just finished Murder on the Serpentine by Anne Perry, from her Thomas Pitt series. I’ve read just about all of them and enjoyed them.

Mopsx4 Sun 20-Jan-19 19:59:13

Fantastic idea for a thread. Good excuse ( not that I need one) to read lots of books. I’m on book 6 at the moment
1 Buried in Cornwall by Janie Bolitho
2 letters from lighthouse cottage by Ali McNamara
3 The glovemakers daughter by Leah Fleming
4 Moving by Jenny Eclair
5 The River House by Juanita Cummings

EthelJ Sun 20-Jan-19 18:45:50

I've just read into the water by Paula Hawkins. The author who wrote The Girl on-the Train.
I found it a very good read. I kept changing my mind about 'who did it'. If you like thrillers/mysteries I would say it's well worth a read.
I haven't got a book to read now so I'm going to look through these posts to get some suggestions.

mrswoo Sun 20-Jan-19 17:11:20

I finished A History of Loneliness by John Boyne - it was an excellent read but I’m not sure if it I can say I enjoyed it as it was a bit dark and depressing. I was reading it on Kindle so was not aware that there was a large excerpt from The Heart’s Invisible Furies at the end. I find it really annoying when you think you’ve still got a bit more book to read only to find that it’s actually a chunk of another book tagged on to the end.
I’ve read The Heart’s Invisible Furies and loved it so I started reading the sample and one thing led to another and decided to re-read it. So that’s my book #4 and once again I am enjoying every word. (Although I would caution that it may not be to everyone’s taste)

mrshat Sun 20-Jan-19 16:32:27

I finished "We were the Mulvaneys" and was a bit disappointed, sad to say. A 3/5. I've now started obn book 5 "Rough Music" by Patrick Gale and I'm enjoying it so far but I need to concentrate! not fall asleep while I'm reading .........