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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.

Alima Mon 07-Jan-19 09:31:42

Read that last year Parsley3 and enjoyed it. Glasgow in all its glory!

Parsley3 Mon 07-Jan-19 08:19:51

Book 2
Appropriately named ‘Bloody January’ by Alan Parks.

rascalsgran Sun 06-Jan-19 20:38:22

Book 2-The Outcast by Sadie Jones- a good read although s bit dark in places.

SueDonim Sun 06-Jan-19 19:44:05

Book three.

The Children Act by Ian McEwan.

matson Sun 06-Jan-19 18:25:26

Finished " My love story " Tina Turner autobiography, easy, relaxing read, feisty lady, a survivor, enjoyable.
Book 2.. The Heart goes Last, by Margaret Attwood...loved Handmaid Tale, so looking forward to reading this.

Alwaysreading1 Sun 06-Jan-19 18:21:47

About to read 'In a Country Garden' by Maeve Haran. Love the fact that she writes about women in their 50/60's

Lyndylou Sun 06-Jan-19 18:09:24

I am a quick reader, so far this year I have read Convenience Store Woman, The Colour of Water in July, and Three Things about Elsie. I have enjoyed them all and I have now just started A Place Called Winter, as I have read some of Patrick Gale's before and found them good reads. All were 99p Amazon deals for the New Year.

Covenience Store Woman is a Japanese tale about a woman who struggles socially and lives for her job. One of those books where nothing much actually happens but it is still a good read.

The Colour of Water in July is probably well known on here, but it is a book that moves between time periods showing how a well meaning action can affect people and relationships later on.

Three Things About Elsie is a book that draws you in, just as you think you know what is happening, there is a little subtle twist.

I know several posters like Lucinda Riley, but I have had to give up on The Love Letter. It just didn't keep me interested enough in the characters or what happened to them.

I don't think I will have any problem reaching 50 books in 2019 !

Herbie9 Sun 06-Jan-19 16:53:21

I'm a fan of M C Beaton and her Agatha Raisin mystery books (some have been televised). VG humurous light reads with her cast of eccentric characters set in a Cotswold village. Agatha has retired there from her high powered work in London and quite accidentally came to be an amateur sleuth after a village murder started it all off in "The Quiche of Death". Twentyseven books later have just read "The Dead Ringer". She now has her own Detective Agency and interesting staff to assist her with the ever increasing work load of local murders. A good holiday read.

KatyK Sun 06-Jan-19 14:40:09

I've just started reading Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead. It's quite entertaining so far.

Alwaysreading1 Sun 06-Jan-19 14:06:14

Hi. This is my very first post on gransnet or anywhere else come to that although i have been reading posts for a while. Couldn't resist joining to chat about books. As my husband says 'you' re always reading' hence my user name! Looking forward to recommendations. Almost finished 'The Women of the Castle' by Jessica Shattuck. I have read countless books about World War 2 usually concentrating on events from the French Resistance point of view or the Greek islands occupation. But what makes this book so fresh is seeing the same period of history from a completely different point of view that of the German resister. Makes you sit up and think.

Layla112 Sun 06-Jan-19 13:58:53

Book 2 - Omega Deep by Christopher Cartwright.
Anyone who likes Clive Cussler will enjoy this one.

Book 3 - The First Lady by James Patterson
Just started this but I know I will enjoy it.

Alima Sun 06-Jan-19 11:14:55

Just finished my first book of the year, The Absolutist by John Boyne. Another brilliant book from this author, he is rapidly becoming a favourite. I have Dissolution in front of me to start next. It will be my first meeting with Shardlake though I know he is highly thought of. (I saw a good few Louise Penny titles in The Works yesterday. Will give her a go, the three for a fiver offer is very tempting).

Floradora9 Sat 05-Jan-19 19:24:36

I have just read " Kingdom of the Blind " by Louise Penny . I really like her books they are set in Canada and follows the chief of Police in a small town called Three Pines . There are no bloody details just a really good mystery story with twists and turns. There are a good few in this series.

TerriBull Sat 05-Jan-19 16:49:07

I'm another who loved Life After Life, also like you Greyduster didn't enjoy the follow up quite as much. Loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I haven't read her latest "Transcription" yet but it's on my list for this year.

bonji Sat 05-Jan-19 16:37:48

Have just finished The Married Girls by Diney Costeloe so my first book for 2019. A pleasant, easy read so enjoyable and one to relax with. Quite well written but a few printing errors and a few grammatical ones both of which I find quite annoying!
Happy reading to you all.

Maggiemaybe Sat 05-Jan-19 12:00:50

I enjoyed both, Greyduster. Though my favourite Kate Atkinson is still Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

Greyduster Sat 05-Jan-19 11:42:18

‘Life after Life’ - wonderful! Didn’t enjoy the follow up quite so much though.

Granless Sat 05-Jan-19 09:14:30

BradfordLass72 - no message then?

thuberon Fri 04-Jan-19 22:49:50

No 1 - Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
No 2 - We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
No idea how many books I gobble in a year but its a lot. I read more than I do anything else. In fact I do little else.

Granless Fri 04-Jan-19 16:34:03

BradfordLass72. You are spot on! Have messaged you.

Jalima1108 Fri 04-Jan-19 15:08:11

I'll take a look, depending on price I may splash out my Christmas vouchers.
Otherwise I will go to our library and borrow.

trisher Fri 04-Jan-19 14:58:25

He's done two Jalima1108 the first is "Myths" which is about the Gods and the second "Heroes" about the Heroes. I just happened to be in the library and "Heroes" was on display. Apparently it doesn't matter which you read first.
Think I was a bit worried about posting because so many seem to have their reading so organised and record everything and I'm just not like that . I'm a bit lazy and slapdash!

Jalima1108 Fri 04-Jan-19 14:44:34

I think everyone who posts, trisher, gives ideas to others which might be interesting to follow up, even if we don't list everything.
I've already got some thoughts about future reads from this thread and been reminded of some other authors I'd forgotten about.

It's a long time since I read Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green, so the Stephen Fry version sounds interesting.

jojochurchy Fri 04-Jan-19 12:46:31

like Charleygirl5, I enjoy Peter Robinson's books. I am currently working my way through the Damien Boyd crime novels: nothing too gruesome and quite enjoyable. Would recommend. Luckily DH and I share same tastes in books so always swap with each other.

seacliff Fri 04-Jan-19 12:15:25

I have just started Her Last Breath by Charlie Gallagher. He is/was a serving police officer, and this s of course a crime story.

It had me gripped from the start, really well written. It is a stand alone book, but he has also written a few all set in the same area. A new author for me, but I will read more.