Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

I have now finished my Midsomer Murder book, and realized toward the end that had seen it on tv but it was so altered that for most of the story it came over as fresh, although the Title did seem familiar "Faithfull unto Death". So if you are a Midsomer fan it makes good read, and interesting to compare with the tv version - surely not because of copyright. I don't understand why it was altered.

I hestitated if I should post. I read heaps but I don't keep a record and in fact sometimes find myself reading a book I've read before (particularly if it's one I read on holiday!). Currently I'm reading Cunk on Everything which is the writings of Philomena Cunk who sounded off about things on the Charlie Brooker show- it's hilarious. Also Stephen Fry's Heroes- retelling of the Greek Hero stories. The best fiction I have read lately is The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. It's very moving and tells the stories of three women in WW2. I thought I knew a good deal about the concentration camps but this about the Polish "rabbits" in Ravensbruck who were the subject of medical experiments was new to me.
I won't rate the books I read, some are rubbish, some wonderful but you just can't compare them.

Just finished Breaking Cover by Stella Rimington- ex head of MI5. Not bad but a bit predictable. This was a book from my reading group. Have now started the new Rebus book -In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin. Promising start & I always love his books.
I run a reading group so some of the books I read are not what I would choose for myself but I do try to get them new books whenever possible- our library are excellent & get us new releases a lot of the time.

I usually read more than 50 a year, it was 76 in 2018, and that was down on the previous year.
M first book of 2019 is The Cactus by Sarah Heywood

mrshat I read Anatomy of a Scandal just before Christmas and thought it was an excellent read - heartily recommend to other readers.
I’ve just finished Anne Boleyn - A King’s Obsession by Alison Weir which I’d recommend to lovers of historical novels, if you’re a bit indifferent to them you might find it a bit of a plodding read at times.

LancsLass1 I’ve not read Jacob’s room is full of books yet, but Susan Hill wrote what sounds a similar one called Howards End is on the Landing which you might enjoy.

Granless I've just looked to see if that's available in audio but sadly it isn't. I remember, just after she died, reading that the driver of the car had many times the normal amount of carbon dioxide in his blood (according to toxicology reports) and the reporter said no one affected that way could have stood up, let alone driven. The implication was that the authorities had substituted the report of someone who had committed suicide by inhaling exhaust fumes. I've never heard that mentioned since. Later the driver was said to be drunk.
If you read, 'Breaking News' by the ex-editor of The Guardian, you will have no doubts that politicians, MI5 & 6 and the police collude to cover up a great deal, not just Diana's demise.
If you'd like to know an interesting secret about her, message me as I can give you an absolutely true tit-bit which will make you think

When I could read with my eyes I got through 2 or 3 books a day at weekends, 1 or 2 in the evening sbecause, as a researcher I learned to speed read.

Now I can only read with my ears but I still get through 6 or more audio books a week as I've never had a TV and they and my computer are my sole means of entertainment.
I'm currently reading Douglas Reeman's 'Iron Pirate' ; he's a favourite author, as is Louis L'Amour whose, 'Beyond the Great Snow Mountains' I've just finished.
I read most available Westerns by various authors.

Over Christmas I immersed myself in one of Will Durant's many hefty but brilliant tomes, this one was 'The Renaissance' which I recommend to anyone crazy about history as he's covered just about every period you can think of and isn't the slightest bit stuffy, quite funny in fact.
My December reading list included:
'Guernsey Potato Peel and Literary Society, Heidi, Nee-Naw, The Road to Little Dribbling, The Spy and the Traitor, Wild Riders, and One Special Village.
The only book I found a bit hard going was 'Master of Shadows' by Neil Oliver - felt it could have done with some expert editing.

Am now on Part 4 of Diana Inquest - The Untold Story. Gripping; factual; brilliant. Certainly makes you think - I’ll say no more.

I’ve also just read Eleanor oliphant and enjoyed it very much. And agree joy Ellis is good.

Sorry Seacliff I see I misnamed you earlier

Finished House of Unexpected Sisters; Alexander McCall Smith’s latest in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. Gentle, undemanding, evocative. Just started Elizabeth Chadwick’s Templar Silks. A bit hefty - may take a while!

Greta, I had a robin inside my car today! My GC had been sick in it (bleugh) and I was cleaning up the mess. A robin decided to fly in and sit on the driver's seat and watch me!

Thank you Lancslass1 and seacliff, I think books you can dip into are sometimes easier to read. I also like poetry. If a poem is not too long I try to learn it by heart. I do this before I go to sleep and then when I wake up in the morning I try to recite it. I am getting better at it!

Just finished Eleanor Oliphant etc. by Gail Honeyman and also Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan. Both excellent in their own way.
Currently reading The Husband by Deirdre Purcell, too early to say yet, but I liked all her other books so this one should be fine.

Thanks, LizH13 for the link. I've seen it before, and its really funny, isn't it? I think that gave DH the idea of buying me the book for Christmas, as we both watched the clip and laughed our socks off!
I've just finished the Fred Bassett 2019 comic strips book I bought DH for Christmas so now intend to get cracking with the latest C J Samson, but I'm also dipping in and out of Dynasties by Stephen Moss which accompanies the excellent series recently finished on tv, introduced by David Attenborough. It, too, is very good, with some excellent photography. It complements the tv series really well.

Like others, have been keeping a log of books over the last few years to remind me of the authors that I've enjoyed. Must start using the address book idea.
Am currently reading The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende which is excellent, then will start The Adults by Caroline Hulse, which I was lucky enough to receive from GN.

I read One day in December by Josie Silver before Christmas- it was so good I didn't want it to end.

Book no.2-Children in Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
To be honest I'm not looking forward to it as I'm not a sci-fi fan but my son has made me promise to give it a go.Anyone else read it?

That looks a beautiful book Greta.

I've had times like that, when I couldn't cope with reading a whole book.

I quite liked dipping into Bill Brysons' Notes from a Small Island. I can open it anywhere and just read a little, and have a chuckle. (it is in our downstairs loo now!)

Another very different book is Dear Friend and Gardener - Letters on Life and Gardening by Beth Chatto, written to her friend and greats gardener Christopher Lloyd (from Great Dixter). I've been to both gardens, and this is a lovely gentle book, written through the seasons. It's not just about gardening, about their lives in general too.

The more I think about this, I realise I have read so many books.

Greta ,have you read "Jacob's room is full of books" by Susan Hill.
It isn't too long and the author writes about a year in her life through the books she has read .
It is an easy ,pleasant read .
She has some interesting anecdotes too.
I started rereading it on New Year's Day as that seemed apt and it is our Reading Group book for the month(recommended by me) .
Has anybody else read it?

Thank you TerriBull for this thread and thank you other posters who have given recommendations. I have always loved reading but at the moment don't read novels. I'm going through a rather difficult time and find I just can't concentrate; my mind wanders. However, the book that is just right for me at the moment is Stephen Moss' 'The Robin: A Biography'. It's a month by month account of the robin's life. The illustrations are also very pretty and it's a joy to just look at them.

That's a good idea Lancslass thanks. I think I have a spare address book, if I didn't give it to charity on a clear out.

Glad you started this thread TerriBull

Always room in my life to read books and a great idea to have recommendations from others.

I was an avid reader, three books per week roughly but since I started using a kindle, appreciate it’s ease of transporting but just not the same as an actual book for me.

I now read in fits and starts and look forward to joining this thread.

Just started reading The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt and have downloaded The Girl in the Letter - Emily Gunnis
The Italian House - Teresa Crane

Sea life,I used to write the titles down as I read them but if someone then asked me if I had read a certain book I had to trawl back so I bought a cheap address book and now file the titles under the initial letter of the author's surname..
I give them a score out of 5
This year I plan to add the date read