Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

I love this idea - I think I read a lot more than 50 in a year, but I never write down what they are. Will try to do so this year. I'm a great fan of science fiction and fantasy, apparently this is unusual for a woman of my age! Currently reading the first of a fantasy trilogy - Sinner by Sara Douglass.

I have to read The Children's Book by AS Byatt for book group and am not looking forward to it. Tried to read it a while ago and just could not take to it. Has anyone enjoyed it?

I am just starting I am I am I am by Maggie o’Farrell .

Oh yes Pinkwallpapet, I took a long time to get into it but then loved it. The best books, for me, take me into a completely different world and this was one of them. It also got me thinking. A very satisfying read.

Just finished "The Witchfinder's Sister. It is an account of the identifying so called witches during the civil War from the viewpoint of an imaginery sister of Matthew Hopkins, the witchfinder general and is set in Suffolk and Essex. I really enjoyed it. Just about to start Helen Duncombe 's Birdcage Walk. I enjoyed the previous one I read about an airman's greatcoat.

What a wonderful thread. A great resource for seeking out our next read too. Thank you so much for starting it Terribull. I too read on Kindle and very fast so I have Kindle Unlimited. If I’m not working I can read more than a book a day. I have spells of reading non-fiction, do they count? Travel accounts etc? I just finished a true story called ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover, not my usual thing, quite harrowing but was highly recommended. Currently reading Everything is Lies by Helen Callaghan, a thriller, quite twisty.

My first read this year is The Frozen Lake by Elizabeth Edmonson. It appears to be a story of two families who live in mansions beside a lake in Westmoreland and begins with the Christmas holidays in the mid 1930's when the lake is frozen over well enough to ice skate. Not my usual genre but I am gradually being drawn in.

Great thread! I record all books read (no time for reviews) on the www.bookcrossing.com website (I have been an avid Bookcrosser for about 12 years). I’ve just started This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay (Christmas present from my wishlist). I can see I’ll be getting lots of recommendations here for books to read.

I want to read more this year. I used to read a lot but now I spend too much time on this iPad or watching tv, usually simultaneously. I got Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ for Christmas so that will be my first read.

CassieJ I love the Lucind Riley seven sisters, I’ve read them all so far, thoroughly recommend all of the others in the series.

Have just finished Elinor Oliphant is Absolutely Fine and I thoroughly enjoyed it

As you say, may get up to 50 very quickly. I have just read the Gruffalo to one dgs and the 12 Engines of Christmas to other dgs. Love my cuddles when reading to them! However, I will attempt to read some more Adult reads. My favourite author is “Phillip Margolin.” Not everyone has heard of him, but if you like American Legal Thrillers I can recommend him (I enjoy him much more than John Grisham), though they are NOT for the faint hearted!

Another fan of Eleanor Olliphant is absolutely fine. Once I got into it I was eager to find out her story. Clever writing

Lovely to have all these recommendations. I'm reading "Down Under" by Bill Bryson, having just finished "The Road to Little Dribbling" which was a hoot. I received Gyles Brandreth's "Have you eaten Grandma?" for Christmas. Can recommend this to all fellow pedants.

Just started Where Daffodils bloom by Leya Delray-a true story set in my hometown about a local girl who meets an American during the 2nd World war -enjoying it so far.

I will give this a go I have just started Sleeping Beauties by Jo Spain so that’s my book 1

I'm reading "Killing the Lawyers" by Reginald Hill. It's not a Dalziel and Pascoe one, the PI protagonist is Joe Sixsmith.

I hope to join in for the whole year but I'm a bit confused - do we just randomly add to the thread or is there a way of keeping our posts (and therefor our book lists) together?

I did 35 books last year. Just Finished "We Can see You" by Simon kernick. here is my review on Goodreads

You have it all. Success, a beautiful home, a happy family. Until, in a heartbeat, it's gone. We've kidnapped your daughter, and we know everything about you. Including the dark secrets from your past you thought were forgotten. We tell you not to contact the police - and that we'll know if you do. Because we can see you. And now you know this is no ordinary abduction. It's worse. Within hours you're on the run, with only one thought in your head: That you will stop at nothing to get your daughter back. Even murder.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Brook and the Detectives Tyrone Giant and Jenna King. There is plenty of twists and some secrets in this fast paced novel right from the start. The story is action packed and I was rooting all the way for Brook to find her daughter safe and sound. With tension building from the start, this is a well written and gripping story. Loved it.

An emotionally punchy book blended with the pace and action of a high-octane thriller, WE CAN SEE YOU will keep you breathlessly on the edge of your seat, wondering which character you can trust, if any at all, until the final brilliant twist!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review

Another Eleanor Olliphant fan here - read it last year and loved it. My first book for 2019 is 'Meet me at the Museum' by Anne Youngson - a beautifully written novel in the form of correspondence between an English woman trapped in an unfulfilling life and a lonely Danish museum curator. Only two thirds of the way through but thoroughly recommend so far!

Becoming by Michelle Obama. Enjoying this very much and is written in such an easy to read style.

I'm waiting for the next Lucinda Riley sister. Is it out yet? I think we've had five already.

I havé just started The Stranger Diaries by Ella Griffiths. A stand-alone book. Her series set in Norfolk about Dr Ruth Galloway forensic archaeologist and Detective Harry Nelson are excellent.

Yet you have time to waste by commenting on a thread you're not interested in, Mabon?

I'm now reading Laurie Lee's A Village Christmas.

I’m a bit confused here - DH says it doesn’t take much! I joined the other forum on reading 50 books a year but this seems to be another on reading 50 books or fewer in a year. Not sure if I read 50 but always have a book ‘on the go’ so will comment on what I have on either forum. At present reading The Married Girls by Diney Costeloe - a light read which I am enjoying. These days I only read for pleasure so most of my books are ‘light reads’, not like DH who only reads non-fiction, but so interesting to hear about what you are all reading. Just off to the library to see what’s available today.

Only fifty?