The New Fifty Books A Year Thread 2020

Finished The Salt Path over lunch. What a great book, an inspirational couple with immense resilience. Well written. What I want to know now is how are things now? I will google to see if I can find out.
I definitely recommend this book.
@Crocker , I have a relative who lives in Cornwall and she has taken me to many of the places mentioned. I’ve also holidayed in Polzeath and frequently walked the coastal path to Daymer Bay and then onto Rock. When in Mawgan Porth I walked to Watergate Bay and Newquay. I only wish I lived there but family commitments keep us inland many miles away.

Should really read more...always read LOADS as a child...but the iPad is so addictive!! Am going to try harder this year. 1st book of the year: The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows by Jenni Keer ....seems a light read so far.
Looking forward to finding out what others read... The Salt Path is going on my TBR list!

Above should say The Making of the British Landscape more of a 'dipping into' book.

Can I join? Yesterday finished off Erebus by Michael Palin (a birthday present from December) a brilliant book. And also yesterday got to the end of The Lost Man by Jane Harper set in Australia, which I realised halfway through that I had read before! That often happens with Library books. Next to start is The Making of English Landscape by Nicholas Crane, a Christmas present.

Just finished Guilty Not Guilty by Felix Francis. (I've been sitting and reading for most of the day!) Think it could be his best one so far.

I was given A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines for Christmas. I've just started that. Then I will read a book DH got for Christmas - a new biography of Richard Briers.

Just finished book no 1, The Rumour-Lesley Kara.
Don’t rush out to buy it ladies.

Just finished another terrific Abir Mukherjee book about his post WW1 detective in India. Great story.
Am starting the biography of Queen Mary that's been republished and on Amazon Kindle for 99p. It's got terrific reviews.

Urmstongran, you are absolutely right! We need a sub section for "ditched books" setting out the actual page where we felt we could stand it no longer and reasons why I'm with you all the way, lying ditched on my shelves at present are "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" and "A Gentleman is Moscow" the latter was given to me by my son who told me it was a fascinating read, when he asked me if I enjoyed it, I'm afraid to say I lied through my teeth with "a wonderful read" . Anyway, may I recommend this as a potential "ditched book", you won't get to page 70 I promise, "Lincoln in the Bardo" Booker Prize Winner and possibly one of the most boring books I've ever committed to, couldn't tell you what any of it was about, No! hundreds of pages and none the wiser! I blame MN, they all loved it

Although I would add, I hated Atonement for the first 70 pages or so and then after that it seemed to come alive and was glad I perservered with it.

I suppose Sara65 you could be right but at 70 pages in, I’ve given a story enough of a chance - and my time!
?

Would love to join in too. Not reading as much as I used to/ would like to (health related) so this may prompt me a bit. About to start 'Only we know' by Karen Perry which is my reading group book and currently reading a bedtime book 'Inspector Colbeck's Casebook' short stories by Edward Marston.

But maybe, had you persevered, it might have turned out better than you expected.

I used to be a finisher, years ago. I found it dispiriting to put a finished book aside and think ‘glad THAT’s over!’. Then I had a eureka moment and thought ‘what’s that all about?’.

Glad I’m not the only one!

M0nica, we all went to see Little Women last week, and I really enjoyed it.

I’m a finisher, too, Urmstongran although I have learnt to let go a little in recent years. I abandoned the Librarian of Auschwitz as I found it too disturbing. Also a ghost story which was frightening the life out of me!

I used to be a finisher Urmston. Not these days, if I can’t get into I don’t bother. As you say, plenty of other books.

I am not much of a novel reader, I prefer non-fiction, but in my Christmas stocking was a biography of Anthony Trollope, one novelist whose works I do enjoy reading, I should finish it today or tomorrow.

I will then start on Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters having just seen, and enjoyed the new film, which took real liberties with the book, the credits on the film said based on Little Women, yet it got the feel of the book absolutely spot-on. The book will be satisfyingly complementary to the film.

C’mon! Try it for 2020! If you don’t feel liberated and in charge of your own leisure time I’ll eat my hat (if I had one!). Next year you can go back to your old ways if you don’t like doing it!

I know you’re right Urmstongran, but somehow I just can’t do it, I did abandon Catch 22 and one or two others, but mostly, I plough on to the bitter end.

Try ditching them Sara65? See how it makes you feel when you free p your time for stuff you enjoy more! You don’t get a merit for ploughing through a book you’re not enjoying.

First time on this thread. A friend has recommended The St Mary Chronicles by an author called Jodi Taylor and has given me the first book as a present. I shall be starting "Just One Damned Thing After Another" this evening.

Almost always a finisher Urmstongran.

Anyone else like me - I read say 60-70 pages and if the story isn’t grabbing me I ditch the book. There are so many other books out there and it’s not homework to finish! Or are you a ‘finisher’?

Just to remind anyone who feels they would like to post their 2019 list in its entirety, please feel free to stick it on the 2019 Fifty book thread.

I read "The Rumour" last year, Sara, I have to agree I didn't find it amazing either.

I’m really looking forward to starting again, I love reading, and I love lists, so this is perfect for me, my granddaughter is going to be aiming for fifty books as well, she will probably have overtaken me by the end of January.
First book this year, The Rumour, Lesley Kara, it’s growing on me, but it’s not amazing.
Crocky, that’s such a good book, you’ll love it!