*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

I've just finished reading Abir Mukherjee's "Smoke and Ashes" the third in the series. It rattles along at a cracking pace. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read his latest "Death in the East". I'm having a break first though reading Rose Tremain's "Islands of Mercy" and also Anthony Horowitz's "Granny". The latter is a children's book but my grand daughter's just read it, and, with the title, my daughter thought I might like it. She isn't a nice Granny! Horowitz has also written a lot for TV such as "Foyle's War" which we liked. I look forward to finding more suggestions on this thread.

I loved David Eddings books.
I managed to read 265 books last year, more than normal because of being stuck indoors!

I love this idea. Fell by the wayside last year but intend to do better in 2021. Really enjoyed reading everyone’s recommendations. Many thanks to who ever started this in the first place!

I have never kept count of the number of books I read - but it's quite a lot! I buy from Postscript and Books4People (Previously I used The Book People". I tend to buy "collections", because I can read a book in a day (though not much housework gets done)! Just finished four books by Karin Fossum, plus "The Crown of Blood" by Nicola Tallis. Karin Fossum writes Murder books, and the characters are usually complex, flawed individuals, some of whom it can be difficult to dislike. Definitely recommend.
"Crown of Blood" is the story of Lady Jane Grey, who was crowned Queen of England (for 13 days) after the death of Edward VI, the young son of Henry VIII. For anyone who loves history, this is an excellent book about someone who deserves to be much better known. Definitely Recommend.
For Christmas, my husband bought me two more collections, one by David Eddings. which is set in a Fantasy Kingdom, and is about a Boy's "coming of Age" and his adventures. The other is a collection of Martina Cole books. I have read some of her books before, and am not a fan of the "gritty" but doubtless authentic language. I will read them all, though. I'm the kind of person who reads adverts on buses and trains when I don't have anything more interesting to choose from! I will be counting my reading totals this year.

I hate auto correct! Stanford by Mrs Gaskell should have read Cranford.

My post should have read Mrs Gaskell, not Haskell!

I’d like to join in please. I did read more than 50 this year. I started reading Camilla Lackberg’s Swedish Fjallbacka murder books and had to get the complete set of 10. They were a mixture of new and second hand. I also have books on kindle, in the bedroom and bathroom on the go. I do like reading recommendations on here.

I would like to read at least 4 books by Mrs Haskell this year. I have them already on Kindle as that's where I read my books these days. I have read Stanford before but quite a few years ago.

Long time lurker but decided to join.

I am reading
Lillian Boxfish takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney.
Set in Manhattan in 1984, Lillian, a retired advertising executive takes a walk on New Year's Eve.
A very stylish book that I'm enjoying very much.

How lovely to see this new reading thread for 2021! I managed to get the 50 target on Terribull’s 2020 thread, by dint of some creative book accounting.

I began a new book when I went to bed after midnight so my No 1 is The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal. It was a Christmas gift from one of my dds.

Hello can anyone recommend a free app to download on to my iPhone for free audio books thank you .

Musicgirl thanks so much for mentioning Murder in the Snow by Gladys Mitchell. I have most of her books, but I’ve never read that one and I can get it on Kindle. I’m halfway through a series of medieval stories by Roberta Gellis at the moment so I’ll buy the GM book for later (unless I can’t resist it).

www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/18342708.book-review-clearing-samantha-clark/ I loved this book so much that I bought copies for DH and a special friend. The book shop owner told me she had loved it too when I mentioned I might have to read it again as I wanted to take notes but had not been able to put it down to do so. I have mentioned it so much to others that another special friend bought a copy for me! (The one I'd read had been a library book). Imagine my delight when I realised that the author moved here to Orkney after writing it!...and her beautiful art work is on the walls of the foyer in our new hospital!!! BTW, I read about 10 books a month... My New Year resolution is to write to her soon...

I am reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn which is good. I am writing a review of My Brilliant Friend for my WI book group. My walking netball set up a book group due to COVID and the Obama book is next to read! It is lengthy!
I have also finished The silent Treatment which was okay.
So many loaded onto my kindle plus on my shelves. I thought I would read avidly during these times but I struggle some days ?‍♀️

I've just reinstated my TBR pile with Christmas books.Last book I read was 'Burial of Ghosts' by Ann Cleeve.Didn't empathise with the heroine much, although I was clearly meant to and this has left me a bit cautious regarding Ann Cleeve, outside of 'Vera' and 'Shetland'. Am starting 'Christmas Shopaholic' by Sophie Kinsella soon (Xmas choice of daughter). Nothing if not a broad church, my TBR pile.

I'd love to join in too please. I think I must have read over 50books last year as I have been reading a couple of books a week during lockdown.Currently reading "The Mirror and The Light" and have jotted down a few recommendations from this thread ☺️

I would like to join. I have no idea how many books I read in a year. I have discovered that one of the dubious joys of old age is that I can re-read books from years ago and enjoy them, as I have completely forgotten the contents.

At the moment, I am reading some of the books I was given at Christmas. I am just finishing Diary Of A Somebody by the poet Brian Bilston, which I have greatly enjoyed. The poems are clever and the main character is a bit of an Adrian Mole. Then I am embarking on The Dutch House by Ann Prachett and The Provincial Lady In Wartime by E. M. Delafield. I usually like to have a couple of books on the go at the same time.

I like to read a lot and often find interesting suggestions on threads like this. I keep my list of books read on my kindle app -it also tells me how long my ‘reading streak’ is in days or weeks. Evidently I didn’t read on January 11th or May 27th in 2020. I wonder why not?

Hi Nellie54 - I’ve read all of Philippa Gregory’s historical novels - some twice! Not tried these titles though - do you recommend?
I belong to two book groups which we’ve managed to keep going virtually during 2020. I probably read around 18 books with them plus my own choices so may read around 40 - will have to keep count this year! I recommend Where the Crawdads Sing and am looking forward to Richard Osmans The Thursday Murder Club and The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe both of which I got for Christmas from family.

Yes I read the excellent "Troubled Blood" what a tome! with over 900 pages it should count as three books, mind you nothing slows some readers, me, down more than The Thursday Murder Club a dull book, irrespective of the number of pages.

Just started Slade House by David Mitchell

Kartush, that is a lot of books! I think I have too many distractions, I'd like to read more.

Glad to see the thread has garnered lots of responses already, I think there are a lot of enthusiastic readers out there.

I would like to join again this year please. Last year I stopped recording and posting but I am determined to do better this year.
I am currently listening to the audiobook of Career of Evil the third of Robert Galbraith's (J K Rowling) Strike novels. I'm going to count it as book number 1 of 2021 as I am nowhere near finishing it. The protagonist is a retired soldier and a private detective and the 'case' involves a murderer who has a personal connection to him (Strike). It involves some pretty graphic descriptions of murder and body parts and very bad language, I'm really enjoying it?.

I am not sure how to get back to this list. I would like to follow it. I don’t know how many books I have read this year but an awful lot. I am currently reading the Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. I have read the first two in the series about Thomas Cromwell. For light reading I am also reading Call the Midwife. I take this with me if I have to wait anywhere. The M & L is too heavy to carry about.

What a good idea! I am reading a fantasy book called 'The Shadow Wand' by Laurie Forest. Part of the Black Witch Chronicles. The book was a Christmas present from my daughter. I have read the other books in the series.