*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

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.

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.

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.

My post should have read Mrs Gaskell, not Haskell!

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

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

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 have met finished Abir Mukherjee's A Rising Man.
Can I ask if readers are happy to ignore poor grammar? Lots of instances of I was sat, it was stood.
Also use of words that are considered racist today, are these acceptable because the book is set just after WW1?

I'll do my best! An hour a day is a good idea. I've just started The Story of China - Michael Wood. Excellent so far

As a kid I read everything I could lay my hands on and read quickly. I went to school by bus, so travelled about an hour a day and everyone said that if I didn't have a book, I would read a cereal packet! I used to get through about a book a day, depending on how big they were, but now I've definitely slowed down to about one every week. I'm finding it much easier to use my Kindle and love Kindle Unlimited. Have just started Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham.

I managed 86 books last year, some I re-read, some from library or kindle. I'm reading the librarian of austwch, can't spell it or remember the author. It's a bit serious but ok.

I would like to contribute as well this year. I'm a great one for lists and figures and have kept a spreadsheet of all I've read, for about 4 years now. In 2020 I read 114 books, of all genres, but thrillers being my favourite. Reading Maeve Binchy--Circle of friends at the moment. Over 300 books on my shelves, so there's 3years worth of reading if I don't buy or acquire any more.(highly unlikely)!

I would love to join in with this.
I looked at what everyone was reading last year when I was needing some inspiration :-)
I’m currently reading Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart and I’m really enjoying it so far.

I’d like to join your thread properly this year TerriBull (love your user name BTW!). I just dipped in with recommendations last year.

1st book up will be a non fiction. It’s on my Kindle.
‘ How Do aw Know We Are Doing it Right?’ by Pandora Sykes.
I plan to start it with my nightly ‘Horlicks’ in an hour!
(Another addiction, besides reading and the iPad!)

I must put the iPad away and pick up a book more often!

To answer your question mrstin I’m happy (but feel uncomfortable at times) to read books with descriptions that are considered racist by today’s standards if they were written years ago. I don’t think we should judge yesterday using today’s standards.

I recently read an Agatha Christie which was written in 1926 and the language used was a little bizarre, but that was back then and was acceptable?

Please can I join? I love books...audible as well.

Thanks seadragon for the recommendation of Samantha Clark’s book The Clearing, I have just ordered it, looks like my sort of thing. I’m reading Motherwell by Deborah Orr it resonates with my own childhood in Dunbartonshire. Read a lot last year but not as many as 50 books. I’ve given up on audio books as I fall asleep no matter the time of day! I like BBC Sounds for that reason ( I know that sounds contradictory) as I can set it up for a 15 minute tale and know I won’t be awake to hear the end! Stops my mind endlessly chewing over the same old problems. How will I find this thread ? though to keep dipping in and adding to it?

I’m just finishing this! First JT I’ve read and not too bad

islandGranny I think you just click on the same OP and give your own count & a review if you want. The set up doesn’t allow for an individual column. You just have to mix in. (I think?).

I read way more than 50 books a year but have to say some of them are rubbish. I dislike e-books but understand now that duty will be charged on the books I get from Amazon so may have to reconsider. I really prefer the heft of a book in my hand rather than a screen.

I read and read and read, firstly because of my age and secondly I love books and reading.
My current book, a recommendation from someone on GN is The Essex Serpent, a mystery from the 19th century.
My favourites are mystery/ crime novels
Enjoyable authors are Kate Ellis, Robert Galbraith, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin and some American authors such as Micheal Connelly.
Any other recommendations from similar writer are very welcome.

Perfect Ten by Jacqueline Ward, Very different from her previous novels, Random Acts of Unkindness etc.
So far I have read all of her novels. Thoroughly recommend these books.

Thank you for your reply, Urmstongran.
Amir Mukherjee's book, A Rising Man, although set in 1919, was written in 2016. Hence my questioning his choice of language.

Some great recommendations on here and I will be watching with interest.
My favourite book last year was the Midnight Library by Matt Haig about a woman who 'dies' but enters a library of all her possible alternative lives if she had made different choices. Probably explained that badly. It's available (probably abridged) on BBC Sounds at the moment if anyone's interested.
I have just finished Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout, which didn't really grab me like I hoped it would. I borrowed it whilst waiting for Olive Kitteridge (sp?) to become available from the online library as I had read good reviews, so will try again with the author. Not sure what's next but I was given a copy of the Thursday Murder Club for Christmas and I have The Dutch House waiting from the library, along with a whole load of books I seem to have bought as £1 offers on Kindle last year! I need to make another list I think.
I listened to The Promised Land on Radio 4 and loved it but it was so abridged that I will have to try and get a copy to listen to the rest. I would like the audio book but my library doesn't have it and I don't subscribe to Audible - any suggestions?
@annsixty have you read any Val MacDermid? I am an Ian Rankin fan but have run out of books and have tried a couple of hers. Not sure I have got into the characters in the same way but will definitely read a few more.
@islandgranny apologies if you know this already or it isn't what you meant, but you can elect to follow the thread. It's possibly different on different devices but there should be a drop-down arrow above the first post where you can select 'follow this thread' .