2023 - 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

BladeAnnie I’m very nearly at the end now but am really enjoying it.

Easybee I'm hugely enjoying Next to Nature (Ronald Blythe), birthday present in Nov, have read Nov and Dec and plan to read the relevant section each month. The title doesn't do it justice, wonderful writing (horrid half jacket). Enjoyed The Appeal and intend to try the Twyford Code.
My first two new reads for this year are Colm Toíbín, The Master and new biog of Barbara Pym by Paula Byrne

Pigma

Hello everyone. Another newbie here but an avid reader and I’d love to join you this year and see where I get to. I’m another one who likes a couple of books on the go at the same time, to pick up and put down as the mood suits! I’m just starting Elizabeth, An Intimate Portrait (of the late queen) by Gyles Brandreth and a novel, The Family Retreat, by Bev Thomas. Will report back in due course. My favourite book of 2022 by a mile was Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton, totally brilliant, and I’ve just finished Mad Bees, the latest Jodie Picoult which was co-written with another author but off the top of my head I forget who. Learnt a lot about bees (!) and very thought provoking around a very contemporary issue. A good read. Looking forward to reading along with you and getting suggestions and feedback on your reads.

I’m also currently reading Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finley Boylan. I’m really enjoying it as it goes back to the style of Jodi’s previous writings based around a large court case.

And yes, I now know an awful lot about the life of bees!

I’ve read three out of the five Cazalet novels. I can’t bring myself to read the last two because then I’ll have read them all and won’t have them to look forward to, which is bonkers reasoning. They’re so lovely - Dh asked me what was happening in one of them and my reply was ‘Someone is getting a new dress!’

Can understand not wanting to finish a series of books SueDonim. I feel the same about books but appreciate it’s rather difficult to explain it! Finished Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths in December so can’t really count it for this year. It was good but I don’t think her books featuring her new detective, Harbinder Kaur, are as good as the Ruth Galloway books. Have just found out the latest of theses has been released, The Last Remains. Have ordered it from my library but there are already 345 reserves for it!

Last year loved Shuggie Bain, also Still Life by Sarah Winman. Brought in the New Year with Maggie O'Farrel's Portrait of a Marriage. All brilliant. Kate Atkinson's Shrines of Gaiety is standing by.
It's been a while since I have read a duff book, but there is an interesting thread on the subject.

I will join in and try to keep up after failing miserably last year.
I am reading The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. It is about civil rights activism in the 1960s in America and I am half way through it. It is a very sobering read.
I am looking forward to getting hold of the last Ruth Galloway novel. How will it end? No spoilers please.

Good to see regular posters, Music Girl, SueDomim, Hello Girl, Sarah74 all back for this year.

To all those who fell by the wayside last year, Never mind, new year, new start, onwards and upwards

To newbies a big welcome if I haven't said that to you already.

Starting off with a bedtime book and a slim non fiction volume

1 It ends at Midnight Harriet Tyce
2 Jews Don't Count - David Baddiel

Sue I loved the Cazalet Chronicles, read them ages ago but they're definitely books I could go back to.

SueDonim

I’ve read three out of the five Cazalet novels. I can’t bring myself to read the last two because then I’ll have read them all and won’t have them to look forward to, which is bonkers reasoning. They’re so lovely - Dh asked me what was happening in one of them and my reply was ‘Someone is getting a new dress!’

I know exactly how you feel. My reasoning is the same
I read them for the 2nd time during the first lockdown in 2020, but a few years had elapsed since the first read. I do so love having a book I can look forward to sitting down with whenever I've got a spare moment.... or even when I haven't got a spare moment!!!

Just started Cold blooded liar by Karen Rose which has been sent to me by NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review. It’s due to be released on 2 March 2023

I’m another one who “fell by the wayside”, but I have now listed my 62 books for 2022 on that thread. I promise to try harder to be a regular visitor.
Most of my books come from Little Free Libraries and charity shops so I can be a bit behind the times. I think I will have to treat myself the new Maggie O’Farrell and Kate Atkinson books though as I love both authors.

My first book of the year is Pine by Francine Toon, I’m sure many of you will have read it already.

Another first timer here, but read a lot. My first book of 2023 is Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

Finished Book 1- The Appeal tonight.
Really enjoyed it, the unusual format worked, I think I enjoyed the first half more than the second, I liked the gradual exposure of the characters, trying to work out if they were good or bad, and I liked the backdrop of Amateur Dramatics .
I thought the end of the book became a little too crowded, it was hard to see the wood for the trees.
Loved it though, a good book to start the year.

Just to say AliBeeee, I loved ‘Pine’ very atmospheric.

#1 Santa Grint Jodi Taylor.
Every year the author releases a Christmas short story, this is the new one. I love everything she has published and this little gem is no exception.

Book no 1 finished - The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas. Not very impressed, it covers a lot of psychological issues (the author works in mental health) but felt these were all thrown at us but none came to a satisfactory conclusion. Rather unbelievable reactions on the part of the main character and found I couldn’t get under the skin of any of them. Not a memorable read in my opinion. Still on with the Gyles Brandreth about the late Queen and about to start The Prisoner by B A Paris.

Just finished book 1, Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street, by Craig Revel Horwood. It was OK, but not really my kind of book, more like chick-lit. Haven`t picked book 2 yet, will later.

Can I join in for this year please? I am just finishing a Val McDermid, then I have the third Richard Osman as a Xmas gift.

I am a newbie but would like to join in. I haven’t started a book yet in this new year because I have had non-stop visitors since Christmas Eve but I have just packed away the Christmas decs and might be able to pick one up now. I have a big pile of books which either my DIL has recommended and lent me, or I have bought them, usually from charity shops. DH keeps asking me why I have so many - he reads a book and then takes it to a charity shop. I shall work my way through the pile whilst also being pleased to read recommendations from this group.

Finished Brendan O'Caroll. It was good.
Book 2. The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë by Daphne du Maurier.

I'm unwell ATM so have spent time in bed reading when not sleeping or listening to radio. I finished Demon Copperhead, a sort of Shuggie Bain set in Kentucky and definitely recommend it. I've whipped through Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (thanks for the recommendation) and found it one of those rare books that I can read for hours at a time. Excellent! I'm just about to start The Sympathiser by Viet Than Nguyen.

I`ve just started book 2, All Fall Down, by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards. A deadly disease is spreading around the world, written several years before the advent of Covid.

I am a newbie here too. I do the goodreads reading challenge every year and have challenged myself to read 80 books this year. I managed the same last year.

My favourite authors are Lisa Jewel, Liane Moriarty, Kate Atkinson, Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay and Kristin Hannah.

I have also read all 5 of the Cazalet Chronicles as others have mentioned above.

So far this year I have finished a library book called Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior about an octogenarian who is a bit curmudgeonly going on an antarctic expedition to visit a research facility on penguins. Charming story. My current book is an audio book called Cilkas story by Heather Morris which is the sequel to The tattooist of Auschwitz so definitely a more gruelling read.

cornishclio You mention Liane Moriarty - I am halfway through reading her book "Apples Never Fall" and thoroughly enjoying it. Have you read it?

Sparklefizz

cornishclio You mention Liane Moriarty - I am halfway through reading her book "Apples Never Fall" and thoroughly enjoying it. Have you read it?

I have read “ Apples never fall” and really enjoyed it. She is great at characterisation. Just looked back at my good reads record and I gave it a 4 star review. I may have to read it again. Does anyone else find it difficult to remember the plot a year or so later of books especially when you read a lot?