THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

Mistake in title of my book. It should have read The Cypress Maze. Sorry

I wont manage 50 but i really like to see what others are reading to give me ideas so always follow the thread.
Im currently reading Scrublands by Chris Hammer which someone recommended last year. It is a crime novel set in Australia. A priest kills 5 of the congregation and the story develops from there.
I am also making my way in published order of the author Elly Griffiths novels with Dr Ruth Galloway - set in Norfolk. I think there are at least 14 in the series set in Norfolk. They are an easy read.

Demon Copperfield which lots of folk on here and elsewhere raved about I didnt finish. I may give it another go at some point.

Book #3 was a reread of Kate Charles’ Snares of Death, one of her ‘Book of Psalms’ series from the early 90s. Perfectly innocuous light reading for a sleepless night.

I think I’m going to tackle The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes next - it’s been sitting in the To Be Read pile for a couple of month. It’s 672 pages, so I may not be back for a while!

This is a great thread, our book club folded so am always on the look out for recommendations.

I have just started Postcards from Stranger by Imogen Clark. It was a part of Amazon Prime First reads I eagerly take every month (some surprisingly good books there) and has been living in my Kindle library for a while. I am on a mission to clear my Kindle library backlog before I move into buying new books! So far so good but not a very fast read.

I’m a member of two book groups but would love to join in this - I am relatively new to GN so didn’t know about it. On average I read a couple of books a week but it depends on the length. I’m not a fan of very long books. I’ve just finished ‘The Honjin Murders’, a Japanese ‘locked room’ murder mystery I was given for Christmas which was fun, although so many characters’ names began with ‘K’ it was quite confusing. I’ve got eclectic tastes and like reading classic children’s books. I’ve recently read an ancient book called ‘The Sword of the Volsungs’ which I saw recommended and also Neil Gaiman’s ‘Coraline’ after it was a general knowledge question on Mastermind.

Sorry - thought I was responding to comment about latest J K Rowling book - having made the comment , posted it, realised my error - now I can’t delete it hence this rather garbled explanation - is it ‘cos I’m old - most certainly -yes !

Sorry, my original message didn’t post …
No.1 My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (I started it before Christmas, but finished it in January!). I loved it, long and detailed yes, but a fascinating insight into her determination to not only sing and act, but also to be a female film director in a male-dominated world.
No.2 The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou. I’m enjoying it so far.
Happy New Year everyone. Here’s to a year of great reads.

Totally agree - It’s great - I’m half way through it. In my view a much better ‘read’ than Black Ink Heart - struggled with that one

Oops! Eleni Pavlou …. not Pavlov!

Thank you for starting this thread. My downstairs book (I feel guilty reading fiction in the day) is David Kynaston's wonderful social history of Britain from 1962 - 65 - A Northern Wind. He used my diaries (I was a student then) as one of his diarists but I would have enjoyed reliving those years anyway. My upstairs book is Natalia Ginsburg All Our Yesterdays about two families set against the background of Italian fascism before WW2 and during it. I am really enjoying it.

About to finish Burnt Shadows byKamila Shamsie.
It’s enjoyable enough but I’ve found it easy to be distracted from.
I’m a very poor writer and “describer” of things but I would highly recommend any others reading some kind of précis on this book.

Spec1alk

I’m reading ‘ lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus . A great read!!

I loved it too!

I have just started The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith and it’s about 950 pages long. Hopefully it won’t take too long.

Hi flutterby, the aim is to try and read 50 books, but that target is merely aspirational, it doesn't matter if you don't reach that number, there isn't a virtual corner anyone has to stand in if they don't get there as per my introduction, it's entirely up to the individual to post how they wish but in the spirit of the original thread set up by MN, participants usually keep a running tally of books, so come back to the thread whenever you wish, intermittently or fairly regularly, again up to you, with for example books no. 2, 3, 4, or one at a time, with a brief or more detailed synopsis, whether you would recommend it, or not. I used to do mine by the month, but that was a bit of a mistake because sometimes, if the book hadn't made a great impression, I'd forget pretty quickly. We often get discussions going on what we're reading, interjecting with comments if we have read it, liked it or not, or perhaps to say if it is one on my to read list. What you read is entirely up to you, anything really, nothing is preordained, but as you will see, often posters take inspiration from recommendations.

I hope I have answered your queries and you will enjoy taking part in the challenge, yes like you my challenge tends to be for myself. We aren't competitive as far as the number of books we get through, everyone goes at their own pace here given we all have different time constraints and other unseen variables that may come into play that could possible affect day to day pursuits such as reading.

I'm reading and enjoying 'Why be happy when you could be normal' by Jeanette Winterson - (writer of 'Oranges are not the only fruit'.) I'm enjoying it very much, some of her biography is rather dark.

Happy New Year everyone I have started of with The Cypress Tree by Fiona Valpy which I’m really enjoying

Our local writer is Jane Cory, I have just read two of her books during Christmas. "Coming to find You" and "Tall Chimneys holds many dark secrets" both are written in and about Devon and makes light reading.

I have just finished "One Last Thing" by Wendy Mitchell. Highly recommended as both a reference book and good read, very informative especially for carers and loved ones with terminal illnesses but we all need to know our options.
My Partner of 8-9 years sadly died on 27th October. He read it before I did.

I've just requested the Barbara Streisand book from local library. 7 people are waiting for it so I may have to wait a while. I have been given 2 gift tokens at Christmas for waterstones so I will have a wee look there

I'm reading Dreams of Eleven by Michael Bartlett. A very unusual, but captivating, writing style. I am going to follow this with Hunting the Hornets by the same author because, I gather, this is different again, and I am intrigued!

Thank you for starting this lovely thread once more, Terribull. I have not had the chance to finish a book yet as I am only now getting straight affectionate all the company over Christmas and New Year. I look forward to posting my book choices regularly.

Terribull, I have tried to pm so as not to bore everyone, failed, so post queries here.
Do I read 50 books over the year and post what they are and if I like them, and then others can comment or not on my posts.
The 50 book challenge is to myself?
Are there any discussions about specific preordained books?

Hii I have started reading Mansfield Park By Jane Austen. I am hoping to complete it as soon as possible but its can be quite monotonous.

Only just found this thread! I too am a voracious reader. My Goodread challenge was met last week-161 books. I read mainly crime thrillers , a lot of which I download ( prepublication!) from NetGalley. I then post a review. I’m currently reading Bloodied Waters by Raymond Hugh. My OH met the author , told him of my reading habits and bought two of his novels. Unfortunately, the author self publishes so Bloodied Waters is full of mistakes - incorrect spelling, typos and bad grammar. My OH did say that I would be critical and surprisingly the author welcomed it. I trained people in business writing skills for 25 years and have always wanted to get into proof reading. Raymond remarked that he had proof read this novel nine times before publishing. He had become blind to his mistakes. Who knows , maybe I will have a new career in my retirement! Happy reading folks!