Oh I like the idea of 50 books for the coming year.
Currently I’m reading How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie very different but so far very enjoyable
Gransnet forums
Books/book club
THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE
(1001 Posts)Good Morning and a Happy New Year to all.
Well here it is on this new year's day, the brand new 50 book challenge and hope that all our regular posters will continue to contribute and anyone new who enjoys their books will consider joining us.
For the benefit of anyone who isn't familiar with this thread, I will run through my introductory spiel. Firstly I would like to point out that if you are someone who thinks that you wouldn't read 50 books in a year but would still be interested in joining in, don't let that number put you off, do come here and join us anyway, particularly if you think you would enjoy ongoing discussions about books which is the essence of this book challenge. This is a thread that I filched from MN, over there they have two threads running concurrently, one for 50 books a year and one for 25. Our reading community here on GN is relatively small so I think it's preferable to keep us as one group allowing for the fact that we all read at different rates, given time constraints or whatever else we have going on in our lives.
The choice of books you opt for is entirely up to you, anything is permissible, fiction, non fiction and I would particularly like to stress your reading material doesn't have to be a novel if you want to opt for something factual, biographies, memoirs, even a children's book if you want to revisit a childhood favourite maybe, audio/Audible. Again how you post is down to you, merely list your books, maybe a brief description, or feel free to waffle on, I do, particularly if I've been enthused about a book I've read. Sometimes we interject and comment on other posters choices, more often than not agreeing with their opinions, and taking up recommendations, occasionally interjecting with our own dislike of maybe one they have favoured, but always with a view of agreeing to disagree. Books as with most other forms of entertainment are subjective and will of course divide opinions as well.
I hope I have outlined all the relevant points for anyone who is contemplating joining us and I would like to wish everyone a happy year's reading and all the best for 2024.
First time here and really pleased to find this thread. I’ve just finished Unruly by David Mitchell. A book on the English Kings and Queens and described as “Horrible Histories for Grown-Ups”. Very witty and I really enjoyed it
Now on The Princes in the Tower by Philippa Langley. It concerns the young Yorkist princes supposedly murdered at the behest of their uncle Richard III. The author describes the book as “Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case”. Quite hard going (I keep having to stop and eat another mince pie) but very interesting.
No matter how hard I try not to, I find I am constantly drawn to historical novels. I try to break out to something that somebody recommends but find I have to have something historical on the go as well. Currently reading Young Bess by Margaret Irwin and absolutely love the Howard of Warwick Novels about a reluctant investigator monk in the time of William the Conqueror, history in the style of Terry Pratchett. Something I always bear in mind though is 'The past is what happened but History is only what somebody wrtoe down'.
I am halfway through Alan Rickman's diaries, which was one of my many book presents. I love havbing a big stash to look forward to and there are also the ones I "have" to read for my book group. Demon Copperhead, Lessons in Chemistry and Still Life were all part of last year's reading. I'll be interested in other tips people come up with.
I have been working my way through the miss Marple books by Agatha Christy. I realised I had hardly read any Agatha Christy for such a long time. They are beautifully plotted and create a world that now is sadly gone.
Yes I am reading The Running Grave as well. Very enjoyable and looking forward to no 8 in the series. They are much better than the Harry Potter series.
i have always read viracously and can easily read several books a week!
i'm currently mid way through a reread of patrick o'brien's aubrey-maturin series.
i have series of bernard cornwell, simon scarrow, sir terry pratchett and several others that i reread frequently.
i also add to my collection of books regularly (currently 250+).
so i can easily reach a target of 50 books in 2024.
I've never joined in with this before but am delighted it's available. I've just started Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron. I've read a couple of his before and am enjoying this. A change from my Xmas reading which was a Barbara Pym novel.
I’ve recently listened to The Bee Sting and loved it! Enjoy the rest of your first 2024 book.
Oh this is just my type of thread so I'm happy to have found it. I've read all the comments and now have some more titles to add to my wish list. I have just finished The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride. Started it on Hogmany and finished it yesterday. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it. However, the ending spoiled it for me so I wouldn't recommend it. Has anyone read it. I would be interested to hear other opinions. I am now reading The House we grew up in by Lisa Jewell, one of my favourites and also started Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa which I think will be a bit of a heavy read.
Thank you, TerriBull, I would love to join the Gransnet Book Club, though I’m sure that I will never manage 50 books!
I do belong to a local Book Club, and we read one book a month, and I do sometimes manage to read one of my own choice as well - Audible helps!
For the Book Club I’ve just read ‘ O Caledonia ‘ by Elspeth Barker - beautifully written about being brought up in the 1950s - all rather familiar at times, and making me realise how unhappy a lonely childhood can sometimes be.
And for some light relief, and a real chuckle, I’m now reading India Knight’s ‘ Darling’, a modern retelling of Nancy Mitford’s ‘ Pursuit of Love’, and loving it all!
New to group. I am selecting The Bee Sting - Paul Murray from a previous post.
Hello. I’d like to join.
My first reads of the year will be The World by Simon Sebag Montefiore and Neil Gaiman’s Norse Myths. The former is my bedtime read and the latter my sitting down with a coffee read.
I’m also including Neil Gaiman’s American Gods which I restarted on Audible. I always seem to get to the same chapter and lose the plot. I’m determined to succeed eventually.
I’m reading ‘ lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus . A great read!!
I also like Elly Griffiths and was quite sad that we wont be reading about the lives of Ruth and Nelson anymore.
At the moment I am reading 'The Last Dance' by Mark Billingham. I am not enjoying it very much, not a patch on his Tom Thorne novels.
I'm looking forward to getting some inspiration from all you reading ladies. It's always good to hear what others like and recommend.
Parsley3
I love Ellie Griffiths. I have read all the Ruth Galloway novels more than once.
I'm an Elly Griffiths fan too and during the lockdowns when libraries were shut, I began treating myself to occasional copies to read, some of which were 2nd hand. Add in Christmas and birthday books and I now have the whole set!
During the first lockdown I had so many friends and family desperate for reading material that I was running a complicated lending service, trying to remember who had which books so that they were reading them in the right order.
I have re-read several of them as I just love the characters, especially Ruth and Nelson.
Thanks so much for this thread Terribull. I really liked Demon Copperhead too. I am currently 1/2 way through "Still Life" by Sarah Winman and thoroughly enjoying it.
polomint
I might try that book callistimon as I like sound of it. I've tried to read several fiction books through the years but somehow I just can't get into them although I keep trying. Biographies is mainly my preference
I've only just started it but have enjoyed Dinah Jeffries' books set in India and the Far East.
Finished The Real Happy Valley, tales from Yorkshires policewoman, short individual chapters of heroism, thank you Yorkshire police ladies!!
No.2. Miss Bensons Beetle by Rachel Joyce.
I might try that book callistimon as I like sound of it. I've tried to read several fiction books through the years but somehow I just can't get into them although I keep trying. Biographies is mainly my preference
I downloaded a few books on my Kindle a while ago and decided to read them before buying new books.
1# The Silk Merchant's Daughter by Dinah Jeffries. A novel set in 1950s French Indochina
I love Ellie Griffiths. I have read all the Ruth Galloway novels more than once.
Sounds like my husband Michael Connelly, Lee Child although allegedly he's gone off since his brother muscled in, all the prolific Scottish crime writers, Donna Leon her books set in Venice. Reads far quicker than me. Occasionally we cross over with writers we both like Ellie Griffiths. He has only just discovered David Baladicci and is delighted because he's written shed loads. Keep him going for a while hopefully 
My husband reads harlem coben and really likes him. He also reads David Baldacci and Michael connelly. Jo nesbo is good also
I join this thread every January but sadly fall by the wayside due to forgetting to post and losing the place when it comes to how many books I have read. Still, here goes. I am enjoying The Match by Harlan Coben. My first read of the year.
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