THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

A friend told me of the Simon Serailler series by Susan Hill and I can thoroughly recommend them. Detective thrillers but with added interest and they must be read in order. Read all 11 of them one after the other and now awaiting the publication of the next one. Do you all know of the website Fantastic Fiction. All the book and author info you’ll ever need.

Thank you TerriBull for the inspiration to read more books 😀 my recommendation to anyone who has not read it yet is The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek and the Book Woman’s Daughter both by Kim Michelle Richardson.
My first new book this year is The Dutch House by Ann Patchet given to me by my daughter, I will let you know how I get on with it. I am looking forward to hearing everyone’s reviews on their 50 books for the year. Happy reading everyone.

My opening book of the year is a Christmas present that I specially asked for and my DW bought for me. I am about half way through so can now comment that whilst tough going in parts - especially as I try to check out a good few of the copious footnotes (the ones that I find most interesting) - it is holding my attention brilliantly.

Oh the book title yes of course: Nicholas Orme’s Going to Church in Medieval England. An academic tome whose title tells you everything you need to know really.

Jaxjacky

I’m reading The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith, aka J K Rowling. I’m enjoying it and have read all the previous ones.

Finished that one pre Xmas Jaxjacky…I too have read all of hers to date and feel this is one of her best.

I would like to join in. I haven’t read all the posts as they are almost book length now. I prefer listening to books to send me to sleep. At present I am listening to Ann Cleeves detective stories. They have the dual effect of getting me interested and sending me to sleep. They are set in an area of North Devon I know well so I can relate to the scenery descriptions.

Thanks for starting this off, Terribull
Already adding to my To Read List from recommendations so far.
My first read of the year was a novel: Whispering Shadows by Jan-Philipp Sendker, first published in 2007 and translated from the German by Christine Lo in 2015. The author was the American then Asian correspondent for Stern for ten years from 1990.
Set in Hong Kong and China, the story is rich in detail of Chinese culture and the impact of recent history on the main protagonists. The author's understanding of the modern Chinese ambivalence about capitalism and his appreciation for his characters' memories and experiences of China's cultural revolution serve to create the real tension in the novel. Part crime thriller, part deeply personal coming to terms with loss. At times gripping. At times deeply moving. Ultimately uplifting.
New author for me. Sequel is on order.

Jaxjacky
I’m reading The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith, aka J K Rowling. I’m enjoying it and have read all the previous ones.
Me too....Just started.
It's been sitting on my To Read pile since pre-ordered.
At 945 pages, not one for popping in your backpack for the odd train journey

I love the sound of this! I have several books languishing on my Kindle and this will give me the momentum I need to get down to reading them.
If anyone is looking for a book that can be picked up and read in short bursts, I've recently self-published 'A Place to Belong' which is a mix of 100 word and 350 word stories. All proceeds of the book will be donated to the 'You Raise Me Up' charity who provide compassion and support to families who have suffered the loss of a young adult between the age of 16 and 25.
The book is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback, my author name is Linda Rock.
Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks to TerriBull -
So if I understand it correctly, people post the name of the book they're currently reading, in order to share recommendations and purchasing/library ideas....
Can I ask - is there another thread for discussing a particular book in detail, what people thought of it etc Like a 'Book of the Month'... or similar . ..

I like to know a little bit of the story toobirthto110 before I decide if I would like to read it or not...but I don't want to know the ending of course

Birthto110

Thanks to TerriBull -
So if I understand it correctly, people post the name of the book they're currently reading, in order to share recommendations and purchasing/library ideas....
Can I ask - is there another thread for discussing a particular book in detail, what people thought of it etc Like a 'Book of the Month'... or similar . ..

Birthto110 to answer your first question, essentially yes that's it, come here post what you're reading, come back and give your thoughts on the book, doesn't have to be that detailed, it's pretty much up to the individual as to how they review, or just list your reads. Moving on to your second paragraph, if you click on to "Forums", top left, and scroll down to Books/Book Club you will see all the various threads there. You can always start a thread about any particular book, some posters do that. There is also one you will see listed, something along the lines of "The best book you've read in the last couple of years" that's fairly ongoing crops up from time to time. If you are new you may not be familiar with the format of this thread, assuming you have time, you could always peruse last year's thread, 2023 Book Challenge, that would probably give you some idea of the ongoing format. Sadly we don't have a Book of The Month, we did a while back it was organised by GN, I think many posters would like them to start it again.

Starting again with good intentions.
1. Attention all Shipping, been in my pile for ages. An easy and interesting read.
2. [King] Stephen. Have just discovered the Penguin Monarchs series. Short, readable, cheap. Enjoying trying out kings I know nothing about. Sorry, forget who wrote this one.

Now want to try the Lorraine Evans about the origins of the Celts that someone mentioned earlier.

Relieved to find that it's OK not to have got on with Demon Copperhead.

My opening book is Politics On The Edge by Rory Stewart. I’m finding parts a bit heavy going but will persevere as I am enjoying it on the whole.

My first book is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, which I'm reading for book club.

TerriBull Nice to meet you, and thank you for this literary thread! I will refer to it often.

I’m a serious and avid reader. My interest is mostly with non-fiction. I love to learn new things and am always curious about people and their personal stories about life and success. Then, in between, I throw in a good novel. I’ve read some fascinating books in 2023. Here’s what I finished in December:

• American Prometheus, by Kai Bird & Martin Sherwin (after seeing the movie Oppenheimer I had more questions about him.)
• Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson ( a controversial figure for sure, but one whom we are beholden to, somewhat, for innovating and moving/building the US economy.)
• Oath and Honor, by Liz Cheney (LC says “Trump must never be allowed near the Oval Office again.” Our country is divided between upholding our Constitutional Democracy… and Trump’s MAGA crowd. Oh, what a year it will be…)

To start the New Year - a great murder mystery novel “*The Mystery Guest*”, by Nita Prose. The 2nd book in a series about an Autistic hotel maid that solves murder cases in the hotel. Book #1 was “The Maid.”Happy Reading in 2024!
USA Gundy

Great suggestions already. Thank you. I just finished Chris Whitaker’s “We begin at the end”. New author to me. Loved it. Reading Jonathan Coe’s “Bourneville”. Read a few of his and really enjoy the look at our recent history as it affects ordinary people.

I am reading The Maid by Nita Prose. Molly the Maid works in a luxury hotel. She is not able to read people or situations and trusts everyone. A death in the hotel changes everything for Molly. So far so good. We'll written.

I’ve just finished lessons in chemistry byBonnie Garmus. It’s being made into a series or film I think . Very good book lots of room for thought of what it’s like being a women in a man’s world!

Hello Terribull and HNY to you from me. I joined last January meaning well as I love reading. A book is never far from my side. It is soothing and comforting I think to get lost in one. But sometimes ‘life gets in the way’ and good intentions aren’t enough.

I know I won’t be able to read many books but I love to dip in here amongst other readers. I read ‘The Bee Sting’ before Christmas and couldn’t put it down. The ending was so tense!

I read ‘Demon Copperhead’ last summer on your recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it citing it as my best read of 2023. One of our daughters read it and agreed, so thank you.

This is the book I’ve just started. Not a novel. A true story. I think it became a Netflix drama? I’m not far in but it’s a cracking read thus far.

Love this post.
Reading "The Last Devil to Die" by Richard Osman. I wasn't so keen on his last book but I am enjoying this one.
Listening on Audio via Alexa to "Whatever Next" by Anne Glenconner. A fascinating account of her life read by the author.
Also listening to Tom Lake By Ann Patchett. This is read by Meryl Streep who really brings it to life.
Some great suggestions which I have jotted down.

Hello everyone. Thank you, TerriBull, for this great thread. It’s the first time I’ve seen it and I have enjoyed reading the contributions. I’ve just finished Murder on the Christmas Express, and at present have Old Rage by Sheila Hancock and Poirot’s Silent Night by Sophie Hannah on the go. I’m looking forward to taking part

Book 1
Yellowface - Rebecca F Kuang
This is a a very hard book to rate
Did I race through it, not wanting to put it down? Yes
Did I actually enjoy it? No
It’s a story of plagiarism, racism and censorship, it’s a horrifying look into the world of publishing, and the absolute vileness of social media.
There is not a single character with an ounce of integrity, it’s a nasty book, the main character Juniper Song, is truly horrible
But I found myself engrossed in it, wanting Juniper to be unmasked, wanting her downfall and humiliation,
The ending wasn’t very satisfying for me, I wanted real vengeance.

I am reading Trepasses by Louise Kennedy- a gift for Christmas- really enjoying it- based in Northern Ireland during the troubles-a catholic teacher has an affair with a Protestant barrister

This is a great forum.bwill let you know what I am reading shortly. Reading for me is almost a form of meditation where I can get so engrossed and relaxed in a good book I forget any worries and concerns for a while.

Happy New Year one and all! Can highly recommend a few good reads which I've enjoyed and read a few of them twice or more. Try The Belle Fields and sequel Ashes of Roses by Lora Adams, Say Kangaroo by Five Sisters (poetry written by the 5 siblings growing up in the 50's and 60's) and also enjoyed Brother to the Ox written by Fred Kichen many years ago. Anyone trying any of them - would love to have your thoughts?