Finished re reading Little Woman, so much more in the novel than the new film! The descriptions of the March sisters’ feelings and activities never fail to please!
Now I’ve started on A child of the ruins by Kate Furnival.
Set in 1948, Berlin the war has ended and there is meant to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access. two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted. Only into chapter three, but it looks like an absorbing read about a part of history we don’t often hear about. Will post more as I go, I can see it taking over today!
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.
Yesterday I listed book one, not finished yet, but I also yesterday painted the kitchen and when I had finished that, and a restorative bath, I was far too shattered to do justice to a serious academic book, so book 2 is The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffry Archer!
Now no one, least of all me, is claiming that such a dodgy Tory is great literature but, having read and quite enjoyed his Kane and Abel last year, picked this up in the library, when I saw the sequel marked at 10p in a charity shop, I could not resist. My DW found me fast asleep in bed with the book half read just after midnight so as a recommendation for a cure for insomnia I can heartily recommend this sequel.
I finished "old rage " by Sheila hancock and really enjoyed it. She has such a good sense of humour about herself, is blunt and says how it is. Strong woman and fiercely independant. I recommend the book if you like auto biographies
Great to see so many new posters, hope you all come back from time to time during the year and keep the thread up dated. Good to see you here Urmstongran, yes the Bee Sting is shaping up as a captivating read, my current book.
When I started the 50 Books a year thread, 4 or 5 years ago, can't remember when exactly, not my original idea, filched from MN, really an extensive ongoing thread on that site, I didn't think it really took off for the first couple of years but last year in particular it seemed to grow in momentum and if you are somebody who enjoys books, I like to think this is a good place to come to discuss them and possibly that is more the essence of the thread rather than reaching the target of 50 books. I know I'm making mental notes about other posters' favoured choices.
I am a voracious reader but mostly in bed before sleeping. I buy a lot of books for my kindle from Bookbub as they are usually very cheap. Sometimes they are surprisingly good and introduce me to a new author which makes up for the dross I sometimes buy. Currently reading an old autobiography of Boy George ‘Straight’ but it’s pretty bad. I’m also reading ‘Why mummy drinks at Christmas’ by Gill Sym (?) which entertaining. My favourites are usually biographies and contemporary female authors like Lisa Jewell, Adele Parked and Jojo Moyes which are easy reading pre bed.
Clive Myrie's "Everything is Everything" on Audible, interesting, informative and entertaining.
Mimi54 have a look at NetGalley. You can download ( free) books before they are published. Your only commitment is to review the book. They can be linked to your e-reader . I think I’ve had nearly 60 since joining in July.
Mimi54 forgot to say there are many genres available and there is usually a lengthy ‘read’ time ( as in months not weeks!)
That's the one I'm reading just now * nannabumble70* and enjoying it
I read alot, often on my kindle in the middle of the night when I can't sleep. I read a lot of non fiction history books, some historical novels and I am addicted to Murder mysteries.
I have just finished Val McDermid's Christmas is Murder- short stories and I am currently reading Her Karen Pirie "Past Lying" which is set in Edinburgh during lockdown and I am really enjoying it. Val is a great writer.
Hello all. I'm in the process of reading my first book of the year - The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. Last year I read The Goldfinch and The Secret History. I love her writing and particularly enjoyed The Secret History. I found The Goldfinch a bit of a marathon but worth it (incidentally I saw the film afterwards and thought it was an excellent adaptation of a complex story). This latest one I’m not enjoying as much so far, but I’ve a way to go yet. The thing I find unusual about her books is that all of her characters are unlikeable. I can only think of one character in the three books that was actually a nice person. Normally this would bother me but, with DT it doesn’t for some reason. Her stories also sort of ‘lope’ on without always reaching a denouement, which again would normally annoy me, but I find her writing intriguing. Just interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on her?
Thanks TerriBull for explaining. Just starting Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper by Fuchsia Dunlop.
Finished The Dark is Rising and now rereading The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston. She was a very strong minded, creative woman who I admire greatly.
Finished my first one of the year, Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker. I had asked for this for a Christmas gift, but as soon as I started reading it I knew I had read it before. Very frustrating.
It’s about a 4 year old who goes missing from home in the middle of the night and the next few months in the small community as he continues to be missing. It was obviously long enough since I had read it that I didn’t remember what had actually happened to the boy, but there was a fair amount I did remember.
I’m giving it 7/10, it would probably have been 8 if I hadn’t read it before.
LadyGaGa I read those Donna Tartt books quite a few years ago and loved them all, especially The Goldfinch.
Hello, I am new here, but what a great thread! Thanks for posting this, I have enjoyed reading so many different recommendations!
I am currently reading The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, an historical fiction set in S India 1900-1970. He also wrote Cutting for Stone, set in Ethiopia. Both beautifully written and fascinating!
Another one who loved Donna Tart's first book, A Secret History and her 3rd and last one The Goldfinch, divided opinions I know. Wasn't so keen on The Little Friend. An excellent writer nevertheless, in spite of her rather meagre output, 3 books in over 30 years! I wonder if she suffers from writer's block.
GrannyVen
Hello, I am new here, but what a great thread! Thanks for posting this, I have enjoyed reading so many different recommendations!
I am currently reading The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, an historical fiction set in S India 1900-1970. He also wrote Cutting for Stone, set in Ethiopia. Both beautifully written and fascinating!
Ooh, that's interesting GrannyVen because I've just brought home Cutting for Stone from the library.
Book 2 The Hike by Lucy Clarke. A light read.
Four women in their 30s who have stayed friends since their schooldays take it in turns each year to choose a week's holiday together. This year it's Liz's turn and she chooses to spend a week wild camping in the mountains of Norway. None of them has ever camped before or gone hiking or climbed mountains.
Liz suggests various training exercises to build up their stamina but the friends don't bother. One of them doesn't try and break in her walking boots beforehand. They have no experience at all.
They check in at the lodge base in Norway and various locals try to persuade them not to go on the very difficult trail they have chosen.
What could possibly go wrong???
Hi everyone
This might sound silly but how do I join this thread and get more involved with Grandsnet?
At the moment I receive an email each day with about 5 different discussions, which I occasionally comment on.
I am sort of aware that these threads have been around a day or two when I receive them but am not sure how to get involved more with threads from the beginning if that makes sense .
I haven't read a book for a long time, I feel encouraged to do so, even if I only manage one I will let you know how I get on
Grandy56 all you need to do is make another post, exactly as you have just done. There’s no ‘joining’ procedure, the very fact you’ve posted once means you’ve joined. 
Why not tell us about the last book you’ve enjoyed - or didn’t!
I only found gransnet yesterday, so far so good, not sure if I have got the hang of it yet, the last book I read was Cinderella to my granddaughter
Sidetracked from the heavy going of the Year of the Locust to sneak in #4, Joy Ellis ‘Beware of the Past’. Bit convoluted, and not convinced by the characters, but not dreadful.
Thought I might join and try to keep up with this thread. I’ve just begun my Christmas gifts. So I have 3 fiction and 2 non-fiction.
The non-fiction are “Dominium” by Tom Holland - about the making of the western mind from a Christian angle.
“Over the Edge” by Rory Stewart
The fiction are “The One plus One” by JoJo Moyes
Can’t remember the others - I’ll get back on that.
I am 2/3rds of the way through the Moyes book - easy reading and not bad.
Just started Dominium - which is a big book and one to be taken in stages I think, but he is easy reading.
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