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.
Good to see you here Whitewave I hope you enjoy being part of our book reading community.
riddhil0, what is the book you enjoyed reading? or have I missed something.
A child of the ruins by Kate Furnival now finished; a really interesting description of life both sides of the border in Berlin during the Berlin Air lift.
Now well into the last Ken Follett Kingsbridge novel The Armour of Light which covers the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as Napoleon is dominating Europe and industrialisation comes to the mills. Quite a tome, so update will be some time!
Well I finished Book no2, The Figurine by Victoria Hislop. Sorry to say I was disappointed, as I am a big fan of V.H.
DH and I even visited Spinalonga when we were on holiday on Crete some years ago, because I had been so moved by The Island. Well, The Figurine was very long and did not move me... I felt that the characters lacked depth and personality, and the very plot driven novel became far fetched at times. I always enjoy the historical insights, particularly about life in Greece/Athens during and after the time of the generals.
But it's my least favourite V.H. novel.
Onto number 3.
No. 1 (it has been hectic here) was an easy read: An Unlikely Nurse and Midwife by Anne Reavill about her training and work as a nurse and midwife in the sixties and seventies. A mildly entertaining memoir.
Grannmarie I was inspired by Spinalonga years ago when I read The Island. Haven't had the chance to go there. Was it interesting?
My friend visited spinalonga and found it very interesting as well as feeling sad about its history
We've been to Spinalonga but I hadn't read the book then.
Yes, it was very interesting, then I read the book and could picture it all.
I finished ‘Endgame’ by Omid Scobie yesterday.
It was a slog, but was determined to read it thoroughly.
Definitely Team Harry and Meghan, although they were supposedly nothing to do with it.
Lots of slagging off of the Royals.
We will never know all that has gone on, but I suspect the Monarchy will keep trundling on, whatever Omid and H&M want us to think.
On to this year- #1. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. A welcome re-read.
Finished A Fork in the Road. As with all books made up with chapters by different authors some I liked. Some I didn’t.
I’ve moved on to The Bristol Thrillers by Jeff Dowson. Non demanding reading set in an area I am familiar with and rapidly becoming more familiar as I read. It’s an easy read, I’m sliding back into reading after a bit of a block.
Grannyven and Sparklefizz
I am so excited!
Cutting for stone certainly in my top three ever books, so pleased whenever it gets a mention.
Wow dogsmother ! It's on my pile on the coffee table so I think I'll make it my 3rd book of the year. Thank you.
Hi, Sparklefizz, Spinalonga was fascinating and very atmospheric. We were there in spring when it wasn't too busy. A short boat ride from the coast, not far from the homes of some of the lepers. So near yet so far...
There was a guided tour but also plenty of time to wander at your own pace. I was intrigued by the displays of old black and white photos showing groups of residents and staff. A very special place.
I had read and enjoyed The Island before we went to Spinalonga, after our return I read a lot of factual material online about the whole approach to 'managing' leprosy post war, and the incredible difference when effective treatment was developed.
My book number 3 is The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish. Very fast paced psychological thriller, I'm enjoying it.
I enjoyed The Other Passenger too Granmarie.
Hi Grannmarie - thanks for that description of Spinalonga. I've had a look on Google. Amazing for you to see old photos of the people who'd lived there.
Glad you're enjoying The Other Passenger. I liked it myself and have read several Louise Candlish books.
Just read two oddities
Mistletoe Malice by Kathleen Farrell, pub 1951. Sounded promising, was hopeful it would be a bit like Barbara Pym but found it dreary.
The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison,pub 1997. Father,daughter incest, well written and thankfully short, read it in a few hours. Now started The Bee Sting, enjoying it so far.
finished 4 and 5
4 Ken Follett’s last Kingsbridge novel covers the industrialisation of the cotton industry and the ongoing Napoleonic wars. Absorbing with the usual class conflict.
Now book 5 The Little House by Philippa Gregory. I was not aware that she wrote thrillers. This covers isolation, deceit and betrayal and the complicated relationships of the dominating parents in law and their daughter in law who was orphaned too you. A page turner with a twist to finish
I've just finished book no.1 - the River Kings by Cat Jarman. It took me longer than expected, but then non-fiction books always take longer as I tend to read every word.
I'm about to start a fiction book - That Bonesetter's Daughter. Has anybody else read this one?
I have started Songbirds by Christy Lefteri who is a new author to me. It is set in Cyprus and is about a woman who goes missing. So far, the poor songbirds of the title are having a hard time of it but the author writes so well that I can't put it down.
Rather enjoyed Songbirds, very well written. Heading to the library today and will see what delights I can collect.
I have just reserved Songbirds at my library (we get reservations free) as I know Cyprus well and it sounds good.
No 2 Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. This couldn’t be described as a cheery book but it’s beautifully written. I know some other GNetters enjoy her books.
I feel I need to read some non-fiction next.
SueDonim
Years ago that I read it, but I loved it, love all her books
Christy Lefteri wrote “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” and it is her most well-known book. It is about a family of refugees from Syria. It really opens our eyes to the hardships faced by ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. It is beautifully written and very moving. If you enjoyed Songbirds, I can thoroughly recommend this book..
Forgot to update.Have now read the two David Baldacci books,Stop Them Dead by Peter James,The Bag of Secrets by Joy Ellis.I am going to start The Great Deceiver by Ely Griffiths this afternoon.
#2 Private James Patterson with Maxine Paetro.
Number 1 in the Private series. I have read a few of the Alex Cross books and have to say that I prefer him to this protagonist. Still it was an absorbing read and if I come across number 2 in the series will certainly read it.
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