50 Books a Year - The 2025 Challenge

I’ve just finished an unusual little book by the author Sylvia Townsend Warner - Lolly Willowes or the Loving Huntsman.
I read about her in a book review, and discovered that she was a modern classical writer from the earlier 1900’s but I’d never heard of her.
The first two thirds of the book is a typical post Victorian story of an upper middle class family - along the line of E. M Forster. Within the family there’s the obligatory ‘spinster’ who becomes a beloved Aunt and companion. It then takes a turn and a seemingly routine event leads her to move to a small out of the way village where she makes a pact with devil to win her emancipation from her controlled life.
It’s a bit odd at the end and she actually meets the devil in human guise and he seems like quite a nice bloke!
I will definitely give some of her other books a go.
Back to my favourite Melvyn Bragg now. Crystal Rooms. One I’ve never read. It’s about the media scene in London in the 90,s. Not fully grabbed me yet but will stick with it as I love his style of writing.

Can I join your book group please?
I have just finished Lannie by Max Porter. A very strange book but somehow difficult to put down especially towards the end. I haven't read any of his books before but might seek out another one now.

I am reading The Other Bennett sister. It is about Mary Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. I am really enjoying it. It starts after Elizabeth and Jane are married and 2 years after their fathers’ death.

I always wonder what would haven when the Collins moved to Longbourn.

I am reading Joy Ellis the Matt Ballard series and on the last one now The Bag of Secrets. If you like murder mystery thrillers these are a good read.

Also recommend Rachel McLean The Dorset Crime series.

I read on my kindle mostly using Kindle Unlimited subscription. I’m on my 7th book this year.

I'm thoroughly enjoying The Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell, onto book 7.

A bit late in the day but I am reading The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland about escaping from Auschwitz - it’s quite harrowing so I can only read a bit at a time. I have also started reading Weathering by Ruth Allen - equating the making of a landscape with creating a life experience for a person

I am in two book groups plus have a London I keep topping up and a daughter who is z as n avid reader so keeps me on my toes! I also volunteer at the library which doesn’t help!
Just read Brooklyn and Long Island by Colm Toibin
Am now on a Chris Hammer detective story set inAustralia but my favourite books last year were Water, Earth and Fire ( three separate titles) by John Boyne whose work I really love! The final book in the series is Air and will be out in May!
Am waiting for the new Kate Atkinson to come out in paperback so will treat myself!
Just finished Keir Starmer autobiography which was very interesting ! I love to read and am currently setting up my 4th bedroom as a reading/ironing/writing/chilling room
Happy days !

suelld

TerriBull

My first book of the year is The Monk - Tim Sullivan

Plus I'm dipping in and out of The Plantagenets - Dan Jones

Tim Sullivan was one of my really enjoyable ‘finds’ last year , read them all to date and just received the latest ‘ The Bookseller’ . Really looking forward to that!
Just finished ‘Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont’ by Elizabeth Taylor for our book club… at 80 next year I found that tho it’s an interesting, well written book, it was quite depressing !

Lovely film though! Joan Plowright in the lead, superb actress.my darling late mum bought me the dvd a few months before she died and I watch it at least once a year.

Sorry to divert!

I think children's books might be cheating as some take about 2.5 minutes to read.

I agree some are so lovely. I still enjoy illustrated books.

mabon1

I read a book every week.

Fancy sharing them on here?

Only just found this thread - 7 weeks late! However, I'm a fairly fast reader, so, theoretically, it should be possible

I've just finished reading "Little Book of Seeds" by Marshalls Garden. Not sure it counts, and I won't be upset if it doesn't, but, yes, I have read it from cover to cover (very sad person that I am!), theoretically spent lots of money, and now trying to prune my spending!! (OK, that was definitely not a serious read!)

Just a quick question: do children's books count? I usually spend some time reading to my DGGD (aged three and a half) when I visit, and some children's books are so lovely.

Just finished Stephen King's Dark Tower series. A bit late in the day, but I'm so glad I gave it a go, after being unsure about it for a long time. I feel quite bereft now without those fabulous, vivid characters that I grew to love. And what an enigmatic but fitting ending.

First The Woman by Kristin Hannah

PS: I used to read almost a book a day back in my heyday, but there are so many more ‘distractions’ nowadays, and the energy to do those, the essentials of life, and read loads of books has become a real problem nowadays… but still trying!

TerriBull

My first book of the year is The Monk - Tim Sullivan

Plus I'm dipping in and out of The Plantagenets - Dan Jones

Tim Sullivan was one of my really enjoyable ‘finds’ last year , read them all to date and just received the latest ‘ The Bookseller’ . Really looking forward to that!
Just finished ‘Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont’ by Elizabeth Taylor for our book club… at 80 next year I found that tho it’s an interesting, well written book, it was quite depressing !

I read a book every week.

Oreo

Am reading four books by Jane Harper, am reading them in order, set in Australia and the first book is called The Dry and is gripping.

I loved the Jane Harper books. It's always good to hear that somebody else is enjoying them.

15-Child's Play-Danielle Steel
Kate Morgan is a widow with three grown children who in her mind have perfect lives. Then one by one they tell their mother that things are not what she imagined. It takes a while for her to come to accept their choices.

Book 11
The Girls of Slender Means - Muriel Spark

I’m quite relieved that this was a relatively short book, because I didn’t care for it very much.

I feel like I must have missed something, because it’s highly acclaimed, but not for me.

6. An Aura of Mystery by Joy Ellis
(On Audible only)

Ellie McEwen is a successful florist when she is badly injured in a car accident.
Recovering, Ellie is startled to see bright colours around everyone - their auras.
Ellie begins learning to control & interpret her new skill then finds herself drawn into a police murder investigation.
I wouldn't usually read/listen to a book described as a thriller but gave this one a chance and I would recommend it.

7. The Girl Behind the Wall
by Mandy Robotham

Completely by chance, Karin is staying overnight in East Berlin on the night in August 1961 that the Berlin Wall goes up. (The Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier).
That means Karin is separated from her twin sister, Jutta, and the rest of her family.
At first, they believe that Karin, as a West Berlin citizen, will soon be returned home but things turn out very differently.
Another one I recommend.

You won’t be disappointed Oreo! Great read.
Sara1954 I’m going to add ‘Home’ by Marilynne Robinson to my Kindle now.
It sounds my kind of novel. Thank you.

I’m still ploughing through ‘Strange Sally Diamond’. I’m not loving it and since the backstory took a darker vibe (too graphic - think those misery genre books) I’m liking it even less!

#16. On Cold Ground by DS Butler.

#9 Ride the Storm Karen Chance.
Number eight in the Cassie Palmer series about a young woman who has unexpectedly received the power of the Oracle of Delphi, the Pythia. She has to learn how to manage the power while negotiating some hair-raising adventures. I have stuck with this series from the beginning so I will continue but goodness this one in particular is exhausting. Gods, demons, the Fey, vampires, ghosts, steamy sex scenes and King Arthur's Camelot combine in a confusing (but very entertaining) package. I need to find something very different for my next read!

Love Jane Harper

Am reading four books by Jane Harper, am reading them in order, set in Australia and the first book is called The Dry and is gripping.