2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

Greciangirl There are online booksellers who deal in secondhand books and have an enormous selection, often at very reasonable prices, and often recently published. I mostly buy from these, usually at a fraction of the new price. I also frequent charity shops and very occasionally, I find something I want.

I have far too many books knocking around but I have a cull every so often and take piles of them to a charity shop.

Mirren I gave Mrs Dalloway a go when I was in my 20s and hated it. Perhaps now I am in my 70s I should give Virginia Woolf another go.

Greciangirl

Just wondering what you all do with the 50 odd books that some of you read.

Also, buying all those books if new is expensive.
Even scouring charity shops doesn’t always come up trumps.

I would like to read a lot of titles that are recommended, but they are costly.

These days I tend to use the library more. Once upon a time I did buy more books than I do now. I donate books I don't want to keep to a local charity shop.

Just wondering what you all do with the 50 odd books that some of you read.

Also, buying all those books if new is expensive.
Even scouring charity shops doesn’t always come up trumps.

I would like to read a lot of titles that are recommended, but they are costly.

I didn't comment on last year's thread but did read some of the suggestions. There was some good ones which were in different genres than I normally read.
I use a kindle as my eyes aren't the best.
I have a notebook to write down the ones that are recommended and interest me.
This is checked regularly to see if it's free with kindle unlimited.

At the moment I'm reading 'The Tenth Cycle by JC Ryan'
It's a mystery thriller.

I read Virginia Woolf for the first time this year.
Our book group read ' Mrs Dalloway '.
It caused a lot of discussion; some hated it .
I absolutely loved it !
I just don't know why I have never tried reading Virginia before.
Do try it . You might be very pleasantly surprised

Thank you for another books thread for 2026 Terribull. Always a pleasure to pop in but I’m struggling lately with difficulties at home. When I’m happier I tend to contribute more. Other times my profile is low but I know you understand.

I’ve just read Winter People by Gráinne Murphy.
Loved it.
Winter People is a story of forgiveness, resilience, and the power of the sea to unlock what we are most afraid to say,

3 protagonists who do not know one another, living on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. Bleak at times but it suited my mood and I found comfort within in.

“Tears of self pity are not earned Lydia”.
Highly recommend.

Magenta8

I am currently reading one of the "Rivers of London" books which are a series of graphic novels. I am a great fan of books with pictures. However most of the books I read do not have pictures.

Magenta I like the Rivers of London Books too, though I haven’t read them as graphics. He’s brought out a new one at Christmas but I’m saving that.
I’m currently reading/listening to a series of books by Rhys Bowen, all set around or with links to WWII. I started with Mrs Endicott’s Splendid Adventure.
Does anyone else find they like some series of books by an author, but not others?

I used to be an avid reader but haven't been for the last 2/3 yrs. My friend recently told me about the Sue Grafton alphabet books. Wasn't interested as they are crime novels which I've never read before and follow the exploits of a PI. After some 'bullying' I eventually downloaded the first one 'A is for Alibi' and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now on to 'R is for Ricochet'. They are very easy reading, not taxing, don't take too long to get through and have successfully got me back into the reading habit. Only problem is that, in the same way as never not finishing any book, I now feel I have to get to the end of the series before getting back into the swing of reading for good.

So glad to have found this thread, what a great idea.

I've just started reading Dawnlands by Philippa Gregory (xmas pres from son)

Happy New Year to you Oreo and to any new posters to the thread, I hope you enjoy participating throughout the coming year.

itsadogslife

I would highly recommend "The Names" by Florence Knapp although it came out last spring. It's really clever and well-written and an easy read (although it's classified as Literary Fiction.) I got it as an early birthday present and have just read it in less than 24 hours as couldn't put it down.

p/s Sorry if this has already been covered as I am late to the party!

I absolutely 2nd that, "The Names" was one of my stand out books for 2025. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoyed "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson, it had the similar quality of the different trajectories life could take. In this book it was dependent on the three names the main character was given. Very original.

Hi I'm new here, I read most days mostly thrillers, I'm currently reading Susan Lewis - Never Look Back it's about a group of people who work on a true crime podcast. It's the 3rd book in this series.
I already have a TBR pile for 2026

Thanks for continuing this thread. I am a relatively new member of Gransnet so would love to join in.

I am reading JD Vance’s HillBilly Elegy. As most of you will know, this book predates JD Vance’s entry into politics. I remember hearing him being interviewed at the time of its publication. Someone mentioned to me recently that they were reading this book and it reminded me that I hadn’t got round to reading it.

I have deliberately tried to take the book on its face value and forget about JD Vance’s current job. It is a really illuminating account of his family life and the challenges that they faced in a poor, working class.

I would highly recommend "The Names" by Florence Knapp although it came out last spring. It's really clever and well-written and an easy read (although it's classified as Literary Fiction.) I got it as an early birthday present and have just read it in less than 24 hours as couldn't put it down.

p/s Sorry if this has already been covered as I am late to the party!

Happy New Year TerriBull and all 🎉🥂🎂
I’ve had loads of great recommendations for books from these threads.
Presently reading The Wager by David Grann.
It’s 1745: a ramshackle vessel of patched up wood and cloth washes up on the coast of Brazil, inside are thirty emaciated men barely alive.Survivors from The Wager a British vessel wrecked while on a secret mission to raid a Spanish treasure ship, they have an extraordinary tale to tell.
Six months later an even more decrepit boat comes ashore on the coast of Chile, with just three castaways on board who tell a very different account of the same story.
This is actually nonfiction and is a marvellous read.

I also read The Land in Winter J52 just week or so ago. A very good book for evoking the time it was set in and the harsh winter of 62/63.

I love reading this thread for inspiration, but I do forget to add my books. Like you TerriBull I listen to get back to sleep and forget what I’ve heard.
I’ll try to contribute more this year!
I’ve just finished The Land in Winter by Andrew Millar, it was a Booker Prize nominee. It’s is set in the 1960s and reflects the attitudes of the time. I think if would interest those who enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry.

Thankyou TerriBull for keeping this going.
I’m nearly at the end of my first book, would have finished it if not for so many visitors, more coming today, so unless I do my thing of getting up and reading during the night, it probably won’t be finished till next week.
Looking forward to discovering some more amazing books, and plodding through some mediocre ones
Happy new year to all fellow readers

I keep a record of every book I read each year. Last year I managed 70.
My first book this year is 'Burning State' by Rob Sinclair.
His books are mainly thrillers, one of my favourite genres.

I'm re-reading the CJ Sansom series Shardlake. At the moment it's Dissolution. The series, like much of his stuff, is set during the tudor era and is really well researched.
Love his books which come under 'historical crime' i suppose..

Glad to have you clambering back on the wagon SueDonim.

Maggiemaybe regarding audio books, I do confess Audible certainly ups my total and something I turn to when I can't get back to sleep during those early hours of the morning. Although there are times when after I have resorted to that, I realise I have no idea what I've just listened to. So from that I can conclude I must have been asleep!

I’m another who loved Lessons in Chemistry

Thank you, Terribull for setting up 2026’s Book Challenge. It’s become quite an institution on Gransnet now, along with the likes of the Good Morning thread and Soop’s Kitchen.

I fell off the reading wagon badly last year (for the first time in my life, which worried me, because books are my solace) but I’m clambering back on board now and hope to contribute more to this thread.

I finished a book in the early hours of this morning so that will be my number one for 2026. ’A Very British Christmas your festive survival guide’ by Rob Temple. It nails so many of the Christmas dilemmas we find ourselves in and suggests how to deal with them, in a lighthearted manner. It was fun to read.

Happy New Year, all, and thank you for keeping the book challenge going, TerriBull.

When I first joined I struggled to get to 50 books in the year, in 2025 I managed 75. I think that’s in part due to your influence, and partly to the fact that I’ve added audio books to my repertoire, and always have one on the go, downloaded from our library service.

Interesting that you mention pictures in books, Magenta. My first audio book of the year is

1. My Family, David Baddiel

read by the author. The hard copy must have quite a few illustrations, as he keeps pausing the narrative to describe them. Also to read out footnotes and comment on them. I think I’m going to enjoy the book, but it might be an easier read in paperback form.

I also loved Lessons in Chemistry, though I know it's not to everyone's taste.