2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

64 Switzy Emma Cline

This has been long listed for this year's Booker Prize. Having read the author's previous two books, a bit of a departure from those.

The controversial subject of euthanasia is essentially what this book is all about. David, is the candidate, a retired, 70 something business executive struggling with cognitive decline. With an increasingly unraveling mind, he is shepherded by Cody a younger man and former colleague by way of private jet to Switzerland loaned by old friend and former colleague. Cody, who David refers to as "the boy" deftly makes the arrangements required in this final journey including a stopover in London for David to meet his daughter one last time. It seems that Cody has quietly been taking money from him. Nevertheless David is conscious of that in how he acquiesces to it, deeming it as some sort of payoff for his loyalty. Alzheimers is never actually mentioned but apparent as David gropes his way between the present which slips away to overwhelming memories of his past starting in childhood in which he often finds himself ruminating over his relationship with his old school friend and then later how his marriage collapsed due to him prioritizing his career and the infidelities that drove his wife Annabel to divorce him. In the last few days en route to Zurich David negotiates with some difficulty the now onerous tasks of everyday life, his phone, increasingly becoming a mystery, the simple task of tying his shoe laces, hotel rooms and the transient people he meets along the way do provide flashes of humour to this somber account, which does lift it at times. There is no suggestion that the decision to end his life is not entirely his own and on his terms. In spite of the daunting subject matter, well worth reading.

#86. Holding by Graham Norton.

63 Our Noble Selves Kate Atkinson

I quite enjoyed the latest by the KA without it being one of her very best imo. I'd say this is a bit on the quirky side. The setting is the impending opening of the 1951 Festival of Britain where a bevy of behind the scenes creatives working on this initiative designed to lift the spirits in a frugal post war dreary Britain. Harry Flyn, her understated protagonist of the piece, former foreign war correspondent, survivor of the Burma railroads is part of the oddball team assigned to various tasks to make the Festival a success. Post war, Harry has emerged from a failed marriage to an on the make war widow Ivy, leaving behind him the comforts of her mock Tudor semi in Wealdstone for a shabby bedsit. However, Ivy is to reappear in his life to dump her daughter Veronica on him whilst she takes off with her latest flame. The plot unfolds through Flynn's one and only date with French woman Delphine, who subsequently goes missing and suspicions fall on Harry as to what has happened to her. Fortunately, in his step daughter, Veronica aged 13, he has a formidable side kick in foiling those who would implicate him in what is all the while pointing to murder. Among his colleagues are a bevy of ne'er do wells, some who have links back to pre war fascists. Unusual and laced with a certain amount of humour particularly from the outspoken and precocious Veronica who Harry forms a strong bond with. KA has also created her very own Fanny Craddock pastiche in Mitzi Blinkhorn another major character who wins the prize in a fixed competition for her appalling creation of a Festival Cake inedible, hard and expensive to replicate, nevertheless the daunting Mitzi stages her own workshops within the newly opened festival for her creation.

#85. Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley.

A new ‘Miss Marple’ story.

62 We Tell Lies K L Slater Audio

Twisty psychological thriller about a husband and wife con artists, moving into their new up market environment whilst endeavouring to escape their past. However, all is not well in their new neighbourhood as unsettling messages arrive followed by a murder! Quite good for this type of genre.

79-The Curfew-T .M. Logan
One to read if there are teenagers in the family.
When Connor doesn't come home by midnight, a chain of events leads to a missing girl. Every parents nightmare.
A good page turner.

61 Cold Sunset William Boyd

The third novel in the Gabriel Dax trilogy where the main character at the outset in the lst book is drawn unwittingly into the life of a covert spy for M16. The timeline has progressed to 1964 where Gabriel finds himself in too deep to extricate himself. This is the time of Cold War espionage in which he now increasingly and reluctantly finds himself immersed. In this third part, and possibly not the last as it ends somewhat up in the air, Gabriel's assignment, under the cover of travel writer, which he actually is when he's not assassinating his potential enemies, before they kill him first, is to the heart of Moscow inhabited by the myriad of old school double agents recruited during the 1930s. Betrayal and lack of trust crank up the tension in every chapter, which have made all of the books so addictive. I love William Boyd's writing and although he's stated the Gabriel Dax's are to be a trilogy, he's left me hoping there might be another.

45. She Didn’t See It Coming, Shari Lapena

Bryden and Sam seem to have the perfect life, until the day when she fails to pick up their daughter from daycare. Everyone around them has secrets they struggle to hide as detectives search for her. Not a bad read, though the ending seemed just a bit obvious.

Just finished ‘The Godfather’.

Really enjoyed it.

Now on to #84. The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden.

78-Four Weddings and a Christmas-Phillipa Ashley
A delightful Christmas romance set in the lake district.

Terribull I like the sound of The Elephant Whisperer and have added it to my list.

#70 The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths
I’ve read some of the later books in this series, so it was interesting to go back to the beginning and read this first one, set before some of the key characters have been introduced. Written in Elly’s usual and very enjoyable style and interesting to read her account (in the afterword) of her grandfather’s involvement in a real version of “the Magic Men” during the war. 8/10

Home Front by Kristen Hannah
I’ve got mixed feelings about KH as an author. She writes about women In challenging or very interesting situations, but at times she veers a bit too far into a chick-lit style for my taste. Anyway, once I got started I raced through this one.
Michael and Jolene seem to have it all: a solid dependable marriage, exciting careers and children they adore. But after twelve years together, they are unhappy and edging towards divorce.
Then an unexpected deployment tears their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm's way and leaving the other at home, caring for the children and waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family.
From early on, it was easy to see how was likely to pan out, but it was enjoyable. 8/10

72 *When We We’re Romans by Matthew Kneale
When Hannah decides suddenly to drive to Rome with her children, 9 year old Lawrence and 4 year old Jemima, taking everything they can squeeze into the car, including Hermann the hamster and Jemima’s doll’s house, the children are excited. The long road trip is boring, but arrival in Rome and visiting all Hannah’s old friends there, starts to show a more confusing and darker side to their journey. The whole book is written in the voice of 9 year old Laurence, who is space and history obsessed, protective of his mother and very confused about what is going on.
Laurence’s narrative was too long at times (there’s only so much about space and ancient romans I need to know) but his concerns and worries about his little family made it an engrossing read. 8/10

I’ve only just started it in bed last night TerriBull.

I thought I might not get into it, but it looks very readable.

It’s on the waiting list from the library, so can’t renew it, will have to crack on with it!

Calendar Girl I remember reading The Godfather years ago, a real blast from the past.

60 The Tailor Tim Sullivan

The latest in the DS George Cross murder mysteries. The successful tailor of the piece, is found murdered in the toilets of a train whilst en route to the airport to visit associate offices in China. It becomes apparent to George during his investigations, this is not just a case of simple murder as he delves deeper, but more related to murky goings on in the world of espionage. Meanwhile back at home, much to George's exasperation all is not well on the home front as to his newly reunited but long divorced parents. Tim Sullivan has created a successful series around his main character's autistic personaliry.

#83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo.

43. The Weekend, T M Logan

Six 40-somethings shelter in a cave during a downpour on their Dales walking holiday and discover a hidden backpack stuffed with bank notes. At first they intend just to hand it in to the police, but then “what if” creeps in and some of them start to daydream about what they could use the money for and wonder how anyone would know if they kept just a little bit… It’s a rollicking good read, with lots of twists and turns.

44. I’ve Got a New Complaint, Laurie Notaro

An Amazon Prime freebie, reflections on her everyday life by a 60 year old. Not the gasping for breath, crying with laughter funny that most of the reviews claim, but a lot of it rings true and made me smile. I found many of the scenarios too American to relate to though.

Diggingdoris

TerriBull, glad you enjoyed the Elephant Whisperer as much as I did. A very moving account of life in the wild.

Yes it was wonderful Diggindoris, very moving an insightful study of these incredibly sensitive and intelligent creatures.

TerriBull, glad you enjoyed the Elephant Whisperer as much as I did. A very moving account of life in the wild.

77-J is for Judgment-Sue Grafton
Another great mystery for private eye Kinsey Millhone to solve.

59 So I Met This Guy Alexandra Potter Audio

Two women, one who has been cheated out of all her money by a romantic fraudster, the other a journalist on to a scoop, unite to try and nail the villain of the piece. Their endeavours take them across Europe. I was a bit underwhelmed by it, all a bit trite for what is often a serious subject. Essentially a holiday book, light escapism.

#82. Waiting For Death by Jack Cartwright.

58 Claws Out Bella Mackie

Sunny day, after a walk and some household chores, I spent the afternoon in the garden finishing this book.

I loved How to Kill Your Family by the author, this was quite good, not as good as that imo but nevertheless entertaining. Essentially a satire and piss take about the North London elite's privileged bubble. I couldn't help laughing out loud at this line, apropos of the recent GM thread, relating to the DM "those who condemned that particular newspaper the loudest were usually the most avid, guilty readers"

Social climber, and thrice widowed but still very glamorous Diana Leyland is on the search for her next husband. She's set her sights on David Farrand author and eminent pyschiatrist but more importantly owner of a 4 storey house overlooking Hampstead Heath. The dye is cast when she manages to turn his head after only one meeting. Soon she's moved in with him. To the dismay of David's grown up and rather entitled daughter, who lives in a basement flat of her father's house, a hasty engagement announcement follows soon after that. It soon becomes apparent to Diana, Catriona (Cat) is going to be the fly in the ointment who makes it her business to find out exactly how Diana'a previous husbands had all met with their untimely end. Caught in the middle is Diana's grown up son, Zeb who becomes Cat's ally and eventual bedfellow to further complicate the lack of blended family dynamics. The race is on to try and stop the forthcoming nuptials.

76-Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel-Glenda Young
Another humorous whodunnit set in Scarborough. Crazy golf championships are serious stuff to the team who stay at Helen's hotel, but when a member of the opposing team dies, everyone in the hotel is considered to be the possible murderer.
If you like Richard Osman crime books you'll love this series.

57 The Elephant Whisperer Lawrence Anthony (non fiction)

A wonderful account from conservationist, Lawrence Anthony who took on a herd of incredibly challenging elephants, mainly due to ill treatment and who were in danger of being shot due to their aggression. Their gradual rehabilitation on his reserve of Thula Thula, located in Zululand is fraught with problems along the way. Simultaneously uplifting and heartbreaking at times. Overall an incredibly interesting account, particularly as to the behavioural patterns, communications and the coordinated team work of the troop which points to their superior intelligence. A very special book, inspite of having me in tears at times, I'd highly recommend it, not only for the descriptions of the African landscape and wildlife but most of all the elephants themselves. Also an insight into the Zulu tribal communities and the interaction between the wildlife reserve and the Zulu's structured society and customs as Anthony's initiative to unite adjacent tribal lands into a collective conservation trust.

#81. The Murder Road by Stephen Booth.