Mumsnet Talk

Tidying up after Christmas it has come to my attention that I have nearly 100(!!) paperbacks in stacks down the side of my bed waiting to be read.
I am going to challenge myself to try and read at least 50 of them this year. That's nearly one a week so I am going to have to really apply myself and stop faffing around and doing other things when I could be enjoying a good book.
I wondered if anyone else would like to join me? We can post what we are reading and then post when we have finished each book and what's next.
I know I would love to hear what others are reading and enjoying (or not enjoying) so I can go out and buy more books in a few months time!
My first book of the year is President Down by Terence Strong about spies and terrorists which my dad lent me about a year ago! I'm only about 20 pages in, but so far so good.

I'm challenging myself (on Goodreads) to read 50 books this year, 10 of which are to be books I've had on my bookshelf gathering dust for far too long

If anyone's interested, this is our Goodreads book club link.

I'm currently reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, which I can't really call an old book - I only bought it a few months ago.

This is the year I finally tackle Wolf Hall. I'm sure I'll like it, but had to give up about 50 pages in last time because of constant interruptions from the DC. Now they're a bit older, and out at school/preschool I've got some quiet time to read during the day.

oh god that is easy. I have read 10 in december, my tip is to only read books you like. if its dull - bin it.

also i set my alarm fro 6.15 so i can have half an hour in the bath in the morning.

PLUS - just turn the Tv off - its amazing how much mindless shit you find yourself watching

That's a little bit rude BadDog. Not everyone has loads of time to read. All reading is good reading. In fact, I will probably amend my 50 book challenge during the year - I ended up reading 96 books last year, but I don't want to overstretch myself. After all you never know what life has in store for you.

FYI I don't watch a lot of tv, and tend to record what I want to watch. No soaps.

oh i dint mean to be rude - sorry was a breezy " come on we can do it" kind of thing

PLUS wrt to tv I didnt mean YOU huffy pants - I mean myself too

OK I'm in. I'm starting with The Bat by Jo Nesbo, then The Casual Vacany and I've got stacks of books waiting for me to pick them up (bugger - I've just signed up to knit and crochet more too !)

Huffy pants?

I'm in. I challenged myself to read 12 last year, and got to 25. but only because I got stuck on Notes from a Small Island for four months. Don't recommend it.

I reserve the right to read all kinds of rubbish, though. First book of the year is 1-2-3... Magic by Thomas Phelan. It's a bit retro. Not sure I'm going to use much of it.

Yes agree - doesnt have to be high falutin literachoor, just books you like.

Right - i am IN IN IN

Hi Duchess. I am on Goodreads myself so I will take a look at that group later, thanks. I read Wolf Hall last year. It took a LOT of getting into, but with perseverance I really enjoyed it. I have Bringing Up The Bodies in my massive stack so I might tackle that as part of my fifty.

Hi Bad. Wow, ten books in a month! That's two a week, how do you manage that? I have to work and sleep and stuff too you know.

I'm in too. I had already challenged myself to read 50 books in 2013 via Goodreads.

I've made a good start and since 1st Jan I've got through:
The Lewis Man
Becoming Jane Eyre
The Song of Achilles

I'm now part way through The Glass Painter's Daughter.

But I have been on holiday so will slow down considerably after Wed when it's back to normal life for me.

We'd be glad to see you over in our group Cardiff, if you fancy joining us.

Apologies to BadDog - had a bad day today and feeling a bit tetchy. Waiting for the DC to go to bed so I can deal with stabby headache.

I'm in - as long as I can mix in some chick lit Having been stocking up on some Kindle deals for the last couple of months and now just need to read them!

Me. But I always read far more than that. Nice to see what others are reading though.

So far this year I've read:
Android Karenina (like the original but with robots, obs!)
Re-read The Hobbit because the film annoyed the hell out of me, so I needed to read the original to feel pure again.
A book about the history of the gothic.
Bill Bryson's African Diary (which took about 7 minutes, it's so annoyingly short).
Another one but can't think what it was offhand.

i prob deserve. Was about to PM to grovel so phew.

Oh Super - was The Lewis Man good? I want something not too taxing to get me started.

do you want my list of DEF the best I have read recently?

harold fry
100 year old man
heft <<that very good
mudbound was ok.
Asylum ( not new) was brilliant
The good father was compelling but a bit american.

all of hte above were the type where you ferret off to try and read when "doing the washing"

lewis man not as good as the blackhouse imo
peter may is on twitter and he is fun.

ALys always by Harriet lane is good and chilling ( she is on twitter too)

the return of captain John emmett also good ( she also on twitter!!)

Oh Canada by richard Ford was slow but I enjoyed.

I'm in used to read at least 2 a week now 2 a month!

I'm up for this, especially the reading books that are clogging up your bookshelf part. I think that's my main reading challenge this year, to read the books I've been meaning to read for ages. Haven't helped the de-cluttering by buying three books from Waterstones today. <hides bag from DP>

Started off with Black House by Peter May and now I'm reading Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott.

I probably read 50 books a year anyway so would love to join. Although my NYE is to try and add a few more challenging books. I am coming in.

My first book is Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky - much more readable than I thought it would be.

I'll join in. I've got quite a few on the kindle that I need to get reading.

I think I read close to 50 books last year as I read everynight as I put dd2 to bed.

On your head be it then BadDog - have just downloaded The Blackhouse so I can read them in order. (Noticed lots of 20p specials while I was getting it)