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50 Book Challenge in 2013. Who's with me?

991 replies

CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 05/01/2013 16:58

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. BlushBlush
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.

OP posts:
DuchessofMalfi · 05/01/2013 18:11

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 :o

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.

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:12

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

DuchessofMalfi · 05/01/2013 18:17

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.

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:17

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

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:18

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

FlyOverTheMistletoe · 05/01/2013 18:18

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 !)

DuchessofMalfi · 05/01/2013 18:19

Huffy pants? Hmm

littleacceb · 05/01/2013 18:19

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.

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:20

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

Right - i am IN IN IN

CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 05/01/2013 18:23

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. Wink

OP posts:
SuperScribbler · 05/01/2013 18:34

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.

DuchessofMalfi · 05/01/2013 18:34

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.

TheSandstoneCat · 05/01/2013 18:39

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!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/01/2013 18:39

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.

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:40

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

TheSandstoneCat · 05/01/2013 18:40

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

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:43

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

harold fry
100 year old man
heft

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:43

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!!)

BadDog · 05/01/2013 18:44

Oh Canada by richard Ford was slow but I enjoyed.

noddyholder · 05/01/2013 18:47

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

BabeRuthless · 05/01/2013 18:48

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.

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

mummyonvalium · 05/01/2013 18:53

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.

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Festivedidi · 05/01/2013 19:00

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.

TheSandstoneCat · 05/01/2013 19:02

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)

SuperScribbler · 05/01/2013 19:11

I enjoyed the Lewis Man, but not as much as The Blackhouse. Enough to getvthe third book when it comes out soon. It's easy to read, escapist stuff.

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