25 (ish) books in 2018 anyone?

[Homemadehopeful]

I know there is the 50 books thread but that is totally unrealistic for me so wondered whether anyone wants a slower paced thread with a hopefully more achievable target?

I read 22 books last year and have set myself a target of 25 for this year.

I've started with The Handmaid's Tale, nearly finished and really enjoyed it.

[AristotlesTrousers]

I'll join, Homemadehopeful. I might actually manage 25 books this year. I'm currently reading Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood which I've nearly finished. I've got The Handmaid's Tale on my 'to read' pile along with Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien. Not sure which to go for yet as they both look great.

[CakeBeTheFoodOfLove]

I'll join! I managed 20 books last year so upping the stakes to 25 his year.... Already finished first one - the first book in the demon cycle series by Peter V Brett. I found it really enjoyable even though I've hardly read any books in the genre - normally I read historical fiction. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I've made a good start in the second one already!

[KeithLeMonde]

Aw, it's a shame not to have you all on the 50 books thread. There's no expectation at all to finish 50 books. It's just a lovely books chat thread, and it slows down LOTS after the first couple of weeks, honest.

[Homemadehopeful]

Good going to already be on your second book cakebe!

I'm hoping to finish my first book tonight. Undecided at the moment as to what my second book will be but If Only They Didn't Speak English is looking like the current favourite

[lastqueenofscotland]

Ditto kieth join us!

[Gameofgnomes]

Ooh I'd like to join. I've just finished my first book of 2018. It was Eleanor Oliphant and I loved it. I'm so sad it has ended.

I am just contemplating what to read next. It might be Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher.

Has anybody read it?

[Didiusfalco]

Oh yes, 50 books is completely unrealistic for me too. At the moment I am reading Bill Bryson 'At Home' - its about 600 pages and I'm a quarter of the way through - possibly I need to speed up!

[Vanillamanilla1]

I'll join in .. currently on book 2/25.. The White House farm murders

[Homemadehopeful]

Ooo great to see some more people join in

I have occasionally lurked on the 50 book thread but it just doesn't feel like the right place for me when I know I won't get anywhere near the target and some end the year double it!! But thanks for the invite all the same Keith and LastQueen

Book 1 finished here and glad to have kicked off the new year with a good one. Will be interesting to see if you enjoy it too Aristotle.

I started At Home a few years ago and it was one of only a handful of books that I didn't persevere with Didius, I just remember being totally bored with it but can't remember how far into it I actually got. Hopefully you won't find it quite as dull!!

Have several 'to be read' at the moment as got one book for Christmas but 4 for my birthday last week so a few to be going on with but haven't yet decided. The options are

If Only They Didn't Speak English - Jon Sopel
What Happened - Hilary Clinton
Molly's Game - Molly Bloom
A book on Bletchley Park (can't remember the exact name off the top of my head)
The Keeper of Lost Things - Ruth Hogan

Anyone read any of these?

[Didiusfalco]

Oh dear home maybe I’m not off to a good start then. I must admit to having skimmed a chapter on electricity already

[Didiusfalco]

I would like to read The Keeper of Lost Things too.

[Nearlyadoctor]

Can I join please? Managed 23 last year and want to read a couple of longer books this year - currently reading Stephen King 11.22.63 which is nearly 800 pages. Really enjoying it though, first SK I've every read.
I tried the 50 book thread a couple of years ago but got so far behind everyone else. I think some of it was because I physically read each book whereas a lot of them seemed to use audio books as well. ( no problem with that but just left me straggling)

This year so far:

1. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine - Gail Honeyman.
   

I read The Keeper of Lost Things last year - thoroughly enjoyed it and like Eleanor Oliphant it is fairly easy reading.

[Homemadehopeful]

I'm about a third of the way through book 2. I decided on Jon Sopel, If Only They Didn't Speak English. It's written about his time living in the US covering the 2016 election. I am really enjoying it despite some parts being so shocking!

Realised after my last post that my tbr is mainly non-fiction at the moment which is quite unusual for me, I normally only read one or two non-fiction per year.

Have to say Keeper of Lost Things isn't a book I would probably have bought myself, think the floral cover would have put me off but glad to know others havs enjoyed it (and yes I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover and all that!!)

Dh just asked what my plans were for the morning, the reply was a cup of tea and my book

[AristotlesTrousers]

Sounds like my kind of morning, homemadehopeful! I read a mix of fiction/non-fiction too, but my list is mostly fiction at the moment. Your current read sounds really interesting, as does the Bill Bryson mentioned upthread.

I finished Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood the other day - a really great read. I'm still torn between The Handmaid's Tale and Do Not Say We Have Nothing so I've started both. I don't know which one will win out, but they're both good so far.

[Taffeta]

Hello can I join you?

I read in spurts - have read 2 books so far this year:

Eddie Izzard’s biog
Robert Webb’s biog

That’ll be it for biogs this year. Much as I love these comedians I’m now done with the navel gazing of funny peeps.

I’ve got to read

The Keeper of Lost Things
Dark Matter
The Book of Dust
The Bees

Last year I didn’t read anything really memorable, which was sad for me as I’ve teas some absolute stonkers in previous years. I’m hoping to find that elusive gem again this year.,

[Piggywaspushed]

I'm a teacher and sometimes sheer bloody exhaustion and marking take over. I do tend to have spurts in holidays where I might get through more. Nut I am also a telly addict! I counted my tbr pile and it is exactly 25 (plus a few educational books I want to read and books I have to reread for school) so this does feel more like my place, must admit.

I never listen to audiobooks; I can't concentrate on them!

28% of Middlemarch to go which will be my book number 3. Munich was number 1 and picked up towards the end.

The Jon Sopel book sounds interesting, although he was the person involved in the misogynistic conversation with John Humphreys leaked yesterday...but I am half American so I may look that up .

[Nearlyadoctor]

Book 2 : 11.22.63 Stephen King finished - thoroughly enjoyed it although I feel like I've completed a marathon reading it.

Book 3 is going to be See You In September which I saw recommended on another thread.

[windowdresser44]

I normally go for 50 books but I'm doing a professional qualification at the moment plus working full time so I think 25 has to be more realistic.

I've just read the break by Marian Keyes - perfect holiday read, and have started a thriller I forget the name of. I like a mix but have definitely grown out of (!) chick lit unless it's v well written.

[Ladyflip]

Edging on to this thread too. I lurk on the 50 books for inspiration but feel overwhelmed by the prospect of reading that many, particularly if one or more is a long one. I read 22 last year so 25 is a good target. The horrible January weather has meant I have made a good start to the year. Have read Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty and Started Early, Took my Dog, by Kate Atkinson. Really enjoyed both books, although confused that my library copy of Little Lies isn't called Big Little Lies, which seems to be what everyone else is reading. Did the title change when TV became involved?

I liked the Kate Atkinson and hadn't read any of her Jackson Brodie books before. Might have been a good idea to start at the beginning of those, rather than the last one though.

[Piggywaspushed]

I don't think it matters what order you read the Jackson Brodie books in flip but When Will There Be Good News? is a stonking book. It has a fabulous opening.

[Kinraddie]

You've got to read "The Heart's Invisible Furies" by John Boyne. Amazingly good.

[Piggywaspushed]

Is your user name a 'Sunset Song' reference Kinraddie ???

[musicmaiden]

My target is 25 this year, too! Would love to do 50 but just not enough reading time at present (although less time on the Internet would help)
I'm halfway through no 2 already so on track.

1. The Power by Naomi Alderman - very powerful stuff, really made an impression on me.
   
2. The Good People by Hannah Kent. Enjoying it more than I thought I would given reviews. Very bleak, though..

[Homemadehopeful]

Lovely to see more people on the thread

I read The Good People last year musicmaiden. It was for a Waterstones book club I was trying to join. I bought the book, read it, juggled childcare to get to the shop at 6pm only for no-one to be there!! I checked my email and I definitely had the right date etc. I emailed the person who arranged the club to see if I had missed some change of date but they never replied. I was pretty frustrated by the whole thing as it was not a book I would have probably bought if it hadn't been a book club choice! Anyway that all aside rant over I actually enjoyed it in a weird kind of way. DH is Irish and so was my Dad so I have spent a lot of time there and I think this helped me identify with the characters, even though I didn't like the majority of them! Crazy to think a book about fairies is a true story too!!

[Homemadehopeful]

Also I have heard very mixed reviews about The Power. It is a book I keep looking at but then get put off by negative reviews. Perhaps I will see for myself after I read a few of the books from current tbr pile, which won't be for a while!