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Original poster

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:
highlandcoo · 12/02/2013 22:36

I enjoyed The Blackhouse minsmum , maybe because I know the islands and enjoyed picturing the setting.

I've read the second which is also good but maybe less unusual. Saving the third for a long plane journey!

minsmum · 12/02/2013 22:13

Finished The Black House by Peter May,book 11, didn't really grab me till right towards the end. I would never have predicted the ending though. I have the second in the trilogy on my kindle but will probably wait a while before starting it.

PurpleStorm · 12/02/2013 21:56

Cardiff - I read one of James Herbert's Rats books years ago - one where London had suffered a nuclear bomb attack and the survivors were trapped underground with the man-eating rats. That one gave me a few sleepless nights and kind of put me off reading more of his books.

I agree that Crickley Hall is tame in comparison with that!

Original poster
CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 12/02/2013 21:02

Purple - I read Crickley Hall last year. Have you read many others by James Herbert? He caused me to spend much of my late teens and early twenties scaring myself witless! Crickley Hall is pretty tame compared to some of his earlier stuff, still good though.

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NotGeoffVader · 12/02/2013 21:00

Finished No. 10. When will there be good news? - Kate Atkinson. Really engrossing, cleverly written, and well-constructed. I'm pacing myself now so will try another of hers later in the year.

Just got started on No.11 Point of Origin - Patricia Cornwell. She's my 'default' author when I'm between things. The right balance of predictabilty, twists and turns, and darkness. Given that the cat chucked up a hairball on it earlier, I need to read it quickly and ditch - scrubbing with cleaning fluid really hasn't helped much.

No. 12 is lined up - Lee Mack's autobiography - Mack the Life. I'm only reading it because earlier this year Neil Oliver tweeted that he was snorting with laughter reading it. And also because I'm still waiting for DH to finish reading Charlie Brooker's latest offering.

PurpleStorm · 12/02/2013 20:41

Finished book no. 8 - James Herbert - The Secret of Crickley Hall.

The plot in the book hangs together better than the plot in the TV adaption, particularly at the end of the book.

WednesdayNext · 11/02/2013 22:38

It's buy one get one half price in waterstones at the moment!! I'm about to start reading it. My good intentions of finishing my old books before new ones have also flown.

Enjoyed the second half of "Smut" far more than the first. It was less disturbing.

Starting my next book now - number 13?

Brockle · 11/02/2013 22:18

you see wednesday all my good intentions about buying no more books has flew out of the window Grin

WednesdayNext · 11/02/2013 21:50

Yes Brockle it's apparently the sequel to ' The Shadow Of The Wind!!

Brockle · 11/02/2013 20:45

is that a new Carlos ruiz zafon book wednesday? V jealous Smile

FleurPearl · 11/02/2013 20:16

I've finished Visit from the Goon Squad and it was ok but I couldn't really get in to it and found I was forcing myself to get through and finish it. Book 5 is The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Last week I popped in to the charity shop and came out with 9 books!!! I've since bought a few on ebay and other charity stores. Can't help myself!!! My "to read" pile is huge!
I see a lot of you are racing ahead so I definitely need to get my read on!

WednesdayNext · 11/02/2013 19:33

I bought 3 new books today. Oops. In my defence, I had a voucher to use :) I have now added to my collection:

' The Prisoner Of Heaven' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
' The Lifeboat' by Charlotte Rogan, and,
'The Good Father' by Noah Hawley

Allalonenow · 11/02/2013 18:48

Not sure what to read next, so have just got the Brian Cox "Wonders of the Universe" on Kindle. It is a bargain ATM, £1:99 instead of £20, though will probably display better on the iPad app than Kindle.

WednesdayNext · 11/02/2013 18:10

Finished the first of the two stories in "Smut" and actually found it really uncomfortable reading. Hoping the second one will be a more pleasant read!!

shrinkingnora · 11/02/2013 17:38

I am being fickle. Have got bored of both Sherlock Holmes and Middlemarch. Have read No7 Where'd You Go Bernadette? this weekend (excellent) and am now reading No8 Alone in Berlin (probably finish tonight) - also very good but very tense and sad too.

NicknameTaken · 11/02/2013 12:04

Snap, Galaxymum - was awake till after 2am last night reading Gone Girl. Not just a thriller, but an interesting take on marriage and the impact of the recession.

I also read In Ruins, by Christopher Woodward, for what must be the fourth or fifth time. It's non-fiction, and takes in art history and architectural history, subjects I know very little about, but he makes me want to know more. It's written in a really appealing style, and I always end up with a list of places I want to visit.

Original poster
CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 10/02/2013 22:32

Book 6 finished, Brute Force by Andy McNab. Another one my dad gave me. Not bad but quite predictable given that it is pretty much the same as all his other books just set in different countries with different bad guys.

Next up is The Wrecker by Clive Cussler, more highbrow literature.......not!!

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WednesdayNext · 10/02/2013 21:37

Finished "Getting Rid Of Matthew". I surprised myself by enjoying it for the most part, and for wanting the OW to live happily ever after. I am disappointed in what I felt was a rush towards the ending and some unfinished loose ends, but still enjoyed reading it.

Book 12 is "Smut" by Alan Bennett. It's been gathering dust on my shelf for quite some time!

Galaxymum · 10/02/2013 13:22

Finished book 8 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Really enjoyed this thriller and I was so immersed in it I was disappointed when I reached the conclusion. I just wanted it to continue. Great writing and I will definitely read her other novels.

Book 9 is Phantom by Jo Nesbo. I am trying hard to stick with books to read on my bookshelf and kindle.

Sonnet · 09/02/2013 20:03

NotGeoffVarder - I loved when will there be good news

Sonnet · 09/02/2013 20:01

I have read thus thread so many times but have never got to the end as have been distracted by all the book suggestions!!!!

I would like to join please!
I have read so far this year:
Winters of the world
The other Boleyn girl
One good turn
The Lewis Man
Pastures nouveau

I have just started capital by John Lanchester

My one aim this year is to read wolf Hall. I have started it and then abandoned it for some reason!

Allalonenow · 09/02/2013 17:28

Book 7 ~ "A Family Affair" by Mary Campisi, family secrets revealed following the death of a hero - worshipped father. I found it a very predictable plot, with characters that I kept hoping I would engage with, but never did.

Why are American writers so fixated on the clothes their characters wear? I can understand a brief snapshot when first introducing a character, but I don't need to know what they wear every day of the action. Campisi tells us the colour of every shirt, skirt and pair of chinos, I'm amazed she didn't give colours of boxers and bras too.

NotGeoffVader · 09/02/2013 15:54

No. 9 'How to be a woman' - Caitlin Moran just finished. Can't recommend it highly enough. Provides laughter, tears and much food for thought. Just read it. Even if you are opposed to swearing. Read it!

I started no. 10. When will there be good news? - Kate Atkinson yesterday. I've had to fight myself to put it down. It's totally compelling. I need to know what is happening, every minute. Even when I put it down to do RL stuff. And I'm out tonight and won't be able to finish it.

CoteDAzur · 09/02/2013 15:30

I'm at 6% (on Kindle) of David Brin's Existence and honestly have No Idea what the author is on about Shock Pushing through with all I've got, but seriously confused, especially with the introduction of a new character every couple of pages!

PurpleStorm · 09/02/2013 13:41

WednesdayNext - I really enjoyed reading French Children Don't Throw Food. I found the descriptions of French parenting styles really interesting.