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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:
mixedmamameansbusiness · 30/05/2013 00:35
  1. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

I am often underwhelmed by books I think I should be wowed by, but I loved this. The prose is stunning and whilst I found it hard to like anyone I did sympathise with all if them. This is up there as a favourite now.

greenhill · 29/05/2013 23:51
  1. My Life In My Hands - Alison Lapper. Absolutely fascinating, her indomitable spirit shines through onto every page.
mumslife · 29/05/2013 19:53

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greenhill · 29/05/2013 14:48
  1. May I Have Your Attention, Please? - James Corden. I have mixed feelings about this autobiography, I didn't know anything about him other than the 'Gavin and Stacey' part and should possibly have left it that way.
MegBusset · 28/05/2013 20:54
  1. The BFG - Roald Dahl
  2. Alone In Berlin - Hans Fallada
  3. The People Of The Abyss - Jack London
  4. London Under - Peter Ackroyd
  5. The Talisman - Stephen King & Peter Straub
  6. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
  7. The Firework-Maker's Daughter - Philip Pullman (bedtime reading for DS1)
MegBusset · 28/05/2013 17:20
  1. The BFG - Roald Dahl
  2. Alone In Berlin - Hans Fallada
  3. The People Of The Abyss - Jack London
  4. London Under - Peter Ackroyd
  5. The Talisman - Stephen King & Peter Straub
  6. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom. An undemanding but not unenjoyable read, lent by a friend, filled a train journey to London nicely.
Galaxymum · 28/05/2013 16:47

25 Close My Eyes by Sophie MacKenzie - a good thriller with some interesting twists but I was a bit disappointed I'd guessed the ending.

26 My Animals and Other Family by Clare Balding - very witty and poignant memoir. Great read. Love her even more!

Next up is The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn

DuchessofMalfi · 28/05/2013 07:21

Book 41 - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, for the Goodreads book club I'm on. Interesting and intriguing novel.

Next up, currently reading The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.

mumslife · 27/05/2013 21:30

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greenhill · 27/05/2013 18:53
  1. Small Man In A Book - Rob Brydon. His autobiography stops as he starts to get recognition and awards. Considering how much detail he puts in about his childhood, he is reticent about his own children / wives, I admired him for not using them as his material.
juneybean · 27/05/2013 18:43
  1. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
greenhill · 27/05/2013 09:25
  1. Saving Agnes - Rachel Cusk. Winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award 1993. Full of mid-twenties angst, it captured the zeitgeist of that era. A regular re-read.
minsmum · 26/05/2013 22:15

29 . How It All Began - Penelope Lively. About how something that happens to one person can then impact and change the course of so many other peoples lives. Gripping and very well written.

Original poster
CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 25/05/2013 23:52

Well done megbusset!

I've just finished 14, True Blue by David Baldacci. About a renegade ex-cop, framed for a murder she didn't commit, fighting to defeat the baddies and clear her name. Very easy to read.

Next is Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom, which I am really looking forward to.

OP posts:
MegBusset · 25/05/2013 19:47

Ooh look I'm halfway, and a month in hand!

MegBusset · 25/05/2013 19:45
  1. The BFG - Roald Dahl
  2. Alone In Berlin - Hans Fallada
  3. The People Of The Abyss - Jack London
  4. London Under - Peter Ackroyd
  5. The Talisman - Stephen King & Peter Straub

I was obsessed with The Talisman between the ages of 12-15 and this was my first reread in 20 years... delighted to say that it has stood the test of time and I still loved it :)

Galaxymum · 23/05/2013 19:15

Duchess - I've just read The Light Between Oceans as well. I can't praise it enough. By far the best book I've read in a long time too. I do hope people reading this thread will be inspired to read it. It was such an emotional read for me.

greenhill · 23/05/2013 18:51
  1. Drawing Conclusions - Donna Leon. DL is particularly good at moral ambiguity and justice, she always makes me think deeply about her subject matter.
DuchessofMalfi · 23/05/2013 16:35

Book 40 - The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman. Beautiful, amazing, heartbreakingly sad. This novel is going to occupy my thoughts for a long time to come. So far the best book of the year for me.

MrsMaryCooper · 23/05/2013 16:19

  1. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel. Loved it. Loved Wolf Hall too.

  2. Winterland - Allan Glyn

mixedmamameansbusiness · 23/05/2013 16:04

  1. Alice by Eva Hanagan. Nothing special but was recommended to me by a client who's mother wrote it.

  2. The Great Gatsby. I really liked it. I feel like a lot was list on me, particularly since I have done a little reading up in it today so I think one to re read. L

tumbletumble · 23/05/2013 06:54

No. 19 was Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier which I've never read before. Loved it!

gailforce1 · 22/05/2013 16:15
  1. Life after Life by Kate Atkinson. Love her writing although did not fully "get" the ending I am hoping that she will come to MN in the future and explain!
Galaxymum · 21/05/2013 12:29

23 The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley - highly recommend this book. It is fairy tale like and moves so well between time period. Very sad though.
24 The Light Between Oceans - Richard and Judy read. If you want to read a sad story with genuinely heartwarming characters and have a box of tissues, this is compelling. A great story, very Hardy like and has fascinating details about lighthouse maintenance. The emotions for the survivors of the trenches is also well portrayed. Absolutely loved this book.

moonshine · 20/05/2013 21:55
  1. Killing Floor - Lee Childs 7.5/10

Wanted to see what all the fuss was about Reacher and thought it was...ok. He seems too perfect and I like them flawed!

  1. A Storm of Swords- G R R Martin 9/10

I succumbed and decided to read the 3rd book in the Game of Thrones saga (I'm obsessed with books and tv series Blush) and it has taken 5 long weeks to read it! But now that I've finished I really miss it and all the characters.

I've heard the 4th and 5th books are not as good and am now worried about reading them - has anyone read them all (to-date) and what did you think?

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