26-ish books for 2023

I like Psychological thrillers and crime novels and I enjoy Richard Osman's books. I like that sort of witty, gentle humour and easy, likeable characters. I enjoy most genres actually, everything except science fiction. On book too now, Verity, looks like a nice easy read.

Thank you @Magentax

I have finished book 1, Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I raced through it wanting to know what happened and it was an easy read. But I'm not in a hurry to read another one. It all got a bit daft plot wise if you ask me and some of the characters were just too overblown and clunky.

Book 2 is Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski, which is proving harder to get going with.

I get the impression that people who like crime novels don't like his books as much. I am not overly into crime novels and just found it a funny read.
@Orangebadger that's an interesting theory. I hated Richard Osman's book but I'm a crime reader. I keep thinking I should try again because I feel like a lone voice, but it was the writing I disliked, not the charcters or plot.

I've finished Sycamore Row by John Grisham which I started in December. Deep south Mississippi and black / white legal case.
Starting The Familiars by Stacey Halls.

They were all set at Christmas. It's only three stories (two novella length and one proper short story), one is a Maigret and the other two are just set in Paris at Christmas. All are quite sad and moving, would certainly recommend.

I never give up on a book... but The Paper Palace is currently sat next to my bed only partially read. I'm just not invested in any of the characters so don't really care what happens to any of them. I guess I'll go back to it at some point, mostly because so many people have raved about it. But I'm not rushing back 😬

My goal was 50 for last year but I only read 48. Last book of 2022, The Paper Palace, slowed me down. It was a good book but I found it really hard to get into, I kept avoiding it. I just finished it today, so going for 50 again this year. Verity is next on the list.

@Magentax how many of the stories where actually Christmassy please? I read yet another "Christmas" short story book this Christmas where only a couple where even vaguely Christmas related and it really irks me! Been looking for a collection that are ALL Christmas or wintery for years.

Finished The Haunting Season. Was ok not the spookiest though. Now onto The Duchess about Wallis Simpson.

I'd like join please.
I'm reading midnight library currently. Hoping to finish that this week as it's a an easy read and not too long. I'm trying to read more regularly.

Finished my first book of the year yesterday:
*1. Girl forgotten - Karin slaughter.
*
I'm a huge KS fan so it was a given I'd enjoy it. There are two timelines: current and the early 80s. I loved the chapters from the 80s and unusually for me didn't guess the murderer from the start!

Moving onto:
2. Things we never got over - Lucy Score ☺️

Signing in for 2023. I'm on the 50 book thread as well, but that one's moving at lightening speed so I think this thread might be more my pace!

I'm currently reading The Only Plane in the Sky: The Oral History of 9/11 by Garret M. Graff, and it's bringing back memories of the day and watching the news in utter disbelief and shock. Incredible book so far, but very affecting, especially the transcriptions of some of the voicemail messages left by people trapped in the towers or on one of the hijacked planes.

I'll join too if that's ok. I used to read LOADS pre-children, but morning sickness followed by restless brain has meant I've read very little for seven years now 😱 I'm keen to change that. Ended 2022 fairly well, so here goes!

I'm currently reading Away With the Penguins by Hazel Prior. I grabbed it whilst at the library with the kids - definitely a "that one has a nice cover, that'll do" moment! Enjoying it though, and there are actual penguins (would have been disappointed otherwise) 🐧

I’d love to join too please. Last year I read 15 books, so I think that 26 is a high target for me personally. I’d be happy to reach 15 again.
I’ve just started Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Really enjoying it so far.

Posting to bookmark, hope to return later today/this week

I’ve finished my first book of the year - going to number them to keep track a bit!

1 - A Maigret Christmas and other stories by Georges Simenon
Really loved this - there’s an amazing short story about a prostituted woman helping a young woman. It’s really moving.

Have just started -

2 - Zone of interest by Martin Amis

I have a 2 hour bus journey into work this morning thanks to the train strikes so should get a good way into this!

I’ve also joined the Anna Karenina read along so hopefully that will pop into the list later in the year!

@Pourmeanotherwine Frenchmen’s creek is one of my favourites - have you read Jamaica inn?

@EspeciallyDetermined wonderful isn’t it?

@Citygirlrurallife I listened to Songbird on audio a couple of months ago and loved it.

Can I join too please? Trying to make more time for reading this year. I'm reading One Minute Later by Susan Lewis as my first book of the year. I have a few books sitting waiting to be read but will also be looking up some of the suggestions here. 😀

The Daphne du Maurier one is The Parasites. I really enjoyed Frenchmans Creek and Rebecca so thought I'd try another. Decided to read the Richard Osman one first though.

Which Daphne Du Maurier book do you have? I finally read Rebecca last year and was my favourite book of '22. Want to read some more. I read Richard Osmans The Thursday Murder Club and enjoyed it, but I get the impression that people who like crime novels don't like his books as much. I am not overly into crime novels and just found it a funny read.

I'll join, 26 sounds achievable. I probably read less than one a fortnight normally, then compensate by reading 5 in a week on holiday. it would be good to read more, and to see some recommendations. Do you use an app to keep count? Or just something like phone notes?
I've just bought lessons in Chemistry from the Waterstones sale, I've got a Daphne duck Maurier one from the library waiting to be read, and we've got the first Richard Osman one, so one of those will be first.

Hope you get as engrossed as I am!

Ready and raring!!
I only managed 18 in 2022 but one of my NY resolutions is to read more during the day (and feel less guilty) so I might just make the 25! Although......25 is more or less a book a fortnight which sounds impossible for me! We shall see.

Starting off the year with Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land I adored All the Light They Cannot See so have high hopes.

HilarysMantelpiece
TheSpook
KA’s new book is called Shrines of Gaiety and I really enjoyed it, although not as much as Life After Life and her Jackson Brody books.