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50 books challenge - 2023 round up

157 replies

Tarahumara · 06/12/2023 09:43

Hello 50 bookers! Here's a separate thread to gather together our top recommendations from the year. Please post your final lists, or just your bolds if you prefer. I'll come back later with mine...

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PaperBauble · 15/01/2024 09:42

Very late, name changed and fell off the threads! I managed 37 books in total and kept reading everyone’s reviews. Thank you!

My top picks this year in order of reading
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Portrait of a Marriage by Maggie O’Farrell
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Wof Hall and Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/01/2024 21:39

Hope he enjoys it!

InTheCludgie · 09/01/2024 20:28

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie thanks for the recommendation, looks like a good read. I'll let my neighbour know, he's quite keen on factual books so might be right up his street too

InTheCludgie · 09/01/2024 07:12

Ps thanks for the round up @RomanMum , not read too many of the more popular ones but I agree with a couple of the stinkers for sure.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/01/2024 07:07

I’m trying to find the title for you.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/01/2024 07:05

@InTheCludgie You’re making me want to re-read it, but I’m not sure I’m strong enough for the devastating ending.

Your neighbour might enjoy the non-fiction book about Jeremy Button too.

InTheCludgie · 09/01/2024 07:01

I recommended This Thing of Darkness to my neighbour, he absolutely loved it. He's quite well travelled and has been to a lot of the places in the book so it was a bit of a nostalgia trip for him too. A book I would never even had heard of if I hadn't happened upon this thread!

ChannelLightVessel · 08/01/2024 19:08

I’ve got a copy of This Thing of Darkness staring at me from the shelf. I even name-changed in connection a couple of years ago.

(Sorry, I’ve not yet said thank you, @RomanMum, for your hard work.)

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/01/2024 16:46

Well, I was the originator of This Thing of Darkness discussion on here, so I think all three of you owe it to me to read it. No pressure! Grin. But yes, it's that weight of expectation thing, isn't it?

TattiePants · 08/01/2024 11:19

ChessieFL · 08/01/2024 10:13

Ha, I have also had This Thing of Darkness on my kindle for ages and am nervous about reading it in case I hate it! I only bought it because of this thread as it’s not the sort of thing I would go for otherwise.

Me too!

ChessieFL · 08/01/2024 10:13

Ha, I have also had This Thing of Darkness on my kindle for ages and am nervous about reading it in case I hate it! I only bought it because of this thread as it’s not the sort of thing I would go for otherwise.

PepeLePew · 08/01/2024 08:23

Great work on the list; thank you!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie it's not just you. I still haven't read This Thing of Darkness for exactly that reason. And I swerved Wolf Hall forever until finally giving in. Although I did end up absolutely loving that so perhaps there is wisdom in this crowd.

ChessieFL · 08/01/2024 06:51

Thanks for doing this RomanMum, very interesting.

Reminds me how often I’m out of step with others on this thread! I’m another who really liked The Paper Palace and I DNF both Trespasses and Kala. But life would be dull if we all liked and read the same things.

noodlezoodle · 07/01/2024 21:33

Wow @RomanMum that's fantastic work, thank you!

Cackling to myself because I absolutely loved Paper Palace Grin

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 06/01/2024 23:56

Many thanks RomanMum for your hard work on the stats.
A have 2 of the 3 top fiction books already downloaded on my kindle so that's a good start to the reading year Smile

OllyBJolly · 06/01/2024 23:06

Thank you @RomanMum - that is so valuable! This year’s To Read list sorted!

Really appreciate you pulling this info together.

nowanearlyNicemum · 06/01/2024 22:52

Thank you so much @RomanMum Will definitely be coming back to this list for inspiration.

CornishLizard · 06/01/2024 22:08

Thanks RomanMum, great list.

splothersdog · 06/01/2024 21:11

Wonderful work @RomanMum !

BestIsWest · 06/01/2024 19:52

Why are there no Drinking Book Clubs near me?

Sterling work there @RomanMum, Thank you.
I haven’t read any of the top 3 fiction though I do own them.
A Heart That Works - glad to see that in the top non fiction.

It will be good to come back to this thread next time I’m stuck for something to read.

LadybirdDaphne · 06/01/2024 19:36

Thanks so much @RomanMum for working all this out! I really must get round to Demon Copperhead - I’ve had it on my shelf for a year and made a false start on it, then shied away from the child cruelty I could feel coming.

Pod is a work of genius and I won’t hear anything said against it Wink

cassandre · 06/01/2024 19:08

Also, Paper Palace was one of my big duds from last year, so it's gratifying to see it top this year's dud list 😂

Southeastdweller · 06/01/2024 19:08

That's sterling work there @RomanMum - thank you.

I DNF'd Trespasses - just couldn't get on with it.

It's nice to see A Heart That Works on the list.

cassandre · 06/01/2024 19:01

Wow, thank you @RomanMum , that summary is virtuosic! I'm going to be adding some of the bold titles to this year's TBR list.