Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

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...

OP posts:
RomanMum · 06/01/2024 18:54

Thanks guys, it was a really interesting exercise.

I know what you mean about Trespasses @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie, sometimes the hype, even if well deserved, can be off-putting. I wouldn't necessarily have read it but it was our drinking book group choice, and I quite enjoyed it.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 06/01/2024 15:18

Wow, thank you @RomanMum - really interesting to see the stats of the year. I'm going to investigate the well-rated books and no doubt my wish list will be getting bigger...

TimeforaGandT · 06/01/2024 14:14

Top job @RomanMum - thank you!

Great to see the most recommended books as although I have read some and have some on my TBR pile there are others which bypassed me.

highlandcoo · 06/01/2024 13:58

Thank you @RomanMum - very interesting. Must have taken you ages!

Re recommended books, I was told for years I should read The Shipping News and did that resisting-the-advice thing. When I finally did, I absolutely loved it. Sometimes there's a good reason why everyone is saying a book is great.

However, I'd rather take suggestions from here or from RL friends as I don't trust the literary establishment's glowing reviews of all their mates' work, Death Comes to Pendlebury being an extreme example.

Terpsichore · 06/01/2024 13:11

Really interesting, thanks for doing all that work @RomanMum

DuPainDuVinDuFromage · 06/01/2024 12:50

@RomanMum thanks very much, really interesting to see the list! I’ve only read 2 from the fiction list and 2 from the non-fiction list, so plenty more for me to get round to!

bibliomania · 06/01/2024 12:49

Thanks @RomanMum heroic work there!

Yes to Remus and Alias - a chorus of enthusiasm for a book can make it feel like I should read it, but then it feels like a chore and I just don't want to.

BaruFisher · 06/01/2024 12:48

Thanks @RomanMum
ive added Burntcoat, Rizzio and Excellent Women to my tbr. I’ve read a good few of the fiction highlights.

BoldFearlessGirl · 06/01/2024 12:42

Thank you @RomanMum, very interesting.

grannycake · 06/01/2024 12:35

Thanks Roman. I also have not yet read Trespasses even though I've had on my TBR list since early summer - again not sure why given I've read some terrible books this year. Must try to get round to it this year - I've swerved Barbara Kinsolver for years yet Demon Copperhead was the best read I've had for some time

Palegreenstars · 06/01/2024 12:21

Great list. I didn’t contribute as too much of my year was taken up by Morland Dynasty books (which I loved).

but I’ve read 5 of the top books and have about 15 owned on my TBR collection including the top 3 so must get cracking.

AliasGrape · 06/01/2024 12:07

Amazing work thanks @RomanMum ! There’s definitely quite a few of those waiting in my tbr pile (or in audible library), and seeing the list is a great push to get some on with some of them!

I do know that feeling @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - I feel like good reviews/ recommendations from fellow 50 bookers etc can go one of two ways with me, it either makes me determined to read it or makes me wearily think ‘urgh I suppose I should‘ but like you say a bit over it too. There doesn’t seem to be any logic to which way it will go, and I more often than not end up loving the ‘urgh ok then if I have to’ ones. Yet knowing that doesn’t make me any more enthusiastic about the next one!

FortunaMajor · 06/01/2024 11:46

Thanks RomanMum, what a great summary.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 06/01/2024 11:42

Well done @RomanMum

Welshwabbit · 06/01/2024 11:39

Thanks @RomanMum really interesting lists!

Boiledeggandtoast · 06/01/2024 11:37

Top work RomanMum, thank you!

MaudOfTheMarches · 06/01/2024 11:28

Thanks @RomanMum! I'm creating a Kindle folder of the books which I want to get round to reading in the next month or so.

Original poster
Tarahumara · 06/01/2024 11:19

This is brilliant - thanks @RomanMum!

OP posts:
Stokey · 06/01/2024 10:52

Amazing work @RomanMum that's a great list of titles.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I've definitely got a few like that. Trespasses was a bit divisive in our book club, although we're still obsessing about who will be Michael in the film!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/01/2024 10:39

Thanks @RomanMum

I'm now feeling even more guilty for not having read Trespasses yet, having bought it absolutely ages ago. Does anybody else get that weird thing where a book makes you feel tired and sort of over it, even if you've done nothing but read the blurb? Through absolutely no fault of its own, Trespasses is doing that to me.

TattiePants · 06/01/2024 10:33

Excellent work @RomanMum, thanks for compiling. I’ve read and loved lots on the bold list but will add a few more of the non-fictions to my wish list.

PermanentTemporary · 06/01/2024 10:27

Thank you @RomanMum this is great! I know what this job is like... at least I've read some of the goodies.

Owlbookend · 06/01/2024 10:24

Great summary- thanks @RomanMum

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 06/01/2024 10:18

@RomanMum you're a star 🌟
Thank you! I've read a good few of these, but it is brilliant to have this list for more reading ideas for 2024.

CluelessMama · 06/01/2024 10:17

@RomanMum Well done and thank you for pulling all of this together!

Swipe left for the next trending thread