I've set myself a goal to read 1000 books

[Ricekrispiebun]

I decided on this goal because the past few years have been difficult due to both long term illness and losing my best friend and partner within 2 years of each other. Books always bring me a lot of joy and it's great to get totally lost in some stories.

Anyway I came up with this idea because it gives me something to focus on. For each book I read I might save £2 and perhaps at the end keep some money and donate some to charity. Anyone do anything similar or even recommend any particular fave books to inspire me?

[autienotnaughty]

@forcedfun

I asked for every guests favourite book for a wedding present and am still ploughing through them, loads of stuff I'd never have thought to read!

I love this idea so much!

That is the best idea

[Ricekrispiebun]

@autienotnaughty 150 is brilliant. Wow you have listed pretty much all the authors I love got one of Harriet Tyce's on my to be read list, read 'Blood Orange' from her and loved it

[Icenii]

I've started logging each book I read each year and scoring it out of 10! Had a spare notebook.

[autienotnaughty]

Thank you 😊 you should definitely read The lies we are told by Harriet Tyce it's even better.

[autienotnaughty]

@Icenii

I've started logging each book I read each year and scoring it out of 10! Had a spare notebook.

I do good reads so it logs everything I've read.

[PermanentTemporary]

Wonderful idea! I'm on the 50 book threads here, don't always make 50 but I really enjoy it.

If you don't mind quite old books, Pied Piper by Nevil Shute is a wonderful read - about an elderly man in France as WWII breaks out.

[TakeMeToYourLiar]

@RoyTroyAndChris

I'm keeping track of all mine on The Story Graph. I've added a couple of challenges for myself too.
Recently I've loved:
The Midnight Library, although I see you did too
The House In The Cerulean Sea
The Left-Handed Librarians of London

I've just started Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor - I'm hoping I'll like it as it's a series!

The Jodi Taylor books are one of my favourite series, very light but witty. Remind me of Jasper Fforde if you're familiar

[VittysCardigan]

I love the idea of saving £2 per book you read. I might do this for the books i read this year, that way i will start the new year with a fund for new books.
If i ever get married I will definitely be asking the guests for books!

[Kanaloa]

Wow that’s an amazing idea! If I was doing that I’d try to get really into a few long series as I always find reading a series of 10 is so much easier than 10 unrelated books.

I like a lot of children’s and ya series, perfect for escapism and just sinking into a fantasy genre. Also if you find a detective series you like that can be great.

[Ricekrispiebun]

@autienotnaughty I think I've got that book somewhere on my bookshelf, far as I remember it has a black cover so I'll dig it out thanks

@PermanentTemporary I love old books so will give him a try thank you.

@Icenii that's a great idea. I'm going to write mine down in a notebook aswell

@TakeMeToYourLiar I read one of Jodi Taylor's and loved it (can't remember the name though)

@VittysCardigan I did this a few years ago as a fundraiser for a charity and you feel a real sense of purpose at the end when you have read so many books and have so much money

[GlamourSpider]

Thriller wise I lean to:

Dean Koontz
James Patterson
Dan Brown
Nicci French
Karin Slaughter
M J Arlidge
Dot Hutchison

Otherwise:
Diane Chamberlain
Jodi Picoult
James Herbert
Max Brooks - World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (so much better than the film)
Helene Wecker - The Golem and the Djinni
Charlie N Holmberg
Roald Dahl - the adult short stories
Philippa Gregory
Linda Green

I once ordered a wholesale box of mixed books from ebay and was determined to read them no matter what turned up - it was a complete mix of stuff and really opened me up to reading different genres.

[CurryandSnuggle]

Stacey Halls - The Foundling

[Ricekrispiebun]

@GlamourSpider that's a fab idea, I have been thinking of ordering a mystery box of books of mixed genres so I can try something new. I love Diane Chamberlain's books, she has just brought out a new one.

@CurryandSnuggle just looked that book up on goodreads and sounds like my kind of book, it has such a pretty cover too

[forcedfun]

Speaking of Goodreads I like it for logging lists I want to read but can't work out other good ways to use it. I only seem to know about 3 other people who use it. I like the idea of it but not sure if I am missing something?

[Bortles]

A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. It's a novella, so will add to your total quite rapidly. The author was in his 70s when he wrote it and it almost won a Pulitzer but for the fact they couldn't agree if it was fictional enough as it's based on his life. He was a highly respected English professor, so has brought all the tricks of the trade into the writing and it's bloody beautiful. Poignant. Flowing. Lovely.

[Ricekrispiebun]

@forcedfun i also don't know anyone else who uses it. I mainly use it to track books and also for the book recommendations.

@Bortles that book sounds really familiar, was it also based on a movie that was out sometime in the 90's? If it's the right film I saw it in the cinema and loved it

[autienotnaughty]

@forcedfun I use good reads. I record the books I read. Keep a list of books I want to read and set my reading challenge for the year. I keep meaning to switch to net galley tho caus they send you free books if you leave lots of reviews.

[whydoesitalwayshappentome]

I use Goodreads and Netgalley and leave reviews on both. There is so much choice on Netgalley and you can find great authors before they publish, you can get turned down sometimes when you request to read a book but the more reviews you leave the more likely it is that they will accept you.

[Startagaintoday]

Great thread. I aim for 52 a year. Just read Adele parks both of you

[ChessieFL]

I know you haven’t set a time limit Ricekrispiebun but how long do you think this will take you?

[Bortles]

Yes, OP, it was made into a not at all bad film with a lovely end theme. So you'll be picturing young Brad Pitt as you read then, which is okay!

[Ricekrispiebun]

@whydoesitalwayshappentome never heard of net galley but will check them out thanks.

@Startagaintoday looked that book, Adele Parks always writes great books

@ChessieFL it could take perhaps 5 or 6 years. I usually read quite a few in a year so it should be interesting to see

@Bortles I've requested it from my library so looking forward to reading it

[pinkksugarmouse]

I am sorry for your loss. 🫂

I have been working my way through all of Claire Douglas’ books. I also just finished The Interview by C.M. Ewan and have A Window breaks out from the library.

Others on my to read list are those by The Secret Barrister but obviously I don’t know if I will want to read the 2nd and 3rd until I have tried the 1st.

Currently I am over 2/3 of the way through Friends Don’t Lie by Nell Pattison and I will probably finish it tonight.

I have also got a few non-fiction I have bought too including Defending Women’s Spaces by Karen Ingala Smith and Greta Thunberg’s Climate Book.

I intend to read as much as I can through 2023.

[PermanentTemporary]

What a wonderful idea! Also love the wedding list concept.

A thriller that was recommended to me and that I really enjoyed was Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household. Very old now but still a gripping read.

I often fall back on reading Nevil Shute - you have to accept they are 'of their time' (racist and sexist) but if that is something you can leave aside, I'd really recommend Ruined City, A Town Like Alice, Pied Piper and Trustee from the Toolroom. Maybe also On the Beach.