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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:
tiggy114 · 14/01/2013 11:00

Ok i'm up for this. i actually thought 50 seemed easy until you pointed out that thats nearly 1 a week!!! I have a toddler and homeschool so hardly any time. But, i have a personal challenge to read all the stephen king books in order of writing. Just finished Carrie. Also have 2 million books on a disk for kindke so lots to read plus i watch too much tv.

shriekingnora · 14/01/2013 12:10

Have ditched The Wreck at Sharpnose Point. Too boring. Have moved on to The Finkler Question and The Debt to Pleasure.

jetstar · 14/01/2013 12:43

I'll have a go (not sure I'll make it but what they hey!)
I have The Snow Child ready to read and also the 100 year old man one.
I have started (and stopped) reading Wolf Hall three times now, so if I only read one book this year than that should be my challenge!
shriekingnora I gave When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit as a gift to a teenager friend for Christmas, hope she likes it - I enjoyed reading it as a teen Smile

bohemimum · 14/01/2013 12:45

I'm in! On book 4 already, so off to a flying start!

DuchessofMalfi · 14/01/2013 12:51

jetstar I'm going to be reading Wolf Hall this year too. I tried to read it a couple of years ago, and gave up because of lack of time to concentrate on it. I've been waiting for the right time to read it since then, and hope this year is it :)

Cherrypi · 14/01/2013 13:28

I've read one so far - World war Z by Max Brooks which was fantastic. Fiction written in the style of non fiction. Two if you count the Further tales of Peter Rabbit.

TheLateMrPamuk · 14/01/2013 13:57

I'm in. I used to read a lot in bed but have started watching Netflix or love film at night instead and have lst track with my books.
My first book this year is The Unit, a really interesting read about people who are seen as not been useful to anyone anymore get sent to a unit which conducts medical trials and organ donation on the residents of the unit.
It sounds grim but I'm enjoying it.

TheLateMrPamuk · 14/01/2013 18:41

Finished The Unit about an hour ago. Absolutely loved it.

Taffeta · 14/01/2013 18:43

Re the unit , have you read never let me go? It sounds similar. Never let me go is one of my favourite books.

NicknameTaken · 14/01/2013 19:04

shrieking, I adore The Debt to Pleasure - it's one of my favourite books.

TheLateMrPamuk · 14/01/2013 19:34

It is on my to do list Taffeta. Thanks for reminding me about it. :)

NotGeoffVader · 14/01/2013 21:07

'Behind the scenes at the museum' finished. Just got started on 'The Long Earth'. Next up will be either Feasting, Fasting (Anita Desai) or A Gathering Light (Jennifer Donnolley).

Absy · 14/01/2013 21:08

I'll try. Last year I had only read 5 books by July, so had to catch up and towards the end of the year was reading a book a week, so could make it

Just finished the red and the black by Stendhal, do that's one down, 49 to go

missbennett · 14/01/2013 21:18

Finished The Last Time They Met - enjoyed it, twist at the end left it open to different interpretations I think - good anyway! Now started The Bradshaw Variations by Rachel Cusk, bit of a family/relationships/ mid life angst sort of thing, spotted it in the library. Seems OK, but is only 250 pages longs so will get through it quite quickly I think.

MercuryRising · 15/01/2013 03:23

Finished The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and really enjoyed it although I had guessed the ending by about halfway through. 1 down 49 to go!

SkyBean · 15/01/2013 07:09

taffeta never let me go is my 1 st read of the year!! Loved it...and rate it as one of my top books now..good start eh? Lets hope the next 49 are as good.

On to a sure fire winner at the mo...blue Monday by nicci French ( my 2012 author discovery....amazing addition to my reading life! Heartily recommend all 'her' books)

chocolateee · 15/01/2013 08:33

Anyone tried Sophie Hannah's books ? they have the most fabulous twists , none of which I've ever guessed . She also writes the funniest poetry. new one out in February apparently ... I'm hopeless with titles ... I blame the Kindle , you never get to see the title !

MrsFiddymont · 15/01/2013 08:33

No 3 done - Burned Alive - Souad.

WednesdayNext · 15/01/2013 09:21

Never Let Me Go is one of my favourite books ever. I must give The Unit a try, who is the author?

HopeForTheBest · 15/01/2013 09:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on request of its author.

RachelEHBlythe · 15/01/2013 10:05

I set myself exactly that challenge two years ago, and have so far managed an average of 3 books a month. I made myself include non-fiction, as I never used to read it before. But I do tend to go for literary tomes, so feel quite proud that I've managed that many with not that much time.

ISingSoprano · 15/01/2013 10:14

Keep the recommendations coming! I did this last year when first had my Kindle and managed about 60 books over the year. Don't forget non-fiction, I read lots of travel books last year and quite a few autobiographies too as well as a mixture of trashy chick-lit and more cerebral highbrow stuff Grin.

TheLateMrPamuk · 15/01/2013 11:46

Unit author is Nina Holmqvist. :)

Galaxymum · 15/01/2013 12:31

I've finished wallowing in Pride & Prejudice now so going on major catch up! It was so lovely to rediscover a classic I last read for GCSE and find how much more I've enjoyed it, and appreciated it.

Next up is Me Before You (hoping I'll soar through this as meant to be fab) then 2 Book Club reads The Gilded Lily (not enjoying hebce reverted to Me Before You) and The Paris Wife

Snapespeare · 15/01/2013 12:31

finished dominion and whispers underground. dominion kind of ended a bit too quick - i felt the plot hurried to the end - which is good, things started happening quickly and the pace matched that, but i felt a bit let down by the epilogue. still, really enjoyed it. :)

'whispers underground' glad it's over (!)

now on capital for my bedtime book and kick the drink for my commute. I drank everything over xmas and my liver needs a rest. slightly concerned I won't be able to enjoy an occasional glass of chardonnay after this. so, 2 down, 50 to go!