50 Book Challenge in 2013. Who's with me?

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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.
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.

Thanks Nickname I will put those two on my To Read Pile! Read one add two!

Book 8: the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold fry.

Hope you enjoy them, gail!

The House at Midnight was ok. Not nearly chilling enough to be properly "gothic" and the ending was pure exposition, so rather anti-climatic.

Book 13: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - 50p charity shop bargain.

I'm loving this challenge as it's really re-ignited my love of reading, which has been on hold for a few years. I'm reading every evening instead of goggleboxing and feel my brain perking up as a result.

me too super although opportunities are scarce with three little ones Someone asked for peoples opinions on best fiction. I loved The Book Thief. It was a truly fantastic book.

I've started Catch-22 by Joseph Heller now. It's unusual and I find myself reading each chapter a couple of times to fully get what's being said. Enjoying it though and finding it quite funny.

This thread is a great way to find books. I tend to get so overwhelmed with all the choice out there, never know where to start.

1. Tripwire Lee child
2. Twilight (1)
3. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
4. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
5. The Quiet Room - Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett
6. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

Book 5 ~ "Before the Swallow Dares" by Tony Whelpton, a tale of geriatric passion kindled when old school friends meet again by chance after many years apart.

A pleasant enough gentle read, of women cooking whilst wearing Dolce and Gabbana frocks, while hubby downs G&T in the Long Room. Maybe everyone in the South East lives like this now?!
My next book is by Tim Vicary, an author whose work I am new to, it's one of the unexpected pleasures of owning a Kindle that I've discovered so many new writers.
I keep meaning to try Barbara Pym, so many people love her books.

Aargh!

I left my book at work yesterday! I hate it when I do stupid things like this. I will have to start another one and read number 5 and 6 at the same time. Used to read more than one book at once when I was younger, not sure my addled old brain can handle it these days though.

I have the Book Thief in my stack Brockle, my MIL leant it to me, it's a hardback though and I really don't get on with hardbacks so I'm not sure if I'll ever read it.

I can't believe how many people there are on this thread either Gailforce1, think of all those poor neglected children out there, plonked in front of CBeebies while their mothers are frantically reading!!

I also loved The Book Thief.

My other suggestion for a list of best books (if you don't have it on your list already) would be Never Let Me Go.

Without meaning to hurt anyone's feelings, I have to say that The Book Thief was one of the most superficial and juvenile books I have ever read.

Death himself was portrayed as a half-wit and an insufferable fool, going on about the color of this, the color of that.

It was suggested in my book club because someone's mum had recommended it, as well. After that, we stopped taking recommendations from our mums.

Never Let Me Go wasn't badly written completely failed as a story because none of it made sense. We talked about this at some length on another thread so I won't get into it

Well, I guess everyone has different opinions about books. My book group loved both of them.

I personally didn't think Never Let Me Go failed as a story. I did think Death was a bit of an odd character, but I liked that his perception if the world wasn't based on the reality and suffering in the story, but on the colors he saw in different situations.

horses for courses cote . You prob wouldn't like Terry Pratchetts depiction of Death . Funnily enough in Beloved one of the characters gives up on life and her only joy is colour. Beloved is another one of my favourites but I will leave it there with the favourites as don't want to be compared to someone's out of touch mother!

wednesday do I take it that you are a fan of Thursday Next?

Not sure about the Casual Vacancy but will keep going.Characters seem bit cliche but may just need a few more pages to get into it.

Oh I loved Beloved too brockle! I must also be an old out-of-touch mother

I am a huge Thursday Next fan. In fact, just a huge Jasper Fforde fan! Are you?

How far into CV are you? It took me a good while to get into it. I enjoyed it whilst reading, but it hasn't left a lasting impression on me!

cote given that we seem to have polar opposite tastes so far, what books would make it into your "must read" list? I'd be interested to hear - I'm always looking to branch out and try new things!

yes I am a lapsed Jasper Fforde fan. The last one I read was The Big Over Easy which was brilliant although The Eyre Affair is still my favourite. It's a bit embarassing giggling on a train full of serious people which I always do with his books. What would you suggest from his newer ones.

I too would like to know what cote enjoyed. I always like hearing about people's interests book wise.

The rest in the Thursday Next series are good. How far did you get? The latest isn't his best IMO, but I still enjoyed it. One Of Our Thursday's Is Missing was quite good.

Shades of Grey was a good one of his too - very different in theme but still had the quirkiness of Jasper Fforde.

I probably wouldn't bother with the Dragon Slayer ones. They were ok but nothing special.

It's good to find another Jasper fan.

What other authors/ books are you in to?

Have you read any Alice Hoffman?

I'm up to One of our Thursdays is Missing and also want to read The Fourth Bear. Again a lapsed Pratchett fan. Fforde and Pratchett have the same tongue in cheek view if life which like. Though Thursday Next is also wish fulfillment. As I really like her world

I have a pretty eclectic taste from Toni Morrison to Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse. I really like Kate Mosse and have her new one, Citadel, to read.

I will go and kindle Alice Hoffman now

I'd recommend The Ice Queen or Blue Diary, but I've not yet read a Hoffman I didn't love. She's not at all like Fforde but one of my favorites nonetheless!

I'd love to live in the bookworld, but not sure about the danger Thursday gets into. One Of Our Thursdays is really good. If you liked The Big Over Easy, I think you'll like The Fourth Bear - I preferred it. Oooh, I feel a re-read coming on.

I've not read any Pratchett. Any recommendations for starting?

I've only read one Kate Mosse - the one about the ghosts?

Can I add my name to the list of Jasper Fforde fans? I've only read The Big Over Easy, but I loved it.

I would say to read Pratchett's Discworld in the order he wrote them. I think the first one is The Colour Of Magic?

Oh dear I really need to pick up my reading pace in February, I have only just finished book number 2 When will there be good news? by Kate Atkinson. I really enjoyed the book and am a little bit smitten with Jackson Brodie. Im just starting The Snow Child after the positive reviews on this thread. Its great hearing about what you have all been enjoying reading.

Hello! Is it too late to join this thread, even though I've already missed the first month? Have set myself a challenge on Goodreads to read 60 books this year (just managed 50 last year), to try and motivate myself to get off the bloody internet in the evening after DD's gone to bed. It's been going pretty well so far apart from spending the last couple of nights MNing but motivation from other readers is always good!

My 2013 books so far:

1. Resolution - Denise Mina
2. A Book of Silence - Sara Maitland
3. Love in Idleness - Charlotte Mendelson
4. Tango - My Childhood, Backwards and in High Heels - Justin Vivian Bond
5. The 100 Thing Challenge - Dave Bruno
6. The Big Rumpus - Ayun Halliday
7. Trumpet - Jackie Kay

And just started reading Morris Bishop's The Middle Ages. There's no real plan to my reading this year!

Cardiff thanks! And also, try Fforde's The Eyre Affair. I've never yet met a person who didn't love it!

I agree with cardiff at starting from the beginning. wyrd sisters, Mort, Men at Arms and Witches Abroad are my favourites.

Dissenting view on Terry Prattchett - I think he gets better as he goes on, and you might not enjoy the earlier books but love some of the later ones. I'd plunge into Lords and Ladies. It's a great introduction to the characters, and it'll give you a good idea whether his books are for you or not.