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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:
InMySpareTime · 01/02/2013 16:41

I've read 12 already this year, there's a chance I'll overshoot my 50 book targetGrin.

WednesdayNext · 01/02/2013 16:45

I'll bear that in mind, thanks nickname

MrsMaryCooper · 01/02/2013 19:12

I ditched my no 12 THe Last Werewolf - Glen Duncan about 2/3s of the way through.

I just got thoroughly bored by the characters.

I read Stuart MacBride - Close to the Bone instead, and it was FAB.

Not sure what I will have for No 13

shrinkingnora · 01/02/2013 20:26

I hated the Glen Duncan book I read (think it was Death of an Ordinary Man or something). Very boring! I have read fewer books since I joined this thread than at any other time in my life Hmm Not sure what that's about!

Thefourcees · 02/02/2013 12:41

Just finished The Expats now on to no 6. I started reading SKs The Stand last year and got nearly half way through before christmas took over, so I'm going to finish that, 600 pages read 700 to go.

minsmum · 02/02/2013 14:36

I have just finished Cranford. It was a lovely sweet book. Now for book number 8

Brockle · 02/02/2013 19:14

Well so far I am on book 4 The Casual Vacancy in hardback and book 5 is Lorna Doone (kindle) which I have never read so decided to remedy that.
so far:
Book 1 The Poison Tree. Really enjoyed it and it surprised me with it's ending as I thought it was going in a different direction.

book 2 Catching Fire - disappointed after first Hunger Games book.

book 3 Mockingjay. as disappointing as the last one.

hopefully 4 and 5 will not disappoint!

mumslife · 02/02/2013 21:37

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuperScribbler · 02/02/2013 22:23

The Thirteenth Tale was slow to get going, but once underway had me gripped.

Book 14: Child 44. This was not as expected - thought it would be a trashy thriller. I enjoyed its depth, but did think it was written with a film adaptation in mind - lots of dramatic climaxes and action.

Book 15 is Barking by Tom Holt.

NotGeoffVader · 03/02/2013 10:47

Done No 6 which was by an independent author, "Ash - Return of the Beast". Erm, it was rather like a Dan Brown novel with a bit more supernatural in. Not something I'd have chosen but I felt obliged to read itl TBH, I only read it to get to the end.

No 7 was 'The Queen's Governess' by Karen Harper. Not bad as a snapshot of a historical period, but the americanisms (I know she is a US author, but she's writing English historical fiction) were a bit irritating - 'snit', 'gotten' etc.

Now on No 8 - 'The Painter's Apprentice'

mcsquigg · 03/02/2013 11:42

I'm starting number 5 today - Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana.

This year so far i've read:

  1. The Killing Floor - Lee Child
  2. A Limited Justice - Catriona King
  3. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan
  4. How Many Miles to Babylon - Jennifer Johnston.

The last two were book club choices and the Jennifer Johnston was fantastic. I'm also half way through Les Miserables but have taken a break for a little while. I'll probably dip in and out of it over the next few months.

Galaxymum · 03/02/2013 19:00

Yay! finished book 6 on 2nd attempt The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift. great read once I got into it. Some very well described period detail.
Book 7 is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

HellonHeels · 03/02/2013 21:55

Oh wow some of you are charging along!

I've just finished book 5 Into the Silence - the great war, Mallory and the conquest of Everest.

Started no. 6 this weekend Interview with the vampire. Not really into it yet, hoping it grows on me a bit.

daisychain76 · 03/02/2013 22:33

Hi, please can l join in. Realised at start of this week that l hadn?t read a sigle book since September, so eased self in with Call the Midwife and then went onto Harold Fry, both of which l enjoyed. Started reading no. 3 today ~Relish by Prue Leith. Seems fine, but not hugely interesting. I want something a bit more challenging for no. 4, but not sure what yet.

WednesdayNext · 04/02/2013 08:29

Finished Book 8 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry' which I really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who hasn't read it yet.

Book 9 is a non-fiction one: ' French Children Don't Throw Food'.

Allalonenow · 04/02/2013 15:37

Book 6 ~ "Nobody's Slave" by Tim Vicary, best know as a writer of thrillers. I really enjoyed this adventure story set in the slave trading fleet of Hawkins and Drake. A real Boy's Own yarn with plenty of cliff hangers as well as some moral debate. It would make a good short TV series.

As an aside, with all the interest in Richard III today, The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman is just 74 pence from Amazon Kindle today, the paperback is about £11, so a snip for a well told story.

TheLateMrPamuk · 04/02/2013 20:03

Hello :). Finished book 5 today I absolutely loved it. The Personal History Of Rachel Dupree. Such a good read.

HopeForTheBest · 04/02/2013 20:12

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

greenhill · 04/02/2013 20:25

Allalonenow thanks for the tip, I've just bought it for 74p and recommended it on the Richard III thread too.

Can I join?
1 Why Men Lie - Linden Macintyre. Third part of a trilogy, Canadian novel.
2 Fourplay - Jane Moore. Wife discovers husband has an affair, then rebuilds her life.
3 Back Story - David Mitchell. Memoirs of comedian and panel show host.
4 My Lover's Lover - Maggie O'Farrell. Gothic psychological drama.
5 The Corn Maiden - Joyce Carol Oates. Novella and short stories.

WednesdayNext · 04/02/2013 20:55

French Children Don't Throw Food was 5.99 on kindle. I'm about 3 chapters in and really enjoying it so far.

NotGeoffVader · 04/02/2013 20:58

Rather enjoyed No 8 - 'The Painter's Apprentice', which continues the story from 'The Apothecary's Daughter'. A fair bit of history in there with a romantic theme running through. Although I wonder why bosoms must always heave and pulses flutter (last two books I've read).

Just starting No. 9 'How to be a woman' - Caitlin Moran and have no's 9 & 10 lined up.

  1. Point of Origin - Patricia Cornwell
10 When will there be good news? - Kate Atkinson

(hopefully by then DH will have finished 'I can make you hate' and I can make that no.11)

BTW, whenever I get a new discworld novel, I read ALL the others again first.

moonshine · 04/02/2013 22:40

Cross with myself for wasting lots of reading time these past few weeks (as well as being a slowish reader) so have just finished:

No 3 11.22.63 Stephen King 9/10

Really enjoyed this book - I haven't read King for years and have been put off by all the dismissive reviews of most of his recent ones but thought it was pretty thought-provoking and just a darn good story.

It's inspired me to read more King but am starting with the non-fiction Danse Macabre after having watched Woman in Black last night (although thought it was pretty cliched, even if it did have some good 'jump in your seat' moments)

Lots of books on this thread I need to explore as well.....

thejoblot · 04/02/2013 22:44

Walked past a charity shop & spotted "The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng this morning .... so on the advice of this thread it's now in my "to read" pile Grin

Allalonenow · 04/02/2013 23:39

greenhill ~ pleased you got the bargain price, and also passed it on, hope you enjoy the book. I think Penman will enjoy a huge surge in sales following today's news.

tumbletumble · 05/02/2013 07:36

Stayed up late last night to finish book no.4 - The Child Who, a real page turner. Knackered today!

Next book is A Prayer For Owen Meany. I may be some time.