50 Book Challenge 2014

[juneybean]

Hopefully nobody minds me starting this thread.

The idea is to read 50 books in 2014 (or more as many people have achieved this year!)

Please also check out our group on Goodreads if you're stuck for ideas of what books to read!

www.goodreads.com/group/show/59438-the-book-vipers

I'm doing it. Will head over and join the group too. Managed 51 last year, although had 2 months of no reading.

I'd like to join,please and I shall make every effort to remember to post. Only on book one at the moment. Her Brilliant Career, by Rachel Cooke. Does non- fiction count? Hope so! Lots of Christmas pressies lined up so definitely sorted for next few months. I read v slowly these days despite long commute. 50 will be a challenge!

Book 2 done. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich. Total trash fiction but I love the Stephanie Plum series

Would love to join.

1. Memoir by Chris van Wyk - Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch

Book 3: "The Summerhouse" by Mary Nicholls. I thought it was going to be a 'big house' style book in the style of 'the house at Riverton' but the plot was all a bit too much convenient. I did enjoy reading about life during WW2 though.

1. The Coming Race, Edward Bulwer Lytton.

Remus - I know nothing about what constitutes good sci-fi but I did enjoy this. I'll be honest, not much happens and not much is surprising. It is short and free on Kindle, so nothing to lose. It remains to be seen what the book club make of it.

Perplexed as to what to read next so off to peruse my shelves both physical and otherwise and my lists for my challenges.

halfaglassofouzo - the rules are there are no rules.

1. Amityville Horrible

Does anyone have an urban fantasy or paranormal suggestions for me to try? My brother has just given me load of books he's finished with (and I gave him a load that I've read as well) but I've got Amazon vouchers to spend and I really fancy a good urban fantasy series but I would prefer a recommendation from a real person rather than a computer generated one.

My first two books I've read this year are:
1 Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding
I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I anticipated because I'd read all the negative comments so was prepared for certain elements I wouldn't like. But I was pleasantly surprised by how Fielding dealt with grief and adapting to life after a death. I also liked the new obsessions of Bridget and thought Fielding was very observant.

2 Bonkers by Jennifer Saunders
Recommended to anyone who likes autobiographies - the stories about the early Comic Strip days are funny and personal. She came over in a very likeable way - and not too perfect. Very interesting to read her version of a career after reading Dawn French's. I enjoyed both very much.
Now searching my kindle for something grabs me!

1. I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Bill Bryson
2. Underground, The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche - Haruki Murakami

No 2. Was totally awful, a perfect proposal by katie fforde, SKIP it!

Now starting no 3, the gap year for grown ups by annie sandler. Another from my library stash. Got to get through that pile!

Love stephanie plum strawberrypenguin, no way is that trash!

I finished no.3, The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Enjoyable read- I really warmed to the character.

I'm on the new Rebus now.

Change of mind, no 3 is now Loot, Inside the World of Stolen Art, need a change of focus after a perfect proposal brooding over wasted time

I've just read Chris Brookmyre's Flesh Wounds which is the third in the series and is really good. I liked When the Devil Drives and Where the Bodies Are Buried but this one is much better. I still prefer his other books mind you. Parlabane and Angel X ones are really, really funny and gripping but the sci-fi stuff isn't so much my scene.

Harold Fry is by Rachel Joyce. It's a lovely gentle wee story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I read it last January and it made a nice start to the year. The Rosie Project is in a similar vein.

I really want to read And the Mountains Echoed but it's always out at the library.

Currently rereading Pride and Prejudice in preparation for Jo Baker's Longbourn.

Joskar - if you have a kindle And the Mountains Echoed is 99p at present, on Amazon. Or at least it was yesterday

Book 2 is Peter Robinson's first Inspector Banks book, Gallows View. It feels very dated (think of the time in the 1980s when feminist groups were viewed as rather alarming) and I am not sure that the writing is good enough to get over that. We shall see.

Late to get started, sorry! I'm half way thru the other Boleyn girl.

I've never tried to keep count before, but read a lot and am definitely signed up for this. Already finished Sting in the Tale (xmas present from my husband) and Lagyrinth (Mosse) but have been off work for 2 weeks so may slow down now!

I have had to give up on The Little Friend it's torture

Do I try the Goldfinch, The Secret History or The Luminaries?

Not a series anti but Sunshine by Robin McKinley is a very good take on urban fantasy and was written before vamps got too fluffy!

Hello, I'm in and off and running!

1. The Last Runaway
2. The Age of Miracles
3. The Rosie Project (about to start).

bishbashbosh - Secret History is fabulous, one of my favourites ever (I also was disappointed by the Little Friend). I am half way through Luminaries on audio - it's good but requires determination, and the Goldfinch is sitting on my shelf still so I cannot comment! Desperate to get to it though, I think it will hit my list next month.

I adored the secret history- read it many years ago, but could not bear the little friend and I think I gave up on it!

I do have the goldfinch lined up on my kindle.

2 The Age of Innocence by Edith Warton

I absolutely loved the subtlety of this book. So much of what is communicated is done by way of glance and implication and it is beautifully conveyed.

Strawberrypenguin,
I am totally with you on the Stephanie plum series! I love it!
I think Lula might be one of the funniest characters I've ever read

Yes I'm in please! Hopefully will get some good suggestions for some books to read too.