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

Ooh, I'd like to join. I'm going to aim for 25, though, partly because I love really long books and partly because this is still a big step up for me from last year.

I used to read vociferously, and managed to continue this even with babies, but in the past few years (DCs now 6 & 4) I find my attention span is rubbish and I spend most of my time fucking about on Facebook (and mumsnet!) and watching crappy telly, and have no time to read. So this year I'm determined to turn over a new leaf and get back into my lovely reading habits.

First up: The Player of Games by Iain M Banks and then I fancy some Trollope (one of my favourites) or some Vonnegut (who I've never read).

I'm always thinking I should keep a record of my reading, so will join in and hope to pick up suggestions!

1. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. V interesting hist fic about the woman who wrote rapunzel. But of magical realism in there. Quite sexy. Felt like it could have been a lot longer, I would have liked to explore the ideas more.

2. The Book of Fires by Jane borodale. Decent hist fic. Really gripped at first but silly ending.

Am now reading book 3, March by Geraldine BRooks.

Oooh... Lostdomain, I can recommend Luminaries on audiobook. The narrator is a bit irritating at first as ends sentences rather abruptly, but he's fantastic at dialogue and there is a lot of dialogue in that book! It really helps to keep the characters straight as they all have a different accent. I'm about 75% through on Audible and really enjoying it.

Oh, I'm in!

I did it last year, thanks to this thread on MN, and I'm doing it again this year too.
Marking my place because your recommendations are excellent :)

I'm in! Have never counted how many books I have read in a year before and will be interesting to know many.

I am setting myself a target of 30 as I have 15 month old twins and not much time.

So far I have read...
The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey. Loved it!
Currently reading Little Coffee Shop of Kabul - Deborah Rodriguez and so far so good.
Next read is - Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern.

Book 4 finished but was a bit of a cheat - a guide to Berlin (but I did read every word, so that counts right?). :)

And Book Five too - re-read a text I'm going to be teaching for the first time this term.

Can I join if I'm reading slightly very trashy books? I'm currently reading 'Throne,Dominations by Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy Sayers. I read a lot of detective fiction and thrillers.

1. The Girl who played with fire by Steig Larsson.

Unfortunately, I've also bought ten new books already this year, so while I'm just about on my read one book a week target, my 'to read' virtual kindle pile is still growing faster than it is shrinking.

I'm just about to make a start on the third book in the Millenium trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, but I might see if I can join a kindle book hoarders anonymous group first .

Finally finished my first one - Quiet, by Susan Cain. It was a bit one-sided and there were too many case studies but overall it was worthwhile and as a slightly reluctant introvert, I got some comfort from it.

I'm starting Apple Tree Yard tomorrow.

Hi! I've just joined the Goodreads too. Read lots, some worthy books, some trash. Can definitely recommend Americanah, great read.

Book 4 "The Cry" by Helen Fitzgerald. Emotive topic, farfetched, easy to read but overall a bit Meh.

Ooooh Remus, are you off to Berlin?
If you want another I can recommend the Monaco Books photo guide to Berlin, it is fab x

Hoping so. Thanks v much for the rec. :)

I'm in. I've devoured eight fluff books since January 1st, but I suspect that will be the rush done for now as my bank balance can't cope:o

I'm down for 75 on goodreads, and my aim is to make those up from new books, so no sneakily adding in those sneaky little Pratchett books that attack me in the bath:o

Book 3: The Black Country by Alex Grecian. It's the follow up to his novel The Yard. This one sees Day and Hammersmith from the Murder Squad, Scotland Yard, sentto the town of Blackhampton in the Midlands in the winter of 1890 to find three missing people. Very superstitious sort of place, it's largely being undermined by the coal mines so periodically the building shake and sink further into the tunnels below the ground. Very atmospheric and creepy.

I'm in!
First fiction novel of the new year: half way through Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy

1. Saints Of The Shadow Bible- Ian Rankin. Great, like slipping into a warm bath for a Rebus fan.

I'm nearly half way through the new Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch. Absolutely beautiful.

I'm not in (I read too slowly and this year have some very long books lined up to read) but wanted to chime in on Goldfinch: stunning, absorbing, beautifully written; a book to be savoured (it's gonna take me a few months!). I also disliked Little Friend but enjoyed (though didn't love) Secret History.

I'm in too. Last year was really rubbish bookwise with a new baby. Got through a fair few DVD box sets though! Back to work soon so will have nearly an hour a day on the train to myself. Also need to get back in to the habit of reading before I go to sleep rather than messing about on MN!

I have boxes of books I've bought/been given under the bed. I went through them all and did a pinterest board with them all on. With the new ones I got for christmas, 109 books. Forgot about the ones on my kindle though.

Just started Emily Barr "Stranded". I absolutely love her books and this one has a travel element too so even better. Off to bed now to read some more!

I am in. Currently reading Jo Nesbo. Police and Martin. Dance with dragons.

Oh I'd like to join too. I got a kindle for my birthday and its definitely rekindled my love of reading ha ha.

I'm aiming to read books I've not read before (I like to revisit books I love a lot, like a nice comfy pair of slippers)

Just finished my first book of 2014 - the hobbit. Never read it before and actually rather enjoyed it.

1. The Midnight Swimmer by Edward Wilson. 3.5/5

I bought myself a beautiful notebook (which I have managed to misplace already) in which to record books I want to read and those I have read so joining this group will be good for recommendations.
Just getting to the end of A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel which is MAMMOTH!
And, for some light relief, just read Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - highly recommend this.