50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 1

[Southeastdweller]

Thread one of the 50 Book Challenge.

The idea is to read 50 books (or more!) in 2015.

Who's in for this year?

Just finished my first book of 2015 and what a great way to start it off - with a book I couldn't put down and absolutely loved! Shock Of The Fall grabbed me right from the start and I found myself fascinated by the main character Matt. I don't want to give too much away as I've seen some others on this thread are reading it, but I thought it was an emotional insight into how grief, and in Matt's case guilt, affect people. I found it very sad to read the parts with the Mum in and I loved the Dad and his relationship with Matt. Reading what the Dad wrote on the wall of his sons flat whilst he was redecorating it made me well up. It felt even more poignant that the Dad didn't even think Matt would ever read it. Also loved the character of Nanny Noo (great name!)
It was interesting to ponder if Matt would have still developed his "illness" if his brother hadn't died ( not a spoiler really as this happens at the start of the book!).

Forgot to add my next read will be the Book Thief which I have been meaning to read for ages.

I loved the book thief, one of my all time favourites

Another is The Historian - stunning book

1. Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino

Essentially this book comprises a collection of imagined cities as described by Marco Polo to Kublai Khan. On a deeper level, it speaks of the relationships between memory, fantasy and reality. The descriptions are rich in detail and the cities are beautifully evoked; the dialogues between the explorer and Emperor are intriguing. But there is no story here; it's a book of ideas. I found the endless descriptions tedious and rushed through many of them; perhaps then this is a book to dip in and out of rather than to be read linearly.

clashcityrocker yes I would recommend daughter but I would have found it a bit harrowing if my children were teenage (only one 14m ds so far so I could distance myself from the emotion!)....I suppose it depends what sort of reader you are and if you get tied up in the characters' emotions or not....

Would love to join in on this. I spend far too much time faffing about online or slumping in front of the tv and I'd really like to read more. Will have a proper read through this thread for some suggestions and check out my stash of unread kindle books to decide what to start with.

I read The historian then Dracula: quite the wrong way round. Also p&p after Bridget Jones' diary...

Hello, I lurked on the last thread and would love to join.
Book 1 is The Luminaries and I'm really enjoying it. 300 pages in and I have absolutely no idea what is going on. Will report back when I'm done!

I couldn't get on with The Book Thief at all. Wondering if I should have another try.

I would Pete I really loved it, and don't say that often and the Historian is not my normal type of book at all, it sat on my shelf for a couple of years but once I picked it up, wow!

I really enjoyed the book thief too petecampbell ...might be worth another go

I loved, 'The Historian' on first read, but agree that it's best to read, 'Dracula' first. However, I then re-read it either last year or the year before and really disliked it second time around. Weird.

I'm listening to The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer. It's a bit odd but quite like it.

The Historian was beautiful writing. I thought it all did get a bit too over the top towards the end. Still a favourite of mine. Are the authors other books any good?

Hmm, maybe I will try again. I might get the paperback rather than read it on the Kindle. I find it easier to give up with Kindle books.

I did enjoy the historian, but found it a bit slow to get going; really interesting read though.

Dracula is one of my favourite books ever - actually read it on a bench one evening up at the whalebone arch in whitby, opposite the abbey and Tate Hill Sands. That remains one of my favourite evenings I've had on my own.

Okay. Kicking off with

1. The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther. A very sweet little book which is beautifully written. The story is almost secondary to the way it is written if that makes sense. As much as I love it,(and without giving away any spoilers) the title of the book is the strangest choice possible!

Am going to start Apple Tree Yard this evening.

Slightly late to join the thread but I'm doing it too. Did it for 2013 and 2014, but didn't quite reach my target of 50 books - am determined to do it this year!
Have also had many excellent recommendations from MN readers :)

I'd like to join in, though would be happy to get to 30!

Have nearly finished We are all completely Beside ourselves, haven't loved it.

Starting The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult next.

Really enjoyed The Rosie Effect which I finished just before Christmas.

I loved the Book Thief. Was disappointed with Apple Tree Yard. They were both on my 2014 list.

Just finished my first, Val McDermid's version of Northanger Abbey.

V disappointing, and written like a teen/YA novel, which I hadn't expected. The plot is transplanted to Edinburgh during the festival season, with Northanger Abbey in the Borders. If you know the original you know this plot, but if you don't... Stick with the Austen.

I love McDermid's crime fiction so I had high hopes but her writing as a teenager was just a bit cringey.

Im in. I use to read around 3 books per week and now hardly finish one per month.
Currently reading Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

I would love to join in. I am currently on book one which is The Martian by Andy Weir. Really enjoying it so far. Can we also include audio books? I usually have one of those on the go too

Calfon - yes audio books are allowed. I include mine, which usually amount to two or three a month.