50 Book Challenge 2016 Part One

[southeastdweller]

Thread one of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2016, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

[Littlefiendsusan]

Count me in.
I have a lovely stack of books waiting for me and I'm going to start with Isabel Allende's The Japanese Lover.
My challenge will be straying from my comfort zone- I mainly read books by woman writers and no nonfiction.
Will be looking on here for inspiration!
female

[OnGoldenPond]

Oh yeah, the Moomin books!

LOVED them as a kid, read them to my DCs.

DCs are teenagers now but still have all the books on shelves, think I will re-read them just for me

[Littlefiendsusan]

Eh? Random word apparition!

[HannahHobbins]

Yes please I would like to join!

Currently reading Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children by Ransom Riggs - is strange and beguiling!

wordwhirls that book is so awesome.

[OnGoldenPond]

Little, love Isabel Allende's books but not read Japanese Lover, will put it on my list

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

Satsuki I got about half way through the P&V translation of Anna Karenina and stalled - not their fault but mine as I got distracted. I had been fine with it and didn't notice very much clunkiness. I stalled in almost exactly the same place in the Constance Garnett translation 20 years ago. I think it's Levin and the farming stuff that does for me

I've had the Anthony Briggs translation recommended since I bought mine and I may swap to that. But it's not on Kindle, which is a problem for carting about purposes.

I have become a bit obsessed. I rewatched the old BBC version on Youtube, I've ordered the 2007 version DVD and I'm considering - no more than that at present - ordering the Bondarchuk film. But that might be a version too far, I'm not sure I could cope with it.

[ShanghaiDiva]

Didn't really post last year, but found lots of recommendations here and made it to 75. Starting the year with the new Jonathan Coe.

[Dontunderstand01]

damsen are you me?! I did an English lit degree and it killed reading for me a for a long time. I have just bought myself a new kindle and would love to join the reading challenge.

Book no.1 for me is A Man Called Ove.

[OnGoldenPond]

Jeepers, we had our office Christmas party in the house that Ada Lovelace grew up in, is now a hotel and events venue. Had a walk around the grounds in the morning, lovely place.

Saw a documentary about her life on BBC (I think) in December, such a fascinating life, would like to add that biography to my list

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Have you all read Allende's, 'Paula'? A beautiful book about the death of her daughter. I lent my copy to somebody and didn't get it back - must repurchase it and re-read this year.

[OnGoldenPond]

Remus, have Paula in my waiting to read pile. Will definitely get to it soon

[highlandcoo]

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to all the newbies

I'm back in with the aim of reading 100 books this year and much less time spent messing about online. Farewell Mumsnet Chat and all the rest of it - I want my reading habit back!

At the moment I'm immersed in The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann and finding it pretty hard going. Was really hoping to have polished it off by the end of 2015 but only on page 280 with another 400+ to go. Mann conjures up the atmosphere of a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps very well, but he writes in such a dense style it's clear that this is not going to be a quick read.

I need to read 10:04 by Ben Lerner for book group next week, so may have to leave The Magic Mountain aside to whizz through that. I suspect I won't feel like picking it up again, however as it was my birthday present from DS, and he likes some feedback on the books he gives me, I will persevere.

No focused plans for what sort of stuff I want to read this year. I'm off on a big trip in a month, travelling light - I normally prefer real books - and will be exploring all the stuff I've collected on my Kindle .. some crime, some classics, and some contemporary fiction.

TheCrow let us know what you think of State of Wonder. Ann Patchett is one of my favourite authors. I was lucky enough to meet her and have a chat and liked her as a person too - very intelligent, warm and engaging. I recommend Bel Canto too if you enjoy SoW.

Happy reading everyone

[BestIsWest]

Like the sound of Ada's Algorithm. Adding to list.

[magimedi]

I'm in too - I am retired & read more than 50 books a year but I'd like the challenge of reading & reviewing & trying to widen my reading habits. I am a bit fed up of crime.

I lurked on the last of the 2015 threads & have seen some great reviews for things I'd like to try.

[whippetwoman]

I'm in again for another year of great reading.
I read 115 books thanks to this thread in 2015 but aiming for 50 to see how it goes this year as I want to read longer books.

[CoteDAzur]

I added Ada's Algorithm to my Kindle wish list.

[FiveShelties]

I would like to join too - I read 65 last year, recorded on Good Reads and am aiming for 78 this year. I have so many recommendations, books on bookshelves and ebooks I am spoilt for choice.

Happy New Year everyone and happy reading for 2016

[ElleSarcasmo]

I'd love to join this year-I kept my own list last year and lurked on last year's thread on and off.

I got to 129 this year, but have had a lot of train commuting, plus working away from home. That all finishes in a few weeks and I'll have more driving instead. I'm considering audiobooks for the commute but I don't have the type of car stereo which my phone will connect to and not keen to use headphones. So not likely to get through as many this year! I'll be happy with 50.

I'm halfway through My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante...not loving it and won't be sad when it's finished. Next is SPQR which I'm most excited about!

Envious of those of you reading War and Peace-it's such a beautiful book and his observations of people are just exquisite. I had to skim some of the 'war' descriptions (similar with the farming/serf parts) a little as they did drag, but loved the rest of it.

[JeepersMcoy]

Ooo..I feel all warm and fuzzy. My first book mention and other people are wanting to read it to!

Better get off mn and do some reading now.

[ElleSarcasmo]

Are people using goodreads to log books or to find new books? I haven't used it before.

[TheCrowFromBelow]

Just finished State of Wonder and I really enjoyed it. I do like Ann Patchett's writing. The plot demands a "sense of wonder", it could so easily have become too outlandish, but she keeps it all on track.
Bel Canto is one of my favourite books.

[Alakazam7]

I'm in too. Just got back into reading after years of not picking up a book. Want to read a wider variety this year. Just started Brass Ring by Diane Chamberlain.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Elle I didn't get on with Goodreads. I just stick to these threads!

[Muskey]

May I join to I have often lurked. I am going to start with book 4 of Bernard Cornwallis last Kingdom series

[SpottyShoes123]

Count me in. I do read but get caught on phone too much. Always looking for different books to read so will post what I read with a review.