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50 Book Challenge 2016 Part One

999 replies

southeastdweller · 01/01/2016 08:45

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?

OP posts:
LookingForMe · 01/01/2016 21:51

antimatter Am off to read the article you linked to now - thanks!

KittyOShea · 01/01/2016 21:56

Yes me too I am really looking forward to it now!

Canyou Back Then sounds really interesting too. I have a weakness for American novels set in the 1950s and 1960s.

CordeliaNaismith · 01/01/2016 22:01

I'd like to join this year too please, rather than just lurking as I did last year. I didn't count, but did read a lot last year. Perhaps too many were light, quick reads though. I too have a big to be read pile, both next to the bed and on kindle, so the goal for the year is to get through a large number of these. Book 1 is going to be The Miniaturist, for which I have seen mixed reviews, but do want to read.

InandOutofLove · 01/01/2016 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wobblystraddle · 01/01/2016 22:57

Can I have a list of your son's books please, Einstein?

Some excellent books mentioned here. I really like Anne Patchett.

If I had to recommend one book to everyone it would be Milroy the Magician by Paul Theroux. Weird but brilliant, imo.

ladydepp · 01/01/2016 23:12

Crikey this thread is huge already!

I managed 51 books last year, but quite a few were quite short. I'm going to start the year trying to get through my enormous stack of books so no book purchases for me until April....it's going to be v challenging when you're all mentioning tempting books!

I use Goodreads to keep track as well, I like how the site tells me how I'm doing in my reading challenge: "you are 2 books ahead of schedule" sort of thing. I am very goal oriented so it suits me! Smile

I am currently reading the Taxidermist's Daughter and Game of Thrones 4.

As for books mentioned, I loved the Book Thief and can't remember finding any part of it slow going. I really enjoyed Do No Harm as well, I read it very quickly.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading everyone!

katsnmouse · 01/01/2016 23:14

Wow... so many posts already!I feel I am coming late to the party 😊 I fell off last years thread due to hyperemesis-nothing like nausea to put you off reading. Dd2 is 10 weeks now and thanks to lots of night feeds I have managed about 6 books since she was born! Looking forward to staying on the thread and keeping a record this time. Also wanting to fill in my 'literary listography' Xmas present!

PantsOfGold · 01/01/2016 23:15

I'm in! I need to rediscover my reading mojo so am easing in gently. Started The Rosie Effect a couple of days ago and I have David Nicholls, Us lined up. I have ordered a Kindle. Less Internet, more reading!

MrsLittner · 01/01/2016 23:21

I'm in.

I managed 54 books last year and although I mostly lurked rather than posted I really enjoyed browsing and reading some of the recommendations from this thread.

Just started 'The Kitchen House' and I have a long journey tomorrow so hoping to get a good start.

Psychmumma · 01/01/2016 23:23

Yes please!

Quogwinkle · 02/01/2016 06:00

bantam - I found your request and, approved, on Goodreads :)

I get ridiculously excited every year when they launch the reading challenge - have rashly challenged myself to read 100 books. There are some people on there I've seen who have read 250 and upwards in a year

CordeliaScott · 02/01/2016 07:19

Count me in too. Although with a one year old and another due in April not sure where the time to read 50 may happen. If I get that far behind I guess I could start counting the gruffalo and the very hungry caterpillar, I am reading them after all!

I have started with the Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer.

gillviola · 02/01/2016 07:58

I'm in.

tumbletumble · 02/01/2016 08:10

antimatter thank you for that link, what an interesting article. Maybe this will be the year that I read War and Peace! I've just put it on my kindle

Feeling a bit intimidated by all the English grads on this thread! Anyone else from a STEM background??

FiveGoMadInDorset · 02/01/2016 08:13
  1. Persuader by Lee Child.

I bought all of them really cheap in a kindle sale. This was number 6 I think. Getting slightly bored of them and going to give them a break for the time being. It's all a bit nonsensical escapism but easy to get into when on my lunch break from work.

This year I get to leave my desk for work and getting excited about increasing my reading.

Currently reading Rachel's Holiday, or re-reading it and They Were Counted by Miklos Banfy, first of a trilogy set in Hungary before, during and after the First World War.

elsbethy · 02/01/2016 08:31

Another lurker who'd love to join in this year, please. Some of my favourite books from last year were recommendations I saw on the 2015 thread.

I read 25 books last year, but had a bereavement in November and really struggled to get into anything after that. I'll never manage 50 this year, but will be happy to beat 25.

ChessieFL · 02/01/2016 08:56

Can I join? I probably read about 100 books last year. I've made a resolution not to buy any more books until I've read the 150 or so waiting on my kindle/ round the house! I then plan to make more use of the library and only buy books I'm sure I'll want to read again.
I started yesterday with no 1, The Photographer's Wife by Nick Alexander. It's a mother's and daughter's stories over two time periods, and I'm enjoying it so far.

Stokey · 02/01/2016 08:57

Annoyed I missed the Mother of Eden book, it's back up to £7, but thanks for the heads up Cote.

lalamumto3 · 02/01/2016 09:22

Can I join, I am going to aim for 25

Sadik · 02/01/2016 09:31

I wouldn't be that disappointed at missing Mother of Eden Stokey, I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Dark Eden.

DD did read all of it, without great enthusiasm, but neither my DM nor I actually finished it, and all of us really liked Dark Eden. Would be interested to know what others thought of it?

Sadik · 02/01/2016 09:34

tumbletumble, not STEM, but I'm an economist, never studied English :)

AnneEtAramis · 02/01/2016 09:37

Lookingforme - we have 2 books at book club this month (the Amado and Mitford) Grin

Katsnmouse - I also got Literary Listography for Christmas. I have coveted it for quite some time but never felt I could justify buying it. I love it!

FiveGoMad - I have added the Miklos Banfy one to my list.

level3at6months · 02/01/2016 09:39

I'm in. I struggle to read during term time but get through a few in the holidays. I used to read a wide range of stuff but struggle to get started with anything more substantial, so hopefully this will gee me up.

bellyflabby · 02/01/2016 09:42

Hi, I noticed the last thread a few months ago, I thought it was a great idea, so I'm delighted to join you all for this year.

I'm a terribly slow reader, so I'll aim for 25. I'm half way through Tess Gerritsen 'Under The Knife', an easy read and not to capturing, so it's taking me a while to get through it. I've a few of her books so I'll read them first before starting on one of the hundred or so books in the house.

ash1977 · 02/01/2016 09:49

I'd like to join too please. New job starting soon means about 2 hrs a day for commute reading/listening, so hopeful I can read more this year, but equally I have a toddler!

Currently on The Hollow Crown by Dan Jones (Wars of the Roses history) in paperback and listening to The Children of Henry VIII by Alison Weir on Audible. Want to read more history but also more fiction - need to make a list I think!