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Original poster

Anyone up for a X books in 2016 challenge.

77 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 03/01/2016 21:50

i can't say I'll read 50. or even 25 but i will read some.

They might not be literary masterpieces in fact they might be a bit shit.

Just be nice to have a thread where we don't have to impress with the number or quality of the books we are reading. Just say what they are and if we are enjoying them.

I'll start.

The winter children - can't remember the author. Begins with L. Ok so far. bit chic litty. advertised on mnet. Not sure if it will end up being a ghost story or not.

OP posts:
Matilda2013 · 11/02/2016 19:02

  1. Jilliane Hoffman - retribution
  2. Jane Fallon - Strictly between us
  3. Blue Monday - Nicci French
  4. Room - Emma Donoghue
  5. The Silent Sister - Diane Chamberlain
  6. Disclaimer - Renee Knight

I'm hoping to join in here as the other thread is too fast and fancy and I can't keep up! And this is what I have read so far Smile have invested in a new kindle paperwhite and now have regular visits to our library at home with dsd and library book and brews in work.. So plenty of books available but not all the time to read!

Chillywhippet · 11/02/2016 22:06

Welcome Marilda and it looks like you are doing well!

I finished Us by David Nichols. It was a sometimes uncomfortable description of what can happen to relationships after 20 years of marriage when the kids become independent. It made me reflect on he the things that draw you to a person can also be the things you find challenging.

I'm looking forward to chatting about it with my friends who happen to have read it at the same time but I didn't love it.

Just started reading The Martian

MyIronLung · 16/02/2016 23:29

This is my list so far:
1: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
2: The Memory Closet by Ninie Hammon
3: The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
4: The Beam Sean 1 by Sean Platt and Johnny B Truant
5: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
6: We Need To Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

I'm now starting We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler but I'm struggling to get ...Kevin out of my head!

MyIronLung · 16/02/2016 23:31

Chilly I absolutely loved The Martian! I read it last year and it was one of my favourites for the whole year. I also watched the film last week and it's also brilliant Grin.

notagiraffe · 16/02/2016 23:45

MyIronLung We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is brilliant. But Kevin is a very hard book to follow.

So far this year:
The Darkest Secret - Alex Marwood. Good, grim crime. Very well written.
Abide With Me - Elizabeth Strout - Good. Very quiet. Not lots of plot. About a vicar grieving his dead wife and getting a sort of chaste crush on his very weird housekeeper while his daughter suffers from elective mutism due to the trauma of her mother's death.
Sister Noon - Karen Joy Fowler - Loved it. Good fun. Set in San Francisco at the turn of the 19C follows the intrigue of the (real life) black woman who rose to wealth and power in the city, Mrs Pleasant via a fictitious charity worker who gets caught up with her. Really atmospheric and funny at times.
My Name Is Lucy Barton - Elizabeth Strout again. Good. Another quiet novel about a woman who gets reunited with her mother when she falls ill and her mum turns up at the hospital. More interesting than I've made it sound, as it is so well written and well observed.

drinkyourmilk · 17/02/2016 12:51

I joined the 50 books thread, but it's a bit intimidating as everyone reads so fast! I'm only on book 3. It's the bone clocks. Has anyone read it? I'm finding it hard to get through.

Chillywhippet · 17/02/2016 14:05

Hello Drink. Yes I'm feeling really pleased with myself being on book 3! Haven't read the Bone Clocks

In fact I have lapsed a bit and left the Martian downstairs. After your encouragement myIron I will put it on my bedside table with my reading glasses and get going.

That's what happened last year a page a week, and I'm determined to do better this year. Can't work out if the 50 books there'd people read faster or just have much better time management than me.

Matilda2013 · 17/02/2016 16:15

I've been reading the same book for a week and haven't got anywhere. Had a five day weekend for Feb midterm with no time for reading! Hopefully get there this week as I bought myself a shiny new kindle paperwhite and I'm desperate to give it a go!

Is this Martian book good? I've seen a lot of people talking about it!

MyIronLung · 17/02/2016 18:59

I adore my Paperwhite. If it broke I'd consider a new one an essential purchase Grin. I love that I can buy books in an instant.
My tip is......put every book you want into your Amazon wish list and then check back daily/when you can. The prices on Amazon fluctuate so much that I rarely pay more than a couple of pounds for a book Smile.

It's amazing how many excellent books I've got at super cheap prices.

drinkyourmilk · 17/02/2016 19:04

That's a good tip myiron. I've lots of books on my kindle I want to read, however I've lots of paper books too. I find it so much easier to read on my kindle now, quicker too, no idea why.

Matilda2013 · 17/02/2016 19:19

I try to avoid paying more than a pound or two.. And I currently have plenty to read on my kindle!

Nearlyadoctor · 17/02/2016 20:12

Could I join please?
I did read/ follow the 50 + plus thread last year but felt everyone was reading far quicker than I was. Also they count audio books which to me is not reading....
So far this year I have read

  1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - read the others more than once in the past but never finished the series.
  2. Kate Morton - The Secret Keeper
  3. George R Martin - The Ice Dragon
  4. Robert Galbraith - The Cuckoo Calling
  5. Robert Galbraith - The Silkworm

Just about to start the latest Roberth Galbraith - Career of Evil

Really enjoyed everything I've read so far this year Smile

Matilda2013 · 17/02/2016 20:25

I'm excited for you reading career of evil! Best one so far!

Matilda2013 · 20/02/2016 15:47

6. Disclaimer - Renee Knight

Have just finished the sixth book. It took me a while to get through as I was really busy but I actually really enjoyed this. Good twist! I'd been wary due to the "next gone girl" comparisons but I liked this one.

Nearlyadoctor · 21/02/2016 15:51

Loving Career of Evil Matilda2013 and having looked at Disclaimer have now downloaded it to my Kindle.
I was in Waterstones the other day and the sales guy recommended it as well - so another one on the pile....

drinkyourmilk · 22/02/2016 06:10

Do you ever just give up on a book? I cannot get into the one I'm reading. I managed a whole 16 pages yesterday, I'd usually read a couple of chapters. Started it just after Christmas!

Nearlyadoctor · 22/02/2016 07:00

I have done although I hate doing it - life's to short if it's really not grabbing your interest or the writing is an unusual style.

Chillywhippet · 22/02/2016 10:53

Ooh I think I'll pick up Disclaimer for DD.

Drinkyoirmilk I spent all year last year reading the Book Thief. I sarted to think I just couldn't read anymore but went on holiday and got through a few books.

So joined this thread to remind me to give reading a chance but I know what you mean abut when to give up if it's not for you. What are you slogging through?

drinkyourmilk · 22/02/2016 12:23

I'm reading the bone clocks by David Mitchell. Friends and colleagues have raved about it. I feel like I'm chewing sticks. I'm going to read something else and come back to it.

Lookdownthesofa · 27/02/2016 16:29

Finished The Remains of the Day the other day. Haven't seen the film and didn't know much about the book other than it being set in a grand house.

Not sure what I thought about it. I found myself drawn into the book and I couldn't put it down at times, but not sure if I particularly liked it. I can see why it is viewed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century though.

Next up Mother can you hear me?, by Margaret Forster. I saw it in a charity shop and was drawn to the title.

Chillywhippet · 03/03/2016 20:48

Finished The Martian. It was really good. The first couple of pages I wasn't sure but after that was hooked. Read it at night when I couldn't sleep but then couldn't put it down. even read just a couple of pages while brushing my teeth one morning.

Lots of interesting information but all important to the story.

Interesting watching the RL reports of astronauts returning to earth this week after long stay in space as part of the work towards astronauts eventually going to Mars.

Now reading I don't know how she does it from charity book shelf. It opens with the central character gently bashing sainsburys best mince pies with a rolling pin to pass them off as home made at the school Christmas concert.

I had planned to read Ready Player one next so that's on standby.

Lookdown I haven't read remains of the day but the film had loads of simmering tension which might read slowly I imagine.

Nearlyadoctor · 04/03/2016 12:45

Just finished Robert Galbraith - Career of Evil. So that's 6 books so far this year which is quite good for me. I wasn't as gripped as I was with ' The Cuckoo calling ' or ' The Silkworm' but still enjoyed the book.

Despite having lots to read on my shelf I have ordered ' If this is a woman' by Sarah Helm about women in a Nazi concentration camp. I saw it in Waterstones last week and thought it looked an interesting read. Has anyone else read it?
I may have to keep 2 books on the go if it's heavy going for nights where I just need easy reading.

Matilda2013 · 04/03/2016 14:58
  1. Jilliane Hoffman - retribution
  2. Jane Fallon - Strictly between us
  3. Blue Monday - Nicci French
  4. Room - Emma Donoghue
  5. The Silent Sister - Diane Chamberlain
  6. Disclaimer - Renee Knight
I actually really enjoyed this! Was slightly dubious due to the "next gone girl" reviews but I liked this and the twists! Will definitely try another book by Renee knight when published.

7. Unsticky - Sara manning

This is chick lit. Girl with debt and rubbish taste in men is offered an arrangement with older rich gentleman.. Not a relationship. I'm pretty sure I know where this is going but it's a nice easy read!

Matilda2013 · 04/03/2016 14:58

And it seems I already did a small review with disclaimer! Sorry! Can't keep track of when I remember to do this

Matilda2013 · 08/03/2016 13:27
  1. The Widow - Fiona Barton

Started this yesterday and I'm 31% in so far! Enjoying it and looking forward to getting stuck in