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Original poster

50 Book Challenge 2017 Part One

999 replies

southeastdweller · 01/01/2017 10:12

Welcome to the first thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2017, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

OP posts:
Ulysses · 01/01/2017 20:33

I'm trying to stop looking at my phone all the time and replacing it with reading proper books. A book every week or two seems doable. I've started The Lake House by Kate Morton this morning be when I've finished that I want to recommence Les Miserables. I've only read the first couple of chapters and have to admit to struggling a bit. I certainly want to finish it before the BBC adaptation though I think it's next year before that will be aired.

Matilda2013 · 01/01/2017 20:35

  1. The One We Fell in Love With - Paige Toon

Easy finish to 2016 and start to 2017 after Stephen King. Enjoyable read Smile

MercuryRising · 01/01/2017 20:49

CluelessMama I love Little Women I find it a real comfort read as it was a favourite of mine as a child. Enjoy!

boldlygoingsomewhere · 01/01/2017 20:49

I'm in again - it was great motivation for me last year to keep reading. Currently halfway through 12 Days of Christmas by Jeanette Winterson which I'm hoping to finish in the next couple of days.

Daisy2315 · 01/01/2017 20:58

I'm in, I have set a good reads target of 50 but not sure if I'll be able to do this. matilda2013 I've just read The One We Fell in Love With and enjoyed it for nice easy reading.

My book 1 is We were on a break - Lindsey Kelk

Tarahumara · 01/01/2017 22:06

Happy I loved the first two Khaled Hosseini books, but found the third one a disappointment in comparison.

ChillieJeanie · 01/01/2017 22:10

I had to read Middlemarch as part of my A level and hated it. You may have something with the serial approach Vanderley, it may have made a difference to my opinion of it.

I think the problem I've had with Clarissa in the past may be because it just takes so damn long that I decide to have a break and read something else, but then never get back into it. Hopefully trying a different tactic might work. Plus it's too big to carry around with me so I will be reading other things whilst out and about.

Admittedly, I did only try it in the first place because of Sean Bean as Lovelace in the TV series.

HappyFlappy · 01/01/2017 22:31

Oh dear Tara. Looks like I am in for a disappointment! Sad

I'll give it the "hundred pages" test as someone else suggested. . . .

PhoenixRisingSlowly · 01/01/2017 22:36

I'm in again, I managed 20 books last year which I was happy with, certainly a step up on the year before! I kept spending ages reading one book (A Little Life, I'm looking at you...) and getting behind so will try and be more disciplined this year.

StitchesInTime · 01/01/2017 22:40

I'm in. Hoping to actually reduce, rather than increase, the backlog of unread books in my home and kindle this year!

CoteDAzur · 01/01/2017 22:42

Welcome newbies.

Today has been hard for me, after the terrorist attack in Istanbul late last night where 35 people died and many were injured in a restaurant/club I used to go to & friends still do. I've been trying to find out if friends in Istanbul are OK (not easy as government put a "media blackout" in place which meant they couldn't access FB) and having panic attacks through the day Sad

So to stop worrying myself sick, I spent about 5 hours on the piano today. I'm now going through Handel's piano suites, which is why it's looking like my 1st book of the year will be about him. Friends, prepare yourselves for another series of posts about another dead Baroque musician Smile

I started playing today. It feels fitting, in equal measures of heartbreak and hope.

Julius02 · 01/01/2017 22:50

I'm in too - I love the idea of being structured about what to read; I need to get my focus back and stop wasting time on the internet!

My no 1 is Any Human Heart by William Boyd which I've heard good things about.

weebarra · 01/01/2017 22:55

The Essex Serpent is 99p on kindle atm.

SatsukiKusakabe · 01/01/2017 22:56

chilliejeanie I've made a lot of Sean Bean-influenced decisions in my time, so no judgement here.

Harvestwidow · 01/01/2017 23:02

I'm in Smile just re-reading Terry Pratchett's The Hogfather, my favourite Christmas book.

Vidorra · 01/01/2017 23:02

I'm in. Got some great recommendations in previous years through this thread. Only started Sarah Waters The Paying Guests so will crack on with that as my first.

VanderlyleGeek · 01/01/2017 23:02

Cote, I'm so sorry that you must suffer this sadness and panic. I hope that your friends and family can be in contact asap.

And you know that I love classical music, so I'm looking forward to your posts. Smile

Tarahumara · 01/01/2017 23:03

So sorry Cote Sad

I hope all your friends are OK.

SatsukiKusakabe · 01/01/2017 23:05

cote how awful it all is, I hope you have some news of your friends and loved ones soon. I really enjoy your musical interludes so post away and and may it give you some comfort Flowers

Original poster
southeastdweller · 01/01/2017 23:11

Hope your friends are OK, Cote Flowers

Vidorra I'm very envious of you reading The Paying Guests for the first time. It's one of the best novels I've read of the past few years.

OP posts:
VanderlyleGeek · 01/01/2017 23:11

Sadik, I missed your review earlier, but I'm happy that it confirms my expectations of Lovelace and Babbage. Really, how could I not love a footnoted comic about a female mathematician? It makes my geeky little heart swell. And, yes, the hardback version is very nice; I got my copy after I saw Padua speak on a panel about historical/biographical comics.

Satsuki, you should read it after Swing Time. Grin

And, I agree that there are way worse reasons to read a classic than Sean Bean. I mean, how many people read North and South for the Armitage factor?

Okkitokkiunga · 01/01/2017 23:12

Thanks weebarra just bought it. And the first Lord Peter Wimsey, also 99p

Schoolchauffeur · 01/01/2017 23:13

I'm in too- started last year and got sidetracked. I'm just starting a Patricia Cornwell " Chaos". It's part of the Scarpetta series. The last few have not been as good as the originals ( think there must be 20), but it's been a tradition for DH to get the latest one for my Xmas stocking every year. The plots have got worse, but I'm too invested in the characters now! It's a guilty pleasure for reading quickly whilst finishing off the festive chocs and booze.

Can I also recommend ( if someone hasn't alresdy) an App called GoodReads? You can list all the books you want to read, track progress, share your lists with friends, set a Reading Challenge etc you can also rate and review books and read others' reviews. It will also recommend books based on what you've read.

VanderlyleGeek · 01/01/2017 23:14

Vidorra, I agree with southeast about The Paying Guests. Sarah Waters is such a deft writer of historical fiction.

DeliveredByKiki · 01/01/2017 23:15

I'm in but prob aiming for half that at 25

Just started Zadie Smith's new book, Swing Time

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