50 Book Challenge 2017 Part One

[southeastdweller]

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?

I finished Winter Holiday by Arthur Ransome this morning, it was one of the few Swallows and Amazons books which I did read as a child. I'm aiming to read over 50 books this year, but I've always mixed childrens classics in with the adult books which is possibly why I read so many. I do think if a book is good it doesn't always matter who it is written for if that makes sense.

I also signed up to Goodreads although I had some problems getting it to work on my tablet yesterday, fingers crossed I can get to grips with it today. I put my challenge in at 100 books which is probably a bit high, I've manged to get loads read over the Christmas break and I think I've forgotten how much work interferes with the finer things in life, reading, knitting and fussing the cat

Oh that's promising remus. I'm enjoying it so far.

Sending live Cote and I hope you get news about the people you know and love soon

The Paying Guests has been added to my list.

Chauffeur - agree re: the Scarpetta novels - I think she's run put of ideas but is under contract to churn one out every two weeks or something.

And I detest her niece, Lucy - what a boring and totally unbelievable character,

The Power is excellent Strongone. And the Liar's Gospel by the same author is even better!

I'm in, although am already behind on this thread - need to catch up!

I managed 73 last year, so will aim for 75 this year. This should really include Ulysses, which I started last year and then abandoned as my concentration wasn't up to getting the most out of it.

Finished 1. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd yesterday, although obviously started it before the New Year. One or two people reviewed it on the last thread, I think. It's the story of Sarah Grimke, the daughter of a Charleston plantation owner in the 1800s, and Hetty, the slave girl given to Sarah on her 11th birthday. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

Have now started The Essex Serpent on Kindle and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in paperback, as need to read that and the last one before seeing The Cursed Child in mid-Feb.

Ah! You can count books you have read before? In that case my total was a bit higher.

I also found this, which I thought might be fun. Though possibly impossible:
Popsugar reading challenge 2017

And thanks, have downloaded The Essex Serpent.

Yes to re-reads counting!

Book 1 Closer than you Think by Karen Rose. A reread for me. Woman inherits house and moves to get away from her stalker. Good storyline

Can I join in too please? I'm currently reading Dorothy Koomson When I Was Invisible.

1. Word Play by Gyles Brandreth

I loved this. All about curiosities of the English language - puns, anagrams, malaprops etc. If you like language I recommend this!

Cote I hope all your friends are ok.

Thanks, Happy, I'm looking forward to starting tonight, I will also look out for her other book, as I think I will need a few recommendations to get to 50.

Yes rereads and I count children's books if they are substantial - I don't include Horrid Henrys and Dinosaur Cove etc but would include a Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton read to ds. I'm thinking of rereading the Harry Potters this year as my niece is reading them so looking forward to having some discussions with her about them. I reread at least one Jane Austen a year!

Yes rereads and I count children's books if they are substantial

If I counted picture books my total would be awesome!

You will pick up plenty of recommendations as the thread goes on and people start adding reviews needastrongone.

Yes agreed but I think the lovely bookworms on here would get pretty fed up with me reviewing The Tiger Who Came to Tea repeatedly, whatever my insights into its allegorical nature

Hello! I'd like to join this year - just lurked last year.

I usually read 50 a year but only managed 31 in 2016 - am sure increased internet usage has impacted on my ability to concentrate...

So I've got off to a flying start and no. 1 is Conclave by Robert Harris. It was v interesting, good peek into a very secretive process but was disappointed by the ending. Still, gave it 9/10 (I have a special notebook to record such important things ).

Next up is We Have Always Lived in the Castle followed by, I think, Madame Bovary. Oh, can't remember who liked the Scarpetta books but they're my guilty pleasure too (only on no.10 I think. Have to ration them!)

Thank you all

Remus & Tarahumara - I sent you PMs with the book info you asked for.

After a bit of insomnia, I decided to get into a fiction book last night and started The North Sea.

Finally I'd be interested to know what you think of Fall of Man in Wilmslow once you've read it. We're discussing it at my book group tonight, which is full of very elderly, very intelligent people some of whom will no doubt recall the events of that period, so should make for an interesting discussion.

Cote

My target last year was 104. Managed 107 so going for 110 this year

Blimey Red - do you read a different book with each eye simultaneously?

If I counted picture books my total would be awesome!

Same here

2017 50 book goal 🤔 doubtful but will do my best!
Book 1. The Missing Hours. Emma Kavanagh

ElizaBenson - I read a fair few books written for children as well - especially as DD(1) is 7 and starting to read a lot of them herself, so I end up picking them up as well.

I'm in. Managed 78 last year. Generally just lurk, but have picked up some excellent suggestions and recommendations from the book threads.

I'm in!