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?

1. This is Where it Ends - Marieke Nijkamp

Finished in a day as I just couldn't put it down. Story about a school shooter told from the point of view of the students at the school. Would recommend it!

Hopefully these few days off work will give me quite a big head start on this year's reading at this rate!

Those of you wondering about numbers - you may find you already read more than you think. I wasn't at all sure I'd hit 50 last year, and ended up reading over 100 - I did read more than usual (inspired by the thread!) but not that much more. I always have an audio book on the go, and I read quite a lot of light fantasy and YA novels amongst the more 'serious' books, so they tend to be pretty quick reads.

I'm in. For recommendations and to keep a record of what I've read. Currently ploughing through The Luminaries on my kindle. I'm sure it's good, but I'm not feeling the love.

Thinking of you, Cote.

I'd be interested to know what others think of The Essex Serpent as I'd been debating adding it to my list but a few bad Amazon reviews have put me off.

marking place

i will be back once I've actually read something

First one done:

Christmas Days - Jeanette Winterson
A seasonal collection of short stories and recipes to mark the twelve days of Christmas.
I enjoyed this - some stories more than others. There were some good ghost stories and the recipes with anecdotes were interesting.

DrDiva Mon 02-Jan-17 11:10:00

Thanks for the link to pop sugar challenge, I've decided to join that too as extra motivation to get reading! Am trying to match books from my endless pile to each of the prompts, but will hopefully fill in any gaps by raiding DP's/FIL's bookshelves and then the library.

As for my 50 book target, I finished The Dark is Rising which I'm counting as a half, as was started in 2016. I think it's one that is better if you'd loved it as a child, as I'd never heard of it! But I quite enjoyed the festive/seasonal snowy description.

Now for first full book:

1 The Affair of the Christmas Pudding Agatha Christie
I'm not ready to give up on Christmas yet - well not until I'm back in work! So trying this seasonal collection of Poirot stories plus bonus Marple.

Book One
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
I really, really enjoyed this street, strange and sad book. It’s set in Victorian England and ticks a lot of ‘Victoriana’ boxes – landscapes that Magwitch would have looked at home in, cutting edge surgical developments, religion, poverty, consumption, possible suppressed homosexuality, slums and all. It’s got some really exquisite descriptions; everything moves slowly but beautifully and not a lot happens but it really was an excellent start to a new reading year. Highly recommended.

That's good to hear Remus as I've had The Essex Serpent on my TBR pile for a long time. I'll get to it some time in January I hope.

The hardback has the most beautiful cover; I don't know if that's the one you read.

I'm in. I managed 37 last year so I'd like to beat that. I think more turning the telly box off and finding books that I can get in to is in order!
I really stuggled to really get in to anything last year 😕

I got some fab books for Christmas,
Hollow City By Ransom Riggs,
Time and time again by Ben Elton,
HHhH by Laurent Binet and
Something Wicked this way comes by Ray Bradbury.

As soon as I finish my current (The invisible library) I'm going to get stuck in. I'm aiming for 52 books this year. That's 1 a week and in theory is very doable. famous last words!

I'm looking forward to the reviews of The Essex Serpent. It seems like my kind of book, so I'm glad everyone is enjoying/has enjoyed it.

Edna, I also have to resist the Internet. It does keep me from reading books at times, a habit I'm trying to undo.

Stokey, do try out Lovelace and Babbage; it's a lot of fun! I hope to finish it today. I keep thinking I should dig out Sadie Plant's Zeroes And Ones for a reread.

Have started The Judges Wife by Ann O'Laughlan my first book of 2017.

blackisthenewblack HHhH was one of my best reads of last year so hope you enjoy it. I seem to remember cote being unimpressed though so we'll see which side you fall on

HHhH is superb. Cote doesn't know what she's talking about! My dp hated it too, and gave up in disgust. He, like Cote, rates Ian McEwan though, so his opinion doesn't count.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one counting childrens books then.

We've just set up a book club at work so I'll be using those books for some of my choices along with the Mumsnet book club suggestions. I've also just read a preview of a book by Clara Benson, who I 've only just heard of. She writes crime books set in the 1920s and I flew through the first 3 chapters in the preview. I've ordered the first 2 books and I can't wait to get stuck into them.

Can I count the learn to read books, I probably read 20 a week so I'll have the 50 done in no time

Oooh! I'm looking forward to reading something that seems to divide people so much ☺.
I'm getting the impression that's it's a marmite book.

I've fancied HHhH for a while, but heard conflicting reports. I look forward too our comments.

I'm in! Starting off with a Jack Reacher book. Looking forward to seeing what's recommended on here.

It's brilliant; gripping, intelligent, and moving.

Hi I would like to join this year. I read possibly 30 books last year but would like to read more this year I will try for 50. Book 1 Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin. On book 2 Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin.

I'm in if that's ok. Have lurked for a while and picked up some good ideas here....

Currently rereading Watership Down as it seemed appropriate. And have rummaged about and found dp copy of Neverwhere which I've never read so that's next.

My kindle is bursting at the seams so reducing the tbr pile is a good idea....and if I lurk less and read more I'll be fine!

Looking forward to a good reading year!

Keith This Thing of Darkness is marvellous. One of the best books I read last year.

V glad to see more people about to read the excellent This Thing of Darkness. So sad that he died before he could write any more novels.

1. Playing To The Gallery - Grayson Perry Based on the Reith lectures he did for R4 a couple of years ago. Very entertaining look at the Art world and what constitutes Art these days. My only criticism is that I wished it was longer.