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50 Book Challenge 2018 Part One

999 replies

southeastdweller · 01/01/2018 09:26

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

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2018, 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:
ChickenDinnerChecky · 01/01/2018 12:19

Joining!
Am half way through the Blood Sugar diet by Michael Moseley.
Also halfway through Mary Beard's book but I can't remember what it's called. Have The Book of Dust ready to go next!

BookWitch · 01/01/2018 12:23

Joining in for definite this year.
I was on the thread in the early part of last year, but dropped out as the year went on.
I ended up on about 70ish though.

I've joined the MN book club as well, reading North and South, so that will be my first one for this year.

BookWitch · 01/01/2018 12:23

Joining in for definite this year.
I was on the thread in the early part of last year, but dropped out as the year went on.
I ended up on about 70ish though.

I've joined the MN book club as well, reading North and South, so that will be my first one for this year.

Londoner11 · 01/01/2018 12:29

Have Just started North and South for the Book Club.

Scandicat · 01/01/2018 12:32

Last year was my worst reading year ever I think. This year, I'm doing the popsugar challenge. Almost finished my first book - The Bird Tribunal for the Nordic Noir prompt. Going to prioritise reading over writing and over wasting time on stupid games on my phone.

CoteDAzur · 01/01/2018 12:33

I just went through all 18 pages of another crappy Kindle Monthly Sale Sad Has anyone managed to find anything worth reading in there?

StitchesInTime · 01/01/2018 12:33

Checking in Xmas Grin

And Happy New Year everyone!

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 01/01/2018 12:34

Cote nope I found nothing either. That's 30minutes of scrolling I'll never get back...

exexpat · 01/01/2018 12:35

@teufelsrad Yes, enjoying The Dark Flood so far, though possibly not the most uplifting thing to start the new year (old age and death are central themes; several characters are dying...). But a thoughtful read, particularly for someone hitting 50 this year and with ageing parents.

Fairypantz · 01/01/2018 12:39

I'd love to join, if I may? Starting the year with one of my Xmas presents, Mythos by Stephen Fry. Already up to page 185 this morning (spot the insomniac) and loving it!

MissyCupCake · 01/01/2018 12:55

I'd like to join. Love reading but never counted how many I've read. I tend to be a cluster reader, 4-5 in a week then nothing for a month!

Just started Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King.

BookWitch · 01/01/2018 13:08

I thought the Kindle sale was disappointing this year, I usually manage to stock up for the year, but there wasn't much (and the good stuff they did have, I already have)
I did have one moment of joy - a book I had been wanting for ages and has always been 9.99 Shock on Kindle, was 99p this morning- it didn't come up on the front page, I just happened to check my wish list. That went in the basket so quick!

But the rest of the sale was very meh

Sadik · 01/01/2018 13:09

Just checking in to the new thread. Think my first read will take a while - planning on starting with The End of Alchemy by Mervyn King. Though I also have a fantasy/romance short story collection on my phone which I'm part way through & may actually end up being no 1.
Happy New Reading Year all :)

SatsukiKusakabe · 01/01/2018 13:11

No, nothing there for me cote Sad

MuseumOfHam · 01/01/2018 13:16

Thanks for the new thread southeast . Slim pickings indeed in the monthly deals - I have gone for the Helen Dunmore one, and the Chris Beckett one, he of the Eden trilogy.

Starting the year on an easy read, The House at Sea's End , third in Dr Ruth Galloway series of archaeology / crime thrillers.

ChessieFL · 01/01/2018 13:20

I didn’t find anything in the monthly deals either, but that’s a good thing given my resolution not to buy any more books until I’ve read all the unread books I’ve already got!

Ontopofthesunset · 01/01/2018 13:21

I'm in again. I'm glad I joined last year as I got loads of good suggestions from the thread, and it also acted as a reminder to pick up a book and read at times I might otherwise have drifted on Mumsnet. I'm always trying to teach myself a language or two as well so that competes timewise.

I'm also going to start the year by trying to read books I own that I haven't read. I allow myself to exlcude Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon as I've started that half a dozen times and don't think I'll ever get past 100 pages.

mamapants · 01/01/2018 13:24

I've just joined the mumsnet book club too so will be reading North and South too. Just downloaded free copy off kindle as an also doing a no spend January or at least that's the plan!

ghostiechicken · 01/01/2018 13:27

In from the beginning after slinking in rather shame-facedly ridiculously late in 2017. I'm aiming for 50 as yet unread books this year, plus whatever rereads I get through.

Currently reading Gossip from the Forest, a non-fiction book drawing parallels between British forests and fairy tales. It's an interesting read although I'm not entirely convinced by it.

Anyone else feel a bit guilty about including a book on their 2018 list of they started it in 2017?

Teufelsrad · 01/01/2018 13:28

What book was that,Bookwitch?

Teufelsrad · 01/01/2018 13:39

There's a lot of books that I wanted in the Kindle 12 days sale,(approx 20) so I'm pleased with that,but then that was out of 500 so not really that many proportionally.

January's sale is terrible though. There are only three I might get. Again there are too many cheap 'filler' books and I don't know why they had to include the New Year self help and cookery books as part of their monthly deals. That's usually a separate sale.

Toomuchsplother · 01/01/2018 13:43

I'm in ! New year, new user name! Was RMC123 which was so boring. Thought I would take inspiration from the last book I read last year.
Just started Golden Hill

SatsukiKusakabe · 01/01/2018 13:44

Nope, ghostie, not at all Smile you’re among friends here. Only don’t include if you don’t finish, otherwise at your discretion. Unless it’s say, The Gruffalo.

AnnaMagdalenaGluck · 01/01/2018 13:56

I'm always trying to teach myself a language or two as well so that competes timewise. Ooh sunset, what languages are you learning?

I love coming across other language learners. I've been trying to learn German for the past four months. Once I feel a bit more secure in it, I'm hoping to start Italian.

I love doing it but you're right, it's very time-consuming.

Ontopofthesunset · 01/01/2018 14:05

Hi Anna, I'm currently on Dutch and Japanese. I've been teaching myself the Dutch for a while so I've got a good basic level (and it's quite easy if you know a bit of German and speak English) but don't want to let it slide. The Japanese I've been trying for about 6 months - I'm teaching myself kanji as well as grammar/vocab so the kanji itself is very time consuming. I tend to get quite obsessed, much to my family's annoyance... My younger son bought me some Japanese children's picture books for Christmas and even they are too hard. Sigh.