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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:
likeazebra · 01/01/2018 23:28

I'd like to join please. 2017 was rubbish for reading for me, 16 books in total and I just couldn't get into many others I tried. I'm hoping to pinch book ideas on this thread and that I will get back to my love of reading. I'm currently reading the last on the Totlandia series by Josie Brown.

Nannplum666 · 01/01/2018 23:33

Can I join ? Just started everything everything and hope to get through more than 50 but with 2 kids and full time work who knows !

Littleredpoppy · 01/01/2018 23:36

I'm tentatively in... Have just started reading the pants of perspective to try to motivate myself to get back to running, and am halfway through crooked letter, crooked letter. Usually have a fiction and non fiction on the go together, but have totally lost my reading mojo last year...

Matilda2013 · 01/01/2018 23:40

72 books last year and aiming for the same or more this year. Picked up some books to read that I never would have last year from this thread . After I’ve returned my current library books and used my kindle unlimited free trial I’m going to focus on the books I own Grin

Book number one completed after a lazy first day of 2018.

1. Sisters and Lies - Bernice Barrington

Rachel receives a phone call to let her know her sister has been in a car crash and is in a coma. When she gets to London she realises she doesn’t know much about her sister’s life and is determined to find the truth.

Easy quick read for the beginning of the year with a couple of twists.

Also if anyone has any kindle unlimited books they would recommend I’d appreciate it Smile

loveisenough · 01/01/2018 23:41

Count me in please! I am planning to charge my Kindle tomorrow after weeks of not reading Blush Any good recommendations to get me started?

diamantegal · 02/01/2018 01:01

Hmm, I said I was in last year and then failed to post, despite reading 50+ books although not very high quality for the most part

Resolution for 2018 is to read better, rather than more - probably using popsugar for inspiration. And hopefully A Suitable Boy which I've started several times but then given up as the size isn't commuter-friendly.

So no commitment to hit a particular target, but hopefully I'll feel less embarrassed by the things I do read!

DaphneCanDoBetterThanFred · 02/01/2018 02:08

I'm in! Got up to 30ish books last year, which I was pleasantly surprised by. My first this year is The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick. Set in America, it imagines an alternate reality where Germany and Japan had won the Second World War. It's very much of its time with some of the language and descriptions of 'foreigners', which is quite jarring, and it's a bit oddly written. Not plot wise, that cracks along well enough, but the sentences are weird Confused There's often a lack of articles (a/an/the) where you'd expect them. Deliberately mimicking a Japanese/German way of speaking, or just weirdly written? I'm about 100 pages in and really interested to see where it goes next.

antimatter · 02/01/2018 02:38

My first this year on Audible is Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore. So far so good! I listened to 233 hours of Audible last year.
@diamantegal - I am reading A Suitable Boy on Kindle for the same reason.

MelindaGordon · 02/01/2018 02:56

Can I join? I often read this thread but haven’t joined before as I’d worried that not making 50 would make me seem like a wuss but have decided to go for it.
First book is also The Dry by Jane Harper. It’s not the best or most taxing read so far but I’ve just come out of hospital so reading something light until my concentration levels return.

annandale · 02/01/2018 05:04

Well, I enjoyed Manhunt by Peter Bergen which gives a US perspective on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. It got pretty gripping and I feel as if I understand a little more about that period and about drone strikes and Obama's actions. Also written before Trump declared as a candidate and he appears occasionally, much to his detriment.

JustTrying15 · 02/01/2018 05:24

Oh, can I please join in. I started my own challenge last year of 100 books in 2017 and failed miserably. I managed 41 which seems like a lot but I used to manage a book over two nights. Think life was just really busy last year. I have an amazing little boy with autism so my days can be filled quite easily.

Anyway....

BestIsWest I'm not sure if I bought Into Thin Air or just put it in a wish list but it is one I want to read.

ClashCityRocker Let me know how the Alan Carr book goes. I would love to stop smoking but planning on dieting this year and don't think I could do both at the same time.

My first book this year is Origin by Dan Brown. I quite enjoy his books but normally wait on paperbacks. I only really read in bed and nothing like a massive hardback hitting you on the nose to wake you up...lol

elvesareneverhappy · 02/01/2018 05:49

I would like to join too! I used to read loads before I had kids so I'm determined to make time for it again. I just finished reading Anericanah by Chimamande Ngozi Adichie. Next up is Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay.

BookWitch · 02/01/2018 07:16

I've not long finished All the Light We cannot See, quite liked it but would not put it in my top 10 of the year. I think I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads. Doesn't deserve the hype IMO

ClashCityRocker · 02/01/2018 07:34

First book down!

1. The Essex Serpent I'm sure it's been done to death on here, but it was a good start to the year. Very readable, and quite comforting, if a little predictable in places. It's not going to be going down in my all-time top ten, but a good solid read. Probably make a good holiday book.

I enjoyed the book thief. It is a bit schmaltzy in places, but unashamedly so, and that's part of its charm for me.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 02/01/2018 07:36

yes, slower readers please stay to keep me company. I am more of a 30 books a year person really, but love the reviews and inspiration here.

I did use my last day off constructively though:
1. The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale. History of a late Victorian case in which a 13 year old Robert Coombes kills his mother. Far more than a simple true crime story, this was a more detailed social history of life, housing and schooling in the working and lower middle classes, as well as looking at how the criminal justice system operated. Quite uplifting at the end as well. Enjoyed.

ClashCityRocker · 02/01/2018 07:36

justtrying I will let you know - although reading it has been postponed a couple of weeks as my husband pointed out that, as a tax accountant, January is probably the worst time in the world to quit - so I'm aiming for beginning of Feb!

glenthebattleostrich · 02/01/2018 07:40

Ooh can I join in please?

I started Storm Front by Jim Butcher yesterday. It's a wizard crime series that DH recommended so if it's rubbish I can blame him! I usually have a couple of books on the go depending on my mood but have been rubbish for the last year or so. Didn't even do my annual reread of the Harry potter's this year!

LEMtheoriginal · 02/01/2018 07:43

Can I join? I have resolved no phone in bed so am hoping this means I read more.

Have just finished "silent companions" by Laura Purcell - was intriguing but disappointing ending.

Just started "the dark half" by Stephen king. It's a 're read

Namethecat · 02/01/2018 07:44

Hello one and all - I'm in if you'll have me ! I'm an avid reader and also run a book group ( 10 of us ) We are currently reading H is for Hawk. My reading for pleasure is usually a crime novel. It has to preferably British crime, throw in a female detective and I'm happy.

Tarahumara · 02/01/2018 08:50

Thanks CoffeeOrSleep, I’ve just bought The Snow Child after reading your review - and it was only 99p, bargain Smile

Cedar03 · 02/01/2018 08:59

Hi I am joining again for this year. I am currently reading The Summer Book by Tove Jansson.

I finished off last year reading According to Mark by Penelope Liveley which is very good. Mark is a biographer researching the life of Carrie''s grandfather. There are some very funny parts about how Mark's assumptions about Carrie are completely false. Only criticism I'd make is that Mark's wife lets him off lightly. Very well written and enjoyable.

Tarahumara · 02/01/2018 09:04

That sounds like my cup of tea Cedar. I’ve just bought that one too. No more book buying for me today!

yumyumpoppycat · 02/01/2018 09:06

Thanks everyone I will have to get started now!

All the Light - I thought it was very good in places and overall a good story, but I think the blurb miss- sells it a little. Quite a good commuter book as not a frantic page turner but engrossing when reading it.

yumyumpoppycat · 02/01/2018 09:12

Have just realised I have the snow child on my kindle app! Will try and use the library as much as possible for this.

Frogletmamma · 02/01/2018 09:37

Finished my MC Beaton. It was an early one-Death of a Cad. Think the characterisations get more rounded as you go through the series.

Now reading Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman