25 (ish) books in 2018 anyone?

[Homemadehopeful]

I know there is the 50 books thread but that is totally unrealistic for me so wondered whether anyone wants a slower paced thread with a hopefully more achievable target?

I read 22 books last year and have set myself a target of 25 for this year.

I've started with The Handmaid's Tale, nearly finished and really enjoyed it.

Hello toffee, I'm a physical book reader too - I have a very old kindle but it's only been used once, not a fan at all.

I haven't caught up on the thread yet but just wanted to say Hi and sorry that I haven't been on for a while, I haven't been very well and have had a short stay in hospital. You would think that being incapacitated would have meant that I have read lots but this actually isn't true! Not sure why really, I guess I just wasn't in the right frame of mind as even though DH did bring my book in for me I didn't read a page while in hospital. It may have been in part the actual book which I have shelved temporarily (it is a collection of short stories so easier to do this with). I have started reading again in the last few days and currently really enjoying 'Exit West' by Mohsin Hamid.

Will read through the posts I've missed and return soon!!

Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling rubbish. I can well understand not wanting to read when you feel rubbish, sometimes when you’re ill it can be an effort to concentrate on a book.

I finished Red Sparrow and I thoroughly enjoyed it but I just realised it's the first in a trilogy. I'm going to give it a break for the moment as I'm not in the mood for more spy shenanigans.

Book 12 was going to be The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro but, again, I'm just not in the mood for it so I've started What Alice forgot by Liane Moriarty. It's looking quite good so far.
An easy read that doesn't require much thought, but fun.

Book 14 done - the third Hunger Games. I really enjoyed them. Starting book 15 which will be the third in a trilogy I've been reading for the last year or so.

How did you find The Minaturist drspouse? It is on my tbr but not tempting me. Will need to get round to it as some point as still have the tv adaptation on my Sky box for after I've read the book.

Babybythesea I am going to have a look at that Hillsborough book for DH birthday. He will only read non-fiction and is a big football fan.

I have finished Exit West and really enjoyed it. It's main theme is the global refugee / migration issue but has a relationship element too. Really made me think, although the doors thing is slightly odd (don't want to say too much in case any of you are tempted). Overall I think it is definitely worth a read (plus it is fairly short at 228 pages!)

Started The Greatest by Matthew Syed last night. Haven't read any of his before and not sure if I will get into this but it was on the bookshelf and I fancied a non fiction next so it was this or Ruby Wax.

Also want to say that it is so nice that this thread is still ambling along slowly. I know I personally couldn't keep up with the pace of the 50 books thread (as well as the fact that I have no chance of coming close to that total) so it's Lovely to still have somewhere to come and chat about books

Oops, not anywhere finished Book Three but started on another book recently (Brooklyn by Colm Toibin). So maybe that can be Book Four, then... I’m always reading about a zillion books at once. Brooklyn is technically “new” as I haven’t read it, but I’ve seen the film so do know the story.

homemade I actually really liked it plus it was a much easier read than I'd feared. The TV programme had some subtle bits you got if you'd read the book so worth reading first.

On books 8 and 9 at the minute. Reading the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, and listening to how to stop time. Really enjoying them both

MummyCuddles let me know what you think of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, I have it on my kindle but keep putting off reading it for some reason.

I've finished book 19 but am now not reading anything! Don't know what type of book to start on next.

Book 14 finished Educated by Tara Westover. Very moving memoir of her growing up in a Mormon home with a violent brother and a bi polar father who was constantly preparing for the end of the world.
Book 15 is Kristin Hannah The Nightingale.

Oh I loved Henrietta Lacks and I really want to read Educated.

Henrietta Lacks is great. Such an interesting and moving book. I read it as a book group read otherwise I'd probably never have picked it up, glad I did though.

I'm about 100 pages into Henrietta Lacks and think it's brilliant. So interesting. I saw it in library, it's not something I would usually pick up but I'm really glad I did.

Off to Google Henrietta Lacks.....

I'm actually 1/3 of the way through Dickens so maybe 4 weeks...
Taking another break though and just about to start The Eagle of the Ninth which us from my childhood.

One of my library pre orders has just come inm After You by Jojo Moyes (I had read the first book). I'll read that then start i to Henrietta Lacks. Thanks for the feedback.

Finished my audiobook, how to stop time, today and have downloaded me before you. I've not read any Jojo Moyes, but I enjoyed the film so thought I'd give it a try. Usually I like to read the book first but nevermind!
tinkhasflown what did you think of it?

Book 14: Big Little Lies- Liane Moriarty. I picked this up in a charity shop yesterday when I had a little time to myself and ended up devouring it in a day and an evening. I wasn't expecting much because I had once tried a book of hers and hadn't got far with it but to my surprise this was a great read. Really sad in many ways but I didn't guess what was going to happen and thoroughly enjoyed it. May have another go at one of her books.

Mummycuddles it's quite a while since I read the first book but I did enjoy it. Haven't managed to get too far into the second one yet, been too busy. I fine Jojo Moyes books quite light reads.

Book 7 complete, three things about Elsie. Gentle, amusing, bit of a slog though. 6/10

Now reading My Personal MBA and The Marriage Pact which is intriguing so far.

tomhazard I loved Big Little Lies and I loved the tv version of it too - Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman.....

My reading has slowed down sooo much and I am blaming this on the current book which is still Greatest by Matthew Syed. I think the problem is a) being non-fiction there is no intrigue / anticipation / plot to drag you in; b) the subject matter is basically sport commentary and c) it is a collection of short articles he has previously written all put together so I am tending to literally just read about 5 - 8 pages a day which is 1 or 2 of the articles and then put it down. Obviously any book is going to take a while at that rate!! Not one I would recommend unless you really like sport related non fiction (like DH!)

I haven't read Big Little Lies but I loved the tv series. I have been told they are making another series.

Please can I join you? I wa son the %0 books thread, but it's only April and they're already up to 50+ books. It's intimidated me.

This year so far:

1. And the Mountains Echoed - novel - Hosseini - fantastic
2. Lincoln in the Bardo - novel - Saunders - Good
3. Braindead Megaphone - essays - also by Saunders - brilliant
4. Eleanor Oliphant - novel - Huneyfield - feel good quick read
5. Reservoir 13 - novel - McGregor - Fantastic but plotless
6. The Woods - novel - Harlen Coben - rubbish
7. What I Didn't See - short stories - KJ Fowler - good
8. A God in Ruins - novel - Atkinson - loved it more than Life after Life (it's a sequel or companion novel - same characters)
9. Will in The World - non fiction about Shakespeare's life - fantastic

Want to start The Luminaries next. It's twinkling at me from the bedside table, but promised DS I'd read The Secret River which he's doing for GCSEs and hates. I want to be able to chat about it with him and find out why it's worth studying (he can't see why), so I guess that's next. Also looking forward to Station Eleven.