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.

I know what you mean about the 50 books thread being intimidating..... After a great start to the year I'm slowly plodding through my number 10 book - the final demon series one. It's a bit slow going at the moment.....

My issue is that I'm always reading multiple books at once. Whilst on what I've called Book 3, I've actually started books 4 and 5... so maybe I'll change the book numbers to reflect the order in which I actually finish them. So...

1. Emily Climbs by LM Montgomery
2. The Russian Interpreter by Michael Frayn
3. looks to be The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling Number 4 was originally my number 3, which is Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Number 5 will probably be Brooklyn by Colm Toibin.

How on Earth are the people in the 50 Books thread already on their 50th books? This is Week 17 of 2018, that's an average of three books a week! Books are fairly long, I'm assuming people have work etc to do... how do they do it?

I asked them that toffee and they just said: I read fast, I read all the time - on the commute, in the bath etc. Even when I was glued to a book at every spare moment I still couldn't manage more than one a week-10 days. People have ripped through stuff like Lincoln in the Bardo which was a really slow read for me. I enjoyed it but you can't skim it. I ended up feeling inadequate on that thread. Think this is more my pace.

I may make it to 50 by Dec if I'm really lucky!

Book 15: The Cows by Dawn O'Porter. Despite some terrible writing and some far fetched moments I actually found this very readable and laugh out loud funny in places.
It's an interesting observation of online behaviours and social attitudes toward female behaviours. It's worth a read.

I am currently reading:
Tale of Two Cities - no 17 - it's mine so I can dawdle
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe - from the library but nobody else wants it so I can renew it - no 19 [got bored with the Dickens so read something else]
Alexander Hamilton - also from the library, it has reservations on it BUT I actually don't officially have it out as the computer said no and the librarian just said "bring it back by 12th May". It has 800 pages... not likely to happen! - no 20

And I've just got a notification that Still Me by Jojo Moyes is waiting for me (and has 65,000 people in line for it).

I waited quite a while for Alexander Hamilton so I'm not sure if I could bear to take it back and reserve it again. I think I'll do what I can by a week after the official return date, then if it is looking hopeless I'll re-reserve.

I'm also reading The Complete Father Brown on Kindle but have been reading it for at least 6 months so if it gets finished this year it will get a number.

Well book 3 (Casual Vacancy) is done. I’ve never been one to really “gush” over something or been able to say how good something is. I did enjoy the story and wanted to keep reading, which is something I guess!!
Now back to Casting Off. Must read it properly.

Two more for the list.
Book 11. Marking Time - Elizabeth Jane Howard. The second in the Cazalet Chronicles. A really enjoyable read, if not a set the world on fire one.
Book 12. I let him go - Denise Bulger. I bought this on kindle and I'm not sure why but I got it. In the event, I'm glad I read it. Apart from anything, it makes James into a real boy, and not just a murder victim.
Book 13. One Bloody Afternoon - the Hungerford Massacre. It came up as a recommended book and it struck me I knew nothing at all about it. Not who was involved, or how it unfolded, or anything. Except that when we drive past I think "A gunman shot some people there." Now I know more.

Cheerful reading list I've got...

Toffee - did you enjoy Emily Climbs? I loved that series as a girl and have even named my DD Emily, partly because of them. Not read them as an adult as I'm not sure they'd stand up to it...

And I'm with you on the multiple book thing.
While I've read books 11-13 on my list I've also had An Equal Music on the go, plus read multiple magazines (I subscribe to BBC Wildlife and BBC History, and also have had the members mags for National Trust and English heritage arrive.)
Very rarely just read one thing at a time.

Yes I did babybythesea. I didn’t realise it was part of a series so I shall investigate the others.

I’ve been half following the thread, can I join even if it’s beginning to look like i’ll get nowhere near the 25 mark? I’ve had a really slow start, I’m a slow reader anyway plus I’ve given up on a couple of books. I’m only on book 8!

I’m further behind Jilted, I’m on book four! I managed to read a fair few pages yesterday and hopefully will manage more today. I spend too much time on YouTube and playing The Sims...

Welcome JiltedJohnsJulie! I am probably not going to make 25 either although this is a target !
Trouble with me is I read in fits and starts depending on how busy I am at work so can go weeks without reading, and then squeeze two into one week. I think this method will leave me closer to the 20 mark but I'm enjoying trying!

I'm starting to wonder if I can include the books I read to my kids!
I've only got one chapter of The Hobbit left to read to my eldest. I could probably get away with including that. But I'm not sure Hairy MacClary from Donaldson's Dairy, or Topsy and Sodding Tim and the New Baby count. That's just pushing my luck!!

I'm also trying to do the Bleak House read along from another thread, but only saw it this week so have lots of chapters to catch up on, and also it's not due to finish until next year so won't even be able to count it to this year's reading list!

Toffee - can't remember if Emily Climbs is the second or third. The first is Emily of New Moon. Which is my mostest favourite!
I've also started reading some of the books L.M. Montgomery wrote for adults. I saw the Blue Castle recommended on here and I loved it. I hadn't ever thought to investigate her writing beyond Anne of GG and Emily, so I'm slowly building up my collection of her other work.

I have finally finished given up on, I will confess to skipping one chunk The Greatest by Matthew Syed. Unless you are really into (mainly male!) sports I really wouldn't bother!! The Greatest it was not!!

Anyway as some kind of antidote to the dullest book I have had the misfortune of picking up in a long time I started Eleanor Oliphant yesterday. I am really hoping this will kick start my reading mojo. Plus there are so many books I want to read at the moment, roll on half term and a week camping in France!!

Tom I really enjoyed The Cows last year and two friends have since read it. The part at the end was ridiculous (PA & photographer and TV producer walks in) but despite all it's flaws I really enjoyed it.

BabybytheSea I would definitely include The Hobbit!!

I have about 600 pages left of Alexander Hamilton, and I'm going away for work on Thurs, but have a lot of hanging around time when I should be writing stuff.
So I'm going to give it a good old go and then I think I will be more motivated to actually read it if I take it back and request it again, rather than buy it! But I am actually enjoying it, especially after seeing the musical.
it's certainly better than Les Miserables

Just checking in. Since my last post I've read:

1. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist – Sunil Yapa - a book club read. Quite gripping and thoughtful in places but a bit waffly and overwritten.

10. The first Harry Potter (with my son) - we enjoyed it, although I still don't get why it was such a hit with adults when first released. 11. Grief is the Thing with Feathers – Max Porter – this month's book club read, very short so I've finished it already. It was pretty stunning and led to me writing down passages from it, although I didn't fully understand it, I don't think.

Now reading:
Happy by Derren Brown - this is a pretty dense one so reading a few pages at a time
My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal – so far, excellent.

GoodReads seems to think I am three books ahead of schedule for my target of 25... not sure how given we are in month 5....

toffee it’s only because I’ve had some leave already this year that I’ve managed those many...

tom love the username. I’m reading the book now

I’m on book 10 (I think)

The Woman in the Window by A.J.Finn

I’m liking it

Book before was The Heart’s Invisable Furies it was very funny and very moving highly recommend it after I fancied a thriller

Think I want something light and amusing next grateful if anyone had got any suggestions

Book 16: The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. Despite the super irritating blurb that doesn't tell you what it's about and insists it's the best book you'll ever read, I did enjoy this!
It's very very sad and I swung between loving and hating many of the characters. I also thought it was unbelievable in places but the narrative was very engaging and the overall story interesting

Book 15 - The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah. I really loved this book, another set in Ww11 in France. Similar ilk to All the light we cannot see, beautifully written.

Book 16 - Everything Everything, Nicola Yoon. The book is about an 18 year old girl who is basically allergic to everything. She lives with with her mother in an air locked house and can only look out at the outside world. Everything changes when new neighbours move in next door and she starts messaging Olly their son. A bit of twist at the end. Excellent YA book about teenage angst.

Finished the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, really enjoyed it to begin with but I think it could do with being about 50-100 shorter...it just dragged at the end.
Almost finished listening to me before you, not my usual kind of book but I've enjoyed it.

Next I'm reading Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine (my mil read it on holiday and thought I'd like it) and listening to Miss treadway and the field of stars (I use the rbdigital app for audiobooks and tend to pick random books I wouldn't usually pick up for a bit of variety.)

Mummycuddles I'm about halfway through Henrietta Lacks and really enjoying it so far.

I loved Eleanor Oliphant but it has mixed reviews on here. If you like it I would say you would like A Man called Ove too.