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 finished The Underground Railroad a few weeks ago. It’s a very good book very moving and disturbing. I have struggled to get into anything since as its stayed on my mind

Reading (very slowly) The Girl who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson. It’s easy to read so far ok

I am not sure how many books I have read I think I am on to number 11 or 12 which is very good for me

Chickoletta your list looks very interesting thank you shall read The Secret River next

omg omg omg.

Just finished book 11, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.

One of the best books I have read in ages, you must read it! Gutted to have finished it.

I’ve been on holiday and actually managed to read! I’ve added When Will There be Good News by Kate Atkinson, Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims, Stolen by Deborah Moggach and The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan.

Still not hopeful of reaching 25 books this year as I’ve had a very slow start.

Iamblossom I loved that book

Had me laughing and crying was really enjoyable read

Added to my list, Blossom

musicmaiden I loved Alias Grace. It is a series on Netflicks and I recommend a watch after you have read the book.

I'm looking for Book 24! Can't believe it. I finished Henrietta Lacks, which I really enjoyed, but agree with a previous poster who said it could have been shortened by 1/3 as there was just too much detailed information at the end which I don't think added anything to the book.
I'm still reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with DD which is book 22 and have just finished Book 23 - When I Wake Up by Jessica Jarlvi. I found it ok, but thought the author was trying to shock the whole time with Lesbian affairs and an artist who added human hair, blood or other into his work. It was an ok read though. I rushed through it as I had ordered a copy of the Tattooist of Auschwitz from the library through BorrowBox, but it turns out it was the Audio Book I had reserved and they don't have it as an ebook - doh! So my search is on for another book. Will take a look to see if I can get any of the latest recommendations from here.

I finally got my ass in gear and finished book 4 it was good. I signed up for the Willoughby Book Club where you put in what books you like and they send you a new one every month, and got my first one today. Looks interesting, although I don’t know if I’ll read it straightaway.
Not decided on book 5, but as I said it’ll be a fairly thin book so I get through it faster.

Started into This is Going to Hurt as recommended by mummy. Have a few of the others reserved in the library too but this one was available. It's pretty funny so far, although maybe a bit unsettling given I spent 12 weeks in hospital before having my last baby!

Right, book five will be A Country Christmas by Miss Read. I’ve read a few of her books before, I like that kind of thing. Feels a bit odd to be starting a Christmas book in June, but oh well

I finished no. 9, Eleanor Oliphant... last night. Really loved it and read it in a week which is unusual for me. I expect you've all read it already but I'd definitely recommend if not.

I'm glad some of you have got some ideas from my list and have enjoyed reading yours too.

toffee my mum loves Miss Read and has read and re-read all (several hundred!) of them. I have read one or two and quite enjoy them. Have you read any Rebecca Shaw? She is similar but more modern. The Turnham Malpas series is good. I always struggle with her unbelievable dialogue at first but then get swept up in the stories and setting. Might be worth a read.

I'll move on to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society next. Several friends have recommended it but I've never got round to reading it - would like to read it before I see the film though.

Anyone got any tips for me to stash for my holiday next month? Poolside reading but nothing too chick lit please.

Not actually read E.O. I've got quite a few unread books already, which is partly why I joined this thread, so that I had a reason to motivate myself to read them. I don't know if I've got enough to finish the 25, but it's a start, and I can use this thread as inspiration.
My mum introduced me to Miss Read, I like this kind of school-in-a-village type of story. Not read Rebecca Shaw, but I'll look into it for more ideas!

I read 22 books last year so hoping to top that this year. Currently reading my 13th book of the year - Philippa Gregory’s ‘The White Queen’.

Do any of you use goodreads to track what you’ve read?

chickoletta this is my list from last year:

2017 Books

The secrets of married women
Don’t wake up
Friend request
Good me bad me
Poldark - the loving cup
The girlfriend
The honeymoon
The missing wife
The colour of water in July
The idea of you
The food of love
One Cretan evening
The keeper of Lost things
The island
Poldark - the millers dance
We ever asked for wings
How I lost you
Mother one Leafy got me
The accidental life of Greg milllar
My sister lives on the mantelpiece
The last act of love
A man called Ove
The sea sisters
The good girl
Our song
Evelyn after
The couple next door
My everything
The art of hiding
Poldark 11 - 30

Of these I really enjoyed Friend Request, Tye Honeymoon, The Colour of Water, My Sister Lives in the Mantelpiece.

I am also really enjoying working my way through the Poldark series, absolutely love them.

Oh and loved the keeper of Lost things too

I like anything Amanda Prowse writes too.

But just to say again, read The Heart's Invisible Furies, amazing!

Oh @chickoletta I was going to suggest Why Mummy Drinks. I’ve just read it on holiday an thoroughly enjoyed it but I fear it may well fall into the chick lit category.

How about a Man Called Ove?

Chickoletta, non chick lit but stand out books for me over the past couple of years have been His Bloody Project, North Water, Our Endless Numbered Days, Educated, The Glass Castle, 84 Charing Cross Road.

Some great ideas to investigate, thanks.

As it's returning to the TV tonight I've popped back to tell you (if you'll forgive the habitual bossiness of an English teacher)how phenomenally brilliant the Poldark books are. So much more detailed and nuanced that the TV series, very well-written, tragic, hilarious and beautiful all at the same time. I've read all 12 but am seriously considering re-starting them all this summer.

Book five done. It was a collection of short stories, plus the print was fairly large on the page; if it had been more normal size-wise it would've been shorter. But I needed a short book!
Book six will be Cider with Rosie. It's a similar length to A Country Christmas pages-wise, but the print is smaller so there are more words to a page. Book seven will be Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann, which is my Willoughby Book Club book for the month.

chicoletta snap I love the Poldarks too

11. Gimson's kings and queens: Brief lives of the monarchs since 1066 - Andrew Gimson.

This was such an interesting read. I've read so much about the Tudors but my knowledge about what happened to the monarchy after Elizabeth I was pretty much non existent. Easy to read and understand, with no more than 4/5 pages about each monarch (generally 2/3). A book that you can pick up and put down with ease. Definitely recommend if you enjoy history and want to learn the basics of our past monarchs.

Book 12. The Child.

Enjoyed this, easy to read, good characters and a proper twist at the end.

Book 17 - The Looking Glass House by Vanessa Tait. A fictionalised accoun of the friendship between Alice Liddell and Lewis Carrol, told from the point of view of the governess.
Not a book I'd have chosen - we read it for book group, but in the event I quite enjoyed it. Which is why I like my book group! It wasn't brilliant but it wasn't hard going and although it wasn't one of those books where you never want it to end, I did want to finish it.

Sounds interesting baby, it’s always good to read a book you wouldn’t have normally chosen. Often you hear from people on MN who’ve had to read a book club book that they’ve hated!
Still going with Cider with Rosie (about halfway through). It’s an interesting book; no real plot, more a series of stories about the author’s life. I like the description, it really helps you to build a picture in your mind’s eye.

12. Obsession - Amanda Robson. This was some sort of psychological, sexual thriller type thing (I do t think thriller is the right description but can't think what else to call it. It was very depressing, confusing and pretty pointless IMO. I picked it up from the library because it seemed like a good read. It wasn't.