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 bloody loved Ready Player One whatthefox It was one of my favourite reads of last year. It was just such an unapologetic geek romp, really hope a it is a decent film, I usually hate watching things I’ve read but looking forward to that one.

I’m a bit rubbish at keeping up with threads like these but 25 sounds about right for me.

So far I’ve read Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor and I’m halfway through The Silkworm

What a vile day ( weather wise that is) DH has an appt this morning so is dropping Dd and I into town at Waterstones. 2 hours to browse - knowing me I'll probably buy 25 books just today !

Need to stop reading MN and finish book 2!!

I have finished listening to The Belle Sauvage. Enjoyed it a lot - good adventure story. I enjoyed the narration by Michael Sheen. I believe that the next book in the series is being written now, I'm looking forward to it.

I haven't been in the mood for Lincoln in the Bardo so started Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead. Not an author I have come across before. Story of an upper middle class New England family over a long weekend to celebrate a daughters wedding. The main character, the father of the bride is nearly 60 and reflecting on his stuffy upbringing and general discontentment with his lot.
Horrible weather here so a perfectly day to read a book!

Book 2 finished, If Only They Didn't Speak English - Jon Sopel. I found some chapters more enjoyable than others but overall it was really interesting, a fair amount of wit, but ultimately has left me with a depressed view of the world right now.

Feel I need something more light-hearted next so book 3 is going to be The Keeper of Lost Things, but probably won't start that until the middle of the week, Tues at the earliest.

I really can’t get into The Power. I’ve decided I don’t like books where different chapters are points of view from different characters.
I like the flow you get from following one.
I’ll still read it but it’s a struggle.

If there is one thing I have learnt from all the different reading threads lately, it is not to bother with The Power!

I’ve just finished Friend Request by Laura Marshall, and I really enjoyed it, would recommend.

Now to decide what to read next. . .

Myfanwyprice - another one added to my kindle list thank you.

Shopping trip to Waterstones fairly productive:
Churchill - Boris Johnson
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
The Stand - Stephen King
Midwinter Break - Bernard Maclaverty
The One dollar Horse - Lauren St John ( joint buy for me and Dd)

Dd also chose another 3 books so now I'm bankrupt.

Would interested to hear others views on both The Stand and The Goldfinch!

I hope you enjoy it nearly, I’ve been having a browse and downloaded ‘In the light of what we see’ by Sarah Painter - basically because it was free on Amazon prime and had some good reviews!

I did enjoy The Goldfinch, I found I loved the first third, struggled in the middle, but then enjoyed the last third and found it really stayed with me.

With everything I've now got to read I don't expect I'll need to buy any more books this year . I always read more Jan / Feb than any other time of year and then it plateau's.

I've parked Shannara. I'd forgotten how Terry Brooks spends 27 pages describing every blade of grass in the area instead of getting on with it. The book could be half the length. I suppose I'll go back to it. I hate not finishing books. It doesn't happen often. Last one was 'Nothing Lasts Forever' by Robert Thorpe - the book Die Hard is nothing like based on.

@piggywaspushed
Bought Kate Atkinson's When Will There be Good News for my Kindle. Read the first chapter last night. Couldn't sleep! You are right about the opening. Hope the remainder of the book is as good.

Finished Eleanor Oliphant which I enjoyed but wouldn't rave about.

I'll be interested to hear your final verdict ladyflip !

Meanwhile I finished my rude book which I did actually like and am now on book number 6 The Muse.

I loved the Goldfinch (but hated Secret History).

I’m halfway through one I’d forgotten I had started - Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. It’s a ghost story set in the Arctic - not my usual fodder!

Book 4: All the light we cannot see - Anthony Doerr

Took me a while to get into this book, probably 100 or more pages. It is thought provoking and beautifully written but not a page turner imo. I know it's had fabulous reviews and obviously won the Pulitzer Prize, whilst I enjoyed it, it's not a book I would rave about.

So I’ve finished Dark Matter. (4)

It was OK. I now know ghosty things aren’t really my thing.

The Keeper of Lost Things next.

Finally finished no. 2 - The desert spear by Peter V Brett. It's the second book in the demon cycle series. Now to decide whether to crack on with the third or read something else do a change......

I started The Keeper of Lost Things late last night Taffeta

I loved The Goldfinch too. I haven't read any of your other purchases nearly, sounded like a lovely way to spend a wet Sunday though!

Ooh we can compare notes live home

I’ve been pondering Dark Matter. It was one of those books that’s 150 pages of suspense and then everything happens in one paragraph.

I had to re read the paragraph a few times. Most unsatisfactory.

Pleased to hear others loved The Goldfinch, I nearly didn't buy it as gave up on The Secret History but it was years ago.

I loved Dark Matter. I just love supernatural and horror anyway. I spent my teenage years reading Stephen King, James Herbert and loads of science fiction and fantasy.
I find it annoying that my brain seems only to cope with page turner thriller types like Gone Girl.
I’m still ploughing through The Power....

I really enjoyed the first third of The Goldfinch but found it harder work to plough through the rest. Felt satisfied when I had finished and did enjoy the remainder, but it lacked the thrill of the first third of the book.

The best book I read last year was Watching the English by Kate Fox. Not fiction, but fascinating reading, and very funny.

I'm a very slow reader Tafetta so you will probably finish before me but yes will be good to compare thoughts. I am only up to p32 / ch6 so far!

I’ve finished it home. Had a lazy day off yesterday!

I won’t comment on it til you’ve finished.