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.

Finished book 5 The One Dollar Horse - Lauren St John.

It was actually a book for DD 10 but as it was in the YA section of Waterstones she wanted me to read it first. When we got home and I looked on Amazon it said 9-11 years and is totally suitable for that age group.
I really it enjoyed it, its about a girl who saves a horse from the knackers by buying it for one dollar that her father ( just out of prison) finds on a street in London. It then follows her ups and downs until she finally rides the horse at Badminton Horse Trials. Not believable from an equestrian point of view but it did remind me of reading the 'Jill' books as a child.

Am aghast at all those saying they hated The Secret History as it is one of my favourite books of all time, and I hated The Goldfinch....

Hey ho....

[slinks off as has yet to finish second book of the year]

I adored All the light you cannot see...

Have you guys read Jenny Eclair's books? Yes the comedienne.

Love her or loathe her as a funny woman her novels are awesome. strongly recommend. Dark but fab.

Camberwell Beauty
Having a lovely time
Moving
Life death and vanilla slices

Yes enjoy Jenny Eclair

I didn’t like the characters in The Secret History.

I have just started The Secret History. Can I skim read the Greek bits??

It's nicely sinister. A bit Talented Mr Ripley. But The Greek Bits are losing my attention...

I’ve finished Human Croquet. It was good but not as good as Life after Life.

Onto the next one!

Just about to start book 5. Helped by the fact that I’ve been home all week with the flu. I’ve chosen a short one this time. I note a preponderance of female authors, which wasn’t planned!

My list so far:

1. Elizabeth is missing (Emma Healy)

1. Elmet (Fiona Mozley)

1. Ready player one (Ernest Cline)

1. Human croquet (Kate Atkinson)

1. The girl of ink and stars (Kiran Millwood Hargrave)

I have finished Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead, quite enjoyable - a look at a man who has never been quite satisfied with his life.

So that's;

1. The Belle Sauvage
2. Seating Arrangements.

Am currently listening to The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole by Sue Townend. Not a book to listen to in public as you get odd looks when you start giggling.
Got to pick a book to read now.

I’ve just ordered A Suitable Boy & Eleanor Oliphant.

My book club did The Goldfinch prior to when I joined and it was one of their favourite books so that is definitely in my 25 for this year too.

taffeta I loved A Suitable Boy, I'd read it again but it's such a long book!

Great to see others liked or are going to be reading The Goldfinch as well.

Can I join in? I like the idea of having a target to aim for, but agree 52 would be too much for me this year. So far I have read Everyday Sexism, which I enjoyed (if that's the right word for such a depressing collection of experiences); The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch, love this series of books. Currently halfway through The Dry by Jane Harper, very much into this one now, but it took me a couple of days to get hoping with it.

I would say A Suitable Boy is my all time favourite book, I actually cried when I finished it because I didn't want to leave the characters.

Have decided to read Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. I haven't read much of her work, mainly because The Handmaid's Tale disturbed me too much when I read it many years ago.

Finished book number three. So my list so far -

1. The painted man (Peter V Brett)
2. The desert spear (Peter V Brett)
3. Why Mummy drinks (Gill Sims)

Number four will be the third Brett book - looking forward to it!

I've also got The goldfinch to read after picking up a pristine copy from a charity shop, interested to see what everyone else thinks of it.

Very slow on the reading front here the last few days so not that much further on with Keeper of Lost Things but as it is book 3 I am fine with that as 2 / 3 per month is my aim.

DH is away from Weds so will have a couple of nights where I can just go to bed early and read this week 😁

Book 3 finished. Final,y managed to read 'One Day' which I enjoyed. Not sure I'm that fussed about seeing the movie though. The book was good but not as amazing as the hype made out. Isn't that always the way?!

Book 2 finished. The Good Widow. Well written, very readable, pretty lightweight. 7/10.

Next is Watch Over Me

Read Alias Grace last year, it was one of our book club books. I must say I wouldn’t be rushing to read another Margaret Atwood book after it. I finished it but struggled.

I’m 100 pages into Eleanor Oliphant and really loving it.

Taffeta I'm glad your enjoying Eleanor Oliphant, I thought it was great.

Book 6. Midwinter Break - Bernard Maclaverty

About a retired couple who go to Amsterdam for a few days, an insight into their marriage. It was I thought a story that never really got going, I kept thinking there would be more to it - but there wasn't.

babybythesea One day is unread on my bookcase, hopefully may get around to reading it this year.

I finished Eleanor Oliphant (6). I was laughing out loud a lot during the first half of the book. I enjoyed the first half more I think, found the plot a bit pedestrian but loved her as a character. Felt she didn’t quite pan out believably somehow.

But overall I’d probably still recommend it.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of A Suitable Boy.