50 Book Challenge 2019 Part One

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the first thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2019, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

Fortuna, it is good, isn't it? Such a great translation. I think I should have listened to the intro at the end rather than the beginning. It's on my "listen again" list.

I’m envious of those who haven’t read Bookworm yet as I loved it - but I’m almost exactly the same age as Lucy Mangan and our reading was very similar so it really was like reading my childhood. It was my favourite book of last year. However, I understand that those who read different books or are of a different age might be disappointed!

I loved Sweet Valley High books as a teenager but, while I’m happy to reread a lot of my childhood favourites, those don’t stand up to rereading. There’s a funny book called If You Lived Here, You’d Be Perfect By Now by Robin Hardwick where she goes back and rereads them all as an adult. It’s a good laugh if you read a lot of them as a child.

I also like the Ransome stories, although I don’t think I’ve actually read that many. I loved the 1974 S&A film, and there were TV adaptations of The Coot Club and The Big Six that I also loved. I know I’ve read a couple of the books, but definitely not all. I do have most of them though so will try to rectify that! I listened to S&A on audible last year. It’s a good story but there is quite a lot of technical info about sailing which I found a bit dull so maybe better to read a physical copy so you can scan through those bits if you’re less interested.

Pepe and Fortuna, I got halfway through The Odyssey last year and then it had to go back to the library. Although I was enjoying it I wasn't loving it, but your recommendation for listening to it sounds like a great idea - will borrow the audio book instead of re-borrowing the physical book (which is also enormous and weighs a ton!). Thank you!

Pepe it's glorious! So glad I went for the audiobook. I honestly thought it was going to be a bit of a chore and a bit homeworky before reading Circe and Silence of the Girls but it's pure joy.

I feel the same about the intro, it was interesting but went on a bit. I decided recently that I wasn't going to read intros any more until after the book, but got sucked in to this. I'll be skipping them in future.

Noodle just in case it wasn't the one you had, go for the Emily Wilson translation, she's done something new with it and it works very well.

Finished #1 Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori Book 1 on todays morning commute. It didn't disappoint. If you like fantasy worth checking it out. Enjoyed the strong female characters who didn't wait around to be rescused but were still believable in their setting. Ending also not entirely as I thought it would be.

Started #2 Jane Austen at Home on the way home as a Janeite and a Lucy Worsley fan this should be good.

Sonnet, I thought Home Fire was very well done - I keep meaning to read Antigone to see how she redid the story.

Our library just got Bookworm So I am on a wait list. I definitely read S and A but only read SVH because my younger sister had some , so I may also be too old! Do remember loving Caroline Cooney though (Cheerleaders, point, and a fab book called Amongst Friends)

Spooky - DD has previously shown no interest in Ransome but has just wandered in with Coot Club after raiding my children’s book collection! Will be interesting to see if she sticks with it...

Ooh that is a bit spooky Chessie. I too love the 1974 film of S&A with Virginia McKenna in. Might see if I can find it on YouTube to watch.

Bakewell (great name, btw) - I've still not finished Jane Austen at Home - must admit I was finding it very dull. I'm a Janeite, but clearly not a Worsley-ite.

I'm keeping going with Tom Chesshyre's From Source to Sea about his walk along the length of the Thames. It's set against a backdrop of Brexit, I think it was the summer after the referendum. He comes across as being a bit miserable and critical as he describes things that he couldn't do because of the walk - visit a museum (though missing it is apparently a good thing), not having what he wants for breakfast and so on. He goes to buy a belt because he's lost weight though he didn't want to, things like that. I've managed to get past page 100 which is the point at which I often stop if I'm really not into a book but my heart isn't in it.

I've had Worsley's intimate history of the home on my kindle for coming up for 4 years and haven't got round to it yet, maybe this year will be it's year.

1. Animal Farm - George Orwell

An easy start to my year of rereading my 50 favourite books, with this which I was obsessed with as a teenager (along with the cartoon film version). I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone what this is about, but suffice to say it has lost none of its impact as a fable of the crushing brutality of the totalitarian state.

Scribbly You can find it on BBC iPlayer, as well as the 2016 version.

I didn’t like the 2016 version. Not sure why - partly the stuff they added in about spies, but that aside something just didn’t quite gel for me. Maybe I just like the 1974 version too much!

I watched the 2016 version over xmas, the stuff about spies was ridiculous IMO. Like you, I love the 1974 version.

I refused to watch the new version of Swallows

@MegBusset I have just picked up Animal Farm too as my third book. Read it a while back but I needed a couple of short reads to get me back into reading.

Long time lurker who would like to join please. I managed 39 books last year but aiming for 50 this year.

I finished my first book of the year today: The Woman in Black by Susan Hill which was a nice short read to get me going.

I think no1 and 2 for me will be
One Day in December by Josie Silver and reading The Curious Incident of the Dog at Nightime play for my English teaching course.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie thanks .

Worsley has a particular style which isn't everyones cup of tea I can hear her voice when reading it. Its very detailed but I am enjoying it so far. I particularly like that she is trying to get into her viewpoint as a Georgian.

wearenotacodfish The Woman in Black is one of my favourite ghost stories. I might have to reread it.

All the references to Animal Farm has got me thinking I might add 1984 to my reread list.

Hello, can I join. Used to be as voracious reader but child, job and life has got in the way recently. Got a Kobo for Christmas after swearing I would only read "real" books.
Just started Chaos, the most recent Scarpetta book by Patricia Cornwell. Really out of the loop so keen for new ideas

Still haven't read Bookworm. Really thought I had put it on my Christmas list but DH claims no and miffed I missed it in Daily Deals. Got some book tokens for Xmas so will treat myself I think. Reminds herself she is not buying physical books!

She's good at doing that in her tv programmes I think.

@BakewellTarts I really enjoyed it, I have been curled in front of the fire all afternoon, it was such a good read for a winter's day. I now need to narrow down my next choice, I am thinking Sofia Khan is not obliged or Roar. Decisions, decisions.