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?

I'd like to join too please. I want to get back to reading more, and a wider variety of genres. I always seen to get stuck in a bit of a rut with my reading

I would love to join. I had a try last year and read about 30 books, although I also listened to many audiobooks. I lost track of the thread though and only dipped in once in a while. I would love to keep up with the thread more, for inspiration and opinions.

I have just started reading The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-time. I'm enjoying the style and love the young narrator, but only a few pages in and all that can change as any reader knows! I read 600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster a couple of years ago, which was similar and which I loved, so will see how this one pans out.

Hi all may I join? It’s my resolution this year to spend more time reading and less online or slobbed out in front of the tv. 50 might be a stretch for me but I’m going to give it a try. My first read is the sisters by Claire Douglas

Angel was such a twat - agree entirely.

Has anybody bought anything in the new Kindle monthly sale? It's pretty dreadful.

I’m in!
I joined a book club last year, after a few years of practically no reading whatsoever, it did me a world of good:)
I’ll aim for 50 :)

I’ve just started Caitlin Moran’s Morantology.

Angel is indeed a twat but Alec is such a good villiain! Unlike lots of Victorian stuff, Tess has stood the test of time : sixth formers still like it, on the whole.

I agree that The Mayor of Casterbridge is a good one , too. It's opening chapter is brilliant.

we dont have to just read classics do we its ok to read chiclit or just general fiction i do read quite impressive books sometimes but often i just want something easy to read to chill out with

I’d like to join in too but at least half of my ‘reading’ will be on audible - is that okay on this thread? Since I started teacher training I’ve struggled to find time to read but I listen on my commute and when I’m doing paperwork or setting up my classroom.

No rules here so plenty of people have counted audiobooks over the years. Rereads also count.

Thanks all for the Thomas Hardy comments - I asked advice on another thread, and also checked my shelves for what Hardy we actually have in the house, which means that my current plan is to start with Tess, but having read what you all just said I am having second thoughts...

Pepe definitely happy to have someone to provide mutual support & encouragement with Infinite Jest. Maybe I should start sooner rather than later, or I will just keep putting it off and off.

Off to research the popsugar challenge. Thanks!

I don't think there is any expectation of any type of reading, much less that all should be classics. I read a lot of fairly heavyweight novels and non fiction but am about to start - very happily - China Rich Girlfriend.

I've amended my NY resolution from 'buy no books' to 'only buy 99p books' as two from my wishlist were 99p today - The Librarian by Salley Vickers and Along the Divide by Chris Townsend.

lastqueen if you find a goodreads link to the popsugar challenge please can you let me know?

Hello all - thanks for the new thread south.

I’ve finished my first book today of 2019 today:

The Hunting Party - Lucy Foley

I think quite a few people on the 2018 thread read this. It was a topical read as it’s all about a group of friends away for New Year and a murder occurs. It was an easy read and better than I expected. Quite a page-turner although it lacked likeable characters amongst the group of friends.

Have a long to read list for 2019 so will be back soon...

exexpat, I read Tess for the first time last year (it was a book club choice), and very much against all my expectations I thought it was a masterpiece. Never read any Hardy before and indeed avoided him because of the grimness factor. But I was completely blown away by Hardy's writing, the subtlety of his understanding, and the relevance of Tess's predicament as a woman in a society ruled by men.

Thanks, Southeast for starting the 2019 thread. I’m in again too! I’m sticking with my aim of 40-50 books.

Reading One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson, one from my Christmas book haul.

You can read anything on this thread. I haven’t read any Hardy and started with Tess of the D’Urbevilles - it was my favourite read of 2018. It is grim but so much more, I loved it.

There was a question about when to get the time to read. I read whenever I can, listen to Audible during my commute, don’t watch that much telly and don’t do social media. Reading is one of my favourite hobbies! 😊

exexpat, I'm going to get started this weekend. And proceed slowly - unless it turns out to be an absolute page turner, I'm going to be reading it in parallel with other things (not least because I've got the paperback version and it's massive. Too big for my work bag).

I'm in! Did 48 last year which was frustratingly close to my Goodreads target of 50. Have reset for this year and feeling confidant: maternity leave starts mid Feb and I'll have a whole month before sprog gets here to curl up on the sofa.

I've just finished Devotion, Patti Smith which was beautiful- part of the Windham Campbell Why I Write series, and truly a joy to devour: I read it in one sitting over tea this morning. Next is Desire, Haruki Murakami which is a selection of short stories. After that...Milkman keeps popping up so I might give that a go.

Good luck everyone and happy reading!

I'm in. I managed 94 books this year, I'd like to read 100 ideally. I'm also doing book riot's read harder challenges too.

First up this year is Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch

I'm enjoying it so far, apparently it gets a bit silly later in the book though which will probably not be my cup of tea although I imagine I'll finish it.

Happy New Year!

I’ve lurked on these threads for a few years but I’m rubbish at keeping up.

I’m aiming for 52 books this year which is manageable - I read 60 in 2018 but tend to go ages without reading anything then have a few binges, usually on holiday, where I get through loads.

First read of the year will be Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings, though I’ve not actually started it yet.

I’m in! Managed 31 last year but ten of those were very lengthy Stephen King books. And my first book of the year...insomnia by Stephen king . Trying to make myself read during the evening and not just at bedtime in an attempt to speed things up.

Tess is buried in tha abbey gardens next door to my mothers house, I ave always struggled with a Hardy even though we live in Hardy country

I'd like to join please! I have been a regular lurker of the 2018 threads and look forward to joining in this year.

Just re-read my post.

You can read any book on this thread - I think I should turn that sentence around so here we go: On this thread you can read any book. That’s better.