25 (ish) books in 2019

[Chickoletta]

Inspired by, but also slightly overawed by, the 50 book thread, this is a thread for those who love to log their reading but don't have the time or inclination for such a high target. The aim is to read 25 books but it really doesn't matter if you don't get close to that or far exceed it - the idea is to exchange recommendations and thoughts.

I loved this thread last year and was really inspired by some of the suggestions so have taken the liberty of starting this year's version.

I only managed 19 books last year due partly to being a slow reader (even though I'm an English graduate and teacher) and also it being a rather busy and stressful year. I'm definitely hoping to beat that score in 2019.

Please number your books and give titles in bold to make it easy to follow as well as sharing thoughts about them.

My favourite book of last year was The Heart's Invisible Furies', as recommended here.

Just finished my first book of the year:

1. 'Why Mummy Drinks' by Gill Sims (bought for me by my own mother for Christmas - no offence taken!!)
Light hearted and well-observed, this was very enjoyable. Some laugh out loud moments as well as many wry observations about family life. I think I would have enjoyed it more if her children didn't sound so totally insufferable!

Looking forward to sharing our reading this year.

Do audiobooks count?

@Drspouse wow 89 is some waiting list! My copy is off to my sister next for her to read.

I've got three books in my things left to read pile but also on the look out for more things to add to it

Lovely to see so many people joining. I started The Clockmaker's Daughter last evening after a cosy evening in finishing up the Christmas food and booze and being beaten by DH at Scrabble. Must have been more pissed than I realised as I came back to it today and couldn't remember a word of the 30 pages I seem to have read. Whoops!

In answer to a few questions, anything goes really in terms of what you read. Audiobooks count too. I usually put all titles in bold as it helps them to stand out.

Okay if audiocounts to
1 Peter May Coffin Road
2 Perfect Family Shallani Bollan (audio)

In progress
Peter May Black House
Sunny Side Up Susan Callman (audio)

Thankyou ! I just started a similar thread but will direct people here.

50 is way beyond me.

So i just started 1. The stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths.

Determined to read more this year

Hi. I’d love to join again this year, please.

I was on last year’s thread but dropped off it during the summer due to personal stuff and forgot to come back to it. I think I got up to around 37ish books last year but lost count when I stopped adding them to the thread.

I’m currently reading the complete series of Mary Poppins as it was a Christmas gift and is beautiful, so that’s No. 1

tinkhasflown I loved reservoir 13! Was such a surprise, just beautiful. I'm going to look out for more of his in charity shops!

Hello, room for one more? 25 seems a realistic number for me. I’m on maternity leave at the moment so no commute which was when I do a lot of reading usually. I was reading during feeds but DS has got to the stage now where he enjoys waving his arms and swiping at things!

My book number 1 will be Elena Ferrante’s The story of a new name. I did start it last year but it’s quite long so think I can claim it. It took me a while to get into as it’s a about a year since I read the first in the series.

I got A History of Wolves for Christmas so looking forward to seeing any reviews on here.

Hello, can I join? 25 is my target. I really struggle to choose to read a book I'm not completely in to and will opt for phone or telly instead, so I'm desperate to make sure I choose books I know I will love. Which, of course, is a really hard task!

Just finished Don't you forget about me by Mhairi McFarlane. I usually love her writing, I get completely into the city she writes about. I didn't find this one as funny as the others though - it had some more serious topics within it.

I was thinking about starting a thread about people’s Top 3 favourite reads or page turners. I really feel that with my brain fog I need something to grip me.... I just don’t have the concentration levels necessary for my literary Japanese fiction. ( I’m currently reading a Japanese book about a cat and I don’t even like cats )

I'm joining this thread, I managed 17 last year, but 13 of those on Audible! Best book of the year was The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober. It's both entertaining and shocking, a must read if you are questioning your alcohol consumption or relationship with it.

This year I'm fully focused on reading physical books and as I currently have a shoulder injury, I'll be reading more rather than doing crochet/knitting.

I have started both Hearts Invisible Furies and Dr Chatterjee new book The Stress Solution. Rather in to my personal development books but plan to read more fiction this year.

Can I join too please? I’m a slow reader too Chickoletta

1. The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundrend Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson

I’ve read the first one and this sequel popped up on my recommendations. So glad it did, it was an amusing read and a lovely, gentle way to start off my new year reading

Finished my first book of the year (although slightly cheated as I started it late December). As I mentioned upthread it was History of Wolves by Emily Fridland. I thought it was a beautiful book filled with thoughtfully drawn, fully realised characters and it had an exquisite sense of place. It's one of those books where you know what has happened quite early on but why and how it happened reveals itself gradually and inexorably.

It's a moving and poignant book and I felt empathy for all (or most) of the characters, even those trapped in difficult situations who found themselves making questionable decisions. It's a thought-provoking book too; I'm still puzzling over some of the peripheral characters like Mattie's mother(?) and Lily and the teacher and his influence on Mattie. I need to digest it properly before before I move on to book number two which I think is going to be Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng which I've heard very good things about.

1. Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Backman.

I wanted an easy read with gentle humour and this is exactly what I got. The author also wrote A Man Called Ove which is another book I love.

Ooh Jilted i am going to download that - loved the first one!

Oh please can I join? I don't have time to read 50, more's the pity, but 25 sounds doable.

So far this year I've read Normal People by Sally Rooney. Quite enjoyed it - I liked her writing style very much - but it was about people in their 20s which is a bit young for me. If I were younger I'd have loved it.

Now I'm onto a book of short stories by William Boyd, can't remember the name but it's rather good. Will post name when I've finished it.

Hi, I'd love to join too! 25 seems more achievable for me too.

Recently finished How Not To Be A Boy by Robert Webb, I don't tend to read many autobiographies but I loved it.

Now onto Reservoir 13 as well, enjoying it so far.

Ritzbiscuits snap re the shoulder injury - did you have an op? I did and the recovery is so long!

Re: the unexpected joys of being sober, if I read it will I feel I have to give up booze asa I really don't want to? I'm interested in the subject matter but I love drinking - and keep a very tight lid on it so hardly drink at all.

I gave up smoking years ago reading the Alan Carr book which brilliantly brainwashed me but I barely drink and so don't want to be brainwashed into giving it up. Would be interested in what you think.

I'm in. I managed 35 last year which still wasn't enough to make a dent in my bookcase! Mainly because I kept getting new books, thanks to the 25 book challenge thread...!!
Still, it kept me focused and I found that I did pick up a book rather than the iPad which is good.

I've finished Last letter home and I really enjoyed it. Not what I normally would have chosen but definitely glad I did. After reading all the comments on here I'm going to try
2. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.
I've got a busy few weeks in work so May take me a bit longer to finish this one but looking forward to it.

Place marking as I’ve always got a book or 3 on the go and looking for ideas. I do tend to find work & kids exhausts my peri menopausal brain at the moment and I’m reading more chick flick stuff lately. I’ve just finished over Christmas The Break by Marian Keyes - sorry not very high brow but I enjoyed it. I liked the keeper of lost things that was mentioned above and I want to read the Michelle Obama book, plus I have a sports nutrition book on the go that I need to finish.

@Ivegotthree I don't think it will make you give up. It's a woman's story about her relationship with alcohol, she was a journalist and got herself into a right state, she's lucky to be alive. She's a similar age to me, mid to late thirties, so found it very relatable.

If you don't drink that much I don't think it would make you stop drinking. This Naked Mind (Annie Grace) is more of the brain rewiring one.

After reading both I stopped drinking and haven't drunk for nearly a year! I was drinking due to stress so it's been amazingly good for me.

Thanks, I'll have a look at it. I used to drink a lot (work is v boozy) but decided to cut right back years ago and now barely drink.

I know how great you feel after a long period of abstinence and how much you can get done as a result. That is what keeps me going on nights when I get home and think I'd love a gin and tonic.

@Ivegotthree I'd imagine the book will just reinforce why you don't drink very much these days.

Started Becoming (Michelle Obama) on audiobook while I read Hearts Invisible Furies in physical form. Really enjoying both so far, I think I've picked two good ones.

Finished no 1 The Novice's Tale.