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.

ritzbiscuits - it has put my own drinking into perspective! Compared to the author I'm not really a heavy drinker, but alcohol has a hugely negative effect on my state of mind so I am having a big rethink. Well done on your 1 year sober - that's brilliant!

Finished The story of a new name...I enjoyed it although it took me a while to get into it. Had to review without giving too much away but it did a good job of creating the works and I spent a lot of time wondering what the narrator was missing out. The author captures that self absorbed phase we have in our teens really well. Has anyone watched the TV adaptation of the books that was on recently? Not sure if my brain is up to subtitles at the moment. I'll probably come back to the third and fourth boss later in the year.

Book 2 will be Brick Lane by Monica Ali... Yes I know I'm a decade behind everyone else!

@Goldenbuns I did the same last year and went to bed half an hour earlier to read (instead of faffing on my phone). It's been a very worthwhile change, I hadn't realised how much I missed reading.

I am finding After Me Comes the Flood a bit... er... weird.
Has anyone read it? Does it get less weird?

I've got through the first book of the year!

1. the 7 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

This was an incredible feat of mystery writing and time travel! So many twists. It was so complicated I almost quit half way through but something made me carry on and I'm glad I did as it was superb at the end. Really unique - I would recommend purely as something completely different to anything else out there.

Am still going with book 1. It’s autobiographical, which is maybe why I’m not as into it as I might be with a novel. By autobiographical I mean it’s a collection of stories from the author’s childhood. It’s not crap or anything, just harder to get into than a story. I do have a couple of good books lined up for when I’ve finished, so that’s good.

RasberryBlonde, yes my earlier bed time is going really well too - amazing how such a small change can make a difference in so many ways! I'm quite excited at the thought of all the books that will possibly get read.

Ps - I loved Brick Lane, I found it very moving. Much better than the film.

musicmaiden and others reading The Heart's Invisible Furies, how are you finding it?

Decided to read book 2 alongside book 1 & finished both yesterday.

1. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan - not bad, not great though
2. Fierce by Gin Phillips - a real page turner, loved it.

Started book 3 last night

1. And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks by William S Burroughs & Jack Kerouac

@ShouldReadMore I'm reading it, about 300 pages in. It's it wowed me, but I'm enjoying it. I've found it more enjoyable as he's getting older and more graphic situations are happening!

It's 'not' wowed me...

ritzbiscuits I'm quite enjoying it but also not wowed. Hugely dislike the main character which doesn't help. The writing style is quite simple, which may be deliberate, I haven't read anything else by the author.

Done my first two.

1. Scarlet and Ivy - Sophie Cleverly. Bit of a cheat - it's a children's book. My 10 year old doesn't really like reading fiction (loves stories, loves me reading to her, but won't read independently), so I picked out a couple of books I thought she would enjoy and downloaded them on to my kindle and hers. We then read them in parallel, and chat about them, as a sort of book club. It worked - we both enjoyed this one!
2. Gentlemen and Players - Joanne Harris. A big book that I shot through because I wanted to know what was going to happen next... Really enjoyed it.

I have just finished book 2 The Wicked Cometh which is a historical crime / romance which reminded me of Sarah Waters Fingersmith (which I loved). It was a pretty fun, pacy read - I would give it 3 and a half stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫. I’ve now matched my entire total numbers of books read in 2018. I know, how appalling is that? . I’m on a roll though.

Book 3 is a memoir from the library Love & Trouble - Memoirs of a former wild girl by Claire Deseret. I reserved it online and got it really quickly so I would suggest trying the library before buying to try and keep these services open. (NB. I don’t work at the library I just really like them). Really interested in everyone’s reviews of what they’re reading so I can line up some good titles to read next.

Can I join, please? Last year I read 22 books, not counting study (was finishing an MA at the OU). This year, my first book was
1. Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami
I liked this much better than the 1Q84 trilogy, which was all I'd read from him before. Deeper themes and more poetic style.

Currently reading a graphic novel I got for Christmas, Lucifer Book 2 by Mike Carey. It's surprisingly dense and 400 pages long! Quite unlike the fun and sexy TV series of the same name (both based on the character devised by Neil Gaiman in his Sandman series).

I also got The Plague, by Albert Camus from the library, as I'd like to read a few world classics this year.

Just moved on to book 3, Macbeth by Jo Nesbo.

Must confess to leaving book 2 (Reservoir 13) unfinished though! Got just over half way and I was willing it to end, just couldn't connect to any characters and found it too tedious and repetitive to persevere with it any longer!

Just finished book 2:
Normal People - *Sally Rooney
*
This was a gift from MIL for Xmas and I absolutely loved it. The characters are perfectly sculpted and her observations about friendships and relationships are wonderful. Highly recommended

Finished book 3 Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce it's a teen book that I remember reading when I was 11 or so and has recently been re-released. Pleasantly surprised by how good it was.

I read After Me Comes the Flood last year drspouse and I enjoyed its slowly increasing tension. I found it became less weird as you discover more about the histories of the various characters. I thought it was well written and very atmospheric but I can't say it really blew me away as a story.

Really struggling to pick up book 2. I got two books out of the library (The Essex Serpent and The Husband's Secret) but I cant bring myself to pick them up for the stupid reason that they're actual books and I prefer to read on Kindle! Need to get over myself, I want to support local libraries plus it might be an expensive year otherwise.
A second aim of mine is to spend less on books - library, books I've previously bought and not read, and only 99p kindle deals.

@hamzilla have you checked if your library also has an e-book borrowing service - mine does and I know some other authorities do as well.

Shame you didn't get on with Reservoir 13 @PerfumePonce93. I found the repetitiveness quite soothing though it was a bit frustrating at times when you got invested in a particular event. I think the author has also written a prequel of sorts but can't remember the title.

Yes to library reservations @SpiritedLondon. I'm planning to use it more this year as all my bookshelves are full and I rarely reread fiction. I use their ebook service too but the selection is smaller and for some reason not all the ones shown on their catalogue can be downloaded onto my Kobo.

I may have to find Normal People @tomhazard, I enjoyed Conversations with friends last year. I think she's a very readable writer but there's more than on the surface if you're in a thinking mood.

I'm about hand way through Brick Lane, I am enjoying it although find the sister's letters hard to read as my brain struggles with the broken language.

charlies It is getting better now I have more of a clue what's happening!

Late to this but can I join in? I probably only read about 10 books last year... I always start well but then get to a book I’m not keen on & it all grinds to a halt for months.

Can I include books I started last year but finished this year? If so then I have read one so far:

1. Funny girl by Nick Hornby. It wasn’t as good as some previous ones of his but quick & easy to read.

2. The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. I’m currently reading this & am starting to get into it... have high hopes for it so far!

You know there's no law that says you HAVE to finish a book if you start it?