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.

Welcome @Suomynona.

Finished book 2 Brick Lane the other day. I enjoyed it, and found the characters interesting, especially the husband. Could've done without the sister subplot although it did eventually become chat why it was there.

Have now started The city and the city. I loved the sound of the concept but couldn't get into the TV version. Hopefully the book will go better. I also picked up The luminaries from the library today so will see how that goes.

@drspouse, would you recommend the earlier ones, then? Didius Falco, IIRC?

Yes, they are good too.

I’ve finished number 3 Love & trouble - Memoirs of a Former Wild Girl which I really enjoyed - quite well written although not a traditional memoir in many ways.( but the subject matter resonated for me ) 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m now into number 4 Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine which is absolutely everywhere so I thought I’d see what the fuss was about. I started and abandoned I See You last year but more probably that was about my brain and not the book.

ShouldReadMore and others reading The Heart's Invisible Furies – hello! I really enjoyed it in the end, but there were a couple of bits I disliked: the bit in Cyril's bedroom when he and Julian are supposedly 7 years old but talk like they're 15. It really ruined what was a key scene. And there generally had to be quite a lot of suspension of disbelief. Also, was livid on Alice's behalf by the way she was treated! Won't say more for fear of spoilers. I think it was a fantastic story, though.

I'm another one who has vowed in New Year to go to bed half an hour earlier with a book most nights, and it's lovely.

So I'm on number 3 now:
1 The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

1. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay – liked but not loved this. Very righteous anger and frustration and some good jokes that made me smile, but felt it was missing something.
2. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie – really enjoying this so far.

I've just given up on my first book so far this year The Woman at the Window. To be fair, I didn't give it much of a chance and if I'd give back and started again, it might have been alright.

Just finished another Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman.

I'm nearly half way through Island by Aldous Huxley - it started off well, now I feel like I'm walking in cement with it so have picked up Normal People by Sally Rooney to alternate.

Well I have finally finished book 1 - The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden. It was a book club book and I finished it about half an hour before we met. Of the 5 people there 3 enjoyed it but it didn't do it for me at all. I didn't really like any of the characters until very near the end and I found the whole thing just too ridiculous. I was never drawn to going and picking up the book hence it took me just over two weeks to read. I came home and started a new book straight away and was relieved at the prospect of being able to move on to something else!

I loved that book when I read it last year Adventure but I’m beginning to realise it’s a love it or hate it kind of book

My sister in law is staying with us this weekend and so she came along to book club with me and she was the other person who didn't really enjoy it that much either but we were talking this morning again about it and both said exactly that Jilted. I also had a quick read of the 100 year old Man thread on here at the moment and think that book (by the same author) is probably the same in that people either really enjoy it or don't rate it at all!

Yes, I don't think you'd enjoy 100 year old man either for exactly the same reasons you don't like King of Sweden.

Have you read any of Fredrik Backman's books like a Man Called Ove?

Thank you RaspberryBlonde.

Finally finished I See You. I really got into it in the second half.

Now on to:

2: 'The Image of You' by Adele Parks. Not sure whether I'll enjoy this as I've not read any of her books for years. Currently sat in xray waiting room so plenty of time to get started

Finished book 5 The colour of Bee Larkham's murder was darker than I expected it to be. Made me cry a couple of times.

I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment but I'll probably slow down soon.

Book 6 is The Binding by Bridget Collins. Heard good things about it so looking forward to getting to it.

Jilted no I haven't read anything by Fredrik Beckman. I'm guessing they are in a similar vein...

I'm guessing they are in a similar vein... They do have the same gentle humour but they’re not as far fetched.

I haven't been reading at all! I finished Why Mummy Drinks which was fine, I got into it a bit as it went on but it was just ok. I went back to reading Ma'am Darling but haven't made much progress. I have 2 job interviews after being at home for 4 years and needed to do a lot of prep for those (had to write and give presentations for them on topics that are outside of my expertise so a lot of work and study!).

I have purchased The Tattooist of Auschwitz so hope to get to that soon. I've also restarted Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which I'm reading to my DD. We started it last summer and stopped because my toddler stopped going to bed at a reasonable hour. So we are back with the goal of making our way through the rest of the Harry Potter Books.

I’ve just finished number 4 Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Probably the last person in the country to read it.... I loved it and found myself thinking about the character when I was no reading. Sad to finish it. No idea what I will read now.... I will “shop” my bookshelves !

Just finished Also Human which was excellent but has had the slightly unexpected side effect of me wanting to find a counsellor for myself. No 4.
I've then started Apple Of My Eye by Claire Allen, it just came out, I pre ordered it!

Finished Normal People by Sally Rooney
I enjoyed this book - a really easy read.
Haven't given up reading Island just yet, I'll give it another chapter before I decide..and I've started no.8 The Child by Fiona Barton.

Tinkhasflown I'm on the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, reading it to my DS! I think I'll be counting the series towards my 25 books as I'm enjoying them too; I've never read HP before. They are quite the marathon for a read-aloud; we've been on it for almost two months.

Good luck in your interviews!

The fact that some people are already on book 8 makes me feel a bit anxious.

Sorry you feel like that spirited I'm usually only on 1 or 2 but this point but I seem to have been on a bit of a roll with some books I found 'easy' to read and have made it to 5.
I know I won't keep that up all year and that's ok.

For me it's not about how many I read (although I would like to get through 25 as my tbr pile never seems to stop growing) it's about enjoying the books and getting ideas from what others are reading too.

Sorry strawberrypenguin I was being pathetic ignore me.... I’m just a bit competitive

I remember reading all the Harry Potter books to my son Tinkhasflown. Some nights bedtimes stretched on for ages as neither of us could wait to find out what happened next. I had never really been interested in reading them before he decided he'd like to hear them. I offered to read them to my daughter when she was old enough but she was never bothered about hearing them (or reading them subsequently)

Don't be anxious at all Spirited. I'm pretty sure that for that last few years I was still on my first book at this time.

The thread isn't a competition either