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.

I'm on this thread as, despite having had a quick start, I can go through real doldrums and the 50-odd thread is just scary!

misicmaiden and Charliesmouse the Harry Potter books are brilliant, I didn't really expect to enjoy them as much as I have. I have 3 kiddies so may get to read them again another two time . I'm definitely counting them in my 25 too, I counted the first books last year .

1. History of Wolves by Emily Fridland
2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

1. I finished book three - Haruki Murakami's After the Quake - just before the seemingly never-ending January came to a close. It's a slim volume of beautiful short stories that all touch on the Kobe earthquake.

I love Murakami's writing; it's just so effortless to read. It's almost as if you can open the pages of his books and simply absorb the stories. This book was no different. The stories were all haunting, slightly strange and always thought-provoking. It's a book that I know I will re-read in the future, which I can't say of most books I read.

Three books in one month is very good going for me given I only read in bed just before I fall asleep at night, but it's not really that much of an achievement because book one was started in December and book three was a very slim volume. Oh for more time for reading!

On to book four....

I've had to take a break from Apple of my Eye to speed read Keeper of Lost Things as it's due back at the library and it has a reservation on it.

Book 2 was How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. This is the first fiction book of his that I have read and I really enjoyed it. So nice to be reading a book that keeps drawing you back to it as opposed to my first book of the year which felt like a chore to pick up!

Currently about 3/4 through Becoming by Michelle Obama and again really enjoying this

Still only on first book. Although there is progress, for a long time it felt like I was only halfway through, now I’m fairly close to the end!

Finished Keeper of Lost Things, no 5.
Really enjoyed it, thought it would be a slower read for some reason.

Finished no.3 99 glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown. It was only ok but felt I had to finish it after going back to it for the third time.

Book 4 is Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty. It became available early from my library reserve so Tatooist of Auschwitz will wait for now.

I enjoyed How to stop time when I read it last year @AdventureTravelDreamer although I’m not sure whether including actual historic characters was the right decision by the author.

About half way through book 3 at the moment (I think, the page numbers are all wrong on the ebook copy I have). Hope to finish it this week so will report back. Baby DS is sleeping badly so early nights and less time for reading here!

1 Peter May Coffin Road
2 Perfect Family Shallani Bollan (audio)
3 Sunny Side Up Susan Callman (audio)
4 Why Mummy Drinks (audio)
5 room emma donoghue
6 The Foundling Paul Joseph Fronczak (audio)
7 Report for Murder Val McDermid

In progress
Peter May the black house

Started My family and other animals for our book group but it was so slow I just could stick with it.

Room was brilliantly written highly recommend it to anyone.

I'm late to the party but I'm here!!

If I like Fredrik Backman (loved Bear Town and the sequel last summer) who else might I enjoy??

*loved Bear Town and the sequel last summer). I’ve not read this email two, must put them on my (rather long) list of books to read.

I’ve read My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologies and Britt-Marie was here earlier in the year. Read Britt-Marie first not realising it was a sequel but it didn’t matter at all as it’s come more of a spin of formula than a sequel.

If you like Fredrick Backman, have you read the 100 year old man books or the Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden?

@JiltedJohnsJulie the Bear Town books don't sound promising (ice hockey themed) but they are gritty as you'd expect.

I'll check out 100 year old man and the girl - thank you for the recommendation

Thank ou for your recommendations to didireally

Finished Apple of my Eye, no 6.

Have a few out of the library to select from but I may try and read a bit more of Alexander Hamilton that I didn't finish last year.

Sorry for the typos

And owing to not feeling well yesterday I lay in bed and read no 7 Men explain things to me which is excellent.

Finished Book 4 Big Little Lies, couldn't put it down. I was intrigued till the end. I'm not in the right headspace for Tatooist so might look at something else for now.

Just finished 2. The Image of You, Adele Parks. Started slow and thought it was going to be a dull romance but it got better and better.

Not sure what to read for number 3 of the year, lots already purchased and unread on my Kindle though and a day away from work unwell so will have a browse and decide.

I’ve finished No 5 “History of Wolves” - I know people have read it on here and rated it but I didn’t like it much. I felt it was a bit directionless with too much emphasis on elements that weren’t central to the story (Lily & the teacher). 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

I’ve decided to just concentrate on books that I want to read rather than books I ought to read so probably some guilty pleasure reading coming up. TBC

As an aside I watched a book related film The Bookshop on Netflix. It’s with Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy set in small town Suffolk in 1957. Worth a look if you enjoy British film.

May I join in?

My list of books seems to get shorter each year...but I do seem to add more activities and events every year which is probably why.

This year so far:

1. Capital - John Lanchester This was long. I started off liking it and finding it really intriguing but it got duller and duller and I lost momentum. I have to admit I gave up two-thirds of the way through.

1. Ghost Walls - Sarah Moss A quick read and reasonably interesting but I only read it about four weeks ago and I’ve erased it from my mind already. It’s set in Northumberland in the seventies or eighties and is about a family re-enacting life as ancient Britons. It’s fairly predictable but I did like the writing style especially the descriptions of nature.

1. The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri. I absolutely loved this, so much so I read it twice and listened to a dramatised version. Pure brilliance and I think one of the best pieces of literature I’ve ever read.

1. The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket - Read with my children. Liked very much. Clever stuff. Also enjoying the Netflix series.

1. Motherland - Jo McMillan Tamworth in 1978. A thirteen year old girl lives with her mum - a teacher and member of the communist party. The pair of them sell the Morning Star in the centre of town each weekend. Then they get invited to go and live in East Germany. It’s ok. The writing is a bit heavy-handed but I am kind of enjoying it. Have put it aside to finish my reading group book...

1. After Dark - Haruki Murakami. My first Murakami. Really like his writing. Love the sparseness, the ordinary-ness but also the weirdness/magic realism. Liking it so much I’ve also picked up...

7.Kafka on the Shore also by Murakami. Again very strange. Gives me an unsettled feeling. But yeah, definitely liking this sort of thing.

Just seen your post Charliesmouse Yes yes yes. I’m new to Murakami and I think I will devour plenty more of his stuff.

Finished book 6 The Binding by Bridget Collins I did enjoy it but it wasn't as 'fantasy' as I expected it to be which was a little disappointing.

I'm looking forward to reading his new one - Killing Commendatore - when it comes out in paperback MealyPotatoes. I loved Kafka on the Shore when I read it. It was a book that went round and round in my head for a long time after I had finished it. I must re-read it! My first Murakami was The Wind Up Bird Chronicle which I picked up on a whim. It just blew me away.

The protagonists in his books do sometimes have a slightly unsavoury obsession with teenage girls, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable (as the mother of a teenage daughter), but I love just about everything else about his writing: the recurring cats and wells and the general the off-kilterness. His books also really make me want to visit Japan.

And I’m done with 1!! must read book 2 a bit faster

It was pretty interesting, the childhood memoir of a nature writer I hadn’t heard of. It’s quite a recent publication, only 2017 I think.

I think book 2 will be “The Mitford Murders” by Jessica Fellowes. I already know a bit about the Mitfords so it should be interesting.