50 Book Challenge 2020 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 2020, 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'm in!
Currently reading Smilla's Sense of Snow and listening to an audiobook about the Mitfords.
Happy New Year everyone!

I'm in! Thank you and Nappy New Year!

Aiming for 100 this year and a few more classics.

For those interested, will start a David Copperfield thread whne my copy arrives !

Thanks for the new thread southeast like walking on fresh snow.

Currently easing in with Black Hammer graphic novel.

Happy New Year Everyone

What's everyone's first book of the new year and decade? Mine's an old favourite that I've not read for years - Bridget Jones's Diary. It begins on January 1st so, anal as ever, the neatness is very pleasing for me!

Morning all, happy New Year.

I'm going to try not to fall off the thread this year - I've started a couple of times before and then lost momentum. I've set my Goodreads total to 70 but may edit that up or down depending on how I get on.

Currently reading: Wintering: a novel of Sylvia Plath by Kate Moses which has been sitting on my shelf for twelve months or so.

I'm in again - thanks for the new thread, southeast.

I got started on the first read of the new year last night: Herzog (Saul Bellow), for a book group, but I might be up for a David Copperfield group read, as one of my resolutions for the year is to read some pre-20th century literature, unlike last year.

Oh that’s very good south. I have to say I hadn’t given mine much thought as just relieved to be reading though I have started Life Among the Savages which feels very apt for the second week of Christmas school holidays.

I’m in. Last years thread was my first and one of my highlights of the year. Thank you so much for organising.

I’m trying to see how long I can go reading what I own and library books only. Although a Feminist Bookshop has just opened near me for which I may have to make an exception.

Aiming for 100 including audios.

I’m starting with One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn which doesn’t look that cheery.

Thanks south and hi all!

I'm now reading My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay and listening to Wonder by RJ Palacio (the book is already a favourite).

palegreenstars I loved that and no not cheery but surprisingly life-affirming in its way so hope you find it so too.

Good morning all, and Happy New Year. Thanks for the shiny new thread southeast

I've set my Goodreads target at 25 books again, but am taking a different approach this year and have already planned most of what I will read this year, all from my TBR pile.
I am planning for:
-a roughly equal split between fiction/non-fiction,
-considerably more female authors than I read in 2019
-some American classics
-a Shakespeare play

I'd love some more Goodreads 'friends' (so I can trawl your lists for yet more reading inspiration!). If anyone wants to search for me, I am Ally, profile pic is a sleepy black and white cat.

I'm in! Happy New Year.

I've just started We are all Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler.

I'm in.
I have been on the last couple of 50 Book threads, but have been sporadic at best. I managed 61 last year, aiming for 75 this year (a mix of Kindle, Audible and paper books.

I am currently reading It's your time you are wasting on Kindle, which is a memoire/observations on life as a teacher (light easy read) and Tall Stories and Wee Tales by Billy Connolly as a hardback (Xmas present, very funny)
One of those will be my first one for 2020., as I have just started Anna Karenina on Audible (38 hours!!) I wrote part of my dissertation on Tolstoy's women (many many years ago!) and have read no Tolstoy since, so a bit of a nostalgia trip for me.

@Piggywaspushed I would be up for a read-along of David Copperfield.

Thanks southeast and a happy new reading year to all 50 bookers, old and new.

I'm also starting quite appropriately (by accident) with Gods of the Morning, a nature diary of a Highland year. The book starts in October, and last night I read up to midwinter, so I'm starting this year from the right side of the winter solstice.

Is it OK if I join? A bit of a novice reader here and only aiming for 24 books this year but that's more than I usually read but doable!

I'm starting The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I realised I just put Nappy New Year

My first book is a book that has been hanging around the house for ages called Bowled Over about one girl's teenage obsession with cricket and , specifically, Mike Atherton, at a time when Oasis were everyone else's idea of cool.

I started it once a couple of years ago but will try and give it another go because I do like the premise.

@SatsukiKusakabe that’s exactly what I need. There was a fictional Gulag writer in the Ken Follett book I finished the year on which inspired me to check out something real. I was obsessed with Russia in my early 20s but haven’t read any Russian literature in ages.

Welcome @2000

I'm in. Have watched but not joined in before.
I tend to favour easy reads, so definitely not highbrow. The last book I finished was This is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay, currently finishing Last Christmas - Memories of Christmases Past and Hopes for Future Ones.

Hoping to spend more time reading and less on screen this year.

I read 40 books last year.

I’m in :)

Shiny new thread, thank you Southeast, and happy new year to everyone :)

I’m aiming for more books by women and more foreign literature this year.

First book of the year is Under the Net by Iris Murdoch which I took out from the library after hearing it being discussed on an episode of A Good Read that came up in my podcast feed.

Me! I'm starting with Autum Term by Antonia Frost (based on recommendations on here - also gave it to a 12 year old of my acquaintance for Christmas!). I am aiming to beat last year's 75 and to keep up the trend of a more even balance between men and women (I tend massively to favour women) and more books in translation and by BAME authors.

Looking forward to reading along with you all again.

Happy New Year, lovely reading pals.

First up for me are Bill Bryson and The Writer's Map.

@Palegreenstars I did Russian literature as part of my degree in the late 1980s, but not read any for a very long time.
I enjoyed Solzhenitsyn, and have just started Anna Karenina on Audible (I may be some time!)

Aaargh - Antonia Forest not Frost! Was thinking of Frost in May...

I'm keen to join this year please. I've lurked/posted randomly before, but always end up dropping off the thread in shame at my poor tally of books. This year will be different! (I hope.)

I'm starting with Tangerine, by Christine Mangan. I'm about half way through and not enjoying it tbh, but might as well persevere at this point, as it's easy enough to read.

Looking forward to hearing other people's reads and recommendations.

Yes - definitely! Just bought the Evaristo to kick off the New Year.