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?

It's years since I read Never Let Me Go I think I was fairly indifferent to it. No hate, but wasn't in love with it either.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit Excellent. I am going to take 'wasn't in love with it' as liking it. Our numbers grow...

Hi, may I join? I read a lot but never really kept note of what. I have decidzed that this year I have to do a lot of rereading, so I have starte the year on The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I had actually wanted to reread The Little Friend, but couldn't find it, hoping I've lent it to someone and it will reappear soon!

Really enjoying this one. I had forgotten how well she writes, how evocative.

I LOVED Never let me go! Did not realise I was in a minority on this one.

Lincoln was one of my favourite reads of 2018. But it took me a long while to get through. However the audiobook version I read later was so easy to listen to - different actors for the different characters and with the likes of David Sedaris and Nick Offerman, it was so enjoyable

Thanks millefiori. Some I’ve never heard of - more to add to my reading list.
I loved Never Let Me Go and Lincoln in the Bardo.

As I intend to keep up with this thread, I’ve just placed a reservation at my library for The Mirror and the Light.
I don’t generally buy hardbacks, so would normally wait for the paperback. But everyone’s going to be reading it on here aren’t they? I want to keep up!
Are there any other books out this year that anyone’s looking forward to?
And where do you go to find out about new books? Does anyone know a good website? I just browse in the library and bookshops but that’s a bit haphazard.

Another one who loved Never Let Me Go

Hi all. Can I join in?

I've set a target of 50 books on my goodreads this year. Didn't count last year and was really cross with myself. I'm also half heartedly doing the Popsugar challenge but I'm not going to stick to it religiously and will read anything that takes my fancy that doesnt fit the prompts.

My books so far:

1. Identity Crisis (Ben Elton) - very easy read, similar to his other books in style but I thought the ending was weak. Captures the hysteria of social media quite well at times. I read this for the 'book about social media' Popsugar prompt.

1. Elizabeth is missing (Emma Healey) - I found this on my kindle and forgot I'd bought it. Probably about a third of the way through but quite enjoying it.

I've a pile of actual paper books I'm determined to get through as well, but I much prefer the convenience of my kindle for reading in bed.

I can see I'm going to have a massive 'to be read' list shortly.

I really have to try Never Let Me Go again. I just didn't like the prose style and gave up after a few pages on three attempts. But so many people rate it.

@KeithLeMonde Thanks for sharing your Airhead review. I had this in my wish list and it sounds right up my street.

Just finished
1) Story of a New Name - Elena Ferrante
Found it a bit hard going at times, I'm sure it's the wealth of characters and difficult translation. Still, I feel attached to these two women and want to know what happens next. I'll read no 3 after a break!

Now starting The Choice - Edith Eger

1. An orphan in the snow Molly Green An enjoyable read if somewhat predictable second of hers I read easy read but think I need a break from her now as very similar to the previous one of hers I read

After a massively tedious search I have found what I wrote about Never Let Me Go

It seems I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars, so you CAN claim me in your ranks @whippetwoman

1. Educated by Tara Westover. Bestselling memoir of a woman from Idaho raised by survivalist and home schooled. Charts her introduction into ‘normal’ society and eventual PHD from Cambridge. The abuse and indoctrination Tara suffered and the insight into her family life was fascinating. The strangeness of the way this family showed love was very alien. I think I would have been angrier in her position perhaps.

1. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. This is a fictionalised account of a boys penitentiary centre around 1950 and the brutality of life for young Black boys at that time. This was harrowing and bleak. At only 200 pages I felt often scenes and backgrounds could have been expanded on and that this story could have justified an epic tale. However, come the ending I think perhaps the author was right to keep it short - this is just one tale among many of that era. Beautifully written.

What a brilliant idea Nuff, I've just taken a leaf out of your book and also reserved a library copy of The Mirror and The Light, hadn't realised I could do so this far in advance, I'm already 5th on the waiting list though! There's a 60p charge for reservations in my area now, once upon a time it was free, mustn't grumble a lot cheaper than a hardback I suppose. I'll still buy a copy with an Audible credit on the day it comes out I've no doubt so I can start listening straight away.

Keith, you may be able to cut Emily Maitllis some slack on the Piers Morgan front, he often gets mentioned on celebrity threads as being much nicer than you'd think and a teacher I work with took a group of pupils to a celebrity golf day and said Piers Morgan was one of the few celebrities there who took the time out to speak to the children and seemed like a lovely guy.

I found Never Let Me Go deeply irritating 😠----

Oh and welcome to Jux, Buttery and boldly and all other joiners and re-joiners.
I know what you mean boldly I definitely choose some books based on 'shortness of length' rather than 'excitement to read' last year!

I'm having a real treat reading wise at least. I love the books of Menna Van Praag and found The Patron Saint of Lost Souls on my Kindle which I was sure I'd read as soon as I bought it last year but I haven't.

It's set in Cambridge, a place I really liked when I visited, and is about a shop run by somebody who is the patron saint of lost souls. Like all her books it is semi magical and features good characters and settings.

They are good reads when you need something comforting. This one is no different. I identify closely with the main character Jude because of something she and I both, unfortunately, have in our life.

desdemona I only discovered you could reserve books in advance when I wanted The Testaments.
I like reserving books even though I have to pay.
I’ve just seen David Mitchell has a new book out this year. That’s quite exciting.

Can I join? My resolution this year is to read more, I used to read around fifty books a year but I’m embarrassed to say I probably read fewer than ten last year. I’m off to a good start though as I’ve already finished one. I’m a bit of a random reader, skipping between fiction and non fiction, all different genres and quality stuff to absolute pap. I tend to buy books in charity shops and just grab whatever takes my fancy.

1- Every Night at the London Palladium by Patrick Pilton. Definitely a bit niche this one, written in 1976 it’s a combined book of history of and anecdotes about the Palladium. I loved it, but I’m a geek for theatre and British pop culture history so it was very far up my street.

I’m another lover of Never Let Me Go. I won’t be reading The Mirror and the Light though as I got about a quarter of the way through Wolf Hall and couldn’t get on with it at all. I do intend to give it another go at some point but too much stuff I really want to read at the moment! I’m envious of the poster paying 60p for reservations though - it’s £1 where I am so I save it for books I really want to read NOW - anything else I just wait until it’s 99p on kindle.

Chessie, I’m the same. I’ve tried Wolf Hall in audio and printed form more than once and floundered each time. I don’t know why - I am interested in the Reformation, I like historical fiction, Hilary Mantel and long books. And yet this defeats me. I shall try again but if I don’t succeed this time, that’s it!

The thing is :

I loved Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies but I'm so about the new one because it's years since I read either, can't remember the end of the last one, and simply have neither the energy nor the inclination to reread them right now.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit completely agree I loved them but feel like I would have to do the story all over again to remind myself and there’s too much else to read. I did see Mark Rylance in the play when it was out - stunning.

I'm another one who gave up on Wolf Hall about a quarter of the way through. I may give it another go, but haven't decided yet.

I like Mark Rylance, wish I had seen it. I found Wolf Hall a bugger to read till someone here gave me a tip (any time you dont know who is thinking, it's Cromwell), but BUTB was much more straightforward.

4. Becomming a Critically Reflective Teacher by Stepehm Brookfield I was looking for some of the books mentioned in the Paul Dix thread in The Staffroom (where lots of us also seem to be!) but this is what the library had. I actually found it really interesting- although it's about college level teaching and I'm primary, lots was applicable. I teach in an ib school where reflection is a key thing so it was also very relevant to that. Glad I read it.

I like your list, @Nuffaluff. My fave reads in 2019 were:
Educated by Tara Westover
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore

@MegBusset, I thought The Miniatuarist wasn’t bad though a bit overhyped. If you are interested in the time period and the setting, you might also enjoy The Words in my Hands by Guinevere Glasfurd which is a fictionalised account of the life of a maid who was Descartes’ lover during the time he spent in the Netherlands. Really well written and, I felt, more illuminating about the way life was at the time.