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50 Book Challenge 2020 Part One

999 replies

southeastdweller · 01/01/2020 09:17

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?

OP posts:
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6
Plornish · 01/01/2020 16:46

May I join in? I’ve just started working in a charity bookshop, so I’m not making any resolutions about not buying books.

  1. Killing Dragons: The Conquest of the Alps by Fergus Fleming
I’m purely an armchair mountaineer, but this is an entertaining account of the Golden Age of Alpine climbing, focusing on colourful, eccentric characters and memorable first ascents. Interesting to find out how poor and backward all those posh ski resorts used to be. I read this on the back of Robert Macfarlane’s Mountains of the Mind, a much more profound book about the huge shift in thinking about mountains, from dreary locations of danger and evil, to places of sublime beauty, spiritual awakening and supreme tests of character.
CourageCalls · 01/01/2020 17:05

I'm not sure if it's every library but my library has an app which allows you to download free audio books so I'm hoping to get to 70 as I can listen whilst I work.

Worth a check with your local library.

CourageCalls · 01/01/2020 17:06

Oh and I'm definitely limiting my buying it's library all the way for me!

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 01/01/2020 17:07

Happy New Year 50 bookers new and old!

I am aiming for 50 this year, having narrowly missed last year. I hope to read more in translation and by BAME authors so will be watching for those recommendations in particular.

I have started the year with March Violets by Philip Kerr. There is a good noirish thriller story here, but the writing is sometimes distractingly cheesy, and it's also a definite early contender for the 2020 Boobwatch award.

VanderlyleGeek · 01/01/2020 17:17

Happy New Year! May I join?

I've just begun Trust Exercise by Susan Choi, which won the National Book Award for fiction. It's set in a performing arts high school in the US in the 1980s, exploring the power and sexual dynamics that such an intense space creates. Well, so far at least.

Last year, I read 72-73 books. I don't really have any goals per se this year, though I would like to read at least the same number of books this year. Also, I'd like to continue reading Eve Babitz's work.

Thanks for the thread, South!

BayHorse · 01/01/2020 17:24

Hi everyone, I lurked on here for inspiration last year and would love to join.
I'm currently reading The Familiars by Stacey Halls which I'm enjoying. A lovely, light read, similar to The Winter Witch trilogy but interesting angle as much of it is based on real life events.
DC1 is due in 6 days time so I'm hoping I can fit in reading around being a FTM!
I lost track of how many books I read last year but aiming for 50 this year.

DamnItsSevenAM · 01/01/2020 17:25

Can I ask if rereads count? Sorry I seem rule obsessed; I like to know boundaries of new things I try!

Welshwabbit a beautiful description of the characters in Forest's books. Flawed but totally relatable. I do hope you can obtain the others in the series. Lois Sanger and of course Lawrie herself are such fabulously flawed people. I can't think of another children's writer who achieves this so well. Perhaps K M Peyton.

southeastdweller · 01/01/2020 17:31

Yep, some people do count re-reads.

Happy new year to all 50 Bookers, fellow old-timers as well as newcomers Xmas Grin

OP posts:
jenthelibrarian · 01/01/2020 17:32

I did manage over 50 books in 2019, but this is due to binge-reading Lee Child's 'Reacher' books, I'm rather ashamed to admit!

First book for this year, finished today, is also not really great literature, but an enjoyable loan from my daughter:

Moriarty, Liane 'Truly Madly Guilty'

Piggywaspushed · 01/01/2020 17:33

In terms of the Dickensalong nearly , last time we read in the instalments they were published in which did work but took 18 months!

Happy to discuss later this week when I get my copy and start a thread!

Lizsmum · 01/01/2020 17:55

@Waawo I had thought about chopping up the book for ease of reading but felt guilty. I'm now reconsidering --as you have led me astray--. I just need to find my scalpel.Smile

KeithLeMonde · 01/01/2020 17:56

Hello everyone and happy new year. Thank you southeast for the new thread :)

I have decided to have a go with a random book generator this year for the books which I already own. I have well over 500 books either physically in my house or on my kindle and am too easily tempted to buy new ones so my aim for this year is to read more of the books that I already own. I am going to continue using the library though so there will be some escape from the tyranny of the generator.

My rule is that if I don't fancy reading it I will give it to the charity shop as I am sure I have books here on the shelf which I have been given, or bought because I think I should like them, but will never read. So time to ask myself whether they Spark Joy Grin

You can look forward to some eclectic choices this year from me if I manage to stick to my own rules.

In the meantime, the book I started yesterday and finished this morning (it's short):

1. Lanny, Max Porter

Much reviewed on these threads and elsewhere, this is a short novel in an experimental style, reminiscent in many ways of Ali Smith. Lanny is a young boy living in an (English? UK certainly) village with his parents. He befriends an older man who gives him art lessons. Then, partway through the book, Lanny disappears.

The way that language is used here, in rich spiky fragments, means that Porter packs in a huge amount considering that the book is short and told in very short chapters (2-3 pages each). He brings in the voices of many characters, many of them unnamed, some of them not human (there's magic and folklore in here too).

If this all sounds a bit woo, well, it is, but it's a lovely book. The characters of Lanny and Pete (the artist), and their friendship, are drawn beautifully - again, this reminded me strongly of the lovely things you can find in Ali Smith's writing. It's funny too, if rather odd at times.

JustMyName · 01/01/2020 18:03

Can I join too? I joined last year, but didn't manage to keep it up. However, recently have been reading much more. I'm going through the books on my kindle and also have a trial of kindle unlimited.

I'm currently reading one of Nick Spalding's books, I find them quite funny and there are a few available on kindle unlimited. I'm trying not to buy too many actual books for environmental, financial and storage reasons!! I've had my kindle for years and barely used it, so it's about time.

Looking forward to seeing what you're all reading.

MamaNewtNewt · 01/01/2020 18:10

I'm in, aiming to read at least 50 but hopefully as high as 70. This is my first time joining in on Mumsnet but I normally do the Goodreads challenge and managed 72 last year.

My first book of the year is Pet Semetary by Stephen King, I'm currently re-reading his books in order (in amongst other books). I seem to remember I quite liked Pet Semetary when I first read it but that was before I became a mother so I'm expecting to find it a tougher and more unsettling read this time.

Looking forward to chatting about books and getting some recommendations. Smile

TattiePants · 01/01/2020 18:14

After lurking for the last couple of years - and getting hundreds of book recommendations- I’m finally going to join the threads. I read 71 last year so will stick with 70 again this year although that may go up if I finally get around to sorting out how to use audiobooks. My first book is Jeanette Winterson’s Why be happy when you could be normal which I’m enjoying so far. Looking forward to lots more recommendations.

Blackcountryexile · 01/01/2020 18:22

I'd like to join in for the first time. Thank you to Southeastdweller for managing this thread.
I really enjoyed reading everyone's suggestions and comments last year. I don't have any great reading ambitions for 2020 although I would like to read Hilary Mantel's Bringing up the Bodies in time for the publication of The Mirror and the Light in March. I read Wolf Hall for a book group and loved it. Cromwell really came alive for me.
I'm lucky enough to live in area with several well stocked libraries so most of the books I read are borrowed from them. I can borrow 20 books at a time and I usually have that many! I read about 90 books last year.

Nuffaluff · 01/01/2020 18:23

I’m going to join this year. I read 97 books last year so am aiming for 100 this year. What’s really helping is I’ve discovered BorrowBox, so I ‘read’ while I clean and cook. What won’t help is that I plan to read Vanity Fair this year. It’s a brick.
The past two years I’ve really enjoyed reading the Booker longlist before the winner is announced. I’ll do that again this year, but I’m also going to read some from past shortlists that I haven’t read yet.
I’m currently reading ‘All that man is’ by David Szaly and listening to ‘The Five’ by Hallie Rubenfold (?). It’s about the victims of Jack the Ripper.

namechange49 · 01/01/2020 18:33

@BookWitch I'm about 100 pages in and loving it!
Been on "the list" for so long .... what a shame! Enjoying it now though ..

namechange49 · 01/01/2020 18:34

For anyone else that's "a short history of nearly everything" by Bill Bryson

Blackcountryexile · 01/01/2020 18:36

Forgot to say my first book this year is Motherland by Jo McMillan. Set in the 1970's it's about a mother and daughter who live in a small midlands town and belong to the Communist party. Unexpectedly they are invited to East Germany for the summer holidays. Quite enjoying it so far.

Dazedandconfused10 · 01/01/2020 18:38

I'm in. I didn't read enough last year. Starting off with The Electric Cool Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Canadianpancake · 01/01/2020 18:42

I'm in! I've read 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes today. It was wonderful but heartbreaking. And I've just started book number 2 'Finale' by Stephanie Garner which is the final book of the Caravel trilogy.
Yes... I have spent ALL day reading 😁

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 01/01/2020 18:57

Hello, I'd like to join this year. Not sure if I'll manage 50 books, although last year finished 40 books, I seemed to reject half way through around the same number. Am hoping your reviews will help me pick better.

NZlife · 01/01/2020 19:08

I'm in! Attempted it last year but did atrociously bad!
Going to give it a good shot this year as I have a very high pile of books next to my bed. Currently reading 'a history of the world in 21 women' by Jenni Murray.

margotsdevil · 01/01/2020 19:17

I'm in too please as long as you're all okay with my low brow choices! I do try and read "better" books sometimes but often I reach for lighter stuff when I am working. I discovered goodreads last year and set myself a target of 25; I'd got out of the habit of reading. I actually managed 42 so I'm aiming for 50 this year. I don't count rereads within my challenge though...

Book 1 of the year is Star Wars: Resistance Reborn.

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