26-ish books in 2021

[MercedesDeMonteChristo]

Thought I’d kick start the new thread for this year.

I’m starting with Outlander by Diana Gabalon and reading Anna Karenina Tolstoy one chapter a day, so expect to finish September sometime - I’m on chapter 4.

Greetings again Mercedes 😀

I'm starting with A Man Called Ove

I read that earlier this year. It’s a lovely, nice read I think. I am a sentimental one though so I did some sobbing as well as a little laughing.

Yes, I get the impression it's hoping to be a general sobfest! I'm really enjoying it so far.

I watched a Tv programme the other night called Britain’s favourite novel, a countdown of 30 books. Some of them I have never read, some I have but a long time ago so I want to work my way through those, with the exception of Lord of the Flies which is a book I cannot stand, and the Day of the Triffids (ditto).

I’m reading my way through T H White’s Once and Future King. I read book 1 a couple of months ago (The Sword In The Stone) and I started the second book yesterday. It’s quite short and once I’ve finished it I’ve got Lady Chatterley’s Lover to start. That was book number 30 on that list! I know the story, but have never read it, so it’s probably about time I did.

Love the idea of a chapter a night of Anna Karenina. I tried to do that a couple of years ago with War and Peace but kept forgetting and gave up in the end when I’d left it so long I couldn’t remember what happened. You may have inspired me to try again Mercedes!

Howdy folks.

I've been watching a series called Between the Covers on iplayer, presented by Sara Cox. It's a kind of book club show, really lovely, and has added a few titles to my wish list so far.

@babybythesea I read W&P this year. It took 3 months but I really liked the short, snappy chapters. It was a blog about someone reading it one chapter a day (for 361 days) every year) that gave me the idea.

I would love to join you. I'm entering next year single for the first time in 18 years so I'm focused on doing things that make me happy...Reading being one of them. My first book which I plan to start this afternoon when my LO naps is Why Mummy Is Sloshed I feel like a funny, easy read for today...I would like to leave this rubbish year smiling.

Thanks for starting! Just checking in, I'm reading a Linda Grant at the moment, I love her.
I'm not sure I'll do a themed challenge this year but I may try to read 12 books from the library. I bought too many books last year!
I also see very clearly on these threads why English Lit was my worst subject. I can wax lyrical about a lot of things but books are always "nice", "funny" or "really enjoyed it"

Hello @MercuryRising and @drspouse. I am similar. I cringed as I described a book as ‘cosy’ but had nothing else.

My target is 20 this year and I’ve created a little challenge grid whereby a number have to come from my bookshelf and be non-fiction.

I read a book a couple of years ago called Howard’s End is on the Landing.
It was about an author who had gone looking for a book she knew she had, didn’t find it, but in the hunt found loads of books she hadn’t read, didn’t remember she had etc etc. So she had a year of not buying any books but just reading the ones she had at home.
I tried it and lasted until April before I heard a radio interview which talked about a book I really wanted to read!
May try again this year as I have so many unread books at home.

Margot - I’ve not heard of that. I’ll look for it - I love programmes about books.
I like listening to Open Book and A Good Read on Radio 4. A Good Read is my favourite of the two. Radio 4 do a book club too, once a month, instead of Open Book, but I really struggle to get in to that for some reason.

Just finished Away with the Penguins Lovely, easy going read, perfect for this time of the year. I read it in a week in short bursts, would be a good one to start in January.

@babybythesea If spent as much time reading as I do reading about books I'd be able to join the 50 books thread

Ooh can I join?

I'm starting with It Ends With Her by Brianna Labuskes - crime thriller style freebie from prime reading. Looking to branch out from crime fiction once I've finished this one

Another joiner please 🙋‍♀️ I'm just starting the Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. So far I'm really enjoying it.

Planning to include audiobooks as well as actual books, hopefully that's allowed!

@joeysapple I finished that yesterday. It was a lovely read.

Welcome everyone.

There are no rules. If you want to count audio go ahead.

I'm in. Can't keep up with the 50 book thread, the pace of this one is much more sedate.
Although I think I actually managed either 40 or 41 books in 2020.
I'll be back in a couple of days to review my first completed review of 2021 as I've got about 100 pages left of This Thing of Darkness.

I've got Thursday Murder Club on my library request list.

Joining. I’ve started with The Island by Victoria Hislop.

Joining please. I’m sure I’ve easily got 26 books on my bookshelf and my kindle that I haven’t read.
I’m currently reading Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher.

Interstellardrifter I love Rosamunde Pilcher. My Gran’s favourite book was The Shell Seekers, possibly because like the main character she met (although Nana married) an GI in the war who was then killed in action shortly after. I think it read more like a biography for her, and it’s become a firm favourite for both me and my sister because it connects us to her. She used to look after us sometimes and make us watch the filmed version with Angela Lansbury!

Hound I managed about 40 last year (yay, 2020 is now last year!) but part of that was lockdown, and part of it was the fact that I read loads of books aimed at 9-10 year olds. I work in a school and need to know more about what’s being published now so I can talk to the children about it and help them find books they might be interested in. So I have to read the books myself. Definitely valid to count them but they don’t take long! There’s some great stuff out there for older children - I’ve discovered some books I wouldn’t have read otherwise.

Can i join? Ive just started 'the starlrss sea' by erin morgenstern. Actually 26 books might be ambitious for me but my nee years resolution is to read more so this thread may provide inspiration

Room for one more?
I love to read but struggling to find time. Need to get off MN and open my kindle to be fair!
I'm a v slow reader, so I like the 26 book challenge. Usually have 2 on the go - a kindle one for night time insomniac reading and a paper one which is usually a gift or loan read.
Right now Coming up for air by George Orwell (a MN reco) on kindle.
And about to start Where the crawdads sing which was a bday present from dear friend