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.

Desdamona Is that right? Well, it would explain the random inclusions! I’m not being completely dogmatic about it. Rebus isn’t my thing so I won’t bother with that, and I have read Lord of the Flies and Day of the Triffids and hated both so won’t be rereading those. But there were books on there that I would like to read and haven’t done (White Teeth for example) and books that I have read but would like to reread, so I thought it might be fun to work through the list.

DonEmmanuel Wow! I read that years ago and had completely forgotten about it. There was a whole series wasn’t there? I loved them, I know that, but I have no memory of what actually happened in them now!

Hoping I can join too?

I don't know how well I will do this year as have baby no. 3 due in 14 weeks but I'm sure I'll need help staying awake during the night feeds and my kindle will become very handy again.

Unfortunately my first book of the year isn't going to win any awards, but it was free on Kindle and I needed something very easy and predictable to distract me from everything. So have just finished reading Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella like I said it was trashy and predictable but it kept my mind easily occupied when I needed it to.

I love A Man Called Ove Bacon and yes, I did sob.

I've read a few Fredrik Backman books now. Really enjoyed them all although they do seem to to a bit darker.

@DonEmmanuelsDingleberries is your username a nod to Don Emmanuel’s Nether Regions? I am irrationally excited if so, it is rare I come across a LdB fan.

I am preparing myself for your response that says

(A) nothing to do with LdB
(B) you hate LdB and use it as a pisstake

@MercedesDeMonteChristo - yes it is! I find him a bit hit or miss (couldn't get into The Partisan's Daughter or The Dust That Falls From Dreams) but loved his South American trilogy. I thought it was better than Corelli, although I did enjoy that too.

@babybythesea - I think the author wrote 7 books in all? I'd never heard of them before, but the first one is a nice read so far. Gently amusing and sort of pulls you along without realising how much you've read. Morag is a great character.

I live the South American trilogy - Senor Vivo and the Coco Lord is one of my favourite books ever. I’ve liked all of them but would agree The Partisan’s Daughter was weaker and the latest trilogy, whilst I have enjoyed them are not as good. I met him at a very small book talk and we all went to the pub afterwards.

For those reading Hamnet, I read it last year and really loved it. I also recommend The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by the same author. I'll be looking for other Maggie O'Farrell books this year.

Just finished my first book of the year The Guest List, by Lucy Foley. It was an easy read to get me started with nice short chapters for a quick read in between dealing with kids and holidays etc. Now onto Hamnet

I’ve been trying to decide about The Guest List awaysolong but I think I will give it a whirl.
I’ve also downloaded All The Young Men by Ruth Coker. It’s about the many young men in the 1980s catching and often dying of AIDS. It looks sad but very interesting.

Please can I join?
My reading tastes are dreadful chick lit but even those I've struggled with this year. Quite fancy the Thursday murder club though too.
First book of the year is The Christmas invitation by Tricia Ashley which was an after Christmas present from Dh.

I met him at a very small book talk and we all went to the pub afterwards

Mercedes that's interesting. I saw LdB speak at the Edinburgh Book Festival and overhearing conversations in the signing queue afterwards I thought he was one of the most arrogant and unpleasant men I'd ever met.

(Ian Rankin on the other hand was fantastic and took time for a chat and a laugh with everyone).

Was he OK in the pub with you?

Mog if you like Tricia Ashley have you tried Veronica Henry?

Happy New Year all! I'm starting the year with The Secret Commonwealth which was a Christmas present from my sister. I'm enjoying it so far, especially as I'm reading it so soon after watching the His Dark Materials TV adaptation in the run up to Christmas (which I thought was very well done).

He’s very grumpy old man for sure. The gathering was really small, maybe 10 people and we had a great conversation about Birds Without Wings because he is friends with a prominent protest music singer/politician that was featuring in some research I was doing.

@JiltedJohnsJulie

Mog if you like Tricia Ashley have you tried Veronica Henry?

No I haven't. Off to google thank you!

Hi everyone, joining with the hope of making 26 this year, last year managed about 1 a month. I've been furiously reading since New Years Eve, and still have a week before I return to work. This year so far I've read

1. The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah
2. The Night Road - Kristin Hannah
3. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab.

Currently just started The Binding.

Hello everyone
I would like to join ... im just reading The End Of Her by Shari Lapena.

Just starting no. 2 The Daughters Promise - Sarah Clutton
Our school is closed so no nursery or school for my 4 & 3 year olds so I can't see me reading much this week, but I'll try.

First book done. The witch in the woods by TH White. It’s the second book in his series about King Arthur (The once and future king).
I’m now starting Lady Chatterly’s lover which I’ve never read.
And tonight I read chapter 4 of War and Peace. A chapter a night is mangeable but I’m only three days in so let’s see how long I can keep it up!

@babybythesea last year I found that the longest chapter in W&P was 12 mins long so that doesn’t feel too bad. I really loved the war stuff, I found it surprisingly evocative.

Looks like we’ve got lots more time for reading everyone.......😑

So many good recommendations on here. Tinkhasflown thanks for the Maggie O’Farrell tip. Having enjoyed Hamnet so much I’ll certainly be reading more of her titles. babybythesea very excited from your post to hear about the second book in the TH White series as the first is one of my all time faves. Am now going to seek out The Witch in the Woods

Finished Hamnet (with that feeling when you read something special and would love to be reading it again for the first time). Now half way through Benjamin Black’s Prague Nights, a murder mystery set in snow-bound Prague in 1599. So far it’s reminding me a bit of The Name of the Rose.

1. This Thing of Darkness - Harry Thompson
Off the mark for 2021 with this. Took me most of December to read it, it's a beast at over 700 pages.
The story of HMS Beagle, her captain, Robert Fitzroy and her famous passenger, Charles Darwin.
One of the best books I've ever read. Definitely in my all time top 5. Just a wonderful engaging story. Would highly recommend it. I discovered on the 50 book thread about two years ago and I know a lot of other MNers also rate it.

1. Outlander, Diana Gabaldon

I’m sure many of you will be familiar with this story of Claire from1946 stumbling through some stones to 18th century Highlands and meeting Jamie Fraser for frolicks and adventure.

It was a nice easy read, even if it was 850 pages. It should have ended at at least two earlier junctures but overall I enjoyed it and as I get busier this year with deadlines I think other books in the series will probably work well for bedtime reading. Lots of sex but I was expecting that as I’ve seen some of the series but I thought it was quite well done, explicit without being explicit.

A decent 3/5.

Not sure what’s next but I do have Anna Karenina and Frenchman’s Creek on the go for a while.

1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Extremely heart-warming story and written with real wit in places. Mascara all over my face now having just read the ending!

Glad to have finished my first book on the 6th Jan. Think this challenge may spur me on.

Mercedes I loved the TV series Outlander and am still mourning it's passing. Yes, it was very saucy, wasn't it?!