50 Book Challenge 2021 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?

Gosh I’d forgotten how quick this thread can move...
ShotgunShack - I love The Dark is Rising and re read it every December
MegBussett, London Belongs To Me really appeals so I’ve added it to my Wish list. As well as Names For The Sea, Solinvictus.
Noodlezoodle- I thoroughly enjoyed Snuggie Bain BUT it is bleak!

Had a sad event today - had to have our gentle 16 year old much loved cat PTS this morning. Thank goodness for the solace of reading!

I too was gifted The Thursday Murder Club for Christmas. It's not what I would have bought for myself but I'll give it a try.
Currently reading Snow by John Banville and very much enjoying it

Very sorry about your cat @Sonnet

Thank you, finesterreforever, it's good to be on board!

Happy New Year 50-bookers!

I would love to join, I'm starting with Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks

Sonnet

I follow Richard Osman on Twitter had a crush on him before everyone else started and I think he wrote the book. He comes across as a genuinely articulate and funny guy who can use those talents in a number of ways. I'm not that fussed to read it though TBH; it sounds a bit too cosy for me. Will probably get it from the library at some point in the future.

[quote MamaNewtNewt]@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie what about the Penguin Clothbound Classics? I got some for Xmas and am getting a few more for my birthday and they are gorgeous. They have the usual suspects like the Brontes, War and Peace but also some more 'modern' options like Brideshead Revisited and Day of the Triffids. [/quote]
Thanks, Mama. they re truly beautiful, aren't they? My problem is that I do most of my reading in the bath, and they are too beautiful for this!

Best - I like Ottolenghi to read, but can rarely be bothered with him to actually cook from - faffy and so many ingredients. I don't want/need any more Harry Potter books.

I fancy the pants off Richard Osman. He looks a bit like my ex too, although I don't think my fancying R.O is connected to that.

@JaninaDuszejko

With £30 what about a ]]? More art than literature. Or something like ]]. Or a couple of the ]].

Thanks for these. Off to investigate!

Darkness Rising is getting a fair few mentions. I’m going to have a look.

I need to read the latest Shardlake too,really enjoyed that series.

Remus this made me laugh....
*
I fancy the pants off Richard Osman. He looks a bit like my ex too, although I don't think my fancying R.O is connected to that.*

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I would buy with the £30.00 Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy because I really enjoyed this as a teenager so for nostalgic reasons I want a good hardback of this to put on my bookshelf.
My second would be a collection of Charles Dickensstories. I had a copy that belonged to DH’s Gran who sadly passed away long before I met DH but we had been gifted this. Was all set to read this this Christmas and I can not find it anywhere so I definitely want to replace this.

Just realised it’s The Dark is Rising.

With £30, I'd be going for some non-fiction. It somehow feels more worthy of hardback than fiction. I'm currently eyeing up A World beneath the Sands, by Toby Wilkinson - obviously don't know if it's any good yet.

Loving hearing how people would spend £30. Agree that non-fiction feels better 'value'.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I love reading in the bath too but will definitely be keeping my clothbound books for other reading occasions

Sonnet I’m so sorry to hear about your cat.
I hope she’s walking in the Light.

Just reread '1984' now moving onto 'Quiet'.

How do you bold?

You ned a star on either side Icenii

Look below under Emphasis and it'll explain

that would be need!

Right then, have perused my bookshelves and picked out things unread and have decided on The Great Gatsby.

@wednesdayalltheway, I think Finn Family Moomintroll is probably the best one to start with

2. The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah (3.5/5 stars)

I expected to love this book a lot more than I did, having previously loved ‘The Nightingale’ and enjoyed ‘Firefly Lane’. Whilst I found the description of Alaska evocative and enjoyed the atmosphere of the book, I was disappointed with the development of the main characters and felt that Ernt, in particular, was pretty one dimensional. For me, the peripheral characters were more engaging and I was reminded of the community in the TV series ‘Northern Exposure’. Hannah can’t half write about love and loss though. Despite not feeling as engaged in the story as I had with the others of hers I had read, I once again found myself ugly crying.

Hopefully time for one more book before returning to work on Monday, when my reading will likely tail off to bedtime reading only. Making a start on Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I’m a big fan of her Grishaverse YA novels, so looking forward to reading her first adult fantasy novel.

Happy New Year y'all! I'm determined to keep up with this thread in 2021. I have form for falling off and clamouring back on at various points throughout the year.

1. Shuggie Bain - already reviewed in some detail so I won't go into what it's about. I loved it!!! I must be odd because I really loved A Little Life too. This was a more optimistic read though - yes there was poverty, violence, abuse and addiction BUT the book shone with love, affection and humour, and also hope. I couldn't put it down.

1. The Girl with the louding voice reviewed upthread by ravenclaw I think. A good read. A bit unrealistic in the middle when she becomes friendly with Tia from next door.

Now reading Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi which I'm really enjoying.

Sonnet