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26-ish books in 2022

791 replies

StColumbofNavron · 31/12/2021 11:49

Roll up, roll up ...

Shiny new thread for 2022.

I am setting my target at 25 this year.

I want to read at least a min of 5 in hardcopy and at least 4 non-fiction.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
BaconAndAvocado · 20/02/2022 19:27

Yes, a very difficult role to fill!

Puddock1 · 21/02/2022 09:49

@BaconAndAvocado Great to hear that a TV series is planned! I didn't know so will look forward to that.

  1. Winter by Ali Smith I'm normally quite partial to a weird book but this one just wasn't for me! Disappointed that I didn't enjoy it as it gets a lot of 5 star reviews. I think it went way over my head and I'm now wondering if I'll enjoy any of the other seasons. I've got Summer on my Kindle but not sure I could cope with any more floating heads!

Onto Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.

StColumbofNavron · 21/02/2022 09:55

I think I’ve got three of the Seasons books on Kindle. I’m waiting until Sept to start Autumn - I know it’s probably not necessary.

OP posts:
highlandcoo · 21/02/2022 14:14

I'm waiting for autumn too!

I like Kenneth Branagh as an actor but he's really too old for the role. Count Rostov is surprisingly young at around thirty years of age iirc. To be honest, I did picture him as older than that myself as I was reading the book. So maybe it doesn't really matter.

BaconAndAvocado · 21/02/2022 16:27

highlandcoo was Rostov really 30?! So very wise for his years.
KB definitely couldn’t pass for a 30 something........trying to wrack my brains to think of another potential Rostov but think I’ve got Covid brain fog.
All my brain was telling me was Benedict Cumberbatch who lacks the requisite warmth I think.

livingonpurpose · 22/02/2022 11:13

[quote Puddock1]@BaconAndAvocado Great to hear that a TV series is planned! I didn't know so will look forward to that.

  1. Winter by Ali Smith I'm normally quite partial to a weird book but this one just wasn't for me! Disappointed that I didn't enjoy it as it gets a lot of 5 star reviews. I think it went way over my head and I'm now wondering if I'll enjoy any of the other seasons. I've got Summer on my Kindle but not sure I could cope with any more floating heads!

Onto Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.[/quote]
@Puddock1 I've been reading the Seasons books by Ali Smith, and just finished Spring. I have to say this has been my favourite by far (haven't read Summer yet) after feeling exactly as you did about Winter. The floating head thing definitely went way over my head! So I say stick with it and give Spring a go.

livingonpurpose · 22/02/2022 11:33

Gosh I've really fallen behind in posting my reads here, so I'm just going to do a brief catch up:

16. Educated - Tara Westover
Listen to audiobook on Borrowbox. It was okay, got a bit confusing as was reading Girl A at the same time and kept on getting them mixed up.

17. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev - Dawnie Walton
Similar in style to Daisy Jones & the Six in that it's interview style and about musicians, but this book also addressed the impact of race and gender (sex). Enjoyable.

18. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Re-read of this classic that I first read during my GCSEs. I found that although I vaguely remembered the storyline, it was so long ago it felt like a new read for me. So well done.

19. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel
Read Wolf Hall years ago and for some reason I never continued with the rest of the series as they were released. So after re-reading WH last year I'm now progressing to these unread books. Love this time period. Loved HM's writing. Perfect.

20. Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing - Bob Mortimer & Paul Whitehouse
Listened to this on audiobook via Borrowbox. A recommendation from the 50 Books thread, I thought I'd give it a go (never watched the series of the same name). I enjoyed the banter between the two comedians and learned far more than I ever wanted to about fishing and fish.

21. A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes
I really enjoy these re-tellings of Greek myths from the female perspective books and this one didn't disappoint. I liked the fact that it told the story of the downfall of Troy from many different women's perspectives.

22. Spring - Ali Smith
Third book in the Seasons quartet and this was definitely my favourite so far. I'm now used to Smith's poetical way of writing, and this one didn't have anything particularly odd in it that stretched my credulity like with Winter. I also found the insight into immigration detainment centres particularly moving.

23. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
Loved this book. Interesting how well told the female character is considering the book is written by a middle aged/older male. The book is the tale of Jean Paget who after surviving being marched around Malaya with a group of other women and children prisoners of war under Japanese control, goes on to create a wonderful town 'like Alice' Springs. Recommended.

24. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Listened to the audiobook on Borrowbox. A journalist interviews an ageing Hollywood star about her life, told through the story of her seven marriages, as she is finally able to reveal her truth. Very enjoyable.

Puddock1 · 23/02/2022 09:07

@livingonpurpose okay thanks, I'll keep my eye out for Spring in the 99p deals and give it a go 😁.

StColumbofNavron · 23/02/2022 13:34

That’s an impressive run of books and books that you’ve liked too @livingonpurpose. I’ve got 8, yes 8 on the go, but 3 are readalongs and one with DS3 and one is short stories so just dipping in and out.

OP posts:
dollybird · 23/02/2022 13:56

Blimey livingonpurpose do you do anything but read all day 😅 I'm only on book 6, and thought that was good going!

livingonpurpose · 23/02/2022 16:04

Grin I've cut out all TV viewing since the start of the year, so all downtime is spent reading. It's amazing how many books I'm getting through from doing this. Plus listening to audiobooks while I'm doing other things like housework/washing up/walking the dog/etc.

I never used to read this much but I have such a big TBR pile of books sitting on my Kindle (and my library reading list) and I've been feeling this massive sense of urgency to get through a good chunk of them - like I'm missing out from not reading them. So it's become a bit of a priority for me. Although I'm sure I'll probably slow down soon.

Nordicmom · 24/02/2022 02:00

Ended up finishing
4 . A Class of their own - Matt Knott
Then finished 2 others with the same theme on my kindle
6.A Class Act - Rob Beckett

  1. Respectable, Crossing the Class Divide - Lynsey Hanley
Then started on the “My Friend Anna “ by Rachel DeLoache Williams that the new Netflix show is based on but since I’ve watched it all already I will probably read the book quickly . I’m still in middle the “ Into the Water “- Paula Hawkins . I’m thinking I won’s get to 52 this year but over 26 is realistic . I have several others I’m in the middle of on my kindle so will probably be finishing those but also want to empty my book drawer with about 15 books left in it .for some reason I do all my reading in English although it’s my second language ( been here over 20 y ). My mum and brother do give me books in my own language but I never buy any when I’m there I’m now just accustomed to reading English always .
ExtremelyDelighted · 24/02/2022 07:59
  1. Freckles by Cecelia Ahern (book)
  2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (audio)
  3. The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (audio)
  4. Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian (audio)
  5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling (audio)
6 The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater 7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (audio) 8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban by JK Rowling (audio) 9 Persuasion by Jane Austen audio/kindle mix. I haven't read any JA for years and never read this one before, what a treat. Beautiful language, beautiful settings, great array of characters, loved it.

I am using audio far more this year than in the past but can't do it at the same time as anything else unless the something else is fairly simple, like driving on an open road, gym or crocheting. Everything else distracts me too much (town driving, work, housework). Looking forward to listening at the allotment once the evenings lengthen a bit more though.

dollybird · 25/02/2022 10:43

@Nordicmom

Ended up finishing 4 . A Class of their own - Matt Knott Then finished 2 others with the same theme on my kindle 6.A Class Act - Rob Beckett
  1. Respectable, Crossing the Class Divide - Lynsey Hanley
Then started on the “My Friend Anna “ by Rachel DeLoache Williams that the new Netflix show is based on but since I’ve watched it all already I will probably read the book quickly . I’m still in middle the “ Into the Water “- Paula Hawkins . I’m thinking I won’s get to 52 this year but over 26 is realistic . I have several others I’m in the middle of on my kindle so will probably be finishing those but also want to empty my book drawer with about 15 books left in it .for some reason I do all my reading in English although it’s my second language ( been here over 20 y ). My mum and brother do give me books in my own language but I never buy any when I’m there I’m now just accustomed to reading English always .
I really liked Into the Water. DD is reading it now.
AnGofsMum · 27/02/2022 10:20

1.A Country Christmas - Veronica Henry

  1. The Skylarks’ War - Hilary MacKay
  2. Still Life - Sarah Winman
  1. Never Greener - Ruth Jones (audio)
Essentially the story of an affair which plays out over 30 years or so. This was well-written and quite gripping even though the characters made me want to scream and swear!
  1. The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman (audio)
Brilliant sequel to The Thursday Murder Club. Very cleverly plotted with some good twists along the way. Gently humorous and full of heart.
  1. The Other Bennet Sister - Janice Hadlow
I was given this as a present and it sat on my shelf for quite a while; having spent much of my adult life reading, studying, teaching and writing about Jane Austen I just wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this book about the imagined life of Mary Bennet from P&P. Reader, I was wrong. This is a truly wonderful book - it cleverly weaves material from the original novel and other sources, such as Jane Austen’s letters, into a really beautiful, well crafted and never cheesy narrative. It’s a bit of a whopper at 655 pages but I found myself rationing the last few chapters as I didn’t want it to end. Highly recommended.
livingonpurpose · 27/02/2022 21:44

@AnGofsMum I'm listening to The Other Bennett Sister on audiobook at the moment and really enjoying it. Just got to part 2, so it's now beyond the timescale of P&P. It is a whopper though - something like 18 hours for the audiobook!

humblebumble · 28/02/2022 01:06

Hi,
I'm a bit late to join but I've read a few books suggested on this thread and am have so far enjoyed them all. It's been a while since I have read so much! Thanks for the inspiration.
1.Midnight Library

  1. American Dirt
  2. How we disappeared
  3. The Hearts of Invisible Furies (current)
drspouse · 28/02/2022 08:37

9 Murder by the Book, short stories edited by Martin Edwards. Loved this, it's good a great selection. Particularly liked the one where a writer murders the people who "just pop round" while he's WFH and stay for hours.

dollybird · 28/02/2022 20:06

6. Die of Shame by Mark Billingham.

'Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart north London house to talk about addiction. there they share their deepest secrets: stories if lies, regret, and above all, shame. Then one of them is killed - and it's clear one of the circle was responsible'

I really enjoyed this, kept me guessing right to the end, and a bonus short story at the end

drspouse · 01/03/2022 09:44

Can anyone recommend me some science fiction?
I don't normally read it at all, but in my challenge for the year is a science fiction book by a woman writer.
I got Wrinkle in Time out of the library, but there's also "a children's book" on the list so I might count it for that.
I enjoyed the Detective Inspector Chen books (set in a future Singapore) by Liz Williams.
I can't stand most scifi I'm afraid!
Not Handmaid's Tale - I think it would be too upsetting - which also cuts out quite a lot of dystopian fiction.
I did also like To Say Nothing of the Dog (Connie Willis), but she's written loads so I'm not sure which one to read next!

bibliomania · 01/03/2022 09:56

Science fiction at the softer end of the genre - I liked The Psychology of Time Travel, by Kate Mascerenhas and also the Becky Chambers books. I haven't read the full series, but the first book, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was enjoyable enough, like a school story in space (bunch of new girls learning to shake down together). If you like Connie Willis, then I personally was enthralled by The Doomsday Book but it has divided opinion on the 50-book thread and the ending might feel too upsetting. If we're counting time travel as sci fi, there's always the St Mary's books by Jodi Taylor, which are great fun.

drspouse · 01/03/2022 10:08

I forgot I'd read The Psychology of Time Travel!
I think I'd prefer something without names for tribes and exotic reptilian pilots. Time travel is definitely more my speed.
I'll see what the 50 book thread has to say about The Doomsday Book.

DonEmmanuelsDingleberries · 01/03/2022 22:23
  1. The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai
  2. The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan
  3. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
  4. Milkman by Anna Burns
  5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
  6. Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burn Out Generation by Anne Helen Petersen
  7. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
  8. The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich
  1. Whistling for the Elephants by Sandi Toksvig - This was just ok tbh. The characters needed more development, as most of them were pretty one dimensional with not much thought given to their motivations. Then again the story is told from the perspective of a 10 year old girl, so maybe that was intentional? Either way I can't see myself rereading it.
AnGofsMum · 01/03/2022 23:07

@livingonpurpose - the last five or so chapters are the best of all.

DonEmmanuelsDingleberries · 02/03/2022 08:11

Number 10 will be Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I do enjoy a retelling of a Greek myth!

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