50 Books Challenge 2023 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 2023, 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.

If possible, please can you embolden your titles and maybe authors as well of books you've read or going to read? It makes it much easier to keep track, especially when the threads move quickly at this time of the year.

Who's in for this year?

I only just realised that I had Slow Horses on my kindle when people on here were recommending it. I’ve watched ep 1 on Apple TV, so pausing the tv series until I catch up.

Crone - love to you

Happy New Year everyone! I’m looking forward to joining in and enjoying everyone’s recommendations. I tried to tally my reading for 2022 and I think it was around 27. My target is 50 for this year. It’s certainly doable if I stay away from the doom scrolling!

currently reading Slow Horses by Mick Heron (see my post above). I’ll need to switch over to The Beautiful Visit by Elizabeth Jane Howard as I’m going to join the dated thread too. So many authors I’ve never heard of!

I am going to try and actually do this thread this year - I think it is probably a much more productive use of Mumsnet compared to reading AIBU...

My favourite book of 2022 was probably The Roaring Girls by Holly Kyte.

Currently working my way through the Discworld novels, so have plenty of reading material! Have read the first three Death novels so far and am now reading The Colour of Magic - so that will be my first of 2023.

Long time lurker on Mumsnet, but first time posting - so count me in!

Going to take a recommendation from above of:
1- It Ends At Midnight by Harriet Tyce

Then already have the following on my list:
2- Murder at the Spring Ball: A 1920s Mystery
3- Death and Croissants by Ian Moore.

Will surprise myself if I get to 50!

Happy New Year all.

I'm joining in again.

I'm starting with The Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb. I read the first part of it, the Farseer trilogy, years ago and remember really liking them, so rereading them to get back into that world before moving onto the rest of the series.

I'm also reading Word Perfect by Susie Dent. A word a day for the year, looking at the etymology and uses of it. Today's word is "crambazzled".

Looking forward to seeing what everyone's reading and your reviews.

Ooh, I'd like to join please. I was listening to a podcast the other day where the person described their goals of reading 50 books a year. I immediately decided that would be a good goal for this next year to replace endless doom scrolling! I've got some half-read books sat on my shelves that I'd like to finish. One of my plans is to also refuse to buy non-fiction on my kindle...I always think it's a great idea when I see the price difference, but I really struggle to read it on there. Fiction is not a problem though!

Hello, thanks for the new thread. I’m going to do my best to stick with it this year. Sort of drifted off in previous years!
I have a TBR pile of 30+ and more advance orders to come. Following these threads is one reason why I have so many

First book of the year is The Black Dog by Kevin Bridges. I like him, I like his comedy and the novel has some interesting things to say about masculinity and community. There are comic moments but it’s definitely not a comic novel. On the down side it does seem to go on a bit, particularly with one character. Less navel gazing, more grit would be better.

I'm in. Only got to 38 last year though...

Ok…I’m joining in again! I was on this thread at the start of last year (and the 26-ish books before that in 2021) but my reading stopped quite abruptly at the end of January due to illness and some other life circumstances. Struggled to find my reading mojo again later in the year, although finally indulging in a bunch of comfort re-reads meant I achieved around 26 by the end of the year. I’ve been following the last of the 2022 threads and have a bunch of recommendations, plus some Christmas gifts and a few Kindle deals to get me going. Hopefully this thread will keep me going again this year.

I’ve almost finished T M Logan’s The Curfew which is an easy-reading thriller, and am also about a third of the way through Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries which I’m enjoying even more than I thought I would.

I'm in, dropped out last year as I lost track of my reading but miss the discussions and still lurked for great Wishlist additions.

Ooh, I’m also looking to do Word Perfect this year. I’ve had it for over a year, after picking it up as a Kindle deal. I started reading it just as a book, but having kept up with A Poet for Every Day of the Year last year, even when all other reading faltered (admittedly I was doing many days of entries at once, not one a day!) I decided to tackle this one as a through-the-year book this year. Looking forward to hopefully expanding my vocabulary!

Checking In. Have not chosen first book.

Great to see so many new faces

OldCrone I had to bring myself back into reading mode 3 years ago and I set timed targets 

@TattiePants we are here if you are joining

I might go set a klaxon off on two other book threads.

Joining in!

Goal is to read 24 books so 2 a month. I normally read 20 a year so hopefully up it slightly. Am keeping track on Goodreads.

Top book of 2022 was Hamnet

Starting 2023 on the Christmas bookshop by Jenny Colgan. Actually started it a few days ago so it's a 2022-23 crossover. Hopefully get it finished by weds when dc go back to school as in my head that when Christmas stuff ends!

My ongoing page-a-day book is Days Like These: 366 Poems by Brian Bilston. It was a Christmas gift and I’m going to make time to read the daily poem and not rush ahead, so it should be the final book on my list at the end of this year!

Happy New Year! I've decided to challenge myself this year so I'm in. I'm currently reading The Guncle - Steven Rowley.

I was given a book voucher for Christmas so I've just ordered the Alan Rickman Diaries, Love from the Pink Palace, and The School for Good Mothers, so they are next up on the list!

I enjoyed her Poppy Wars books, very interested to hear what you think of this one.

Happy to join in. My first book is A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer. I don’t generally read her crime novels but this was good festive fun.

Thanks for the new thread. I've been a lurker on the past threads for a couple of years now, and New Year's resolution is to actually join in this year. Love the recommendations I get from these threads and it has really helped to broaden my reading. Last year I managed just over 80 books and would like to achieve the same sort of number this year - I've got so many tbr on my kindle and Borrowbox reading lists I need to aim high to try and get through them all.

I've usually got an ebook and and audio book on the go at the same time, at the moment I'm half way through Anna Karenina and The Whalebone Theatre. I also have a few started-but-not-finished books I want to clear off ASAP.

My other resolution is to continue to check whether Borrowbox before I buy the books on my Amazon Wishlist when they appear in the 99p deals. In 2021 I got carried away with so many bargain books, and while only 99p each it soon adds up, so much better if I can get them for free through the library app.

Hi all, im looking forward to the next year in reading! I have very regimented TBR, which is helping me achieve four goals:
Listen to Stephen King's books in order
Read Agatha Christie's books in order
Interwoven with these is to clear my physical and kindle books and huge backlog of audio books. I've been doing this since October and it's been really helping me with finishing books and not constantly stopping and starting. I obviously won't finish this year.
I'm also reading 10 pages of War and Peace every day.
Currently reading The Pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North who is one of my favourite authors, as its a library book I had out before I started my plan, and Around the World in 80 Days by Michael Palin which was free on Audible.

I'd like to join this year, never manage to keep track of what I read (the librarian seems to though, she keeps remarking that I've already read a book when I try to borrow it )

I'm partway through The Last Chairlift right now, though tbh I'm not finding it very interesting but I waited a long time for it to come to me in the inter-library loan system so I feel I have to finish it, especially as I paid 2 euros for the loan. Once I've finished that I've got The Whalebone Theatre to read next. Also have a couple of books of DD's that I need to read soon (I always read what she's reading because she likes to talk about the books she's reading so it helps if I know what she's talking about)

I was on these threads a few years ago under a different name and would like to join again!

I have a book club book to read (still undecided) and online I'm joining in with reading The Old Curiosity Shop, and possibly Anna Karenina.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit thank you for the reminder! I’ve intended to join the 50 book thread for at least the last 3 years and never get round to it so 2023 will be the year. I have stalked the threads from time to time and had loads of book recommendations.

I read 60 books last year (although the penultimate book was a reread of The Yellow Wallpaper to make sure I hit my target) and will be aiming for the same number this year. I’m halfway through The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey which I’d planned to have finished by now but the arrival of 2 kittens on Friday is taking up most of my time. It’s then on to my Christmas book ok list.

Thanks for the new thread! I'm determined to meet my reading goals this year, last year was definitely more miss than hit. I'm starting with Halloween Party by Agatha Christie which I requested from the library back in October but only received a couple of weeks ago. I'm also following the Anna Karenina and Old Curiosity Shop readalongs. This will also be the year where I finally finish reading David Copperfield, Bleak House and Little Dorrit (failed readalong participations!).

I join every year and then forget to update the thread so it becomes a huge chore, my aim is to do better this year. I have nearly finished Russia 1917-1921 by Anthony Beevor. I can see why he had PTSD after researching it. On my Kindle I am reading Midnight in Chernobyl.

A thank you to all the regulars, when my DH was asked to say which books he wanted for Christmas he told me to choose from these threads as whenever I tell him about recommendations on here he inevitably really loves the books.

the arrival of 2 kittens

Very jealous

I’m looking forward to seeing your review as I read My Name is Lucy Barton last year then jumped to Oh William that I got for Christmas and wondering if I should have read book 2 first.