26-ish books for 2023

[Tinkhasflown]

A shiny new thread for 2023. There didn't appear to be one do hope it's ok that I have created it this year.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 3 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

I’ve finished my first book of the year - going to number them to keep track a bit!

1 - A Maigret Christmas and other stories by Georges Simenon
Really loved this - there’s an amazing short story about a prostituted woman helping a young woman. It’s really moving.

Have just started -

2 - Zone of interest by Martin Amis

I have a 2 hour bus journey into work this morning thanks to the train strikes so should get a good way into this!

I’ve also joined the Anna Karenina read along so hopefully that will pop into the list later in the year!

Posting to bookmark, hope to return later today/this week

I’d love to join too please. Last year I read 15 books, so I think that 26 is a high target for me personally. I’d be happy to reach 15 again.
I’ve just started Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Really enjoying it so far.

I'll join too if that's ok. I used to read LOADS pre-children, but morning sickness followed by restless brain has meant I've read very little for seven years now 😱 I'm keen to change that. Ended 2022 fairly well, so here goes!

I'm currently reading Away With the Penguins by Hazel Prior. I grabbed it whilst at the library with the kids - definitely a "that one has a nice cover, that'll do" moment! Enjoying it though, and there are actual penguins (would have been disappointed otherwise) 🐧

Signing in for 2023. I'm on the 50 book thread as well, but that one's moving at lightening speed so I think this thread might be more my pace!

I'm currently reading The Only Plane in the Sky: The Oral History of 9/11 by Garret M. Graff, and it's bringing back memories of the day and watching the news in utter disbelief and shock. Incredible book so far, but very affecting, especially the transcriptions of some of the voicemail messages left by people trapped in the towers or on one of the hijacked planes.

Finished my first book of the year yesterday:
*1. Girl forgotten - Karin slaughter.
*
I'm a huge KS fan so it was a given I'd enjoy it. There are two timelines: current and the early 80s. I loved the chapters from the 80s and unusually for me didn't guess the murderer from the start!

Moving onto:
2. Things we never got over - Lucy Score ☺️

I'd like join please.
I'm reading midnight library currently. Hoping to finish that this week as it's a an easy read and not too long. I'm trying to read more regularly.

Finished The Haunting Season. Was ok not the spookiest though. Now onto The Duchess about Wallis Simpson.

@Magentax how many of the stories where actually Christmassy please? I read yet another "Christmas" short story book this Christmas where only a couple where even vaguely Christmas related and it really irks me! Been looking for a collection that are ALL Christmas or wintery for years.

A warm welcome to all the new members of our thread and welcome back to all the "lifers".

Due to illness I'm still slowly making my way through my first book of the year, my head is not quite in it. However, I see some great book suggestions already that will definitely help spur me on.

My current read is *I'm Glad my Mom Died

I don't know why only half of that posted!

My current read is I'm Glad my Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy an odd choice considering I've just had a huge tumour removed. I'm not loving it but will finish it....

My goal was 50 for last year but I only read 48. Last book of 2022, The Paper Palace, slowed me down. It was a good book but I found it really hard to get into, I kept avoiding it. I just finished it today, so going for 50 again this year. Verity is next on the list.

I never give up on a book... but The Paper Palace is currently sat next to my bed only partially read. I'm just not invested in any of the characters so don't really care what happens to any of them. I guess I'll go back to it at some point, mostly because so many people have raved about it. But I'm not rushing back 😬

They were all set at Christmas. It's only three stories (two novella length and one proper short story), one is a Maigret and the other two are just set in Paris at Christmas. All are quite sad and moving, would certainly recommend.

I get the impression that people who like crime novels don't like his books as much. I am not overly into crime novels and just found it a funny read.
@Orangebadger that's an interesting theory. I hated Richard Osman's book but I'm a crime reader. I keep thinking I should try again because I feel like a lone voice, but it was the writing I disliked, not the charcters or plot.

I've finished Sycamore Row by John Grisham which I started in December. Deep south Mississippi and black / white legal case.
Starting The Familiars by Stacey Halls.

Thank you @Magentax

I have finished book 1, Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I raced through it wanting to know what happened and it was an easy read. But I'm not in a hurry to read another one. It all got a bit daft plot wise if you ask me and some of the characters were just too overblown and clunky.

Book 2 is Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski, which is proving harder to get going with.

I like Psychological thrillers and crime novels and I enjoy Richard Osman's books. I like that sort of witty, gentle humour and easy, likeable characters. I enjoy most genres actually, everything except science fiction. On book too now, Verity, looks like a nice easy read.

*book two, not too.

Hi there,
I’m going to join you. I usually read about 25 a year - last year managed 35 (combination of audio, kindle and “real” books). Just finished my first last night:

1 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Really loved this one. Totally not my usual genre but still enjoyed it. I want the other half of the story to be written, ie. what happened in Grace’s absence.

Finished "under the whispering door" and now started book 2. The Imaginary by a f harrold. ( its a children's book I need to read for work)

1) Murder Before Evensong - Rev Richard Coles

I liked this but it was a little bit slow moving and difficult to differentiate between some of the characters.

It is the sort of murder mystery I usually enjoy, so I was bound to like it. It had the landed gentry, the vicar, murders and skeletons in closets. I didn't warm that much to any of the characters other than the main protagonist, Daniel, and feel as if most of them were underdeveloped. Daniel was likeable and interesting imo, but the rest were a little 2D.

Trying to choose my next one which I will take to bed soon!

I don't think you're a lone wolf at all. I have come across quite a few people that didn't like The Thursday Murder Club. Mostly because of the plot around the crime and how unbelievable it was. I enjoyed it, but I know what you mean about the writing, I haven't reached for his other books.

I agree about Thursday Murder Club in that it wasn't the best...I was disappointed and haven't bothered with any mors of his.

There are a few celebrity authors..clearly not being published on quality ( graham Norton is an exception to this). Particularly bad in children's publishing at the moment.

I enjoyed this book too. Again, not normally what I’d read, but somebody recommended it and I thought I’d give it a go.

Thursday Murder Club was a DNF for me and I do like crime books, it was just a bit too cosy and twee for me. I didn't enjoy Away with the Penguins either but made myself finish it as it was for my book club.