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.

Gutted I lost count last year. I read every day and read a LOT in the school holidays and read 30 in the summer holidays last year. I mostly read fantasy and sci-fi books, with a few biographies and medical based books thrown in.

So far I've read 4.

1. The Grey King - after reading The Dark is Rising at Christmas.
2. White Silence.
3. Dark Light
4. Long Shadows ... these 3 are from the same series by Jodi Taylor.

I like Jodi Taylor and am in the middle of reading the St Mary's books (again) and will pick up where I'm up to in re-reading that series.

I've just downloaded a freebie mentioned on the Jodi Taylor fb group to give it a try so 5. is going to be Baking Bad.

Then a favourite author (Ilona Andrews) is releasing a 'long-novella' next week which I'm looking forward to.

1/25 - Reconstruction (Mick Herron) - as usual, loved the plot twists, and it was a nice change to have a standalone story instead of being left with things to wait for with the next book
2/25 Terciel & Elinor, Garth Nix - really looking forward to this, was mad about the Abhorsen books when younger and didn't know this one had been written. Nothing like the grey and dangerous Old Kingdom for a grim January!

I just finished my 2nd book The Imaginary " by A F Harrold. It's a children's book and honestly it's blown me away. I read another of his last year " the afterwards " which was also brilliant. Highly recommend.

Not sure what to read next....

Two mentions of the St Mary's series on here just had me googling as never heard of them - they sound fun!

I chose a St. Mary’s for my book group as I love books about time travel.
I did enjoy it but it was a little “light” for me. One of the book group members LOVED it and has now read tonnes of the series.

It sounds a bit like Doomsday Book by Connie Willis which I ADORED when I read it as a teenager but re-read a few years ago and was appalled at how badly written it was. Great premise but by god it needed some serious editing!

Finished book 1: This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens.

I will join. Reading more is my standing NY resolution and I usually start the year well and then it sort of tails off as life gets busier.

Currently reading Alan Rickman's diaries which I'm getting into the swing of. Interesting reading the diary of someone who isn't around to be in control of the editing.

I have a long list of things I'd like ro read this year including new Kate Atkinson and Jonathan Coe. I also enjoy a biography (especially music related). I read mainly on Kindle.

A bit late now, but Happy New Year!

I'd like to join as well.
My Goodreads target is 50 for this year - last year I made it to 53, but with some short non-fiction thrown in the mix.

I just finished The circle of karma by Kunzang Choden - first English-written novel by a woman from Bhutan. I loved it, so I think I started the year well reading-wise.

I hope everyone will have a fulfilling reading year ahead! 📚

Can I join i too? Have previously lurked on this thread and the 52 books thread. Might give me the spur to get reading again and stop scrolling! Used to read a lot - usually at least 3 books on the go, but have lost my reading mojo. Last time I had it was when in a book club, and we met about every 6 weeks (mainly for wine and chat), but I did commit and read the books we discussed. We have moved since, and have been unable to find a new one.
Am currently actively reading 2 books - about 1/2 way through "how to kill your family", and about 1/3 into "the hearts invisible furies".

oooh me too please.

I'm managed 41 last year but that includes audiobooks.

My 10 favourite reads of last year were:

Great Circle
All the Light We Cannot See
Broken Harbour (best of the Dublin Murder Squad IMO)
Hamnet
Daisy Jones and the Six
On The Beach
American Dirt
The Vanishing Half
The Family Remains (follow up to the Family Upstairs)
The Heart's Invisible Furies (probably my favourite of the year)

I've just finished my first book of this year - "A Terrible Kindness" - which I enjoyed. As much as you can enjoy a story about an embalmer / chorister sent to the Aberfan disaster.... I liked the main protagonist very much and although there was some hard parts to read, there was nothing gratuitous around the Aberfan chapters - in fact it was dealt with beautifully and left a deep and lasting impression. Would recommend.

Waiting to be read are:
Lessons in Chemistry
Sorrow and Bliss
Shrines of Gaiety
Still Life
A Suitable Boy
One by One

So a mixed bag coming up for me!!!

Just finished book 1 The Twyford Code. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. I still think I liked the style and effort put in to make it work more than the story itself. I did enjoy her first book more though.

Will be starting The Devils Advocate by Steve Cavanagh tonight. I've loved all his books so far.

BobDear we have very similar taste in books. I’ve read most of the ones you mention and yes, The Heart’s Invisible Furies was just excellent!

Interesting, your opinion of A Terrible Kindness. I avoided it because I thought the subject matter would be too harrowing so maybe I’ll give it a go.

Lessons in Chemistry is also next for me. I’m just finishing Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Loving it although not quite as much as I loved All the Light They Cannot See.

@BaconAndAvocado we also have similar taste in sandwiches :)

There are parts of A Terrible Kindness that are of course upsetting, but the character is quite stoic (at the time of the disaster) so it's not mawkish.

I've decided to do Shrines of Gaiety next and then Lessons in Chemistry. So we can compare notes soon, I'm sure!

I really enjoyed Shrines. Not KA’s best (IMO) but still very good.

Yes I've heard several people say that Shrines isn't KA best book, but then, her bar is set so high..... A God in Ruins (follow up to Life After Life) is one of the only books to ever render me properly snotty sobbing at the end. It completely undid me. She's a bloody genius!

I've followed these threads but I don't think I've ever joined in before. Managed 30 books last year so 26 seems doable but some years I've got nowhere near that.

First book of the year was Lessons in Chemistry which I enjoyed and read very quickly but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the hype made me think I would. Some things in it just seemed ridiculously unlikely for the 1950s.

The Hugh Bonneville book - I assume there's no mention if the super injunction? I love Downton Abbey but he just gives me the ick after that debacle.

I read The Hearts Invisible Furies quite a few years ago and adored it, one of my favourite books ever!

Now reading Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez - about a nurse at a family planning clinic in 1970s Alabama being made to give contraceptive injections to very young, very poor black girls, one of whom has neither had a period nor even kissed a boy before! I think it's based on a true court case but I haven't looked it up yet as I don't want to spoil the story!

Looking forward to getting book ideas from this thread but I probably shouldn't as I have at least 100 unread books if I include both my physical shelves and kindle downloads 😳

1)Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
2)Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski
Just finished
3) My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay which followed on well from my last book.
I'm really glad I read it. I work in a related sector so had felt like I should read it for years but put it off because I thought it might be heavy going and feel like ploughing through another report from work.
Actually he has handled vast amounts of complex and sensitive material really well. Lemn's observations and narrative are fairly sparsely written, a lot said in a few words, and they are interwoven with excerpts from his case files. It's very effective, giving a clear insight into how events unfolded for him. He's broken it down into small chunks too so no chapter is very long, which is probably a good idea when some of what happens has such an emotional punch. Sadly I wasn't shocked at what happened to him but I was very interested in both his story and in him. Very sad to think that at the time Lemn had no knowledge of some of what's in the files in terms of discussions and decision making, and of course that is still the case for many children today. He had no confirmation of what was going on behind the scenes but being bright he had his own views and suspicions.
In the prologue he mentions "taking the Authority to court" and I would like to know what happened with that and what was next for him, which I guess is the sign of a good read.

First book finished- that was slow 😳

1. "The devil you know" by Eileen Horne & Gwen Adshead recommended by @Tinytigertail . Thanks for the tip- I enjoyed it and was inspired by the quotes towards the end.

3 Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski

This was a fairly quick read for me, heart wrenching too. Just started The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy because I am trying (slowly) to read them in chronological order.

@Scout2016 I listened to My Name is Why a couple of months ago, definitely one of my top books for last year. It was harrowing but so well written, real food for thought, I am the same age as him.

1: Playing Under the Piano by Hugh Bonneville. I enjoyed this overall, mainly the first and last thirds, the middle section was a bit luvvie-ish and I skimmed a bit. I found the stories of his parents particularly moving.

2nd & 3rd book of the year finished

Things we never got over - Lucy score : was a nice easy read. Usual romance/drama around at the moment

The locked attic : didn't think it was great and had to force myself to finish.

2023 list:

1. Girl forgotten - Karin slaughter.
2. Things we never got over - Lucy score
3. The locked attic

Phew the thread moved quickly, finished #2 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan which is a novella but beautifully wrought

I've finished my first book! I'm a slowwwww reader. Not because of my reading skills, but time.
I'm actually thrilled I've finished a book this quickly into the year and I really enjoyed it.

1. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

I finished my first a few days ago. Haven't started number 2 yet though 🤦🏻‍♀️

1. Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior

No unexpected twists, definitely didn't love it. But an easy, enjoyable read to get me started. But weirded out by the ending (interested to know if anyone else thought the same!)

Number 2 will be Wish you were here by Jodi Picoult