50 Books Challenge 2024 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 2024, 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 use Goodreads, but not as efficiently as I should, or others do.
I tend really to just use a Notes app on my phone and then tweak it.

I'm another that uses Goodreads.

Hello, I’m going to join in if that’s ok- but I’m not sure I’ll manage 50 as I’ve got a lot of reading to do for work (trying to decide if I’ll include them in my total!). Aiming for 30-40.

Mostly I’m hoping you’ll all inspire me with amazing suggestions. (Or stop me wasting money on “buzz books” that turn out to be a bit shit)

@InTheCludgie I find my bus commute has really increased my reading and is a lovely start to the working day. Hopefully it’ll be the same for you. Good luck with all the big changes.

@drowningintinsel I use Storygraph. I find it better for recommendations than Goodreads.

welcome to all the new people 😊

Hello everyone old and new and thank you @Southeastdweller.

Starting off strong there with a bleak read, @MamaNewtNewt. I'm still scarred by The Road after five years.

This is going to be the year I read Middlemarch. I'm going to buy a fancy edition I think to keep by the bed. Otherwise, my plan is just more of the same - last year was a great year for reading and most of it was based on recommendations from here one way or another.

I use both Goodreads and Storygraph, both do more or less the same thing. Storygraph gives better recommendations and lets you rate in quarter increments of stars. It also gives you interesting graphs about your reading habits.

I only stick with Goodreads because I have friends on there

Both let you export the data to excel which is useful for end of year lists.

You can export your data from one and upload it to the other so if you want to move you don't have to start from scratch.

@PepeLePew I think because I knew it was incredibly bleak I'd mentally prepared myself to an extent, but there were still some sections that were absolutely horrific (the abandoned fire and 'meal' being the worst). Despite all that I though it was an amazing book and I'm glad I read it.

I'm now reading Adrian Mole as I needed something light and funny after that!

Here I am back for another year and possibly hoping to hit 100+ again, as I have in previous years. My total took a hit in 2023 thanks to various things. However, I’m not making the greatest start as I’m fighting off a migraine (nothing to do with NYE celebrations as I don’t drink) so finding it a bit hard to read much today.

I have finished my Nicholas Nickleby chapters and I’m partway through my first proper book of 2024, Ian Rankin's A Heart Full of Headstones. I’ve also started the Oral History of Hollywood I got for Christmas, but it’s a mighty tome and won’t be a quick read.

I'll just say what I always say to the new joiners (lovely to see so many btw) - don’t be alarmed by how fast this thread moves at the start of the year! It settles down pretty soon, but for a couple of weeks it’s like greyhounds out of the traps 😂

Happy new year. I’d like to join in please. I had a few books gifted at Christmas that I’m itching to read.

Im starting off with The Blood Of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani.

I didn’t do much reading at all last year, so hoping this will get me back into the habit!

I'd like to de-lurk and join properly, this year.

Last year, despite yet more eye surgery (and more threatened in the future), I did manage to read 99 books, which were a combination of actual books, kindle, and audiobooks. I'm a big fan of Borrowbox, which is pretty good here (LibrariesWest).

I'm starting off with Went to London, Took The Dog by Nina Stibbe, and Heartstopper Vol.5 by Alice Oseman. DD and I both love Heartstopper on Netflix, and the books are lovely comfort reads.

I’m going to join properly this year. I’ve spent a few years just reading the posts and reviews but I’m determined to comment this year :) I’ve had some great book suggestions from here :) I like looking out for patterns and finding posters with similar tastes to my own.
I’m halfway through Fairy Tale by Stephen King. Really enjoying it so far. I was putting off reading it because of the size but it’s a very easy read. Very immersive like most of his books.

HNY one and all, thanks southeast for the thread and a warm welcome to the newbies.

I have way too many books on the go and really need to catch up with the NN readalong as I have fallen behind as usual! Focus nowanearly!!!

Thanks for the new thread @Southeastdweller and welcome and happy new year to 50 Bookers old and new!

I had a fairly disastrous Christmas due to major food poisoning but back on track and DH is cooking our belated Christmas dinner as I type.

In the meantime kicking off 2024 reading with:

1 The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Mostly read in bed in between bouts of illness over the last week, and this gothic tale was just what I needed. With lovely illustrations by the fantastic Chris Riddell.

2 Watership Down: The Graphic Novel - Richard Adams (adapted and illustrated by James Sturm and Joe Sutphin)
More illustrated loveliness, which although considerably condensed from the original (one of my top five books of all time) , absolutely does justice to it.

Hi , I’m a newbie and would love to join in but I only read ‘cosy mysteries ‘ so I’m not sure I will bring any great recommendations to the thread . I hadn’t read a book for about 20 yrs before August 23 but I got a kindle and have since read about 15 . I’m starting the NY with Michelle Salters A Killing At Smugglers Cove .

Hi everyone,

I'd like to join in too! I am chuffed with last year managing 46 books, 2022 was 34. I also made a pledge to not buy any books, just use the library, which I have pretty much stuck to and it has given me a great sense of appreciation of delayed gratification - having to wait for a reservation.

What's the etiquette? Are audio books allowed?

My favourites from last year were 'Song of Achilles' (autocorrect wanted that to say dong of Achilles!) And equally 'Circe' by Madeline Miller. Took me back to my sixth form days doing my classics a-level. I also enjoyed 'The Giver of Stars', even though it's not my usual cup of tea, and the Anthony Horrowitz series of Hawthorn and Horrowitz.

Controversially, I wasn't keen on the Sally Rooney Beautiful World Where are You?

Happy reading everyone!

@Floralnomad and @CosyCapricorn all genres welcome and audiobooks count.

For those a little nervous about 50, I’ve worked out I’ve been here 6 years and only reached 50 3/6 years. But I ALWAYS have a lovely time, no one judges the pace and pretty sure I read more because of the women here.

It’s one of my NY resolutions to stop scrolling on social media and read more. Starting today with 1) Janice Hallett - Alperton Angels and 2) the Christmas appeal

Next up is Longbourn which I plan to read on a long haul flight tomorrow

Hi
I'd like to join this year too. I'm feeling mentally very sluggish and need to perk myself up, so books are the way to go. I've become quite lazy in my reading and only go for thrillers, because they're easy to read. I need to challenge myself.

Happy New Year everyone. I'm in again. I fell off the thread in Autumn as we were doing renovations in the house so no time for reading. But before that I had some great suggestions from this thread for books that will stay with me.

Not sure what book I'm going to start the year with - so many unread books on my kindle

Audiobooks are definitely allowed. Anything goes really. Some of us tally up how many print/ebook/audiobooks we've done throughout the year just as a point of interest. I also track female vs male authors, fiction vs non-fiction etc. Ultimately it's your own personal challenge to shape in a way that suits you.

Happy 2024 all, and thanks for the new thread. 96 posts already! Will catch up later, mid DIY now.

Thanks @Southeastdweller for the new thread. Hope we all have a great new Year

Can I join please? I have been a long time lurker and love reading the threads. I last completed 50 books in 2014. 10 years and two kids later, I feel ready to give it another go. I managed 20 last year which included the birth of my second child so was chuffed with that. I am currently reading Grown Ups by Marian Keyes on my kindle and Still Life by Louise Penny in library hard copy.

Don't worry @CosyCapricorn Sally Rooney very much divides opinions on here (I'm not a fan) so you're quite safe.