26-ish books 2024

[Tinkhasflown]

A shiny new thread for 2024.

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.

#4 finished listening to The Gift of Rain by Tan Twang Eng

story of a mixed race young man and how he becomes embroiled in the Japanese occupation of Malaysia during the Second World War

really enjoyed it - of course some parts were hard to listen too bearing in mind the subject matter but I really connected with the central character and his world

4: The Psychopath Test - A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson
This was such an entertaining book. I have wanted to read it for a long time, and it didn't disappoint.

1. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.

Wow, what a book! Didn’t want it to end.

1: Lady in Waiting - Anne Glenconner
2: Whatever Next - Anne Glenconner

Two volumes of Anne's life story as a member of the aristocracy and lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, she has had an extraordinary life with great privileges and shocking tragedies.

3: Dead Lions (Slough House 2) by Mick Lyons. The books that the Tv series' Slow Horses are based on, compelling reading.

1. Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris

Gripping, suspenseful, page turner - I really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down! 4 out of 5.

3) Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Not sure where I saw this recommended, but it was a very strong recommendation. Saw it in a charity shop on Sunday and every free moment I have had since then I've picked it up. Wonderful, fascinating book set in early 1800's in Iceland about a women condemned to death for murder. It's fictional but based on real events. Obviously it's a pretty dark topic but if that doesn't bother you or you like the darker things in life and books then I totally recommended. Written way back in 2013 and had completely passed me by for some reason. Now I want to go to Iceland!

I’ve finished my book no
5.Good Material-Dolly Alderton which flowed well and was an enjoyable read so I do recommend it as well my last one Yellowface . Not quite sure what next but maybe
6.Come and Get It -Kiley Reid I just got . I read her previous one Such A Fun Age so I might like this one too …

It's so good isn't it?

MargotMoon
I'm still thinking about Maud and Susan…

Apart from Tipping the Velvet and Paying Guests (wasn’t so keen on that one) can anyone recommend another SW book?

I read three books in January although four was my target for the month. I'm still reading #4 which is A Week in Winter - Marcia Willett.

I had been enjoying it until a new character was introduced followed by a rather unlikely turn of events. To avoid a Spoiler I can't go into more detail but as this reader is an old cynic I struggled with the middle of the book. Past that part now and enjoying it again as an easy read. Hope to finish it tomorrow and get started on my choice for February which is The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Antonia Fraser. Will add a short fiction choice to make two for February, undecided which.

Just finished Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

A little confusing at times but a very good read. Is the past better than the future, and can you live in the past instead of the present.

It's a very interesting concept and does make you think about are own future.

1. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

Written in 1938, this book tickled me! A complete delight from start to finish. 4 out of 5 stars.

Oh, a complete delight is just what I need this month alongside The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Is this from Persephone Books? If so I think I have it packed in a box with all of my other 'to read-actual books' (I find it too easy to open Kindle). I must sort that box out!

Yes! My copy from Persephone Books is just lovely. A bargain £1.50 find in a charity shop :)

I'm a big fan of Persephone, lovely books. I'll find my copy, thanks!

I've only finished one book so far this year although got quite a few on the go:

1. Ted Bundy: The Only Living Witness by Hugh Aynesworth and Stephen G Michaud - excellent book very well written thoroughly recommend to those interested in social history as well as true crime

@BaconAndAvocado I've read all of Sarah Waters' novels. I think after Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet my third favourite is The Little Stranger. There was also a pretty good TV version.

Finally finished wading through my first book of the year. Took a while because I found it hard work; although I'm generally a fan of her novels I have mixed feelings about this. It was just boring and unfathomable in places. Perhaps I'm a bit thick. I wanted to hear more about more about the Bogle character and the slavery story than the novelist character and the fraudulent claim part. But I loved Mrs Touchet and seeing her life in the Victorian empire through her eyes.

1. The Fraud - Zadie Smith

I've been re-reading the Trebizon series as a bit of light relief alongside this. Think I need to pick my next book carefully, need an old-fashioned page-turner!

MargotMoon
Trebizon??!!!
Loved those books in my teens before I discovered Jackie Collins and Shirley Conran 😂

BaconAndAvocado Have you read The Night Watch by Sarah Waters? I loved it.

@BaconAndAvocado Yep, needed a January comfort read and there's nothing like a bit of childhood regression 😁

5.The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka

this book is MAD! I don’t think I gave it due diligence, not one to read when you have other things on your mind or only have time at bedtime. It deserves really concentrated reading at least a chapter at a time and as a consequence I think I didn’t quite engage with the characters as much as I might otherwise have done - but if you want a bit of brain-working challenge, a crazy story that moves between the real world and the beyond, historical genocide, mafia style prose and second person narrative this is for you. Not surprised it won the Booker!

Finished 5 books so far so I am feeling pretty pleased with myself.

1. Stone Yard Devotional - Charlotte Wood
2. Strange Sally Diamond - Liz Nugent
3. Normal Rules Don’t Apply - Kate Atkinson
4. The Drowning Girls - Veronica Lando
5. Lessons In Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus

I have enjoyed everything. I generally love Kate Atkinson but don’t usually read short stories. However, I did like this collection especially the way the stories interconnected.

I know Lessons In Chemistry has been slated on MN but I thought it was a really fun read.

I have now started on The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney and also listening to Limberlost - Robbie Arnott on Libby.

1. Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh, I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book in the series but it was reasonably enjoyable.
2. Audio book Tough Crowd by Graham Linehan. Interesting, see the feminist boards on MN for more information.
3. A History of Loneliness by John Boyne. A fantastic read, I love John Boyne's writing and The Hearts Invisible Furies is in my top 5 all time favourite books. This is a poignant and moving read about the Catholic Church and cover ups of child sexual abuse.
4. Audio book A Keeper by Graham Norton, I'm away on holiday at the moment and this has been an enjoyable listen on the beach. I like that it was narrated by GH as I find his voice lovely to listen to. Probably not wonderfully written but I enjoyed the storyline and how it shifts in time.

This is a great thread for finding new authors 😊

I have gushed about this on this thread - such an incredible book. A masterclass in being engrossing and heartstopping despite nothing much 'happening' for most of the book.