50 Books Challenge 2025 Part Four

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fourth thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2025, 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.

The first thread of the year is here, the second thread here and the third thread here.

@Arran2024 💐

Thanks everyone. He was 91 and had been in end of life care for several months. My mum died a few years ago but she had dementia so it was easier in many ways. Driving up to Scotland on Sat - things are fraught with my brother so there is that too.

@Arran2024 💐 Mind yourself 🩷

So sorry @Arran2024

Thank you @ChessieFL, I will look at that thread.

Although since I’ve given myself “permission” to just read a chapter a day of Middlemarch, I’m getting on better with it.

Sorry to hear your news arran.

That was one of my favourite readalongs.
Speaking of which, time to be at our Chuzzlewit's end tomorrow!

I loved the TWIW readalong as well. It was fun. It was in 2022!!
I think I'll miss the book chat more than the book, but saying that, it had its good moments.

53 and how does that make you feel? - Joshua Fletcher (NF)

Written by a psychotherapist about the process of therapy, illustrated by his personal history, four pseudonymous case studies and some factual but “light” pages about specific conditions eg intrusive thoughts, anxiety.

As someone who has been in therapy on and off for many years, it was quite interesting and I bookmarked some of the pages… but I don’t think I learned a lot and the case studies were rather inconclusive (probably true to life, but less satisfying in a book!)

@Arran2024 sorry for your loss 💐

@Arran2024 sorry for your loss, I hope the funeral runs smoothly for you and your family

@Arran2024 so sorry for your loss.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I’ve started so many books over the last couple of months and had to put them down as I’m just not feeling them. The only thing that’s keeping me reading is the Maeve Kerrigan books but I’m on the last one so I need to snap out of this mood!

@Arran2024 I'm very sorry about your dad, and I hope Monday goes as well as those sad events possibly can . Hope to meet you another time.

Thanks everyone.

So sorry @Arran2024, that sounds very difficult. Wishing you well for your journey and that things with your brother are as smooth as can be.

It’s even more tough if there’s friction with your brother. I’m really sorry @Arran2024. One foot in front of the other at this stage, you'll get there 💐

so sorry for your loss, @Arran2024 , sending love.

I’m so sorry for your loss @Arran2024 💐

20 Case Histories - Kate Atkinson First in the Jackson Brodie series, which I know a lot of 50-Bookers have read. I thought I was going to really like this, and I did enjoy the writing style, but there were just too many awful things done to too many girls, I found it really upsetting. I need to go and read something cosy and escapist now.

So very sorry Arran, 💐

Sorry about your Dad @Arran2024 hope the funeral goes ok.

Enjoy your meet up @elkiedee and @highlandcoo I'm not too far away from there but am sadly working in the city today.

Has anyone trawled the Kindle deals yet? I picked up Real Americans by Rachel Khong which was on my wishlist but nothing else yet.

I have trawled the Kindle deals and bought a few, including
Colm Toibin, The Heather Blazing
Anna Sharpe, Notes on a Drowning - this is Anna Mazzola (historical novels) under a pseudonym - protagonist is a solicitor like the author, and I've been wanting to read this one
Niamh Mulvey, The Amendments - an Irish novel about several generations of women, read and liked this via Netgalley
Margaret Atwood, Cat's Eye - one of my favourite Atwood novels, about a girl growing up and a friend who's sometimes an enemy
Jan Carson, Children's Children Northern Irish short story collection - have read some of her stories in anthologies and a more recent novel made up of linked stories book set in a caravan park in NI

Oh, and there's Monkey Grip by Helen Garner for those who like modern classics reprints

And I also bought James and The Safekeep (award lists) for £1.99 each, and David Nicholls You are Here 99p (read last year from the library) in the Daily Deals

Thank you @elkiedee I've bought the Safekeep. Enjoy your meet-up with @highlandcoo later 📚☕️🍰

Oh, and I enjoyed Real Americans last year, already have it through previous Kindle bargain offers