50 Books Challenge 2026 Part Two

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the second thread of the 50 Books Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2026, 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 previous thread is

I’ve just ordered Katabasis because of reviews on this thread! I liked Babel and dnf Yellowface.

Just finished what will be my last finished book of February- The Narrow Door by Joanne Harris- this is the third mystery set around St Oswald’s school and the curmudgeonly Latin master Roy Straitley. This stretched credulity a bit and didn’t live up to the previous two. That said it was still an enjoyable enough read and well written and the gargoyle was a nice touch.

@ÚlldemoShúl I also DNF Chain Gang All Stars woefully written

@weareallcats I have Strange Houses sitting waiting to be read, I think I might move it higher up the TBR pile

Do it! It is genuinely unique and engaging.,

I also really loved Strange Pictures - they are all very good..

@DuPainDuVinDuFromage completely agree with your review of Katabasis, Kuang certainly doesn't wear her learning lightly. They also easily managed to escape each situation, which they landed in. And I thought she got a bit bored towards the end and skipped through the last few circles.

Oh fab I didn’t realise Strange Building was out. I’ve read Strange Houses and have Strange Pictures ready on TBR pile.

9. The Running Grave Robert Galbraith 8th in the Strike series, Robin goes undercover in a dodgy, cultish church, people do terrible things to others (and themselves) and Rowling makes nearly 1000 pages utterly, unstoppably readable. I know the next one wasn’t that well reviewed, but will be reading it anyway but will need a few uninterrupted days

17. The Locked Room - Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö, transl. Paul Britten Austin

Unfortunately my reading has slowed right down as my broken wrist seems to occupy a lot of mental space, if that even makes sense - anyway, finally managed to get to the end of this. It was entirely my fault I made heavy weather of another enjoyable encounter with Martin Beck & co, who this time have two major cases to juggle - a bank robbery, and the mysterious death of an elderly man found shot in his locked apartment, with no trace of a weapon. This is the longest book in the series so far, and a mid-point diversion into a storyline with the two bank-robbers seemed a bit redundant, but it did all come together satisfyingly ( and quite amusingly) at the end.

@Terpsichore I’ve also hit a broken wrist rut. I finished another John Pilkington last night, but can’t even be bothered to review it and I can’t find anything that I want to read next. I’m in a horrible sort of purgatory between bored out of my mind and not wanting to do anything much.

Healing bones take a lot more energy than you think @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie and @Terpsichore. Take care

22 It Ends With Her by Brianna Labuskes

A serial killer creates treasure hunts for FBI agents, who hope to be able to reach the victims in time by cracking the clues. The main character was interesting and I liked the relationship between her and her partner. Even though I saw the main twist coming from the start there were some surprises, and to paraphrase the serial killer in this book, it was about the journey not the destination, and that I did enjoy. Not a RWYO but I’ve also been trying to get through some of the Kindle Unlimited books that have been parked in my wishlist.

Thanks @BestIsWest

Time for a telly binge?

Just out of the Aaron Sorkin production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Fabulous.

Or audio. Including Radio 4/4 Extra or the Sounds archive

I can’t cope with audio at all, not even just the radio- never have been able to. And I’ve watched more TV in the past few days than I usually do in six months! Hoping that the new kindle sale will throw me some treasures.

I remember you said you were going. We saw it in Cardiff at the end of last year. Absolutely wonderful. We cried.

Three attempts at spelling ‘remember’.

I agree- very moving. Fabulous set and acting. Best play I’ve seen in a long time.

I saw it last year. So good. Took 12 year old DS who loved it too.

I’ve just finished The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffernegger. Really enjoyed it, despite the logistics of time travel confusing me every time. The characters are well rounded and you really feel for them having to negotiate time travel while trying to live a normal life. Already forgotten what number this is though 🤦‍♀️.

9) The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani.

Frenchwoman Mathilde falls in love with Moroccan soldier Amine during WWII. She follows him back to his family's remote farm after the war, where she has to learn a new way of life. Meanwhile anti-colonial sentiment in Morocco is increasing by the day, setting the stage for a violent resistance movement whose goal is independence from France.

I appreciated the quality of the writing, but how did a book set during a revolution end up this dull?!

A Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie

First Miss Marple: did what it needed to do with a glass or two of wine

There are Rivers in the Sky - Elif Sharak

Loved this, a bold. Suspect most of you have read it but it was a beautiful set of three stories of Mesopotamia and London in the mid 1800s and the present day. Wonderful language.

Another RWYO for me.

23 In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Much read on the thread so I’ll just add that I found it heartbreaking and beautiful and absolutely loved it.

bought My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal in the March deals.

For those with broken wrists, would a kindle stand and kindle page turner be helpful at all? Very helpful for reading without having to hold anything.

If the malaise is more mental than physical then please ignore me!