50 Books Challenge 2026 Part Five

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fifth 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 as this makes it much easier to keep track of books or authors that may appeal (or not appeal) to everyone else.

Some of us bring over our updated lists to the new thread. Again, this is up to you.

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

I think I’ve read 29 on that Guardian list. With LOTR, I only ever got as far as Gandalf’s run in with the Balrog.

34 for me from the guardian list, including BNW below.
34 The Holiday T. M. Logan It was a great read. Not challenging or realistic in any way but a good escapist holiday read if you don't mind a bit of mild peril and a death. I would be happy to read another by this author.
35 Rivers of London. Ben Aaronovitch First book in this well loved series about the Met and magical events. Do they get better? I didn't really enjoy it and it became like reading background noise. I don't think I'll bother with the rest.
36 Brave New World Aldous Huxley How have I not read this before? I absolutely loved the first half, but really struggled with the second half after Linda and John had been introduced. I lost the thread and couldn't work out what any of them actually wanted. I ended up quite confused. I'm not sure the depiction of the savage has stood the test of time. It's an exploration of happiness vs freedom. Some people seemed happy, but no one was free. I would certainly recommend it though if you are one of the few who hasn't already read it.

51 of the new list for me, including Stoner which was one of the first books I passed on to my (then future) father in law who returned it saying it was wonderful. I remember being relieved as I wanted to make a good impression! I have A Suitable Boy on my TBR list but a little daunted by its length. I don’t get nearly as much time to read as I’d like so I might not make 50 this year if I start on it…

Also added another four to my pile after a trip to our local charity shops yesterday but at 50p a book, I couldn’t resist!

I adored A Suitable Boy. The characterisation is so strong that , unlike many far shorter books, I didn't lose track of the characters and events.

It would potentially be a good book for a MN readalong.

That's a good idea Piggy - I would be up for an A Suitable Boy readalong.

I haven't read it and would definitely be up for a readalong, preferably after Les Mis.

We'll keep it in mind then?

I don't usually reread books but might make an exception.

I’ve read A Suitable Boy many years ago, still have it on my bookshelf somewhere, and would love a reread so would definitely be up for a read along.

It’s one of my favourite books and I would definitely join a readalong. I’d prefer after Les Mis though.

I’d be up for a read along.

I want to read it but I’ve got a terrible track record with Readalongs including my current Odyssey one

I loved A Suitable Boy and would be tempted by a chance to reread but I have yet to meet a readalong that I haven’t fallen off so I think I’m going to accept that they are just not for me.

I dont really know what a readalong is? But potentially keen - A Suitable Boy has long been on my list of books I'd like to read!

I loved A Suitable Boy and might reread as part of a readalong if it's after Les Mis as plan to join the Oliver Twist readalong too and there's only so many books I can keep track of!

Bit like a Book Club everyone reads a set number of chapters and then discuss each month

I'm up for A Suitable Boy readalong, again after Les Mis if possible

I have never done a read-along before but would be up for Suitable Boy.

Thank you @Southeastdweller

Lovely haul @InTheCludgie – I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on both Luckenbooth and Longbourn

@HagCymraeg – when I was younger, I didn’t read as much. Now I work part time, although I have fairly hefty caring responsibilities. Like others, I listen to Audible books and read a lot in the evening. DH tends to watch a lot of football and I’ll read.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit – I didn’t even finish The Grapes of Wrath. Hated it.

63 Ordinary Saints – Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin. Recommended on here but of course, I cant remember who by! This is the story of Jay, a young gay woman who has left her native Ireland and lives in London. Her brother died tragically young and there is a campaign to make him a saint. I found this very thought provoking, particularly the actual process of becoming a saint. I am a practising RC and I pray to certain Saints. I appreciate that in this day and age, that makes me odd.

64 Murder at the Spirit Lounge – Jess Kidd. Nora Breem 2. Contrary to @MaterMoribund I enjoyed this. I got the Audible and while its she’s not Siobhan MacSweeney, Philippa Dunne is a good sub. We are back at Gulls Nest. Nora is summoned by DI Rideout to attend the home of a local celebrity medium. He is then invited to a séance later on that night. Spooky things happen and then suspicious deaths. My only quibble is the ending, which was not as tight as I would have liked.

65 The Stand – Stephen King. 1200 pager. I’ve been reading this as part of a slow read project that started in January. It’s the only way to tackle these monsters. A mysterious virus is unleashed on the USA (and the world presumably, but only the USA matters to SK) which wipes out 95% of the population and weirdly enough, all the dogs and horses. The survivors have vivid dreams of the two people who will shape the post viral world and migrate towards them both. The vast majority of the book is about the showdown, which I felt was a bit of an anti-climax. Oh well. It was enjoyable doing a slow read readalong.

Solidarity @Tarragon123

If you really want to stick to RWYO skip past this. If you have exceptions to this rule, then read with care.

Today's BookBub email is far more hazardous to my bank account than the "Kindle Daily Deals" - I've bought historical fiction, a WWII history book, a classic crime novel by John D Macdonald (intro by Lee Child) and more, mostly 99p. I'm leaving some £1.99 titles by John D Macdonald but want them if they come down to 99p. Yes, it's that ridiculous.

https://www.bookbub.com/ebook-deals/daily-deals?date=20260607

43 . Fall And Rise : The Story Of 9/11 by Mitchell Zuckoff

I had to abandon the audiobook of this and buy a copy because it just didn’t work for me in that format.

Like The Only Plane In The Sky this is an account of that terrible day. Whilst I think I prefer Only Plane this is similarly affecting and I cried and cried, particularly at the epilogue. Everyone who died is listed at the back of the book as well.

I would be hesitant to strongly recommend it, some truly awful visuals, of children in particular. I’m not saying it isn’t worth reading, it is, but you need mental strength to get through it, perhaps more so than Only Plane

I’m glad I read it though

1 The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas
2 Hitler's People by Richard Evans
3 Malice by Keigo Higashino
4 The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits
5 Never A Dull Moment 1971 by David Hepworth
6 Murder at Mount Fuji by Shizuko Natsuki
7 A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray
8 The Party by Tessa Hadley
9 Gabriel's Moon by William Boyd
10 Place Brugman by Alice Austen
11 A Quiet Place by Seicho Matsumoto
12 Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto
13 Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine
14 The Names by Florence Knapp
15 Point Zero by Seicho Matsumoto
16 Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
17 Imperium by Robert Harris
18 A Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor
19 Arthur and George by Julian Barnes
20 Wise by Frank Tallis
21 The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski
22 Geneva by Richard Armitage
23 The Vipers by Katy Hay
24 The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

25 The Long Shoe by Bob Mortimer
Utterly silly but very easy and thoroughly enjoyable, quick read

26 The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
I picked this up in a charity shop - I read it when it came out in 2002 (it was shortlisted listed for the Booker) and I adore William Trevor, and it's just as good as I remember. It reminds me of The Good Soldier (my all time favourite book) as both feature Edwardian English men chaperoning somewhat fragile wives around Europe. It is a great story. Lucy doesn't want to leave the big house the family lives in in Ireland during the fight for the Free State, but it isn't safe for them to stay, so she does something which has a huge impact on everyone around her. Very much a bold.

24 - Rewilding - Jane Green
A thoughtful and interesting read: the message is it’s not about reinventing yourself, it’s about remembering yourself. Jane Green is very open and honest about her journey and although I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to make some of the choices she did, I admired her willingness to embrace change. The book occasionally feels repetitive, but I enjoyed her easy, engaging writing style. This was my first Jane Green book, and it has definitely made me interested in trying some of her fiction.

52. The Names by Florence Knapp - Victim of domestic abuse registers the name of her baby son. The timeline splits into three based on which of three names she chooses. It's an interesting premise though slightly misleading because it's not the names that make the difference but what each particular maternal choice tells us about the mother. But still, interesting. I found fascinating the exploration of the idea that abuse leaves trauma on everyone affected regardless of when and if they escape. It affects lives, future relationships, and people who were not even involved. What I didn't enjoy so much was how neatly everything was wrapped up at the end. All three versions of the boy got their redemption arc and happy ever after. I thought this did a disservice to the seriousness of the subject matter and the messiness of real life. I like books that raise questions and make me think, I like less books that tell me what to think and give me the answers. So I am lukewarm towards this one. A quick, easy read that isn't bad. But not a bold for me.

Thanks, I read Longbourn a few years ago and loved hearing the story from the servants' side. I've been collecting books that I borrowed from the library and enjoyed, so I jumped at this one when I saw it on the shelf.

The only Jenni Fagan I've read so far is Ootlin (also wonderful but harrowing) so I'm keen to give her fiction a go.

The Stand was a project read for me last year, 100 pages a month and it didn't disappoint but I'd say I've loved some of his others more.