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

In Land, I think that the episode featuring the Celtic girl and her family serves more than one purpose. It shows the origins of the well, the lost ring and the burial site that Eugene discovers. He is the one who appreciates the land in its fullest sense as he sees and hears everything and understands more than others do. He has a kind of sixth sense and he is as much bound to the land as Celtic girl is embedded in her boggy resting place. This episode reinforces the kind of wisdom that is particular to his character.
I liked too how he evolved at the close of the book and how the ending referenced the oral tradition of storytelling, myths and legends.

The ring is a motif that connects past to present in the story as is the well and even the cottage that is built stone by stone and passed from one generation to the next, rebuilt and restored.

I think that the magical realism aspect of the book ties in well with Irish folklore. I appreciate that that there is an element of far-fetched to it, but the reader can make up their own minds and not overthink it, unlike me!

Thanks@FuzzyCaoraDhubh . I appreciate that Brith's sad tale provided the back note for the mystical aspects and the connection back to the land itself, but I found it a bit structurally odd. It was quite a long deviation from the main thrust of things to then be left alone for such a long while until we pick up Eugene's story at the end. I suppose I think I either needed more of it, to weave better throughout the story, or less of it, but I'm not sure which . And I'm sure a much better understanding of Irish folklore than I have (admittedly not difficult!) is likely to give an entirely different reading experience. But I still liked it very much.

I think as well I'm just not very good with magic realism. I was always going to struggle with the last minute arrival of a talking fish.

I feel sad it’s probably the last full set of diaries from Alan Bennett too @BestIsWest.
He says in his last entry that he’s no longer able to find the right words or articulate his thoughts properly, which just seems so sad for such a wordsmith.
But then he was diagnosed with aggressive bowel cancer at 63 so I imagine he feels blessed to have seen his 90th birthday come and go.
I think I’ve read all his diaries apart from the slim House Arrest: Pandemic Diaries, which I’ve just bought second hand because your lovely review made me miss his company!

There is the Salmon of Knowledge from the Fenian Cycle. Whoever ate him would possess ultimate wisdom. I don't remember that he was an angry, talking fish however 😄

@DesdamonasHandkerchief I’ll be interested to know if it’s just what is repeated in Enough Said.

I hope not! Didn’t think of that! Oh well it was only £3 🤷‍♀️

51. Through A Glass, Darkly - Helen McCloy

A plus point with this crazy heat - I've felt no guilt whatsoever about just sitting about reading an entire book I only started this morning. It’s another of the Mermaid reprints, but I didn’t much want to shell out £5.99 for it, so I was especially pleased to discover it on the Open Library.

McCloy was a prolific US mystery writer who produced a string of books featuring psychiatrist/crime-solver Dr Basil Willing. This is no. 8 in the series, published in 1950, and concerns teacher Faustina Crayle, who's abruptly fired from her job at a prestigious girls' school, but given no explanation. Fellow-teacher Gisela von Hohenems (Willing's future fiancée) decides to help by consulting him. A strange set of circumstances is revealed, which I won't give away - but this is a neat, effective and quite chilling little read, elegantly written. Even if the dénouement might be a bit of a stretch, it does explain the central mystery. I'd certainly explore more in this series.

I started Land a couple of days ago so am interested in the discussions. I agree with Fuzzy that the magical realism does fit well with Irish folk traditions and beliefs, but even taking that into account, I’m struggling with it a little. I am happy to read fantasy but struggle with magic in a ‘real world’ setting so don’t think it’ll be a bold for me- a me problem rather than a problem with the book though. But I’ll keep going as the writing is beautiful and I love little Liam and the writing about Tomás and Phina as children (I’m about 60 pages in I think)

I'm slightly worried that I've oversold 'Land'. I'm glad that people are enjoying it even if I'm the only one who loved it unconditionally!

The fish reminded me of Gollum!

I did wonder whether Bran was meant to be related to Brith as he just appears one day.

No, I don't think you've oversold it - there was so much there that I did really like, especially the depictions of the different relationships within the family. Enough I liked, in fact, that I've already bought a copy for a friend who I think will love it.

The words ‘magic realism’ send me into a cold sweat. The talking crow in The Fell was too much for me. An honourable mention also goes to a novel about early emigration when something magical (and entirely unappreciated by me) happens on the voyage out. Can’t remember the name, but I was like ‘please no I was enjoying the realism - don’t go all wierd’.
Maybe I just lake imagination.

I feel a bit like that @Owlbookend. Although I'd absolutely like to be the sort of person who does appreciate magic realism, as my standard "eh?" reaction makes me feel a bit of a dullard .

What about changing it to 'mystical reality'?! 😅

Hi, I was hoping to join the challenge if that's ok 😃I have occasionally read this thread and gotten some nice (non-mainstream) recommendations which has been great. I am not the fastest reader, but I have always loved reading and this year I can probably get to 50 books if I keep up my reading pace. I was on the 25 books thread, but it's far less active, and I like how thoroughly people on this thread review their reading (of course many do on the other thread too).

I've finished two books this week (I often have a few on the go at the same time)

28 Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, by Shehan Karunatilaka, and
29 Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

I've been reading Mansfield Park since, I don't know, Christmas? It has reminded me that it's my least favourite Austen. I read all her books in high school, and then re-read P&P, S&S and Emma in my late twenties. So I thought I would re-read the other 3 now, but I have never liked any of the characters in Mansfield Park and so it was very slow. The agonising and fidgeting Fanny Price just gets me irritated. I think I'll do Northanger Abbey next.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida has been on my bookshelf for years. FIL used to get me the Booker Prize winner every Christmas, and after a reading slump (aka baby and toddler years) I have a bit of a backlog to work through. The story follows a war photographer, gambler and gay man who awakens in the In Between space straddling life and death. He's been murdered, but he can't remember by whom, and he learns that ghosts and ghouls travel around Colombo amongst the living who can't see them. It is heavily seeped into Sri Lanka and its violent history; its religions, mythology and customs, and the deaths of so many are told with wry humour and facts - necessary, I think, otherwise it would all just be too gruesome and horrific. I loved the vividness and sense of place, the flawed characters and magical realism (sorry for those who have just said they hate it!) It was part murder mystery, part historic fiction, part magic. I really enjoyed it although sometimes the multitude of characters and their political affiliations were hard to follow/remember

Welcome @Pigtailsandallwhat a great review of The Seven Moons of Mali Almeida- funnily enough that was a magical realism I enjoyed. Ah well I guess we’re all a ball of contradictions!

Welcome @Pigtailsandallyou’ll find an eclectic mix here

Welcome @Pigtailsandall. I’m pleased you’ve saved the best Austen for last!

Welcome @Pigtailsandall I loved Seven Moons too.

Welcome @Pigtailsandall and please don’t worry about the numbers, it really doesn’t matter how many you read, it’s all about the chat.

Welcome to the thread @Pigtailsandall - we’re a friendly bunch here and just love talking about books 😊 (Tom Gauld cartoon should appear soon)

Wow thank you for the warm welcomes. I only talk books with dh (also an avid reader) and one colleague - most others in my life have younger kids than mine (almost 7) so deep in the whirlpool of parenthood with little time.

The cartoon is apt - I most definitely have books which I think I've read but can't remember a word of! My goal this year is to definitely read more of the books I have but I cannot pass an independent bookshop without nipping in. It's addict behaviour.

Welcome @Pigtailsandall as ChessieFL said it’s not obligatory to read 50 books, I rarely do, but like you I enjoy the fast moving nature of this thread and as I’m also on 25 books I’m hopeful that I might hit the target for this year!

@Pigtailsandall welcome! I am relatively new here myself but it has quickly become my favourite corner of the Internets.

58. One Summer, America 1927 by Bill Bryson - This is classic Bryson, reading it felt like I was sitting next to a very knowledgeable and entertaining dinner party guest. Full of stories about everyone from Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Al Capone, and Henry Ford and that's naming only those whose fame has lasted 100 years. He manages to capture that feeling of a young, optimistic America where the future is bright and boundless. I also appreciated the chapters on eugenics - I hadn't known how deeply embedded racism against all 'aliens' was in America. It explains a lot about the present day. Also, for the first time I noticed what a skilled writer he is technically. He goes down all kinds of rabbit holes and it feels like he's rambling - then 20 pages later you realise - ah, so that's why he told that random story. Overall, a great read.

My next few books will be lightweight holiday reads to help combat the boredom of a couple of very long flights!