50 Books Challenge 2026 Part Six

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth 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, the fourth thread here and the fifth thread

Yes! Noticed that yesterday, so handy to be able to skim the first few pages on my iPad before I decide to buy something. Not downloading samples, what a faff!

Well that's very annoying, but I'm glad they're not just picking on me!

I much prefer downloading samples because I want to read them on my kindle not on phone/ipad which really strains my eyes.

The only Neville Shute I’ve read is A Town Like Alice- the others always seemed too much boys own adventure story for my taste but maybe I should give another a go at some point.

I also like both John Connolly and Michael Connelly though the latter can definitely be read in a day. I don’t think I’m going to read the Stillwell ones - Bosch/ Ballard/ Jack McEvoy and the Lincoln lawyer are enough. The tv Ballard was great. Hoping there’s going to be a second season.

I've completely fallen off the thread but I'm on holiday and so have finally finished my latest book.

Mad Madge by Katie Whitaker

This biography of Margaret Cavendish is annoyingly named after a disparaging nickname that was made up 200 years after her death. Not quite sure why, it's not mentioned in the text until the epilogue. Otherwise it's a well researched but rather unevenly written biography of an absolutely fascinating life. Where there are good sources (e.g. Pepys following her round London) it was much more lively than sections where the author was relying on her own reading of Cavendish's writing. But since the subject was a lady in waiting to Charles I's wife and was with her when she gave birth to her last child and then escaped to France, married a senior Royalist commander in exile who was made a Duke for his efforts, mixed with all the major scientists abd philosophers of her say, wrote 23 works under her own name from poems, and plays to early science fiction and scientific treaties, was the first woman to attend a Royal Society meeting, was a massive celebrity during the restoration before dying suddenly and being buried in a massive tomb in Westminster (deep breath) it's still overall an interesting read.

That sounds just the ticket as a Christmas gift for my friend @FruAashild - you did used to be Janina right? @FuzzyCaoraDhubhwas asking

It's working again for me now.

Oh interesting, it still isn't for me. Would you mind telling me on which book(s) you're seeing it please Remus, so I can test whether it's on an individual book level?

@Terpsichore Charlotte Sometimes is still one of my comfort reads.

Can't remember the titles, sorry, but I had put 'British Library Crime Classics' into the search and it was some of those.

I've just tried again and it's not working again. It definitely worked about an hour ago!

And then it has just worked again on one called, 'The Crime at Diana's Pool'. Very odd!

That is odd isn't it. I wonder if it's just really glitchy. I saw some posts on Reddit that seemed to suggest this has happened off and on before.

51 Elegy for April - John Banville
52 A Death in Summer - John Banville

Books 3 and 4 in the Quirke series in 1950s Dublin. Quirke, the morose pathologist is still investigating despite not being a policeman. Alcohol and women remain a distraction. I like the continuity of his unusual family story which means difficult relationships and the 1950s setting. He starts driving after one practice run with his brother-in-law! Both these books are much darker than the first two with similar themes which I am not keen on. Hoping book 5 returns to more straightforward murder and motive.

I didn’t even know there was a preview feature! I’m still downloading samples.

One of the Booker longlist The Renovation is in the deals today if anyone fancies it.

I've picked it up but will probably hold off reading it for a bit as doesn't feel like a holiday read!

@Benvenuto Rosamunde Pilcher’s sagas are my guilty pleasure, I love them so much.

I read May We Feed The King very quickly over the last 24 hours. Strange but very compelling I thought, a bit like a slightly surreal dream. For those who don’t know, it has two separate stories about a museum curator who specialises in creating food scenes in stately homes, and a (fictional?) young king who lived in the palace she is working in. I found both strands interesting although ultimately a bit inconclusive. I don’t think it’s a great book but I’m glad it’s being nominated for things as it’s definitely creative and thought provoking.

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson is a perfect, undemanding beach read about a group of couples in a New England beach town whose secrets are uncovered when a young writer gets to know them. Lots of fun for the summer.

And I finally finished listening to Yesteryear and, well. After being very slow for the first three quarters, the final part was like a whole Virginia Andrews novel. Was it remotely plausible, no. Did she do any research, also no. Am I glad I kept going so I could say ‘and then WHAT happened??!’ Yes I am on the whole!

I picked it up. Thanks Stowick.

I have picked it up too, thanks Sto

Finally finished Night Waking - Sarah Moss which felt like a slog at first but eventually pulled me in and I enjoyed it overall. I can’t say I ever love her books though am frequently impressed by them if that makes sense.

A little too neat the way it was wrapped up perhaps, but on balance I’d prefer that to a bleaker or more frustrating ending.

And then since I’m on holiday somewhere very hot with a very energetic DD, I’m just hitting the kindle unlimited romances:

The Spare - Elodie Hart - not bad, better than the first in this ‘Belvedere’ series.

Dare to Love Me - Rosa Lucas - This was enjoyable enough but a bit too cliched for me, even for this most trope heavy of genres.

65. Gamma Quest by Greg Cox

This is an omnibus of an X-Men and Avengers trilogy of novels. I’m not sure when the trilogy was originally written, but the author seems to be using the 1990’s versions of the teams.

The Scarlet Witch (Avengers) and Rogue (X-Men) both vanish in mysterious circumstances. Traces of gamma radiation at the scenes lead both the Avengers and X-Men to seek out the Hulk on their quests to find their missing teammates.

There’s a lot of very detailed superhero fight scenes in this. Fight after fight after fight. X-Men vs Avengers vs the Hulk, and once they’ve settled things and started working together, the team-up is then in fight after fight after fight against the adversary behind the whole thing and his array of Sentinels (robots) / superpowered allies.

Anyway, entertaining enough and fairly undemanding.

Thanks Stowick. I bought it too.
It sounds good. * *

On A Traveller in Time, a story which I loved as a child and also when I reread it as an adult - I think when she first finds herself taken back from the 1930s (when the novel was written/published) to the late 16th century, Penelope doesn't realise that she is meeting real historical figures. I think I last read the book 15 or so years ago but I can't remember the details of whether or when she learns what really happened to those she met in the 1580s.

Hey @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie am I right in remembering that you love The Stand?

I’ve just heard about the short story collection and was wondering if you had read it ?

70. Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty - The sequel to the joyous swashbuckling Adventures of Amina Al Sirafi is a much meatier, darker novel where our middle aged pirate is sent to recover a magical spindle from an evil witch queen, trapped on an island which no one ever leaves. As much as I enjoyed the plot, I found it fascinating how it made me reflect on story/legend and it's relationship with the truth. Who gets to tell the story? Particularly women's stories? Overall it was the exact blend of entertainment and reflection that makes this author a favourite. Probably a bold.

I don’t normally like books set at sea but you’ve tempted me with this one- I love a bit of fantasy and the older female protagonist appeals to me.