Books #33

[emmer_moans]

I used to read all the time as a kid (only kid I know who used to get told off for reading too much) but as I got older I found myself reading magazines and the internet more. I joined a book club a few years back to make me read more but I still rarely read for pleasure. In 2022 I read 16 books, in 2023 I read 12 books. I started out this year with 1 in January and 1 in February. Then something kicked in back in March and I’m ending the year on 83. Just a slight increase I don’t think I’ll set a goal for next year but I would like to try and read a minimum of 5 books a month. Reading is so much better for me than doom scrolling.

Amen, regarding the reading being better than doomscrolling. Now my head is filled with plots and stories instead of terrible crap I was absorbing when doomscrolling. I go to bed thinking about my current book instead.

 

[Smca53]

I couldnt sleep last night so I finished 25 Days at around 4.30am

I'll be interested to hear what everyone thinks once they have finished.

Spoiler: My confession

I did the same the other day, although in my defence I was heavily encouraged by my mother who I told you all Toola Roola’d me, the woman is a bad influence, what can I say

Can’t wait to see what people think of the rest

 

[Boogs]

I’ve just finished Beartown. I’m not going to lie, it took me a long time to get into the book and I did think about DNFing it. I’m so glad that I didn’t because the way that man understands people and the grey areas of life is extraordinary. For the first half of the book I wasn’t that bothered but now I’m so invested I’m jumping straight into the next book as I have to know how they are even though I know my heart is going to get broken.

 

[Eureka]

2024 READING ROUND UP

What is your favourite fiction read of this year?

What is your favourite non fiction read of this year?

What is your favourite audio book of this year?

What book/s surprised you good or bad? I.e did something not live up to your expectations or did any surpass any expectations you had for it?

If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading.

Have you pre-ordered any books for 2025 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?

Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead, this doesnt have to be quantity based or anything like that.

Favourite fiction book: Home Stretch by Graham Norton.

Favourite non fiction: Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan. She is one of the most inspiring women I've ever read about.

Favourite audio book: Unprotected by Billy Porter. He is an incredible narrator and brought so much more to his story in his narration than I ever would have gotten from reading it

Surprises: I loved Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter, it had so many bad reviews I thought it would be a bit meh but I really enjoyed it.

Average boon score on Goodreads was 3.8 out of 5

Books for next year: Part 2 of Cher's autobiography and the new Lisa Jewell. Apart from that making a dent in my never ending TBR pile.

Target for next year: I read 76 this year so going for 80.

 

[Katykatykaty]

25 days

Spoiler: Day 18

Given this building used to be a workplace maybe someone unconnected to everything so far will turn up to do sonething and discover this situation.

Can you tell this book occupies my thoughts left, right and centre?

I’m the same! I’m so excited when I get a chance to sit and read the next chapter. It’s the highlight of my day some days! I think we need a book like this every month!!

Spoiler: 25 Days - Day 18

My heart broke when Beth realised the ‘bites’ were from a tranquilliser gun. All that effort all for nothing. I really hope the guy doesn’t take it all out on the girls even more than he already has.

Also, I reckon Bill has to be dead now.

I don’t think anyone will be turning up to the radio station for work related reasons but I’m hopeful there’s some equipment that one of the family can use to reach out for help.

 

[CommentBelow]

2024 READING ROUND UP

What is your favourite fiction read of this year?

The Women
I Love You x 3
Gentleman in Moscow

What is your favourite non fiction read of this year?

Reach for the Stars - loved the behind the scenes 90s nostalgia.

What is your favourite audio book of this year?

Prima Facie - so good! Disappointed I missed it at the cinema but hopefully can still watch it.

What book/s surprised you good or bad? I.e did something not live up to your expectations or did any surpass any expectations you had for it?

Good - Binding 13… I did not expect to get so invested in a bunch of Irish teenagers but alas here we are holding off reading the next one until there’s a release for another

Bad - Ministry of Time

If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading.

Goodreads 3.8
StoryGraph 4.0

Have you pre-ordered any books for 2025 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?

I made the most of Black Friday triple stamps and pre-ordered TJR, Backman, VESchwab, Holly Bourne, John Boyne plus some paperback releases.
I expect I’ll buy the new EmHem and Thursday Murder Club too.

Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead, this doesnt have to be quantity based or anything like that.

No official list yet but I should/will do a 25 in 2025 despite failing so badly at this years 24. I own so many books I’m genuinely excited to read (typing my top 3 made me thinking I should focus on reading the other Kristin Hannah and Amor Towles books I already own!) but get so easily distracted by something new / I just like buying books / Foyles on my commute screams ‘little treat’ at me.
Setting a target of 75 for next year and an audio target of 5. This year I read 5 of the Women’s Prize shortlisted books and would like to do the same for 2025.

 

[nbt]

2024 READING ROUND UP

What is your favourite fiction read of this year?

Aside from The Passengers which was a reread, I’d have to say Prima Facie

What is your favourite non fiction read of this year?

Seventeen by Joe Gibson

What is your favourite audio book of this year?

Again, Prima Facie. But also special mention to The Satsuma Complex, Clickbait, Remarkably Bright Creatures and Geneva. I believe all of these, I enjoyed so much more because I listened to them rather than read them.

What book/s surprised you good or bad? I.e did something not live up to your expectations or did any surpass any expectations you had for it?

The Next Mrs Parrish was very boring, which was a disappointment after I loved the first.

If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading.

My average rating is 3.6, but I actually rated 49 out of 128 books, 4 stars

Have you pre-ordered any books for 2025 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?

I don’t tend to preorder books or even look ahead to see what’s being released. I try and read new books by my favourite authors quite quickly, but am very much a mood reader

Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead, this doesnt have to be quantity based or anything like that.

After having a couple of years of reading 100+ books, I’m actually going to set my goal to a more achievable 50 next year. I have 6 physical books from my bookshelf picked out and these are

Abroad in Japan
The Shining
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Rachel’s Holiday
I am Pilgrim
Blue Sisters

I’d also like to read my kindle every day

 

[Gem_woody]

Here's mine!

 

[anniemouse]

Is anyone else hoping there’s another one next year? This is such a fab idea.

 

[Harlot O'Scara]

I checked my GoodReads wrap up email - which I didn't know was a thing until now - and it didn't even show all my 5*s! There's at least two missing. Maybe I'm just too generous!

I am a top 10% reader though!

 

[anniemouse]

November reads. Loved Britt-Marie and both Villans books.

 

[Honeystar]

A pretty solid November for me! (Feels like a long month, my first book seems ages ago!)

The only dud really was The Inmate which has to be the worst Freida I’ve read so far and was ridiculous and predictable even for her.

I’ve still no idea what I thought to Yellowface, I enjoyed it but feel like I don’t rave about it as much as others and it was a strange one.

The Heiress was pretty good, was a good concept and nice and short (300 pages) so I raced through it and didn’t see all of the twists coming.

Can’t stop raving about the Clare Mackintosh duo and looking forward to the third next year!

Now onto the Christmas books for December woo

 

[ToxicPony]

I'm really upset, I think my final book of the year might be a one star

 

[nbt]

I keep looking at the new Paperwhite as it’s on offer for Black Friday but mine is just under 2 years old and works fine. The only annoying thing is a scratch on the screen. Someone please convince me not to upgrade

You’ve come to the wrong thread for that kind of treatment

 

[cill2019]

Only 3 for me… well 2.5 because of that ridiculous short story I’ve been distracted with exams, Rivals and JonBenet Ramsey

Rewitched - 4 really enjoyed it
The Cinnamon Bun Cafe - 4 I actually loved this! It was very cute and Noah
The Housemaids Wedding - 3 meh it is what it is

 

[Harlot O'Scara]

Just bought four new kindle books with my Xmas money

So much for my TBR....

 

[ScoutFinch]

I’ve just finished Prep. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it yet. I enjoyed reading it and wanted to pick it up, but it also felt quite long and the last chapter dragged a bit.

I think I’m going to read a Christmas book next as a palate cleanser

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Beloved author Jacqueline Wilson, who created the Tracy Beaker series, has been made a Dame Grand Cross (GBE) for services to literature.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

on that topic, still loving beartown very much and it’s a great example of having a huge cast of characters, some of whom behave in very difficult ways sometimes, and having them all be completely believable and true to the story that he’s trying to tell.

I had to reply to this. The characters are so well written and believable.

I think that I could relate to or at least understand every single character in Beartown. He writes each and every character in a way that they cannot be truly hated. Their actions at times make you dislike them but they feel so human.

Ive said it before on this thread that humans are so messy and flawed. They are massive shades of grey, theyre not black and white and two things can be true at the same time and I feel like Backman truly understands that and is also able to put it on the page so well.

Glad youre still loving it. I aim to re read Beartown in January to hopefully get started on The Winners at some point.

I would also say Us Against You is actually better than Beartown but I cant be sure its because it took me so long to get into Beartown that I could just jump right into UAY. I will shut up now

 

[AllieBee]

I made it! 281 books. 100, 098 pages. I set my goal every year at 104 books, so two books per week. Laying in a hospital bed leaves me nothing else to do but read. I don't really watch TV and I try not to just scroll on my phone. It is surprisingly easy to read a 350ish page book when you have nothing else to do.

That is brilliant. Not the bit about the hospital bed though, let's hope 2025 is much better for you.