Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

I usually read more than 50 a year, it was 76 in 2018, and that was down on the previous year.
M first book of 2019 is The Cactus by Sarah Heywood

Just finished Breaking Cover by Stella Rimington- ex head of MI5. Not bad but a bit predictable. This was a book from my reading group. Have now started the new Rebus book -In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin. Promising start & I always love his books.
I run a reading group so some of the books I read are not what I would choose for myself but I do try to get them new books whenever possible- our library are excellent & get us new releases a lot of the time.

I hestitated if I should post. I read heaps but I don't keep a record and in fact sometimes find myself reading a book I've read before (particularly if it's one I read on holiday!). Currently I'm reading Cunk on Everything which is the writings of Philomena Cunk who sounded off about things on the Charlie Brooker show- it's hilarious. Also Stephen Fry's Heroes- retelling of the Greek Hero stories. The best fiction I have read lately is The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. It's very moving and tells the stories of three women in WW2. I thought I knew a good deal about the concentration camps but this about the Polish "rabbits" in Ravensbruck who were the subject of medical experiments was new to me.
I won't rate the books I read, some are rubbish, some wonderful but you just can't compare them.

I have now finished my Midsomer Murder book, and realized toward the end that had seen it on tv but it was so altered that for most of the story it came over as fresh, although the Title did seem familiar "Faithfull unto Death". So if you are a Midsomer fan it makes good read, and interesting to compare with the tv version - surely not because of copyright. I don't understand why it was altered.

I have just started Her Last Breath by Charlie Gallagher. He is/was a serving police officer, and this s of course a crime story.

It had me gripped from the start, really well written. It is a stand alone book, but he has also written a few all set in the same area. A new author for me, but I will read more.

like Charleygirl5, I enjoy Peter Robinson's books. I am currently working my way through the Damien Boyd crime novels: nothing too gruesome and quite enjoyable. Would recommend. Luckily DH and I share same tastes in books so always swap with each other.

I think everyone who posts, trisher, gives ideas to others which might be interesting to follow up, even if we don't list everything.
I've already got some thoughts about future reads from this thread and been reminded of some other authors I'd forgotten about.

It's a long time since I read Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green, so the Stephen Fry version sounds interesting.

He's done two Jalima1108 the first is "Myths" which is about the Gods and the second "Heroes" about the Heroes. I just happened to be in the library and "Heroes" was on display. Apparently it doesn't matter which you read first.
Think I was a bit worried about posting because so many seem to have their reading so organised and record everything and I'm just not like that . I'm a bit lazy and slapdash!

I'll take a look, depending on price I may splash out my Christmas vouchers.
Otherwise I will go to our library and borrow.

BradfordLass72. You are spot on! Have messaged you.

No 1 - Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
No 2 - We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
No idea how many books I gobble in a year but its a lot. I read more than I do anything else. In fact I do little else.

BradfordLass72 - no message then?

‘Life after Life’ - wonderful! Didn’t enjoy the follow up quite so much though.

I enjoyed both, Greyduster. Though my favourite Kate Atkinson is still Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

Have just finished The Married Girls by Diney Costeloe so my first book for 2019. A pleasant, easy read so enjoyable and one to relax with. Quite well written but a few printing errors and a few grammatical ones both of which I find quite annoying!
Happy reading to you all.

I'm another who loved Life After Life, also like you Greyduster didn't enjoy the follow up quite as much. Loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I haven't read her latest "Transcription" yet but it's on my list for this year.

I have just read " Kingdom of the Blind " by Louise Penny . I really like her books they are set in Canada and follows the chief of Police in a small town called Three Pines . There are no bloody details just a really good mystery story with twists and turns. There are a good few in this series.

Just finished my first book of the year, The Absolutist by John Boyne. Another brilliant book from this author, he is rapidly becoming a favourite. I have Dissolution in front of me to start next. It will be my first meeting with Shardlake though I know he is highly thought of. (I saw a good few Louise Penny titles in The Works yesterday. Will give her a go, the three for a fiver offer is very tempting).

Book 2 - Omega Deep by Christopher Cartwright.
Anyone who likes Clive Cussler will enjoy this one.

Book 3 - The First Lady by James Patterson
Just started this but I know I will enjoy it.

Hi. This is my very first post on gransnet or anywhere else come to that although i have been reading posts for a while. Couldn't resist joining to chat about books. As my husband says 'you' re always reading' hence my user name! Looking forward to recommendations. Almost finished 'The Women of the Castle' by Jessica Shattuck. I have read countless books about World War 2 usually concentrating on events from the French Resistance point of view or the Greek islands occupation. But what makes this book so fresh is seeing the same period of history from a completely different point of view that of the German resister. Makes you sit up and think.

I've just started reading Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead. It's quite entertaining so far.

I'm a fan of M C Beaton and her Agatha Raisin mystery books (some have been televised). VG humurous light reads with her cast of eccentric characters set in a Cotswold village. Agatha has retired there from her high powered work in London and quite accidentally came to be an amateur sleuth after a village murder started it all off in "The Quiche of Death". Twentyseven books later have just read "The Dead Ringer". She now has her own Detective Agency and interesting staff to assist her with the ever increasing work load of local murders. A good holiday read.

I am a quick reader, so far this year I have read Convenience Store Woman, The Colour of Water in July, and Three Things about Elsie. I have enjoyed them all and I have now just started A Place Called Winter, as I have read some of Patrick Gale's before and found them good reads. All were 99p Amazon deals for the New Year.

Covenience Store Woman is a Japanese tale about a woman who struggles socially and lives for her job. One of those books where nothing much actually happens but it is still a good read.

The Colour of Water in July is probably well known on here, but it is a book that moves between time periods showing how a well meaning action can affect people and relationships later on.

Three Things About Elsie is a book that draws you in, just as you think you know what is happening, there is a little subtle twist.

I know several posters like Lucinda Riley, but I have had to give up on The Love Letter. It just didn't keep me interested enough in the characters or what happened to them.

I don't think I will have any problem reaching 50 books in 2019 !

About to read 'In a Country Garden' by Maeve Haran. Love the fact that she writes about women in their 50/60's

Finished " My love story " Tina Turner autobiography, easy, relaxing read, feisty lady, a survivor, enjoyable.
Book 2.. The Heart goes Last, by Margaret Attwood...loved Handmaid Tale, so looking forward to reading this.