2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

Allira on my shelf too

Welcome everybody who is new to the thread, yes just join, no permission needed come along and tell us about your books, remember to keep coming back and number them as you go, well you don't have to of course, but that's the plan.

I think we've been going since before Covid, can't remember when our 50 book thread first started. It wasn't my original idea, I nicked it from MN where else? I'd always taken some brilliant recommendations from over there, books I might not have read otherwise, which is why I thought we should have one of our own. Their reading community is obviously a lot larger than ours. The Fifty Book forum runs into umpteen threads and the sheer number of books some posters get through. I don't know how they have time to eat and sleep

Hi I’d like to join the challenge. Today I read A Boy called Christmas by Matt Haig. I bought it from a charity shop for my eight yr old grandson who I will see on Sunday. As I had an hour or so free this morning I thought I’d see what it was like and read it all. Good story, I think they have made it into a film.

Please can I join this thread? I loved Lessons in Chemistry , read it twice!

It is one book which will go on the shelf and not to the charity shop 🙂

Ps I volunteer at my local library too

Please can I join this thread? I loved Lessons in Chemistry , read it twice!
Just about to start Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
I am an avid reader too
Thanks

Am I the only person who didn't really like Lessons in Chemistry? Maybe I'll give it another try.

I found it took a bit of getting into and, rather than being humorous and joyful on every page as one reviewer (not on here) said, it was making me quite cross at first!
We have moved on since those days, not so long ago, but misogyny is still around.

Sparklefizz Happy New Year to you too!

Personally, I wouldn't revisit a book I hadn't enjoyed, even if everyone else did, life's too short!

Aren't libraries wonderful

FGT just post as and whenever you feel up to it, I completely understand there's one serious issue that takes up much of your time. It's always good to read your recommendations.

TerriBull Happy New Year to you and to everyone. I love this thread.

Greciangirl My library does free reservations, and 69 of the 71 books I read last year were library reservations at no cost. There's no way I could buy them all. I make a list of books I fancy reading and reserve them - maybe have to wait a while until they come in, especially if a book is popular. I would highly recommend checking out your nearest library.

Allira I enjoyed Here one Moment by Liane Moriarty when I read it last year.

Am I the only person who didn't really like Lessons in Chemistry? Maybe I'll give it another try.

Hi Greciangirl
I mostly read on my Kindle or on my phone nowadays.
I borrow quite a few books or audio books for free from Borrowbox, provided by the library.
I share a Kindle Unlimited account with DD1 and BookBub sends me 99p recommendations for genres or authors I like.
E books can still be expensive, though usually less than paper copies but I like the fact that Amazon lets me return them if I don’t like them.

Greciangirl There are online booksellers who deal in secondhand books and have an enormous selection, often at very reasonable prices, and often recently published. I mostly buy from these, usually at a fraction of the new price. I also frequent charity shops and very occasionally, I find something I want.

I have far too many books knocking around but I have a cull every so often and take piles of them to a charity shop.

Mirren I gave Mrs Dalloway a go when I was in my 20s and hated it. Perhaps now I am in my 70s I should give Virginia Woolf another go.

Greciangirl

Just wondering what you all do with the 50 odd books that some of you read.

Also, buying all those books if new is expensive.
Even scouring charity shops doesn’t always come up trumps.

I would like to read a lot of titles that are recommended, but they are costly.

These days I tend to use the library more. Once upon a time I did buy more books than I do now. I donate books I don't want to keep to a local charity shop.

Just wondering what you all do with the 50 odd books that some of you read.

Also, buying all those books if new is expensive.
Even scouring charity shops doesn’t always come up trumps.

I would like to read a lot of titles that are recommended, but they are costly.

I didn't comment on last year's thread but did read some of the suggestions. There was some good ones which were in different genres than I normally read.
I use a kindle as my eyes aren't the best.
I have a notebook to write down the ones that are recommended and interest me.
This is checked regularly to see if it's free with kindle unlimited.

At the moment I'm reading 'The Tenth Cycle by JC Ryan'
It's a mystery thriller.

I read Virginia Woolf for the first time this year.
Our book group read ' Mrs Dalloway '.
It caused a lot of discussion; some hated it .
I absolutely loved it !
I just don't know why I have never tried reading Virginia before.
Do try it . You might be very pleasantly surprised

Thank you for another books thread for 2026 Terribull. Always a pleasure to pop in but I’m struggling lately with difficulties at home. When I’m happier I tend to contribute more. Other times my profile is low but I know you understand.

I’ve just read Winter People by Gráinne Murphy.
Loved it.
Winter People is a story of forgiveness, resilience, and the power of the sea to unlock what we are most afraid to say,

3 protagonists who do not know one another, living on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. Bleak at times but it suited my mood and I found comfort within in.

“Tears of self pity are not earned Lydia”.
Highly recommend.

Magenta8

I am currently reading one of the "Rivers of London" books which are a series of graphic novels. I am a great fan of books with pictures. However most of the books I read do not have pictures.

Magenta I like the Rivers of London Books too, though I haven’t read them as graphics. He’s brought out a new one at Christmas but I’m saving that.
I’m currently reading/listening to a series of books by Rhys Bowen, all set around or with links to WWII. I started with Mrs Endicott’s Splendid Adventure.
Does anyone else find they like some series of books by an author, but not others?

I used to be an avid reader but haven't been for the last 2/3 yrs. My friend recently told me about the Sue Grafton alphabet books. Wasn't interested as they are crime novels which I've never read before and follow the exploits of a PI. After some 'bullying' I eventually downloaded the first one 'A is for Alibi' and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now on to 'R is for Ricochet'. They are very easy reading, not taxing, don't take too long to get through and have successfully got me back into the reading habit. Only problem is that, in the same way as never not finishing any book, I now feel I have to get to the end of the series before getting back into the swing of reading for good.

So glad to have found this thread, what a great idea.

I've just started reading Dawnlands by Philippa Gregory (xmas pres from son)

Happy New Year to you Oreo and to any new posters to the thread, I hope you enjoy participating throughout the coming year.

itsadogslife

I would highly recommend "The Names" by Florence Knapp although it came out last spring. It's really clever and well-written and an easy read (although it's classified as Literary Fiction.) I got it as an early birthday present and have just read it in less than 24 hours as couldn't put it down.

p/s Sorry if this has already been covered as I am late to the party!

I absolutely 2nd that, "The Names" was one of my stand out books for 2025. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoyed "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson, it had the similar quality of the different trajectories life could take. In this book it was dependent on the three names the main character was given. Very original.

Hi I'm new here, I read most days mostly thrillers, I'm currently reading Susan Lewis - Never Look Back it's about a group of people who work on a true crime podcast. It's the 3rd book in this series.
I already have a TBR pile for 2026

Thanks for continuing this thread. I am a relatively new member of Gransnet so would love to join in.

I am reading JD Vance’s HillBilly Elegy. As most of you will know, this book predates JD Vance’s entry into politics. I remember hearing him being interviewed at the time of its publication. Someone mentioned to me recently that they were reading this book and it reminded me that I hadn’t got round to reading it.

I have deliberately tried to take the book on its face value and forget about JD Vance’s current job. It is a really illuminating account of his family life and the challenges that they faced in a poor, working class.

I would highly recommend "The Names" by Florence Knapp although it came out last spring. It's really clever and well-written and an easy read (although it's classified as Literary Fiction.) I got it as an early birthday present and have just read it in less than 24 hours as couldn't put it down.

p/s Sorry if this has already been covered as I am late to the party!