Read the Room

[Turtle Bean]

The new thread for books we have read or given up on this year. I have not started anything new yet, I am half-heartedly reading a romance called An Unfortunate Vow or similar. It is average. I need to finish a non-fiction book about Scotland Yard* and return it to the library then start on The Lacuna for book club.

*I can't read it for long at once because man, there were some grim murders in Victorian times.

[Turtle Bean]

An Inconvenient Vow.

[rosy]

I've set my target as 52 books this year, of which half will be in English, half in French (so doing my homework will count towards my target :)) ) but the selection on Amazon First Reads isn't inspiring me much. How can a book about the 1960s be "historical fiction"?

[sally maclennane]

I never set myself a target, other than maybe matching/beating the previous year's number. I'm currently re reading a Rebus novel, as I unpacked a box of books last week, and came across it. There's a few books I want to read so I might pop to Waterstones at the weekend

[Duophonic]

I set my target for another 100 books, which I found manageable. Again, the proviso is that I work completely alone (I speak to my colleagues for half an hr a day) I have audiobooks on constantly. I also run on my own most days, again, audiobooks are on.

I finished The Cracked Mirror - I figured out the twist pretty early on, which is rare for me as I like to go with the flow with detective/mystery novels, but it just popped into my head.

As mentioned in the previous thread I'm making it my mission at the minute to finish all my half-started books before starting anything new.

Love the new title.

[Flora Poste]

I've set my target at 52, so a book a week which works for me as as realistic reading rate.

I've nearly finished What you are looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama which I picked up on a whim in Waterstones as I thought A might like it. It's six short loosely interconnected stories set in Tokyo and I've really rather enjoyed it - it's a nice easy read, very gentle and sweet, but still nicely written.

[Cerise]

I’m reading All Fours which I’m not enjoying but I’m kind of intrigued about the point of it so will finish it. It seems a bit “hey look at me and how casually graphic I can be about sex, masturbation and orgasms”. It’s a bit coarse but like it’s trying to be cool.

[Pippedydeadeye]

I have started River East, River West. Not sure why I left it as the final Women’s Prize choice now. I heard it was meant to be funny, but I don’t think it is.

[Flora Poste]

I’m reading All Fours which I’m not enjoying but I’m kind of intrigued about the point of it so will finish it. It seems a bit “hey look at me and how casually graphic I can be about sex, masturbation and orgasms”. It’s a bit coarse but like it’s trying to be cool.

I've finished All Fours and it was erm quite something. I think I enjoyed it though - it was quite pulpy in places and very unnecessary, but well written enough that I could forgive it that. I'm making my friend read it so we can discuss, it is that sort of book.

I just had to go back to the old thread and find what I said about All Fours - I'm still not really sure whether I actually enjoyed it or not! I had to finish as well though, as I remember having absolutely no idea where it was going when I was reading it!

[Marth]

I’m reading All Fours which I’m not enjoying but I’m kind of intrigued about the point of it so will finish it. It seems a bit “hey look at me and how casually graphic I can be about sex, masturbation and orgasms”. It’s a bit coarse but like it’s trying to be cool.

Ordered :lol: (99p on Kindle)

I've also ordered a sample of the China Room and the Bass Rock after reading Bats and Flora on the old thread.

I never have a target. But I would be happy with 45/50 I think

[Kenickie]

You had Marth at graphic about orgasms, Cerise. ;)

[Marth]

You had Marth at graphic about orgasms, Cerise. ;)

:lol: :wave:

[overthehill]

I've set my target as 52 books this year, of which half will be in English, half in French (so doing my homework will count towards my target :)) ) but the selection on Amazon First Reads isn't inspiring me much. How can a book about the 1960s be "historical fiction"?

I set myself a challenge of reading in French, last year, and didn't get very far. I bought a Kindle on the advice of a French friend and joined Babelio, hoping for inspiration, but really didn't know what to look for. Would you mind sharing your French titles?

I'm a voracious reader, when the mood takes me but, all too often, I struggle even to finish our local Book Club book of the month. This month's is The Island Swimmer. Must do better. :))

[Cerise]

Everyone needs a little something!

Seriously though. It’s like “And then I bought some bread and went back to the room and knocked out four orgasms.”

It was talked about in the Sara Cox book programme which is what made it ring a bell when I saw the title. Obviously I had completely forgotten what they talked about so I’ll watch it again when I’m finished.

Yes, Flora, that’s exactly how I feel about it. I have no idea where it’s going. There’s a bit that’s hugely frustrating me but I’m trying to reserve judgement until I learn whether there’s a reason for it.

[Little My]

Good thread title!

I have set goals and also set up an account with The StoryGraph, to test the waters of using something other than Goodreads.

Hoping Marth enjoys her graphic sex. :))

I'm reading The Push by Ashley Audrain. She is very good at writing about the dark side of motherhood, and it's a bleak start to the reading year but it was in my book pile for ages so it was time.

[dizzyd]

I failed miserably in 2024 so whatever I read this year is a bonus
I've just started
Chris Van Tulken - Ultra processed people - why do we eat stuff that isn't food

[Dutchie]

I've set myself a goal of 22 books for this year, which should be manageable.

[Estrella]

My goal is to read more books this year than I did last year. I’ve discovered Libby and am borrowing library books to my phone cos I can’t get them on my Kindle.

So far I’ve finished the latest Rebus (Midnight and Blue) which was great and read two Taylor Jenkins Read books (After I Do and Maybe In Another Life) - both more formulaic than her others but good easy reads.

I’m now reading Eligible by Curtis Sittenfield.

[Red]

I finished The Pact by Sharon Bolton on new years day so am on the hunt for something new. There is the latest Aussie-noir from Chris Hammer but its a tenner and that feels a lot of a Kindle book.

[Estrella]

Enjoyed Eligible. Am now reading, years after everyone else, Eleanor Oliphant.