I've now read 53 books in 2023 and with 9 weeks to go till the end of the year, that will bring my total up to 61. I'm quite impressed with myself that I've managed to keep it going this well and this long.
In 2022 I challenged myself to only buy clothes that were necessary, rather than just wanted and I've managed to keep going with that this year also.
I need a new challenge for 2024, I['m fundraising for Birmingham Children's Hospital in November walking 3 miles a day, maybe that's a challenge I could complete every day in 2024, unless anyone else has any ideas?
Finally finished in October, having started it in June and attempted again in September Tess of the d'Ubervilles. I've still to finish Don Quixote - Cervantes (from February). I also ploughed my way through Jane Austin's Emma and enjoyed some light reading with Marian Keyes - Grown Ups.
For the rest of the year I'm sticking to modern books and steering clear of the classics, although there is a re read of A Streetcar named Desire and constant re reading of Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby and King Lear to keep up with the students studying A Level English Literature.
`I've decided to keep the book a week challenge going throughout 2024, regardless of whether I'm still involved with 6th form or working with years 7-11 and reading Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm and Macbeth for the millionth time.
Most of the books I read are from friends and family and they get passed around. I also borrow books from the library and read recommended books in school. I've a bag of books to swop with my cousin in Brighton later this month when we visit.
January
Lord of the Flies - William Golding. Re read from O level days
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee. One of those books everyone should read
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens. Re read from O level days
Off Mice and Men - John Steinbeck. Re read from O level days
Macbeth - Shakespeare. Re read from O level days
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood. Never watched the TV series, but the book was brillant
A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams. One we all think we know till we read it.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelly. The hardest book I've read to date, takes ages to get going through a series of letters.
February
Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K Jerome. Loved this book so much, a travel guide to the Thames.
Good Eggs - Rebecca Hardiman. Light and easy read.
March
Pippi Longstockings - Astrid Lindgren. A childhood favourite.
Five on a Treasure Island - Enid Blyton. A childhood favourite.
The Tempest - Shakespeare. Read the summary first to get an understanding of the plot, characters came to life.
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson. A bit boring, had to persevere.
April
Agatha Raisin Terrible Tourist - M. C. Beaton. Quick read in a day.
Anything Could Happen - Lucy Diamond. A life that could've gone either way, all the 'what ifs?'
Home Truths - Susan Lewis. Dealing with your husbands murder and blaming your son who then becomes a missing person.
The Wild Roses - D.B. Carter Three friends in the mid 80's making different choices and following the paths they lead.
Oranges are not the only fruit - Jeanette Winterson. Absolutely loved the BBC drama with Charlotte Coleman back in 1991. A young woman growing up with the church and not conforming with mothers expectations of her.
The Enemy - Lee Child. Exploring Reachers military days.
May
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe. My fathers book given to him by his Granny in 1947.
Restoring Grace - Katie Fforde. Easy read about lost love and new beginnings.
Follow Me Home - Cathy Woodman. A light hearted story about finding new love.
Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell. Hard to get going, but once engaged the pages just raced past.
When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kaplanithi. Pauls' story as a Neurologist discovering he has brain cancer, how he deals with the treatment, life and ultimately his death.
Five Go Adventuring Again - Enid Blyton. I've been reading this book alongside a mentee in school and we've been comparing childhood with the now and the then.
June
Postmortem - Patricia Cornwell - Making sure my windows are locked during the hot weather
Blue Moon - Lee Child - Quite a lot of graphic violence but good plot line
The Hobbit - J R R Tolkien Very different to my childhood memory of reading this book, probably because all I can see now as I read are the characters as they were portrayed on TV
Malory Towers - Enid Blyton 'Your people are here' Parents arrive to collect their daughter from boarding school
July
The American Dream 1965 - Norman Mailer A very violent read, stuck with it as it is relevant to the A Level curriculum
F. Scott Fitzgerald - Andre Le Vot More of a book to reference and understand
August
Again, Rachel - Marion Keyes I've read these books completely out of order.
Blow Fly - Patricia Cornwall Read out of order, her niece, Lucy is now an adult and playing an active role in the case.
The missing years - Lexie Elliot A proper page turner, read in a day.
No Plan B - Lee Child Typical Reacher
Past tense - Lee Child The story seemed so disjointed but typical Reacher.
The invisible man - HG Wells Hard reading
It started with Paris - Cathy Kelly Following several families as they suffer loss, find love and intertwine
Head over heels - Jill Mansell Pop star discovers he'd fathered a child on moving to a new town and meeting and falling in love with his ex.
Perfect timing - Jill Mansell Jilted her husband to be at the night before the wedding then goes off to find her true love.
Stone Town - Margaret Hickey Australian murder set in an old Gold Rush town outside Adelaide
A random act of kindness - Sophie Jenkins Searching for love running a vintage market stall
Her last holiday - C L Taylor Fran is searching for answers to her sisters disappearance at a retreat in Greece.
Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty Set in a retreat in Australia, 9 strangers locked in a plot with twists and turns
The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren An odd couple thrown together on a romantic honeymoon pretending to be their siblings.
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald A man seeking to be someone he'll never really be.
POSH - Laura Wade Based on the Bullingdon Club, an all male dining club at Oxford University.
The Dark Room - Sam Blake Set in Ireland, solving an old crime.
King Lear - Shakespeare A tragedy as King Lear prepares for his death.
Wow, Suzanne 53 books so far that's awesome! I appreciate that you listed them here because I'm always looking for book recommendations. So I'm bookmarking this. Happy November to you and thanks so much for hosting us every week. I enjoy visiting.
ReplyDeleteLinking up at #14&15
Thank you for linking up, I enjoy your posts
DeleteThat's certainly a more literary set of books than mine! Well done on ploughing through some of those.
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard going at times
Delete