I've read fifty three books this year, not as many as some years but a few more than last year. I think I'm at a number which suits me though, it's averaged out at a smidgen over one book a week and this leaves me plenty of time for doing lots of other things which I enjoy too. Some of the books I've read have been quite short ones but then I've read some whoppers this year too, like Les Miserables and David Copperfield.
I'm still enjoying reading some classics, and some of them children's books which I missed out on when I was a child myself. I continue to thoroughly enjoy Charles Dickens but there's been some duds too, such as The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
I finished reading the Thrush Green series by Miss Read which I embarked on after finishing the Fairacre series. They're books I'd definitely recommend, such gentle village life tales of yesteryear.
I've managed to catch up with all the latest releases from my favourite authors by using my local library. I even remembered to keep checking well in advance of Richard Osman's new book being released so that I wasn't number one hundred and whatever in the queue, as I was when I reserved his first one. I was only number twelve when I requested the new one.
My Name is Eva - Suzanne Goldring
Battles at Thrush Green - Miss Read
Animal Farm - George Orwell
The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Return to Thrush Green - Miss Read
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Gossip From Thrush Green - Miss Read
The Woolworths Girl's Promise - Elaine Everest
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
Mrs England - Stacey Halls
Affairs at Thrust Green - Miss Read
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
At Home in Thrush Green - Miss Read
Picking up the Pieces - Amanda Prowse
Finding Happiness at Penvennan Cove - Linn B Halton
The School at Thrush Green - Miss Read
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
The Road Trip - Beth O'Leary
Friends at Thrush Green - Miss Read
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Ebb-Tide - Robert Louis Stevenson
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
The Testimony of Alys Twist - Suzannah Dunn
Celebrations at Thrush Green - Miss Read
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Bronte
The Year at Thrush Green - Miss Read
Someone Else's Shoes - Jojo Moyes
Three Sisters - Heather Morris
How to Kill Your Family - Bella Mackie
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
Christmas at Thrush Green - Miss Read
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
From a Far and Lovely Country - Alexander McCall Smith
A Merry Little Christmas - Julia Williams
Strictly Christmas Spirit - Helen Buckley
The Merry Christmas Project - Cathy Bramley
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Bottle Imp - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Nightingale Daughters - Donna Douglas
The Magician's Nephew - C.S.Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S.Lewis
The Horse and his Boy - C.S.Lewis
Prince Caspian - C.S.Lewis
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S.Lewis
The Silver Chair - C.S.Lewis
The Last Battle - C.S.Lewis
All Good Things - Amanda Prowse
The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman
The French Chateau Dream - Julie Caplin
Christmas with the Railway Girls - Maisie Thomas
Merrily Every After - Cathy Bramley
Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls - Elaine Everest
Favourites from this year include Les Miserables, David Copperfield, The Last Devil to Die and Lessons in Chemistry. A mixed bunch but I think reading a wide range of genres keeps things interesting.
Going forward into 2024 I plan on doing much the same, reading a few classics and picking up anything new from my favourite authors. Now that I've finished reading the Miss Read books I plan on embarking on a new series, The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley. I've never read anything by this author before but I've heard great reviews so I asked for the first book in the series for Christmas. I've also heard good things about the Ruth Galloway mysteries by Elly Griffiths so I picked up the first one in this series when I saw it in TK Maxx. It's exciting to be starting something new.
That is an impressive number of books. Happy New Year!!! Time to start the book count all over again.
ReplyDeleteThats impressive, one a week. I love to have a book at hand but sometimes they take me longer than that to finish. I think you know that I love books about WW11, I find them so interesting.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Jo and I hope it is filled with love for you and your family.
Briony
x
You're right - it is good to read different genres. Exercise for the brain! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've read less this year, it's much nicer to be out doing things.
ReplyDeletePlanning some reading sounds like a lovely way to start the New Year. Snuggling down with a book is a wonderful way to give yourself some 'me time'. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
I've read some of these but not Miss Read books not my sort., but loved Lessons In Chemistry. I discovered a new to me author, Elizabeth Berg and am loving reading them,
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of books Jo, I do read a lot but don't keep count. I like the sound of the Miss Reed series I will have to look into it. x
ReplyDeleteWell done on your 2023 reading.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to receive some books as Christmas Gifts, so I am well set for sitting and relaxing with a good book and a cuppa in the New Year :)
Taking the opportunity to wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2024.
All the best Jan
Well done. Happy reading in 2024. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat an achievement! Here's to next year's reading list!
ReplyDeleteWell done! I didn't do so well. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. All the best for 2024!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting, eclectic mix! That's certainly a lot of books!xxx
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