2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

A new Year and a slight increase in my goal from 2015

Glad to have you come back for another year, Clare.

Good luck with the 50 :)

It's exciting that you've increased your goal this year - good luck! :)

New Year tidying so first book finished is one of my favourite pre-school books: Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book Rod Campbell

Congrats on finishing your first book in 2016!

First adult book of the year finished: In the Land of the Long White Cloud
I love this saga and will go onto read the next book in the series.
Very similar in many ways to The Thornbirds - multigenerational tale about love, life and working on the land. Enjoyed the descriptions of the New Zealand landscape

Clare wrote: "First adult book of the tear finished: In the Land of the Long White Cloud
I love this saga and will go onto read the next book in the series.
Very similar in many ways to The Thorn..."

I read the entire series last year and absolutely loved it!

Megan wrote: "Clare wrote: "First adult book of the tear finished: In the Land of the Long White Cloud
I love this saga and will go onto read the next book in the series.
Very similar in many way..."

I've already got the next one lined up on the kindle for my weekend read :)

Book 2:
The Curious Case of The Black Swan Song Andrea Frazer
After a promising start, what appeared to be an original take on a Holmes and Watson murder mystery didn't achieve it's full potential. Yes there were murders but no mystery and after a while the many references to Conan Doyle and other classic writers, puns, idioms and phrasing made this less enjoyable and more of a chore to finish. Will not be reading any more of the series.

Book 3:
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow Katherine Woodfine
Much preferred this young adult mystery book - perfect blend of Nancy Drew, Famous Five, Sherlock Holmes and Sally Lockhart. Will be reading the next book in the series when it comes out. Now waiting for my daughter to read it as well so can see who she thinks is the Baron?

Book 4:
Song of the Spirits Sarah Lark
Continuing the saga with Gwyneira and Helen's children

Book 5:
Hush, Little Bird Nicole Trope
A disturbing thought-provoking read covering the harrowing long term effects of child sex abuse from the perspective of 2 women: Birdy the vulnerable victim and Rose the predator's wife. We discover more as the alternating chapters gradually reveal more about the events leading up to their imprisonment and finally their attempts to move on with their lives.

Will look out for more by this author

Book 6:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Catherynne M. Valente
Fab, fab, fab - loved it! A much needed escape from reality

Book 7:
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald

Although I'd read The Princess and Curdie as a child I had never read the first book in the series - an enchanting fairytale told from the child's point of view full of symbolic imagery creating a magical tale. Loved it.

Book 8:
The Girl in the Red Coat Kate Hamer
The story of a mother's nightmare come true. Beth, a single mom, has always worried that one day her eight-year-old daughter, Carmel, would wander away from her and go missing. And then one day it actually happens. An intriguing story told from the alternating perspective of the mother and the child.

Book 9:
Five on a Treasure Island Enid Blyton
A reread of a childhood favourite

Book 10:
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore Robin Sloan

This book has caught my eye a few times and I've finally read it ... I loved it!
The perfect ingredients - technology, books, codes, a quest and a secret society - all mixed together to create this fab quirky book.

Clare wrote: "Book 10:
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore Robin Sloan

This book has caught my eye a few times and I've finally read it ... I loved it!
The perfect ingredients - te..."
I'm glad to hear you loved this book. I couldn't tear myself away from it. I think it was just so unexpected!

Book 11:
A Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare

A book from English lessons at school - think I read more of the study guide than the actual play. Enjoyed more rereading as an adult than I ever did at school - so much shorter too!

Book 12
The Dolls' House Rumer Godden

I loved this book as a child and remember thinking Marchpane was very scary. A far darker and more powerful book than the cover suggests.
Enjoyed rereading as an adult.

Great job with your challenge! :)

Book 13
Blue Sky July Nia Wyn

Another reread
A thought-provoking and moving memoir, set in Cardiff where I grew up so full of familiar places. Nia Wyn's memoir written in poetry-prose describes the first 7 years of her son's life after he was diagnosed with severe Cerebral Palsy. She describes her stages of grief, guilt, shock, denial and acceptance as she battles for her child despite negative professionals. A book full of hope and inspiration.

Book 14
The Princess Diaries Meg Cabot

An okay quick read

Book 15
The Story of My Life Helen Keller

The inspiring autobiography of the courageous Helen Keller who learnt to communicate with the world despite being deafblind with the help and support of her teacher Miss Sullivan. The inclusion of the letters that she wrote add further details to her story.

Book 16
The Martian Andy Weir

Originally started to read as a group read in Jan but couldn't get into it first time round so finally read this month.

A classic tale of survival against the odds. I loved the log book / diary format. Tense, humorous and surreal at times.

Can now watch the film!

Clare wrote: "Book 7:
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald

Although I'd read The Princess and Curdie as a child I had never read the first book in the series - ..."

I read MacDonald's The Light Princess last year and enjoyed it.

Gary wrote: "Clare wrote: "Book 7:
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald

Although I'd read The Princess and Curdie as a child I had never read the first book in..."

Thanks Gary - will look out for The Light Princess.

Thankfully Early Bird Books sends me Emails everyday and there is a classic freebie for my Nook. The Light Princess was one of those. I do not grab every freebie but I have many of them.

Book 17:
A Spool of Blue Thread Anne Tyler

I loved this book describing 3 generations of the Whitshanks family in Baltimore. A quiet slow book starting with the characters in the modern family before looking back over the generations describing their lives.

Book 18:
Five Children on the Western Front Kate Saunders

Fab update and follow up to the original Nesbit stories

Book 19:
Little House on the Prairie Laura Ingalls Wilder

Borrowed when I went away and forgot my book and kindle!! And then my nephew kindly pointed out it wasn't the first in the series so guess what I'm reading now :) x

Book 20:
The Summer Book Tove Jansson

A lovely quiet book describing the experiences of an old artist and her 6 year old granddaughter over one summer on their island home in Finland

Book 21:
Ship of Magic Robin Hobb

I loved this, the characterisation is fab. I've enjoyed seeing the story develops and the intermingling of the different characters, both human and non-human. Looking forward to reading the next one to see what happens with all the characters and how they all link together particularly the serpents and the liveships.

Book 22:
Hollow Earth Carole E. Barrowman

I enjoyed this book - a fascinating idea for a child's fantasy novel (I've already recommended it to my 9yr old daughter) that also appeals to adults like me who love a bit of magical realism,mythology and fantasy. A book that left me not only wanting to find out what happens next but also wanting to see some of the art works mentioned in the book.

Book 23:
Joy John Galsworthy - Nobel Prize for Literature 1932

Chosen solely to meet the criteria for one of the book titles in the 2016 I-spy challenge but nevertheless a good read. A short but interesting play giving an insight into the morals and attitudes of the British people, towards marriage in particular, in the Edwardian era.

Book 24:
The Masked City Genevieve Cogman

Loved this follow-up to the Invisible Library, as exciting and enthralling as the first book. And a cliff-hanger ending means I can't wait for the 3rd book in the series.

Book 25:
War Horse Michael Morpurgo

Black Beauty in WW1. Told from the horse's point of view this was a tear jerker full of friendship, loyalty, love and survival.

Book 26:
Little House in the Big Woods

Book 27:
The White Tiger Aravind Adiga

Book 28:
The Man in the Picture Susan Hill

Book 29:
A Fatal Thaw Dana Stabenow

Book 30:
Call of the Kiwi Sarah Lark

Book 31:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Marie Kondō

Interesting read and a slightly tidier house

Book 32:
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe Penelope Lively

A reread of a favourite childhood book

Book 33:
The Owl Service Alan Garner

Another favourite childhood book based on one of the tales from The Mabinogion.

Book 34:
Cornwall's Wonderland Mabel Quiller-Couch

An enjoyable collection of Cornish tales - piskies, pirates, smugglers, ghosts, witches and the romance of Tristam and Iseult.
Reminders of childhood holidays in Cornwall.

Book 35:
The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth Katherine Woodfine

A fab follow-up to The Clockwork Sparrow. Looking forward to the next in the series: what is the connection between Sophie and the Baron?

Book 36:
Memories of Ash Intisar Khanani

Loved this follow up to Sunbolt - exploring more of the Eleven Kingdoms and learning more about its history and the effect this has had on Hitomi's life especially her relationship with her mother. Catching up with some old friends and meeting some fascinating new ones.
Now eagerly awaiting Hitomi's return to the Burnt Lands.

Book 37:
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail Cheryl Strayed

Annoying in places but ultimately enjoyed this and would read it again and can now watch the film