2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

I'm upping my total to 45 in 2018 (I went for 40 in 2017).
2018 Reading List

Running Total: 45/45 COMPLETED!

1. Walking Wounded by Sheila Llewellyn (03/01/18)
2. Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday (09/01/18)
3. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (14/01/18)
4. The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara (21/01/18)
5. The Word for Woman is Wilderness by Abi Andrews (29/01/18)
6. A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr (03/02/18)
7. Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stanković (08/02/18)
8. Burmese Days by George Orwell (13/02/18)
9. The Only Story by Julian Barnes (17/02/18)
10. The Second Winter by Craig Larsen (24/02/18)
11. Great Polar Bear by Carolyn Lesser (25/02/18)
12. George Orwell: A Life in Letters by George Orwell (02/03/18)
13. The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont (04/03/18)
14. Turn a Blind Eye by Vicky Newham (10/03/18)
15. Lost For Words by Stephanie Butland (16/03/18)
16. The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells (21/03/18)
17. Sylvia Pankhurst: The Rebellious Suffragette by Shirley Harrison (29/03/18)
18. The Assassin's Cloak by Irene Taylor (02/04/18)
19. Suffragette by David Roberts (03/04/18)
20. A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde (06/04/18)
21. Ayiti by Roxane Gay (09/04/18)
22. White Houses by Amy Bloom (13/04/18)
23. Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson (18/04/18)
24. Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams by Sylvia Plath (22/04/18)
25. Freedom: Vintage Minis by Margaret Atwood (24/04/18)
26. Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott (29/04/18)
27. In Search of Lost Books by Giorgio van Straten (01/05/18)
28. Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? by Lev Parikian (04/05/18)
29. Song Castle by Luke Waterson (09/05/18)
30. Books for Living by Will Schwalbe (15/05/18)
31. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (21/05/18)
32. The Literature of Wales by D.R. Johnston (01/06/18)
33. Orchid & the Wasp by Caoilinn Hughes (05/06/18)
34. Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (06/06/18)
35. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (08/06/18)
36. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (15/06/18)
37. A Private Language? a Dip Into Welsh Literature by Marion Eames (22/06/18)
38. Bottled Goods by Sophie van Llewyn (23/06/18)
39. The Brontë Family by Karen Kenyon (30/06/18)
40. 24 Stories: of Hope by Kathy Burke (04/07/18)
41. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (07/07/18)
42. Disbanded Kingdom by Polis Loizou (13/07/18)
43. The Library of Ice by Nancy Campbell (24/07/18)
44. The Beekeeper of Sinjar by Dunya Mikhail (30/07/18)
45. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (06/08/18)

Thank you, Kristin. I tend not to plan too far ahead but would definitely like to reduce my TBR pile - I also hope to tackle a few classics. Have you got a grand reading plan for 2018?

Best of luck Paula! :)

Lisa wrote: "Best of luck Paula! :)"

Thank you, Lisa - all the best to you, too! :-)

good luck,Paula! I hope you make it to 45 and enjoy every book.

Good luck Paula & happy reading!!

Blagica wrote: "good luck,Paula! I hope you make it to 45 and enjoy every book."

Thank you, Blagica. I'm looking forward to getting started. Hope you have a brilliant reading year too! :-)

Susy wrote: "Good luck Paula & happy reading!!"

Many thanks, Susy. Hope all your books are gooduns! ;-)

Hoping you had fun getting lost in some pages in your first month!

Paula wrote: "Susy wrote: "Good luck Paula & happy reading!!"

Many thanks, Susy. Hope all your books are gooduns! ;-)"

Thank you Paula! Have read some good ones already! :)
How is it going on your end?

I certainly did, Blagica. Hope you did too! 😊

January consisted entirely of up-and-coming debut novels from virtually unknown authors because my NetGalley ARCs were piling up - there were definitely some gooduns among them, though! This month will be a mixture of all sorts, which is what I like. Glad to hear it's going well for you, Susy. Hope February brings you lots more lovely books! 😊

Paula wrote: "Jhis month will be a mixture of all sorts, which is what I like. Glad to hear it's going well for you, Susy. Hope February brings you lots more lovely books! 😊 "

That sounds good!
Thank you! Same to you!!

Hoping March is a great reading month for you Paula.

Thank you, Blagica. Same to you! 😊

A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. I hope that April brings you many more five star reads. Do you have a stand out book so far this year?

Yes, it is, Blagica. How lovely. 🌼

I've read a lot of new releases this year, many more than usual, but my favourite is still the first one: Walking Wounded by Sheila Llewellyn. Other stand out reads include The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara and A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr. Hopefully there will be lots more to come.

I hope April is a rich reading month for you, too. Any clear favourites for you so far this year? 😊

“Reading brings us unknown friends” While the warm weather is coming I hope you make some new friends in May! You are doing great keep it up!

You know what I have to sayTalking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between is my stand out.

Thank you so much, Blagica. I have to confess, although I've heard of Gilmore Girls, I've never seen the show - but then again, I rarely watch TV. I know people think very highly of it. Isn't it something to do with books? 🤭

Her daughter loves to read.
“I have always imagined paradise will be a kind of library.” I hope you find a corner in Paradise with some great books!!

Thank you, Blagica. You always leave such lovely messages. 😊

I try to find a quote that makes people smile and check in on everyone

Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated!

Hoping July is full of page turning great reads!

Thank you so much, Blagica.