John's 50 in 2013 - The Follow up

Although i have signed up for the 75ers i am carrying on with the 50 group as i only succeeded with my 2012 challenge on the last day of the year.

This year i am concentrating on books with 200 to 375 pages whereas last year i stuck with my beloved weighty tomes predominantly, we'll see what happens.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2013



1.Kill me if you can by James Patterson
2.HHhH by Laurent Binet
3.The Broken Souls by Jack Kerley
4.The Stranger by Camilla Lackberg
5.City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
6.City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
7.Glory Boys by Harry Bingham
8.A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison



9.Ten minutes to fall in Love by Julia Llewellyn
10.Be my Valentine by Debbie Macomber
11.The War of the Dwarves by Markus Heitz
12.Dead Scared by S.J.Bolton
13.Sacrifice by S.J.Bolton
14.Private - No1 Suspect by James Patterson
15.Trouble in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston
16.The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst
17.I Declare by Mike Denness
18.Skinner's Mission by Quintin Jardine
19.When the Star Kings Die by John Jakes
20.Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs
21.Memories of Another Day by Harold Robbins
22.Dreams Die First by Harold Robbins
23.The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy
24.Whispers of Betrayal by Michael Dobbs
25.The Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum
26.Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death by Gyles Brandreth
27.The Soldier's Wife by Joanna Trollope
28.Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
29.Ancient Evenings by Norman Mailer
30.A Street cat named Bob by James Bowen
31.Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson
32.Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman
33.Colours of Chaos by L.E.Modesitt jr
34.The White Order by L.E.Modesitt jr
35.Scion of Cyador by L.E.Modesitt jr
36.Magi'i of Cyador by L.E.Modesitt jr
37.Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
38.Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs
39.The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
40.The Razor's Edge by W.Somerset Maugham
41.Hiss and Hers by M.C.Beaton



42.The Ambassador's Daughter by Pam Jenoff
43.11th Hour by James Patterson
44.Shadowsinger by L.E.Modesitt jr
45.The Betsy by Harold Robbins
46.The Best of E.E "Doc" Smith by E.E "Doc" Smith
47.The Skylark of Space by E.E "Doc" Smith
48.Skylark DuQuesne by E.E "Doc" Smith
49.Skylark Three by E.E "Doc" Smith
50.The Rheinmann Exchange by Robert Ludlum
51.The Angry Hills by Leon Uris
52.No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
53.The Dynostar Menace by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis
54.Cold Harbour by Jack Higgins
55.The Canopy of Time by Brian Aldiss
56.The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber
57.Recipe for Love by Katie Fforde
58.The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey
59.Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin
60.The White Mountains by John Christopher
61.A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
62.Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
63.Tangled Lives by Hilary Boyd
64.Never had it so good by Dominic Sandbrook
65.Don Quixote by Cervantes
66.The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
67.A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith
68.The Sound of Thunder by Wilbur Smith
69.The Dwarves by Markus Heitz
70.Winter Games by Rachel Johnson
71.The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman
72.Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr
73.Spangle by Gary Jennings
74.Lambs to the Slaughter by Graham Yallop
75.The Baker's Boy by J.V.Jones
76.Angels Flight by Michael Connelly
77.Naked in Death by J.D.Robb
78.Christmas in Seattle by Debbie Macomber
79.I Should be so Lucky by Judy Astley
80.The Drop by Michael Connelly
81.Sharpe's Fury by Bernard Cornwell
82.Tanequil by Terry Brooks
83.Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler

Books 44 to 55 were freebies from my library, these were donated books that were not up to loan standard and were for re-cycling, so I have re-cycled them and will make a donation to FOWL (Friends of Walton Library) funds, it's only right as i am vice-chairman.



84.Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage
85.Sharpe's Enemy by Bernard Cornwell
86.Sos the Rope by Piers Anthony
87.Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani
88.The People's Queen by Vanora Bennett
89.Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
90.The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
91.Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
92.Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs
93.Break no Bones by Kathy Reichs
94.The Devil's Edge by Stephen Booth
95.A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins
96.Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley
97.Zoo by James Patterson
98.The Bangkok Secret by Antony Grey
99.The Black Raven by Katherine Kerr
100.206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
101.A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
102.My Animals and other Family by Clare Balding
103.Magician's Gamble by David Eddings
104.Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
105.Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
106.He Knew he was Right by Anthony Trollope
107.Dating Game by Danielle Steel
108.Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
109.Safe Harbour by Danielle Steel
110.Brown Owl's Guide to Life by Kate Harrison
111.The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva
112.Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
113.Heartstone by C.J.Sansom
114.The Outsider by Gerald Seymour
115.Wool by Hugh Howey



116.The Diamond Hunters by Wilbur Smith
117.Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
118.Vainglory by Geraldine McCaughrean
119.The Thoughts of Chairman Moore by Brian Moore
120.The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey
121.Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
122.By Force of Arms by James Nelson
123.Headingley by John Marshall
124.Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov
125.Faerie Tale by Raymond E.Feist
126.The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
127.Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody
128.A Medal for Murder by Frances Brody
129.Over the Gate by Miss Read
130.Further Afield by Miss Read
131.A Peaceful Retirement by Miss Read
132.The Cat Who knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun
133.The Cat Who talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun
134.The Cat Who knew a Cardinal by Lilian Jackson Braun
135.The Cat Who saw Stars by Lilian Jackson Braun
136.The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun
137.The Cat Who Went up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun
138.The Cat Who Brought down the House by Lilian Jackson Braun
139.Master of Triggernometry by J.T.Edson
140.Piece of my Heart by Peter Robinson
141.Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
142.CMJ-A Cricketing Life by Christopher Martin Jenkins
143.The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith
144.The Honour of the Queen by David Weber
145.Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
146.Down Below Station by C.J.Cherryh
147.Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
148.The Brading Collection by Patricia Wentworth
149.Grey Mask by Patricia Wentworth
150.The Silent Pool by Patricia Wentworth
151.The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
152.NYPD Red by James Patterson
153.Lord of Snow and Shadows by Sarah Ash
154.Prisoner of Ironsea Tower by Sarah Ash
155.Children of the Serpent Gate by Sarah Ash
156.Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth
157.The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
158.The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly



159.The Final Judgement by Richard North Patterson
160.The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
161.The Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
162.The Simple Truth by David Baldacci
163.Straken by Terry Brooks
164.The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum
165.Foundation by Mercedes Lackey
166.A Town Called Alice by Nevil Shute
167.Crusade by Robyn Young
168.The Hour of The Gate by Alan Dean Foster
169.Zero Day by David Baldacci
170.Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
171.The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman
172.Honor Bound by W.E.B.Griffin
173.A Woman Unknown by Frances Brody
174.A Place of Confinement by Anna Dean
175.The Painter's Apprentice by Charlotte Betts
176.Dead and Buried by Quintin Jardine
177.Cadillac Flight by Marshall Harrison
178.The Night Manager by John Le Carre
179.Love me to Death by Alison Brennan
180.The Dancing Years by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
181.The Matarese Countdown by Robert Ludlum
182.The Aquitane Progression by Robert Ludlum
183.Slaughter in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope
184.Mission to Moulokin by Alan Dean Foster
185.Helliconia Spring by Brian Aldiss
186.Melted into Air by Sandi Toksvig
187.Scandal in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston
188.Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
189.Magician by Raymond E. Feist
190.Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist
191.The Age of Doubt by Andrea Camilleri



192.The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
193.The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
194.The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extance
195.Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter
196.A Book of Memories by Peter Nadas
197.Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton
198.Green Rider by Kristen Britain
199.The Emperor of Lies by Steve Sem-Sandberg
200.Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
201.Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb
202.Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
203.A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans
204.Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind
205.Latter End by Patricia Wentworth
206.Eternity Ring by Patricia Wentworth
207.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
208.A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry
209.The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez
210.Guilty Wives By James Patterson
211.Triptych by Karin Slaughter
212.Criminal by Karin Slaughter
213.The Scar by China Mieville
214.The House that Jack Built by Ed McBain
215.Ladies Bane by Patricia Wentworth
216.The Listening Eye by Patricia Wentworth
217.Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
218.An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones
219.Sharpe's Triumph by Bernard Cornwell
220.The Spine by Richard North Patterson



221.Scruples by Judith Krantz
222.Scruples Two by Judith Krantz
223.By Schism Rent Asunder by David Weber
224.Out of the Silent Planet by C.S.Lewis
225.Brendon Chase by "BB"
226.Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
227.Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly
228.Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
229.Exiles to Glory by Jerry Pournelle
230.Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell
231.Death comes to Pemberley by P.D.James
232.The Racketeer by John Grisham
233.The Casual Vacancy by J.K.Rowling
234.The Hidden Cottage by Erica James
234.Nevermore by James Patterson
235.Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber
236.Two Brothers by Ben Elton
237.The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan
238.Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
239.Life Support by Tess Gerritsen
240.Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy
241.Ordermaster by L.E.Modesitt jr
242.Natural Ordermage by L.E.Modesitt jr
243.Broken Skin by Stuart Macbride
244.Little Face by Sophie Hannah
245.Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov
246.Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
247.Starting Now by Debbie Macomber
248.Renegade by Robyn Young
249.Shift by Hugh Howey
250.Leviathan Wakes by James S.A.Corey



251.Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
252.Chances by Jackie Collins
253.Wednesdays at Four by Debbie Macomber
254.Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
255.Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
256.The Sanctuary Seeker by Bernard Knight
257.Echo Park by Michael Connelly
258.Helliconia Summer by Brian Aldiss
259.The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
260.Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
261.The Case of the Chinese Boxes by Marele Day
262.The Tyler Mystery by Frances Durbridge
263.Dance of the Tiger by Bjorn Kurten
264.Shatter the Bones by Stuart Macbride
265.Theodore Boone by John Grisham
266.The Misinterpretations of Tara Jupp by Eva Rice
267.The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth
268.Skinner's Trail by Quintin Jardine
269.Condition Black by Gerald Seymour
270.A Line in the Sand by Gerald Seymour
271.Four Play by Fiona Walker
272.Garnethill by Denise Mina
273.Sharpe's Company by Bernard Cornwell
274.Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy
275.Private Berlin by James Patterson
276.The Silent Tide by Rachel Hore
277.August Heat by Andrea Camilleri
278.City of Women by David Gillham
279.The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers
280.The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima
281.The Summer Wedding by Fiona Walker
282.The Overlook by Michael Connelly
283.Uther by Jack Whyte
284.Love Rules by Freya North
285.The Poisoned Chalice by Bernard Knight
286.Right on Time by Pauline McLynn
287.Dominion by C.J.Sansom
288.An Advancement of Learning by Reginald Hill
289.A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill
290.Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich
291.Gridlinked by Neal Asher
292.Death's Jest-book by Reginald Hill
293.School's Out by Jack Sheffield



294.Yargo by Jacqueline Susann
295.The Apothecary's Daughter by Charlotte Betts
296.Poison by Ed Mcbain
297.Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
298.Sharpe's Havoc by Bernard Cornwell
299.A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
300.The Apocalypse Watch by Robert Ludlum
301.Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell
302.My Autobiography by Garry Sobers with Bob Harris
303.One Hundred Lord's Tests by Jonathan Rice
304.Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell
305.Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell
306.Chainfire by Terry Goodkind
307.Only Time Will Tell by Jeffery Archer
308.Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson
309.The Black Box by Michael Connelly
310.It's Now or Never by Carole Matthews
311.The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
312.Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen
313.Birthdays of the Dead by Stuart Macbride
314.Blind Eye by Stuart Macbride
315.Love Hunt by Fiona Walker
316.The Secret Lives of Evie Hamilton by Catherine Alliott
317.Winter of the World by Ken Follett
318.Warning Signs by Stephen White
319.Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich



323.Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch
324.Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
325.Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
326.Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
327.No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym
328.Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym
329.Something Borrowed,Someone Dead by M.C.Beaton
330.Death in August by Marco Vichi
331.Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
332.Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
333.Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
334.Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
335.Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris
336.Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
337.Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
338.From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
339.All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
340.Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
341.Crowner's Quest by Bernard Knight
342.The Elixir of Death by Bernard Knight
343.Figure of Hate by Bernard Knight
344.The Awful Secret by Bernard Knight
345.Fear in the Forest by Bernard Knight
346.The Tinner's Corpse by Bernard Knight
347.The Manor of Death by Bernard Knight
348.The Witch Hunter by Bernard Knight
349.Molly by Teresa Crane
350.An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
351.Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
352.Eleven Minutes Late by Matthew Engel
353.Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates by Kerry Greenwood
354.Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
355.Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood
356.Blotto,Twinks and the Ex-Kings Daughter by Simon Brett
357.Blotto,Twinks and the Dead Dowager Duchess by Simon Brett
358.Blotto,Twinks and the Rodents of the Riviera by Simon Brett
359.A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
360.A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow
361.Dead in the Water by Dana Stabenow
362.A Short book about Drawing by Andrew Marr
363.All's Fair in Love and Law by Alan Hammond
364.Tuffer's Alternative Guide to the Ashes by Phil Tufnell
365.Christmas at Claridges by Karen Swan
366.Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson
367.Helliconia Winter by Brian Aldiss
368.Stark by Ben Elton
369.The King's Buccaneers by Raymond E.Feist
370.The Labyrinth of Osiris by Paul Sussman
371.The Khufra Run by Jack Higgins
372.The Stranger by Camilla Lackberg
373.Vatican by Malachi Martin
374.A Pinch of Snuff by Reginald Hill
375.Rogue by Danielle Steel
376.The Revenge of the Dwarves by Markus Heitz
377.The Ashes According to Bumble by David Lloyd
378.At the Close of Play, My Autobiography by Ricky Ponting
379.12th of Never by James Patterson
380.Bryant & May and The Memory of Blood by Christopher Fowler
381.Falling for Christmas by Debbie Macomber
382.Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
383.Murder on a Summer's Day by Frances Brody
384.The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Great to see you here again.

for both challenges and happy reading :-D

BOOKS READ IN 2013



Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body by M.C.Beaton
Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
True Colours, my life by Adam Gilchrist
The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear



A Married Man by Catherine Alliott
Village Teacher by Jack Sheffield
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith
The Oak Apple by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Cat who could read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
Agatha Raisin As the Pig Turns by M.C.Beaton



The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri
Now and Forever by Danielle Steel
The Ex-Wives by Deborah Moggach
Please Sir! by Jack Sheffield
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
15 Seconds by Andrew Gross
Educating Jack by Jack Sheffield
A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen



The Cat who ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun
Max by James Patterson
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
Country Doctor by Michael Sparrow
The Contract by Gerald Seymour
Split Second by David Baldacci
Hiss and Hers by M.C.Beaton



Size Doesn't Matter by Meg Cabot
Deadline by Simon Kernick
The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson
The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith
Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde
The Black Pearl by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles



The Little Village School by Gervase Phinn
Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs
Trouble at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn
Fang by James Patterson
Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
Requiem for a Mezzo by Carola Dunn
A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore



Death of a Cad by M.C.Beaton
Kill me if you can by James Patterson
Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine
Blowing it by Judy Astley



Merckx- Half man, Half bike by William Fotheringham
A Cotswold Ordeal by Rebecca Tope
Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn
Angel by James Patterson
The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore
11th Hour by James Patterson
Fallen Women by Sue Welfare



The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri
Repeat Prescription by Michael Sparrow
The Furies by John Jakes
Trouble in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston
Scandal in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston
Broken Skin by Stuart Macbride
Better than a Rest by Pauline McLynn



Theodore Boone by John Grisham
Nevermore by James Patterson
Touch the Devil by Jack Higgins
American Dreams by John Jakes
Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell
A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill
The Man Who Forgot His Wife by John O'Farrell
Killing Hour by Andrew Gross



Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Tongue in Cheek by Fiona Walker
The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
Chloe by Freya North
Guilty Wives by James Patterson
It's Now or Never by Carole Matthews



School's Out by Jack Sheffield
At Risk by Stella Rimington
Gardens of Delight by Erica James
Damsel in Distress by Carola Dunn
Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich
Shadow of the Titan by Alan Fenton

Glad you're still on the fifty....congrats on making the 50 last year. That was really impressive considering how big the books were.

Thanks Andy, although i have said it's the smaller books this year, my first bedside book is one i've had for about three years and really want to read it, it is a hardback autobiography that's 627 pages,but my other book is only 197 pages in hardback so whilst the doorstop will take a while i think i will make up for it with the smaller ones. At least that's my theory.

Currently reading:

Things are a bit hectic at the moment so not much reading being done, on the plus side we went to the cinema to see Quartet on Friday, a very good film and Billy Connolly was on good form.

John, it looks like a good start and it's great that you post the covers. I love looking at those posted covers, it gives me a better feeling for a book.
Happy reading :-)

Off and running now that i read my first book of 2013, Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body by M.C.Beaton 1-1-13 to 9-1-13. Reading about Agatha's escapades never fails to disappoint and gave me a good giggle into the bargain. Got a bit of housework done and then picked up another book to carry around with me along with my bedside book.

1 book read, 199 pages.

Congrats on your first of the year! Happy reading!

Second book of 2013 finished this afternoon,Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield-9-1-13 to 13-1-13. The trials and tribulations of Ragley village school always give me a giggle and it's so nice to look back to the 1970's with the descriptions Jack Sheffield gives of what was happening in the news, on t.v and in the music world. This is the third book of his that i have read and can't wait to read the next three from my TBR pile

I'm not going to get giddy yet at my progress as this was read much quicker than i thought it would as i have a stinking cold and am not a happy bunny, don't think i will be going into school this week to help out, don't want to pass my germs onto paid staff.

2nd book read, running total 550 pages.

Get well soon dear friend! A lot of hot tea and some good books will help.

Hey John...just seeing how you are doing. I am getting close to my 3rd book, Revelation Space, which I am really enjoying. Hope all is well with you!

Hi Andy, looking forward to your review of Revelation Space as i have seen this on the book shelves and considered purchasing it.
Apart from still being full of cold after getting it last thursday and then going to the hospital A & E department at midnight to be with my Daughter-in-law who had had to call out an ambulance as my gorgeous granddaughter had had a seizure due to the virus she has got and her lips, fingers and toes were blue. Thankfully she stabalised and they kept her in overnight to make sure her heart rate returned to a normal rate and she has just come home. If the doctors a couple of days ago had done a bit more and given her some anti-biotics we wouldn't have been in this position, she's only 23 months old bless her. Apart from all that Andy everything is ok at this end.

Oh John, what an awful time you and your family had. I hope Hannah is feeling much better and everything is on the better part of the side now. It's so terrible when doctors don't take one serious enough. Please give her my love and I keep my fingers crossed for you all.

The latest on Hannah is that she seems to be perking up a bit although she is a bit clingy and wanting lots of cuddles, but then again who doesn't want cuddles. I will pass on your love to her tomorrow and hopefully we will all start picking up from this dratted cold.

Hope you are well Barbara and Thomas and the girls, love to you all from West Yorkshire.

Book three finished earlier today, True Colours, my life by Adam Gilchrist, 1-1-13 to 21-1-13. As with most Australian cricketers, i thought he would be the typical brash, in your face character BUT he shows a totally different type of character, one who is not shy to show his feelings both on and off the field. It was a lovely autobiography to read with honest and open opinions, he revealed he was ashamed not to know much about aussie history and showed he is human when trying to prove to his mates that he was a man of the world and had not let aussie young men down about his prowess with the ladies yet hadn't actually done anything because he was in love with his sweetheart who would later become his wife. I had a good giggle at that because we've all done it.
This is a book all young cricketers should read who are contemplating being a professional cricketer as it will help them to try and avoid some of the pitfalls that lay in wait.

Third book read, running total 1177 pages.

Congrats, well done. I hope everything is getting better in West Yorkshire. :-)

Book four finished this morning, The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn, 13-1-13 to 22-1-13. Daisy Dalrymple is a thoroughly modern twenties lady who seems to have a nose for trouble. This is pure escapism and a nice gentle read with all the silly words and phrases that the upper classes used in Edwardian/Georgian Britain in the early 20th century. No doubts i will read a few more before the year is out as this is book two and i've got the other eighteen.

Fourth book read, running total 1449 pages.

Thanks Barbara, the weather is still cold here but it has stopped snowing but we might have some more on friday. Hannah is picking up now so fingers crossed i will have my happy go lucky little girl back on Friday.

John you have a fantastic reading pace. We've got some sun today, too, but the forecast is up to more snow and bitterly cold wind storms for the next few days.

Glad things are looking up for you...medical issues with the family can be extremely stressful. Finished Revelation Space...read my review under my thread. Keep reading my friend!

Well i think this cold has been a little bit helpful on the reading front as it has kept me on track with my challenges, i should finish two more books by the end of this week and my cold has gone.

Fifth book finished this morning, Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear 22-1-13 to 29-1-13. I love sleuth Maisie Dobbs and her antics in Britain between the wars. I am looking forward to reading the next two that are on my book pile.

Five books read, total pages 1756.

Well done! You have a good reading pace :-)

Sixth book of the year finished at tea-time today, A Married Man by Catherine Alliott 21-1-13 to 4-2-13. Another interesting read from Ms Alliott, i love her books even though they are termed chick-lit by some in the know. I read her first book after reading the blurb on the back in my local library and haven't looked back since and have read similar books by other authors. My motto is that if after reading the blurb on the back and it is interesting then i will purchase or borrow it and read it whereas some will not touch these books with a barge pole because of a pre-bias against this genre.

Six books read, total pages 2323.

Wow..you are smokin' me this year . Great job!

I know Andy, just got to make sure i don't get giddy. How are you doing my friend? As you can see two thirds of my my books completed are small ones this year but i still have to read a few chunksters.

Seventh book of the year finished last night,Village Teacher by Jack Sheffield 29-1-13 to 6-2-13. I really enjoy Jack's books and can't wait to read the next two that are on my book shelf.

Seven books read, total pages 2670.

Hi John! I'm really impressed about your fantastic reading pace. I hope everybody is fine. We've got a lot of snow and I went sledging with my class this afternoon.

I think i am in the wrong group, so far this year i have read seven books but so far this year i have bought Twenty-eight books, surely i should have joined the Fifty books bought challenge,lol.

Not a good day today, been to a funeral of a very dear friend who will be sadly missed, still feeling a bit tearful since we got home.

Sorry to hear that John....buying books was always therapeutic for me when I get down.

Oh John, sorry to hear this I hope you'll feel better soon.

Since January I join the ROOT - 2013 Read Our Own Tomes. Everybody is trying hard to reduce his books on the shelves but when you read the posts most of them are reading their books and on the other hand are buying more books then they are reading. So, this group could be something for you too. ;-)

Today I'm leaving for my skiing holiday in Davos. The weather forcast for the upcoming days sounds great. I hope that next to the reading I'll be able to read a lot.

Thanks for the messages guys. Finished book eight for the year last night, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith, 7-2-13 to 14-2-13. Yet another masterful book about Botswana's most famous lady detective. I have a number of Mr McCall Smith's books on my shelves and will hopefully read them all before the end of the year.

Eight books read, running total 2918 pages.

Book number nine finished a little earlier, The Oak Apple by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, 4-2-13 to 17-2-13. The Morland saga is brilliant and as much as i love history i am learning a lot more than i have previously learnt. The downfall of Charles the first and rise of Cromwell is woven into the story of the Morlands and i am looking forward to the remaining books plus the ones still to be published. Currently she is up to book 35 and the year 1925 and is going to bring the Morlands story up to the present day, i have got up to bk 30 on my shelves so plenty of reading matter.

Nine books read, running total 3321 pages.

Had a good day today, a bit of housework and then did a two hour stint at the community library we're trying to get up and running after the council closed it to save money. Today we were taking in book donations and putting books on shelves ready to barcode and pu them onto our new lending system, people in the village have been really generous and we took in 500 books in two hours. With two more sessions to go like this the next labour intensive job will be the barcoding and hopefully we will be ready to open by the 15th March. After this had a bit of lunch then more housework and then did a bit of work ready to put new shelves in the loft for MY books.

Oh, and did a bit of reading between library help and housework.

Reached double figures on books read tonight, finished The Cat who could read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun, 17-2-13 to 21-2-13. Although i have read three of her other Cat books this is the first in the series and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ten books read, running total 3512 pages

Book eleven finished earlier today,Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson, 15-2-13 to 23-2-13. Yet another Patterson finished and it was a good read. As with many other crime writers, the ways to kill people and where and how always amaze me ans it makes me wonder that if after the release of these books are there murders committed that have their source of style from these books.

I think i have a chance to finish another book before the end of February which will keep me well on track for my challenge.

Eleven books read, running total 3995 pages.

I'm curious as to your opinion of the Recluce novels by Modessitt. I read three of them about 20 years ago and want to eventually pick back up on them.

Hi Andy, i haven't started them yet but i will be picking one up shortly and i'll let you know my thoughts. I have that many series to either finish or get started that i don't know where to begin. One series i must re-start is the Eath's children by Jean M.Auel, one of my wife's old work colleagues lent me the first two round about 1992 before i started logging my reading, i've got all six books now but can't really remember much about them so i must re-visit soon.

Hope you have had a good weekend my friend.

Hmm..that Auel series looks interesting... may have to check that out.

Book number twelve finished a short while ago, Agatha Raisin As the Pig Turns by M.C.Beaton, 23-2-13 to 25-2-13. Agatha Raisin gets into more scrapes and puts herself and her colleagues in danger but rescues the situation, on the love side she still has to be careful not to fall for the wrong man yet again. I love Agatha and the books are a lovely relaxing read. Not sure what the next book will be but by tomorrow i will have chosen.

Twelve books read, running total 4193 pages.

Really going to have to behave myself, bought four more books today. They were secondhand and on cost £2 for the lot but that's 40 books bought so far this year.

Congrats to your shopping :-D. I haven't bought one so far and I'm still trying to reduce my TBR pile.

Yes i need to stop going to places with books so that i am not tempted to purchase. How are you doing my dear?

Book number 13 finished about four hours ago, The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri, 25-2-13 to 4-3-13. Inspector Montalbano is his usual enigmatic and irascible self as is to be expected. The author keeps the story flowing along with giving the reader a feel for Sicily. This is the third in the series that i have read and i have three more on the book shelf and can't wait to get around to them.

Thirteen books read, running total 4491 pages.

Just an update on the reading matter in the Simpson household as of 7th March 2013.

Books to be read: 1489

Total number of pages to be read: 644,356

The above total of books includes the following:

books of 500 to 699 pages = 284
books of 700 to 999 pages = 109
books of 1000+ pages = 31

So a grand total of 424 books in excess of 500 pages, i did say i liked really long books. I will try to keep these stats updated monthly.

Further to post 48, i cannot believe that i have nearly 1500 books in the house to read and even if i read all those the number of pages added to the number of pages that i have read up to now would still leave me 35,572 pages short of one million pages read, what's that all about,lol.

I just love statistics and reading just gives me lots of stats to work with.

Wow...and I thought my TBR pile was big.

I told you i had a book problem Andy, how are you my friend, the reading seems to be going well.

Just kind of plodding along...nothing special so far. You could open a used book store someday!

Book fourteen finished an hour ago, Now and Forever by Danielle Steel, 21-2-13 to 10-3-13. This is the third Ms Steel book that i have read and i have another 50 of her books on the shelf and will slowly get the rest and am determined to read them all. I had a little bit of trouble when the cost of things were mentioned until i looked at the front of the book and realised how long ago it had been published. My wife thinks i am nuts reading these books but i am a closet Steel fan.

Fourteen books read, running total 4873 pages.

Hi John! Finally I've got some good reading time this weekend and could finish three books. Lol if you really have troubles ;-) which book you should read next than my advice for you is the following: give it a try with blindman's buff and start reading what you'll picked out ;-D
At our front everything's fine, but it looks like winter is coming back next week.

Hi Barbara, last Saturday we had a lovely day out in Northallerton and Thirsk in lovely sunshine and this Saturday Karen was working and it was raining and miserable. Today she has also been working and it is trying to snow and that is the forecast for the next few days. Glad you are all well, we saw Amy's Andy in the lead male role in Blithe Spirit last night and it was an excellent production by an amateur dramatic group.

Only having a laugh about the next book, when i was checking out how many books i have and number of pages to read i picked out a few books that i would like to read shortly.

Andy's part in this theatre group sounds amazing. I'm glad that the play is a success. I hope your daughter-in-law is getting better I kept her in my mind last Wednesday.
With this nasty forecast you'll get enough reading time for all the books you've chosen.
I wish you a nice week and keep my fingers crossed for your library opening next Friday.

Hi Barbara, unfortunately Louise had had a cold and thought it had cleared up enough for her op but they wouldn't risk it and she is now due to have it on the 20th March. I will know more on wednesday after our steering group meeting whether we will be opening on the 18th of March or we may have to put it back to the 25th.

My next book alongside Ex-wives is The Black Echo by Michael Connelly.

Fifteenth book of 2013 finished last night, The Ex-Wives by Deborah Moggach, 4-3-13 to 15-3-13. At first i wasn't sure i was going to like this book but as it went on i became more and more intrigued as to what was going to happen and i wasn't disappointed. It was an interesting read and made me laught at times. The next book to be read alongside The Black Echo is Please Sir by Jack Sheffield, i really enjoy his books and have one more on the shelf to read and then will have to wait until September till book seven comes out in standard paperback.

Fifteen books read, running total 5263 pages.

Having a really good laugh at the Jack Sheffield book i am reading at the moment although i am not reading enough because i am busy with the library group getting things done for our re-opening on the 25th of March.

Book sixteen finished about an hour ago, Please Sir! by Jack Sheffield, 15-3-13 to 22-3-13. I have had a lot of laughs with this book and picked up a couple of recipes. It's so nice to look back at what i was eating, watching and reading in 1982 although i wasn't prepared for the cliffhanger ending and so my next book to read is going to be Educating Jack by Jack Sheffield as i can't wait too long to find out what the ending of book five is going to lead to.

Sixteen books read, running total 5599 pages.

Finished book seventeen a couple of hours ago, The Black Echo by Michael Connelly, 10-3-13 to 23-3-13. I like Harry Bosch's inimitable style of working and he gets results but not by the book. Although i have read four previous Michael connelly books it's nice to have read his first Harry Bosch novel and i have a number of Bosch books on the shelves. I haven't made my mind up yet what to read next but it will no doubt be another crime novel.

Seventeen books read, running total 6055 pages.

Book eighteen finished an hour ago, 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross 23-3-13 to 27-3-13, whilst waiting for my bread to bake. I enjoyed this thriller with its twists and turns and filling in gaps about halfway through. I seem to be reading a thriller alongside something a little bit light and this seems to work, so alongside Educating Jack which i will finish before the week is out i am going back to an old friendly author, John Grisham with A Time to Kill.

Eighteen books read, running total 6508 pages.

Hi John! Wow, your reading pace is absolutely amazing. Congrats! How was your library opening last Monday? I like Michael Connelly's book too. I've read eight books written by him and some more are waiting to be read. What kind of bread are you baking? Well, I can smell it directly and it makes my mouth water.

Hi Barbara, yes my reading seems to be coming on a pace at the moment. I also love Michael Connelly's books and have a few more on the shelf to read. I will find out tonight at the meeting how the opening went as i was unable to pop in on monday, we didn't have a full blown opening ceremony that will come in april with all the schoolcildren involved in it.

The bread was made using 670g of wholemeal flour, 228g of malted brown flour, a bit of yeast and salt along with a tablespoon of treacle dissolved in 250ml of hot water and 250ml of cold water and a tablespoon of olive oil. You mix it all up and knead the dough and then cover with a tea towel, place in a warm place for an hour for it to rise then oil your bread tins (it makes 2 loaves), knead the dough again and place in a warm oven for 30 minutes for it to rise again then cook at 190 degrees C for 30 minutes, i've just cut a couple of slices and it is delicious although i could have done with a little bit more salt in, i was being cautious. Hope you are well my dear and i will talk again soon.

I also like reading Grisham books.

Nineteenth book of the year finished earlier today, Educating Jack by Jack Sheffield, 22-3-13 to-29-3-13. Once again Jack Sheffield has provided a lot of laughs, some sad moments and a history of the early eighties that i could look back on and think did i listen, eat and do these things. The only downside now is that i have to wait until September for book seven in this series. Towards the very end of the book he mentioned a couple of characters and what life would be for them and a reunion in 25 years time, i have wondered if this could be a hint for a future book, i hope so.

Nineteen books read, running total 6844 pages.

Twentieth book finished late last night, A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen, 29-3-13 to 31-3-13. I loved this book and the tale of a recovering addict and the friendship of a cat. Both had had a rough time and helped each other through some tough times. It gives an insight into people living and working on the streets and proves the old adage, never judge a book by its cover. I have seen James and Bob being interviewed on breakfast t.v and Bob really is a cute cat.

Twenty books read, running total 7123 pages.

You are on an 80 book pace....wow!!

Hi Andy, i might be on 80 book pace but i think it will go down to the wire on getting 75. How are you my friend, hope you are well and the reading is going ok. I will have a trip over to your thread shortly.

Book twenty - one finished on Thursday evening, The Cat who ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun, 1-4-13 to 4-4-13. Having read three previous Jim Qwilleran books before it's now so better to be reading them in order and finding out how he became the owner of the two Siamese super sleuths. These books are a good gentle read with a good tale to follow. I think we have the first 12 in the series but will have to contact a good secondhand bookseller in sussex to get the remaining ones, i have used this seller before and he has really good copies of books in his stock so i know the quality is good. I am reading another Patterson to try and reduce the Patterson pile that is on my shelf.

Twenty-one books read, Running total 7338 pages.

Good luck with your Patterson. I've two waiting to be read this year on my shelf. You've got a fabulous reading pace. :-D

Hi Barbara, i picked another Patterson as i have eleven waiting to be read plus quite a number of series each with a number of books to read. Hope your reading is going well.

Book twenty-two finished a little earlier, Max by James Patterson, 4-4-13 to 9-4-13. This was book 5 in the Maximum Ride saga and was an enjoyable read, i have the next two on my shelf and am waiting for the last one in the series to come out in paperback. I really do enjoy Mr P's books if only i could keep up with his output.

Twenty-two books read, running total 7647 pages.

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Hi John! It's a nice picture. Have you met an LT friend at your home town? This weekend we are celebrating our home town spring festival and have got finally warm temperatures. :-D

Hi Barbara, yes Paul was over here visiting his mum who has not being too well lately and the rest of his family and since we both originally come from the same village it would have been a shame not to have met up.

I hope his mum is getting better and it's always a pleasure to meet an old friend.

Book Twenty-three finished a little earlier, A Time to Kill by John Grisham, 27-3-13 to 14-4-13. I have read quite a number of Grisham's but finally got round to reading his first published novel. It gives a good history lesson on how Black people were treated in the Deep South and how bigoted people were not only to blacks but whites who assisted or fraternised with them. It is well crafted and having finally read it, it shows what research and the author's background can help in establishing a popular writer and shows his craft. Like with James Patterson i have a number of Grisham's on the shelf.

Twenty-three books read, running total 8162 pages.

Book Twenty-four finished this morning, Country Doctor by Michael Sparrow, 9-4-13 to 20-4-13. I finished this delightful book whilst waiting for my bread dough to prove. The book tells the tale of a country doctor and the ups and downs he had whilst qualifying and his subsequent postings. He tells the trials and tribulations of his work and the patients he had to deal with, the funny stories and anecdotes along the way and it gave me a good laugh at times and shows how harrowing it can be being a doctor, looking forward to the follow-up book which again is on my bookshelf. By the way, the bread turned out great and this from a recipe in an earlier book i read.

Twenty-four books read, running total 8472 pages.

Just a little bit of bread baked this morning.

Looks fine! :-D

Thanks Barbara.

Book twenty-five finished this afternoon, The Contract by Gerald Seymour, 14-4-13 to 22-4-13. I can't believe i've got to the halfway mark before the end of April. It was nice to reach this mark with one of Mr Seymour's books, i remember seeing him as a reporter on ITN news and then picked up his first book Harry's Game and then watching it when it was made as a mini series with Ray Lonnen as Harry, where has time gone. This is one of the early ones and as enjoyable as they always are.

Twenty-Five books read, running total 8819 pages.

Congrats my friend, I'm very close to my halfway, too. I'm reading The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt with something close to 900 pages, so it will take a little bit until my goal of 25 books.

Hi Barbara, that's certainly a chunkster, as you know i have been mainly reading books of under 400 pages but i may have to change that slightly as i'm missing my chunky books. I might have a chunky book as my bedside read to compensate.

With me it would be a chunky book for a chunky guy....:-)

Book Twenty-six finished very late last night, Split Second by David Baldacci, 20-4-13 to 25-4-13. I had heard quite a bit about David Baldacci's books so when i saw this one i had to purchase it and i have not regretted it. The pace of the book kept me reading, the story was good and at no point did i think i know who the killer is. The balance of the protagonists was effective and i now want to read more of his books. Unlike previous posts i cannot say i have more on the shelf to read but there will be shortly.

Twenty-six books read, running total 9300 pages.

Hi John! I'm glad that you enjoyed Baldacci. I've read a couple of Baldacci's books and some more are on my list TBR. I like his fast-paced and enthralling stories.
I hope everybody is fine. Are you also looking forward to spring? After three lovely days the weather is changing again over here and it looks very bad for next week.

Hannah's first painting done at playgroup this week, not bad for a 26 month old little girl. The new heir to Jackson Pollock.

Book Twenty-Seven finished this morning, Hiss and Hers by M.C.Beaton, 22-4-13 to 29-4-13. Once again Agatha Raisin falls in love just like an adolescent teenager and then finds herself involved in murder and mayhem. The way she carries on just makes me chuckle and how she blunders about until the right result is achieved always amazes me but for light relief these are the books for me. Just need the next book to be published to continue the laughs.

Twenty-Seven books read, running total 9499 pages.

Book Twenty-Eight finished last night, Size Doesn't Matter by Meg Cabot, 29-4-13 to 4-5-13. This is the third Heather Wells mystery that i have read and i have to say that i do enjoy them as they are nice gentle reads when i am not feeling up to reading something more substantial. Just need to get books four and five now.

Twenty-Eight books read, running total 9779 pages.

Book Twenty-Nine finished earlier today, Deadline by Simon Kernick, 26-4-13 to 6-5-13. A really good read yet again by Mr Kernick, The opening crime does not seem relevant until much later in the book and the twists and turns keep the reader glued throughout. A friend lent me a book by this author and i have been hooked on him since.

Twenty-Nine books read, running total 10268 pages.

Book Thirty finished last night, The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson, 4-5-13 to 7-5-13. A nice gentle read from the prolific Mr P. These stand alone books are pleasant to read and fit my mood and set me up for something a bit more gritty or taxing. This was the 66th Patterson that i have read and think by the end of 2017 i will have read my 100th Patterson.

Thirty books read, running total 10544 pages.

Hi John! I also finished my 30th and on my shelf there are alsor Patterson's waiting to be read but I never will reach your amount :-D.

Book Thirty-one finished yesterday, The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith, 8-5-13 to 16-5-13. Another Isabel Dalhousie mystery that enthralls the reader, Isabel cannot resist acquiesing to a request to a bit of investigating even though she is a busy mum, has a young fiance and has thre Review of Ethics to edit and occasionally helps out in her nieces delicatessan. Mr McCall Smith delights the reader with wonderful narrative of Edinburgh and the Borders region of Scotland. I have the next two Dalhousies on the bedroom bookcase and look forward to reading them, hopefully in 2013.

Thirty-One books read, running total 10790 pages.

Hi John. I enjoy reading your reviews and have added a few to my TBR pile!

Hi Hanneri, glad you like my little reviews and enjoy your TBR pile but don't let it get too big.

Book Thirty Two finished a short while ago, Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde, 16-5-13 to 23-5-13. This is the first Katie Fforde that i have read and i really enjoyed it, my wife has been reading them for years and had placed it on my pile. I read the back of the book and thought i'd give it a go and i'm glad i did. I will read some more of her books when i can get them out of the loft as i have plenty to go at on the bedroom book shelf and the growing pile in the spare bedroom not to mention the huge amount in the loft.

Thirty-Two books read, running total 11243 pages.

Book Thirty-Three finished at midnight on wednesday, The Black Pearl by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, 6-5-13 to 29-5-13. This is book five in the Morland saga, currently the author is up to book 35 which takes the Morlands to 1925, the blurb on the back of book 5 states that the series will go to WWII but i believe that has been changed to the present day whenever that will be. If this is so then i think she will need to write another 10 or 12 books so that will take us to about 2025. I really enjoyed this book as it is set in the early reign of Charles II and the morals of the landed gentry are something to wonder about. The saga is enjoyable on two fronts, the story is good and interesting allied with true historical facts and people and for someone like me who absolutely loves history and enjoys a really good story this is like manna from heaven.

Thirty-Three books read, running total 11645 pages.

Book Thirty-Four finished earlier today, The Little Village School by Gervase Phinn, 30-5-13 to 5-6-13. This is the first in the Little Village School series and another enjoyable read from Gervase Phinn. Luckily i have the second book and will be reading this as my Bedside book. The book made me laugh and made me cry, the tearful bit is rather poignant with the current situation with my Father-in-Laws illness.

Thirty-Four books read, running total 12037 pages.

Book Thirty-Five finished a short while ago, Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs, 24-5-13 to 10-6-13. I do enjoy Dr Tempe Brennan and her Anthropological work both in Montreal and Charlotte. The differences between the two both work and weather wise amuse me and the pace of the book kept me wanting more. On one side i get to know what an anthropologist does although the technical jargon just bypasses me but it does not spoil my enjoyment. I am looking forward to Tempe's next adventure but my next book will be one of Tess Gerritsen's.

Thirty-Five books read, running total 12473 pages.

Book Thirty-Six finished just before midnight last night, Trouble at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn, 5-6-13 to 12-6-13. After reading the first Barton-in-the-Dale book i just had to read the second one and now i am having to wait for the third to appear. Mr Phinn writes some good books with a school theme and i can't wait for more from him.

Thirty-Six books read, running total 12826 pages.

Book Thirty-Seven finished last night, Fang by James Patterson 12-6-13 to 15-6-13 at my daughters in-laws. Just two more in the bird kids series to go and then it is completed. Although Mr P says Maximum Ride is not the same as in The Lake House and When the Wind Blows i am not convinced and will miss them. My TBR pile is slowly being reduced even though i am making one or two purchases.

I wasn't sure i'd get it finished last night but i had time to read whilst i waited for Amy's future father-in-law to get back from taking her mum and and future mother-in-law to the theatre to watch Amy and Andy in the Joseph Rowntree Players follies show to celebrate their centenary and then we watched Jack Reacher on dvd. I must say that i really enjoyed it, i had had misgivings about Tom Cruise as Jack but he played the part well. The girls enjoyed the show and both Amy and Andy were good as was the rest of the cast.

Thirty-Seven books read, running total 13135 pages.

Book Thirty-Eight finished last night, Body Double by Tess Gerritsen, 10-6-13 to 18-6-13. Although it appears that i am reading the Rizzoli and Isles books out of order i am enjoying this series. The plot twists and turns and keeps you hanging on until the culprits are finally unmasked. I am looking forward to the remaining Gerritsen books i have on my TBR pile.

Thirty-Eight books read, running total 13583 pages.

Book Thirty-Nine finished on Friday night,Requiem for a Mezzo by Carola Dunn, 19-6-13 to 28-6-13. This is the third in the Daisy Dalrymple series and I have the other seventeen on my shelves. Daisy always seems to be in the right place when a suspicious death occurs and once again it falls to Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard to investigate with Daisy's help. I love this series of books.

Thirty-nine books read, running total 13815 pages.

Book Forty finished on Saturday night,A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore, 16-6-13 to 29-6-13. This is the third book by this author that I have read and I enjoy her writing style and her plots are a joy to read. She weaves a story that keeps you wanting to read on and on.

Forty books read, running total 14269 pages.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-6 -13 - 1574
Books added in June - 33
Books read since in June - 7

Revised book total - 1600

Pages to read at 1-6-13 - 680,071
Pages added in June - 15,402
Pages read in June - 2,624

Revised total pages to read - 692,849

Book Forty-one finished last Monday whilst on holiday in Salisbury, Death of a Cad by M.C.Beaton, 1-7-13 to 8-7-13. This is the second in the Hamish MacBeth series and once again the lazy and laconical bobby finds himself in the thick of things when a murder occurs and after being sidelined by the local CID ends up unearthing who the murderer is and how it was done whilst getting up the nose of the local gentry. I just love these whimsical highland tales and look forward to the rest of them on my TBR pile. I just wish they would repeat the T.V series which was aired initially in the early nineties on mainstream channels rather than obscure satellite channels.

Forty-one books read, running total 14528 pages.

Hi John! You've got a great reading pace :-D

Hi Barbara, I am not doing too bad, averaging 76 pages a day and am on for my target of 26,000 pages.

Book Forty-Two finished a couple of days ago, Kill me if you can by James Patterson, 9-7-13 to 23-7-13. Yet another Patterson completed to add to the list, only another eleven to go that are on my TBR pile and I believe there are at least another six to come out in paperback this year in the UK. I enjoyed the book and wasn't expecting the twist that occurred about halfway through. My reading in July has been a bit slow due to my birthday and sorting out things for my FIL. Hopefully we will have him back on home turf in a few weeks once the care package has been sorted out for him. My reading should pick up again now.

Forty-Two books read, running total 14991 pages.

You really have strong reading pace. I like James Patterson too. I should pick up a few more myself.

>114 Lakenvelder:, hi Lisa, my pace is good this year as I am trying to read books of 400 pages or less, I normally like them in the 600+ range. Also I am in the 75ers group and that's driving me on. On the Patterson front, that was the 68th book of his that I have read. My target each year has been to read 50 books a year and average 60 pages per day, this year I set myself 26,000 pages after managing 25,000 last year.

Book Forty-Three finished yesterday, Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine, 30-6-13 to 27-7-13. This is the third book by Barbara Erskine that I have read and this one did not disappoint. I love history and so a book that combines history and fiction is right up my street. This was an enjoyable book that goes between 1186 and 1986 without confusing the reader.

Forty-Three books read, running total 15751 pages.

Book Forty-Four finished earlier today, Blowing it by Judy Astley, 23-7-13 to 30-7-13. This is the second book by this author that I have read and it was very good. It tells the tale of two old rockers and their three children who think that the parents should give them their inheritance now by selling the family pile regardless of what the parents want. The parents decide that as their youngest child is going on a gap year why can't they have one, this causes disputes until illness puts everything on hold. It is quite funny in places and shows how greedy children can be until something major puts things into perspective.

Forty-Four books read, running total 16068 pages.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-7 -13 - 1600
Books added in July - 29
Books read since in July - 4

Revised book total - 1625

Pages to read at 1-7-13 - 692,849
Pages added in July - 14,271
Pages read in July - 1,799

Revised total pages to read - 705,321

Book Forty-Five finished last night, Merckx- Half man, Half bike by William Fotheringham, 27-7-13 to 4-8-13. My daughter bought me this book as she knows I love cycling and that I have admired Eddy Merckx for a long time. This is a fabulous book by the foremost cycling author and journalist, a lot of myths about the man were debunked. I could not believe how much grief he suffered from fellow cyclists because he was too good for them, they thought he should not try in some races to let them win. He and I share the same views, if you enter something you should aim to win, he did a lot but if I didn't but gave my all then I could accept that, at least I tried to win.

The book also showed that he carried a lot of baggage passed on by his parents and this then led him to try too hard because he didn't want to let sponsors or team mates down, he entered races when he should have rested because he couldn't say no and although he had stated that he would retire at thirty, when he reached that age he wanted to carry on but because of his workload in earlier years and not recovering from injuries sufficiently he could only carry on for three more. His career lasted 12 years, longer than some of his colleagues but less than others who did between 15 and 18 seasons as a professional cyclist.

What the book did was give me more of an insight into the man himself and I wonder now how much he would have won with the current bike technology, eating regime and the transport and accommodation that pro cyclists have now. Merckx is truly a great cyclist because he won races from the start of the season to the end of the season unlike the likes of Armstrong who selected races that led to the Tour de France only, even if he had won clean he cannot be classed as a great like Merckx, Merckx won 525 races, Armstrong less than 100.

Forty-Five books read, running total 16376 pages.

Merckx- Half man, half bike is the 700th book I have read since I began recording what I had read since 1st July 1995. Onwards to the 1000th and also I am at a third of a million pages read since 1-7-95.

Congrats on 700, John! Awesome!

Book Forty-Six finished last night, A Cotswold Ordeal by Rebecca Tope, 30-7-13 to 6-8-13. These Cotswold mysteries are really enjoyable and Ms Tope guides the reader around part of the Cotswolds and it makes you want to visit. The main character Thea Osbourne is a widow who embarks on a career as a house sitter with her spaniel Hepzibah but trouble seems to follow her around. I am looking forward to the next one as this ended with a possible love interest.

Forty-Six books read, running total 16784 pages.

Book Forty-Seven finished on Friday night, Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn, 4-8-13 to 9-8-13. Once again the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple gets herself involved in murder most foul whilst supposedly on her way to an assignment in Scotland. Lucky for her that her policeman friend DCI Alec Fletcher and his sidekicks are in nearby Northumberland. These Daisy Dalrymple mysteries are lovely to read and you can just snuggle down and quietly pass a few hours enjoying the tale and the descriptions of 1920's England.

Forty-Seven books read, running total 17025 pages.

Book Forty-Eight finished a couple of hours ago, Angel by James Patterson, 7-8-13 to 11-8-13. This is the seventh book in the maximum Ride series and as with the last two everything is gearing up to the finale. I have enjoyed this series and look forward to the eighth and final instalment coming out in paperback in nine days time.

Forty-Eight books read, running total 17316 pages.

John! You've got an amazing reading pace. :-D

Book Forty-nine finished at lunchtime today, The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen, 11-8-13 to 19-8-13. Yet another very enjoyable Rizzoli/Isles book, I love these books with a side story running alongside the main event. I have another one or two of these on my book shelves so some good reading to come.

Forty- nine books read, running total 17732 pages.

I've read such a lot of Tess' books, but that one I haven't read. Is it one you could recommend?

Definitely can recommend The Sinner, you will enjoy it Barbara.

Thanks John! I'll have a look in our local library if they've got a copy of that book.

Book Fifty finished yesterday tea time, A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore, 10-8-13 to 21-8-13. This is the fourth book by this author that I have read and they just get better and better. The way the plot moves from the present to the past is seamless and the story really flows. The ending left a lot of scope for a sequel which would be nice. Cannot wait for her next book.

Fifty books read, running total 18200 pages.

P.S. Can't believe I've reached my target before the end of august.

Congrats!!!

Well done!!!

Thanks Barbara.

Book Fifty-one finished a short while ago, 11th Hour by James Patterson, 19-8-13 to 27-8-13. I love the Women's Murder Club series, this time Lindsay Boxer and her Partner have two disparate crimes to solve and Boxer is pregnant. One case looks to involve a rogue cop and the other begins with two heads found on a lawn, boxer and the SFPD are going to have their work cut out to solve these crimes. Patterson excels again and I am looking forward to book 12.

Fifty-one books read, running total 18677 pages.

Book Fifty-two finished last night,Fallen Women by Sue Welfare, 21-8-13 to 28-8-13. This is the fifth book by this author that I have read but the first for a few years. I had forgotten why I liked this writer but I have rekindled my love for her books.

Fifty-two books read, running total 19181 pages.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-8 -13 - 1625
Books added in August - 31
Books read since in August - 8

Revised book total - 1648

Pages to read at 1-8-13 - 705,321
Pages added in August - 15,246
Pages read in August - 3,113

Revised total pages to read - 717,454

Just updated my books bought this year post, now after eight months of the year I find I have bought 250 books, need to up my reading rate and at this rate I am on for 375 books bought by year end. I need to have more will power and avoid places where books are lurking, as if.

Gee, John! Where do you store all those books and first and foremost when will you read them?!?

Hi Barbara, we have a small billy bookcase in our bedroom and a larger billy bookcase in the small bedroom and the rest are in the loft. I'm working on the reading bit at the moment.

Book Fifty-Three finished a short while ago, The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri, 28-8-13 to 3-9-13. I love the Inspector Montalbano books and they never fail to please. The stories are well told and Montalbano is quite a character in the police ranks. I have some more of these books on my shelves and can't wait to read them.

Fifty-Three books read, running total 19438 pages.

Had a lovely day with Karen having a road trip to the Yorkshire coast, first stop was the fishing village of Staithes, famous for attracting painters to this rugged coastline. Hard to believe that this is the first time I have been and whilst we were there filming was taking place for the CBeebies children's programme, Salty Jack, starring Bernard Cribbins and Helen Lederer. Little Hannah would have loved it. Following this we went down the east coast to Robin Hood's Bay, again this was the first time I have been and so we had a nice late lunch and then took a steady stroll down the steep road to the sea front. On the way down we took a little stop that just happened to be at the open door of a secondhand bookshop, it would have been churlish not to go in so I had a quick perusal and came out with two books. Further down we came across a book/fossil shop which again I had to peruse and came out with another two books.
A glorious day was had in two of Yorkshire's little gems and I will not wait another fifty years before visiting again.

Sounds like a lovely day. And 4 new books to show for it.

Hi eclectidodo, It was a great day just having a nice steady mooch around and then a bonus of picking up four books in good condition at good prices alongside two books yesterday for the princely sum of one pound and 14 on Monday at Barter Books in Alnwick. On the Alnwick front I may have picked up a real collectors item, I collect cricket books and bought a 1974 Wisden Cricketers Almanack, on Tuesday I was having a good read through it when I found that pages 513 to 544 were missing, on looking it appears that when it was bound this section had not been put in as there were no gaps for it to go, so I have contacted a cricket book dealer to check this out to see whether it is a collectors item or whether I need to contact Barter Books about it. If the book dealer comes back with positive info and is interested in it I will be able to meet him at the PBFA book fair at York racecourse on the 20th/21st Sept.

I hope your reading is going well.

Wow, John! That's really a lovely day. I hope you'll have some more of them during Karen's holiday.

no wonder you have so many books!

>145 eclecticdodo:, there are too many places near me with good quality secondhand books at 50p each or 3 books for £1 or even the bargain basket with books at 20p each, it would be churlish not to have a look or in my case have a look and come away with books, ha ha.

What a weekend it's been, Friday we had darling Hannah for a few hours who makes me laugh with her antics and then in the evening we were at our best friends daughters engagement party. A good time was had and a few drinks imbibed and to add to this my daughter Amy and her fiancé Andy came along and stayed with us overnight.

Saturday was quiet, we had Hannah for two hours and she should have been coming back later in the day to stay overnight for the first time but after I had taken her home just after lunch she became unwell along with her mum so the overnight stay was cancelled.

Sunday has been a little bit fraught, Karen woke up not feeling too well so after a late-ish breakfast I went to visit my Father-in-law at the nursing home and the visit wasn't good. After his usual grumblings about the food and his catalogue of toileting visits he then went on to say that a 61 year old carer was in his bed waiting for him, I explained that it was in his imagination he refused to believe me and we had a few words and he refused to accept this. Unfortunately since his stroke he has imagined a lot of things and usually agrees that it his imagination but on this occasion he was adamant about this lady and I ended up leaving him chuntering about how I don't listen to him. This visit left me feeling worn down and awful but that is the nature of some of the visits to him as the stroke takes it's toll on him and us.

Hopefully this week will see things brighten up and I can get some decent reading done along with a few jobs that Karen has left me to do.

Oh John! It really isn't nice to see how parents (FIL) aren't able to make the connections to the present and the actually situation. It's so hard to try to explain things and to have the feeling it's fruitless. Cheer up, dear friend, that's life also it hurts very much.
I hope the rest of the family feels much better today. Give them my regards please.

Book Fifty-Four finished earlier today, Repeat Prescription by Michael Sparrow, 3-9-13 to 10-9-13. This is the follow up to Country Doctor and I did enjoy the trials and tribulations of a rural GP. It is a witty read and very light hearted and whilst reading in bed I did emit one or two loud chuckles. Whilst I have enjoyed both these books I will not be rushing to buy any more by this author.

Fifty-Four books read, running total 19734 pages.

Not had a bad day today, finished off the decorating in the spare bedroom and put the shelves back up, finished off a book and then cleaned and hoovered our bedroom, hovered the spare bedroom and cleaned the bathroom. Add to this I picked up some photo's whilst picking Karen up from work (she does work in the photo department at Asda) and then went to see the FIL who was a bit better than yesterday although he was a bit tearful.

My darling wife put this on facebook, I love her to bits.

That's so lovely!

Book Fifty-Five finished earlier this morning, The Furies by John Jakes, 27-8-13 to 16-9-13. This is the fourth in the Kent Chronicles and am looking forward to the remaining four that are sat on my bookshelf. I first began reading John Jakes with the North and South trilogy and just loved his writing. As a lover of history these books suit me very well and enhance my knowledge of early American history.

Fifty-Five books read, running total 20206 pages.

Only another 20 and you're there ;-D

I know Barbara, I can't believe I am this far already.

Book Fifty-Six finished at tea time, Trouble in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston, 10-9-13 to 16-9-13. This is the third in the series and I will be reading book four as my bedside book. It is a lovely tale of a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway and the events that take place with a decent cast of characters. I really enjoyed this as I did with the first two.

Fifty-Six books read, running total 20511 pages.

Book Fifty-Seven finished last night, Scandal in Prior's Ford by Eve Houston, 16-9-13 to 20-9-13. I didn't see the emotional ending to this book and am now desperate to get book five to find out what happens. An enjoyable and funny read about the inhabitants of Prior's Ford and with a number of side stories that occasionally link together.

Fifty-Seven Books read, running total 20816 pages.

Book Fifty-Eight finished late last night, Broken Skin by Stuart Macbride, 16-9-13 to 25-9-13. Another tale about DS Logan McRae and his colleagues in Grampian Police. McRae is still getting lots of grief from fellow officers about being a so called hero yet he still seems to get his colleagues out of the mire and works his butt off for what seems little reward. Violent crime is still rife in Aberdeen and McRae is in the thick of it but one crime seems to bother him, he's not sure they have got the right man or have they. The story swings too and fro and trying to solve more than one crime for more than one boss is taxing for McRae but things start to come right for him.
Another enjoyable book and looking forward to the next one.

Fifty-Eight books read, running total 21384 pages.

Oh, I loved reading this book so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :-D

Book Fifty-Nine finished very late last night, Better than a Rest by Pauline McLynn, 21-9-13 to 29-9-13. It turns out this is the second in the Leo (Leonora) Street PI books. I loved reading about Leo's escapades both as a PI and her private life in Ireland. The story was good and put a smile on my face and so I need to get the first in the series. I hadn't realised that Ms McLynn had written so many books as I was used to seeing her on television quite a bit.

Fifty-Nine books read, Running total 21,729 pages.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-9 -13 - 1648
Books added in September - 43
Books read since in September - 7

Revised book total - 1684

Pages to read at 1-9-13 - 717,454
Pages added in September - 18,079
Pages read in September - 2,548

Revised total pages to read - 732,985

Book Sixty finished this morning, Theodore Boone by John Grisham, 26-9-13 to 1-10-13. I really enjoyed Grisham's first foray into Teenage fiction. Theodore Boone will be a fixture in my future reading as I have the next two books in the series on my book case. The story was well told and he is a likeable character along with his family. Like James Patterson he has hit on a good character and will be liked by Teenagers and adults encouraging them to read and giving a stepping stone to more adult oriented books. Besides the Boone's on my shelves I also have at least eight or nine more Grisham's to read at some point.

Sixty books read, running total 21,992 pages.

Book Sixty-One finished on Friday, Nevermore by James Patterson, 1-10-13 to 4-10-13. This is the last in the Maximum Ride series and as with the previous titles I enjoyed it even though it was the last one. Mr P has brought another series out so more of his books to read.

Sixty-One books Read, running total 22336 pages.

Wow John, your reading-pace is absolutely amazing. I'm sure you'll reach your goal of 75.
Happy reading :-D

Thanks Barbara, you're not doing so bad either.

Thanks John, at the moment Thomas and me are on a bike tour for a couple of days (see on fb), but I've taken my Kindle with me so I'm able to read in the evenings.

I am in awe of your pace this year, John. Outstanding!

Hi Andy, not doing too bad but with my FIL having a stroke in May I have had a lot of down time to fill and as I love reading it has helped me a lot. Your reading is not to be sniffed at either my friend.

Book Sixty-Two finished this afternoon, Touch the Devil by Jack Higgins, 4-10-13 to 11-10-13. It has been a while since I last read a Jack Higgins novel so I thought I would read this one and I am glad that I did. I had forgotten how good a writer he is and so it is lucky for me that I have a few more of his in the loft. Can't believe I have got to 62 books read with two and a half months of the year to go.

Sixty-Two books read, running total 22788 pages.

Book Sixty-Three finished last night, American Dreams by John Jakes, 30-9-13 to 15-10-13. This is the sequel to Homeland and takes the story from the turn of the 20th century to the middle of the Great War. The story tells the tales of Pauli, Fritzi and Carl and follows the highs and lows as their careers progress or stall. I really hope that there is another book to take the story forward as there appears to be enough material to work on.

Sixty-Three books read, running total 23385 pages.

Book Sixty-Four finished just after lunch today, Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell, 12-10-13 to 19-10-13. Although I have previously read a couple of Ms Cornwell's books i am pleased that I have read her first novel and can understand why it won awards. The character of Dr Kay Scarpetta is imprinted in our brain now. The story is well written and the pace just makes you want to read and read. I look forward to more of her books soon.

Sixty-Four books read, running total 23789 pages.

Book Sixty-Five finished early this afternoon, A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill, 19-10-13 to 22-10-13. As with the previous book read I have read a Dalziel and Pascoe before but again it's nice to have read the first in the series. The pace of the book kept me wanting to read and so it was a quick read for me. I will be reading more of these books over the next few months.

Sixty-Five books read, running total 24045 pages.

Book Sixty-Six finished Thursday evening whilst listening to Tubular Bells, The Man Who Forgot His Wife by John O'Farrell, 16-10-13 to 24-10-13. This was a really enjoyable read and kept me chuckling from start to finish.

Sixty-Six books read, running total 24438 pages.

Book Sixty-Seven finished this afternoon, Killing Hour by Andrew Gross, 22-10-13 to 29-10-13. A well written thriller that keeps you wanting to read and not put the book down.

Sixty-Seven books read, running total 24886 pages.

Book Sixty-Eight finished this morning, Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris, 29-10-13 to 3-11-13. This is the first in the Lily Bard series and I must say that I really enjoyed it although I was shocked when Lily's secret was revealed a third of the way into the book. I am looking forward to the remainder of the series.

Sixty-Eight books read, running total 25104 pages.

Book Sixty-Nine finished this afternoon, Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich, 3-11-13 to 8-11-13. Once again Ms Plum never fails to make me laugh with her escapades whilst trying to apprehend bail jumpers. I love these books and look forward to more of these in future.

Sixty-Nine books read, running total 25478 pages.

Book Seventy finished this morning, Tongue in Cheek by Fiona Walker, 25-10-13 to 12-11-13. I really wanted to finish this last night but I couldn't keep my eyes open and needed my sleep. I have enjoyed Ms Walker's previous books and this is the second in the Lodes Valley series and I have the remaining two in my loft. The comings and goings in the Lodes valley will keep the reader amused and gnashing their teeth all the way through the book. Fiona Walker is fast becoming the new Jilly Cooper and long may she reign.

Seventy books read, running total 26152 pages.

Just had some good news, my brother-in-law came round earlier to say that my FIL's care package is in place and that he will be getting back to his bungalow on the 25th of November. We will be busy once he is home making sure that he is not on his own for long periods and also with Christmas coming up fast we are going to be run off our feet but we knew this was coming, hopefully we will get into a routine before Christmas day arrives. Thank you all for your support over the last few months, both Karen and I have been grateful for all your lovely comments.

Book Seventy-One finished this afternoon, The Black Ice by Michael Connelly, 8-11-13 to 18-11-13. This is the second book in the Harry Bosch series. I am beginning to learn more of Detective Harry Bosch and what makes him tick. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and abhors cover-ups and so needs to make sure an investigation is done properly even if he may end up suspended or worse.

Seventy-One books read, running total 26529 pages.

Book Seventy-Two finished late last night, Chloe by Freya North, 12-11-13 to 23-11-13. This tells the tale of a young woman whose Godmother has recently passed away but has left a letter with instructions for Chloe to follow. The letter states that she should give up her job (awful) and boyfriend (lousy) and travel to the four countries that make up the United Kingdom during the four seasons of the year. Along the way she will meet characters that will add to Chloe's rich tapestry of life and make her a more independent and fulfilled woman that her Godmother knew needed to come to the fore. A lovely light hearted read from an author that I like.

Seventy-Two books read, running total 26936 pages.

Book Seventy-Three finished late last night, Guilty Wives by James Patterson, 18-11-13 to 27-11 13. I always enjoy Mr P's books but I wasn't sure with this one at first. It was a bit of a slow burner until I got to the halfway mark and then I just wanted to read and read. The last couple of days have been very hard for me and Karen and the fact that we both love reading has been our relaxation and salvation with what has been going on.

Seventy-Three books read, running total 27466 pages.

Book Seventy-Four finished last night, It's Now or Never by Carole Matthews, 24-11-13 to 28-11-13. A lovely entertaining read that made me chuckle at times and also cringe at times.

Seventy-Four books read, running total 27907 pages.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-11-13 - 1702
Books added in November - 58
Books read since in November - 7

Revised book total - 1753

Pages to read at 1-11-13 - 741471
Pages added in November - 21,229
Pages read in November - 3,021

Revised total pages to read - 759,679

Book Seventy-Five finished on the third of this month, School's Out by Jack Sheffield, 28-11-13 to 3-12-13. This latest instalment is funny but has some tragedy and I wasn't expecting this. The memories it evoked for me is well worth the purchase prices but the way the author weaves the story around real events is brilliant, yet again he left a cliffhanger at the end of the book and I now want book eight asap.

Seventy-Five books read, running total 28240 pages.

Book Seventy-Six finished at tea time today, At Risk by Stella Rimington, 28-11-13 to 12-12-13. This was an excellent read from the former head of MI5. It kept me wanting to read from the first page to the last even though the last week or so has been very trying for me and my good wife Karen (see my posts on my 75 challenge thread).

Seventy-Six books read, running total 28694 pages.

Book Seventy-Seven finished a short while ago, Gardens of Delight by Erica James, 3-12-13 to 16-12-13. This one was from my good lady's book shelves and I really enjoyed it. The book tells the story of three main characters with a good support cast, the theme revolves around gardens and gardening and a trip to visit gardens in Italy. The visit will affect the three main characters in various ways and will lead to changes in their lives whether good or bad. It is well written and flows nicely and although things are happening around me where I have no control, reading is keeping me grounded and sane when I could just curl up and breakdown.

Seventy-Seven books read, running total 29173 pages.

Book Seventy-Eight finished yesterday lunchtime, Damsel in Distress by Carola Dunn, 16-12-13 to 22-12-13. Another Daisy Dalrymple mystery but this time she is not helping/ interfering with a Scotland Yard enquiry but coming to the rescue of an old chum, Phillip Petrie. Phillip has fallen in love with an American beauty but before he can get more acquainted she is kidnapped and to help her "Poppa" he gets in touch with Daisy to help him find her. I love these books and will read more of these in 2014.

Seventy-Eight books read, running total 29432 pages.

Books Seventy-Nine and Eighty finished today, Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich and Shadow of the Titan by Alan Fenton. It has been a difficult last eight days but I was determined to reach eighty books read and 30,000 pages and I managed it.

Eighty books read, running total 30423 pages.

Thank you for contributing to this thread, see you in 2014.

Congrats on a great year John! I missed mine by one book....oh, well.

Not to worry Andy, you have read some good books this year my friend, have a very Happy new year and a prosperous reading year.