100 Books You Must Read - 2024 Update & 2025 Plan

[@RachelB.BookReferences]

Gladys Aylward's The Little Woman is one of my all-time favorite reads! I'm surprised it's on this list, though. It's a memoir/autobiography of a Christian woman who moves to China to share the Gospel, and is not supported financially by anyone back home. She depends on God's provision, not just for herself but also a large group of orphans she cares for.

[@GemofBooks]

Ooo - glad to hear it’s a favourite! It looks quite short, so I’m hoping I’ll get to it early on 😄

[@novelideea]

I have Gladys Aylward’s Little Woman on my shelf if you want to read it with someone. It’s about the first single woman missionary in China & her orphanage (I think mainly for girls).

[@GemofBooks]

I’ll message you 🧡

[@mariyamak]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is really brilliant, glad you're keeping it on the list. Also, Freakonomics is a quick and easy read - some of the info will be slightly outdated, but it was an interesting way to challenge your thinking. Curious how Bridget Jones' Diary will standup for a first time read in 2025. It's delightful but surely some of the "charming" or "quirky" parts will read as sexist and unhealthy. Happy reading!

[@GemofBooks]

I’m intrigued about how Bridget Jones will stand up too. Though I am going into it expecting to see some of the things you mention, so will chalk a proportion of that down to when it was written. I’m very much looking forward to getting stuck into next years books 🤩

[@Ihearbooks]

If you can finish Ulysses you are up to the task for anything; I think you did fabulous.

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey - I’m getting there slowly 😅

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

Ulysses is an achievement for sure. Same for Crime and Punishment. I’m impressed. You’re doing quite well with this I think. Some interesting obscure titles. 😊💙

[@GemofBooks]

It feels good to get a couple of the chunkier monsters off the list this year, we’ll see how I get on next year 😬😂

[@MLLatUtube]

💯💯💯 I love Moby Dick but you will definitely learn a lot about whales!

[@GemofBooks]

I’m quite looking forward to it 🐳😅

[@spreadbookjoy]

Some pro editing skills! You must read Notes From a Small Island - I love me some Bryson! You did really well on them this year matey. I wish you luck with Moby Dick - I think that would put me off reading for life! 🐳

[@GemofBooks]

I’m not sure the editing was that pro 😂😂 I figure that Moby Dick can’t be any worse than Ulysses 😜

[@novelideea]

You did incredibly well! 8/10 (even if they weren’t all planned) is awesome!!

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey, getting there 😅

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

My advice is big books on audio. You can listen while doing other things. That’s how I reread Middlemarch. It was on my English literature syllabus in 1980

[@GemofBooks]

Yeah, I think I will try some of them on audio. Sometimes I struggle with classics on audio though, as I have a habit of zoning out 😂

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

6/10 is really good going! 💯

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey 🧡

[@novelideea]

I’m also up for a Moby Dick reread if you want to laugh, scream, or be frustrated and roll your eyes with someone 😅

[@GemofBooks]

I’ll let you know on this one, not sure when I’ll be able to fit it in 🧡🐳

[@AbiofPellinor]

It's a pity you didn't manage to get to Long Walk to Freedom! It's one of my favourite memoirs ever and I read the majority of it in one sitting! You still did absolutely amazingly and I can't wait to see how you do next year!! I loved Les Mis, although I definitely do know too much about Parisian sewers now haha 💯

[@GemofBooks]

In one sitting!! That book is a beast!! I really do want to read it, the size was intimidating me, I clearly need to just crack on with it 😂

[@AbiofPellinor]

@@GemofBooks I tabbed it all up in preparation of reading it across a whole month and then once I got to about page 60 I couldn't put it down and finished it all in one go!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo how fun was this! I really want to get one of these and do the same. Thanks so much for sharing and the inspiration ❤

[@GemofBooks]

You are very welcome matey 🧡

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

I just ordered it, it arrives tomorrow a Christmas present to myself ❤💯

[@GemofBooks]

Oh amazing!! Merry Christmas!!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Good luck with your 2025 reading...Murder on the Orient Express, I read this year and really enjoyed it. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest is also a great read. I don't think you'll catch me reading Ulysees.

[@GemofBooks]

I’m really looking forward to both of those! Always good to expand my Christie reading 🤩 I certainly wouldn’t recommend Ulysses 😂😂

[@CharlieBrookReads]

If you are going to read Les Mis I might join you as Rich got me a special edition ages ago and I plonked it on my shelf and haven’t touched it 😂 Well done for this years & good luck for years ❤💯

[@GemofBooks]

Ooo - I’ll drop you a message matey 🧡💯🧡

[@Shellyish]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@GemofBooks]

🧡💯🧡

[@AaronReadABook]

My heart broke when you skipped past Anna Karenina. Les Mis sewer section is 80 pages long, eighty!

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂 I will absolutely get to Anna K at some point. Crime and Punishment put me off Russian classics for a while though 😰 80 pages of sewers certainly seems extreme 😂😬

[@bjminton2698]

I enjoyed Les Mis! Moby Dick, not so much... 70+ men living on a small ship for months and months, killing whales. Now, you have read the cliff notes of MD! I think the killing whales part prevented me from seeing the more lofty aspects of the book😕. Enjoy!!💯

[@GemofBooks]

I do hear a lot of good things about Les Mis, so I’m going in optimism on that one. I quite enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea, and I’m hoping MD will have similar vibes, obviously quite different in page length though… 😬

[@bjminton2698]

I enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea, too! No whales were murdered... 🙂🙃 Hemingway has several goodies, IMO. I hope MD is as good for you!! 🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS!!🎄

[@Debsbooks]

💯

[@GemofBooks]

💯🧡💯🧡

[@sjmsutherland]

An interesting way to read books you'd never think of!! I'm reading Les Mis in 2025, could keep you company if you like!?! I tried reading American Psycho, not one I enjoyed tbh tho maybe I might revisit it!?! Have a lovely weekend and Merry Christmas xxx

[@GemofBooks]

Merry Christmas matey. You might be better off going ahead with Les Mis without me, I’m struggling a bit with buddy reads at the moment, and I wouldn’t want to hold you back. You’re not the first person to tell me that American Psycho is not for them, I fear I will also fall into that camp 😬 Merry Christmas matey 🧡

[@sjmsutherland]

@GemofBooks merry Christmas Hun, hope you have a lovely day!! Lol, I meant to start it but being busy I've not got round to it yet!! No worries, tbh I'd probably hold you back with reading it too!! Have a lovely day!! Merry Christmas xxx

[@clarepotter7584]

100💯

[@GemofBooks]

🧡💯🧡

[@HelenSchneider-tl3yh]

Enjoy Freakonomics!!!!

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey 😜

[@glendaw5221]

Dear Lord. Where is this list from? It has Harlan Coben and Herman Melville on it???? The English Patient movie was loooooong so I’m thinking the book would be dreadful. I’m almost 75 so I’ve given up on lists of books I should read before I die. 😂

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂 there are some really odd book choices on here!

[@EntertheBook]

Had to dnf Ulysses 😂

[@GemofBooks]

I do not blame you matey 😂😂

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

Wow, that bottom row does not like you 🙈

[@GemofBooks]

Right?! Who puts all of those on one row?! 😳😰

[@toweringtbr]

One who flew over the cuckoo's Nest is great but definitely a product of its time. Lots of mysogyny, racist, and poor mental health rep. Brace yourself. I tried Moby Dick this year and its gorgeously written but so slow so I gave up. I will try again when my mood aligns.

[@GemofBooks]

Yeah, I’m anticipating some problematic elements in OFOTCN, pinch of salt required for that one I think. Yeah, I think I’ll have to be in the mood for a chunky classic when I pick up Moby Dick.

[@Essiggurke-r2h]

your mic is to close to you. it blows out whe you laugh and the breathing is very audible.

[@GemofBooks]

Yeah, I was trying something different and it didn’t work as well as I’d hoped

[@flcMorsalin]

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[@GemofBooks]

It’s fine, it’s only a hobby

[@CharlieBrookReads]

@@GemofBooks😂😂

[@Book_Hugger]

💯

[@GemofBooks]

🧡💯🧡

[@toniweller6008]

💯

[@GemofBooks]

🧡💯🧡