Mumsnet Talk

Am just finishing The good man Jesus and the scoundrel Christ by Phillip Pullman. Easy to read and very interesting.
What books have other people got their noses in at the moment?

I have just finished "Any Human Heart" which I loved. I haven't seen the ITV version as abroad but sounds like it didn't live up to the book.

I have just started the latest Simon Kernick "The Last 10 Seconds". It is very violent.

Jonathan Franzen's Freedom. Not sure if I'm liking it though....but persevering

Have seen The last 10 seconds in the book shop, is it worth a read? Am going to start Alentejo Blue by Monica Ali tonight.

Quite fancy the Pullman in a sort of 'I'm an atheist, wonder what he's got to say' kind of way.

I am reading an overly long and very strange mystery-thing, narrated by 'Wilkie Collins' about 'Charles Dickens' - called 'Drood'. It is beyond bonkers but strangely compelling.

The Fear, writtehn by a journalist who was in Zimbabwe at the time of the last general election when Mugabe lost but refused to give up power, is very harrowing reading at times but very necessary to read.

Hot House Flower by Margot Berwin about a New York girl plant hunting in the rainforest of the Yuctan peninsula - not sure about it and am half way through!

Looking forward to reading Any Human Heart and The Still Point by debut writer Amy Sackville which begins as a tale about a failed attempt to conquer the North Pole before moving 100years ahead to the exploers great great neice. It won the John Llewellyn Rhys prize and reviews seem positive.

Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym, for a book group. It's very different from the other books mentioned here. I read it years ago, and had forgotton how enjoyable it was.

Finished Alentejoe Blue which I enjoyed and now reading In the kitchen also by Monica Ali. Am really enjoying her style of writing.

Just read House Rules by Jodie Picoult. Good read but not unputdownable in my opinion. It was quite drawn out and I could have just left it and not gone back to it if It was'nt for another book club I am in. Wanted to finish to the end to give an opinion.

However I wasn't disappointed however contraditory this sounds and I would recommend this as it is a good read.

I thinkd it needed to be drawn out to understand more about Aspergers syndrome so all in all a very educational good read.

faith76 - good to read your comments as have been thinking about getting House Rules for a while now.

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers.

It took a while to get going - I kept it in the loo and read it bit by bit to start with - but it's moving along better now (from my point of view anyway). Am halfway through it.

It deals with brain trauma and CAPGRAS syndrome - whereby the young man involved no longer believes his sister is his sister, he thinks she is a government spy who just looks like his sister. Very interesting!

Have just finished Michael Faber's "The Crimson Petal and the White". Bit of a tome at 800+ pages but excellent!

Some rather lurid descriptions of nineteenth century prostitution but a real good yarn.

NOT a boddice ripper/Catherine Cookson historical read......be warned.

Am reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver - really enjoying it, as good as all her others.

It's all about Frida Kahlo and Trotsky and Mexico and post-war USA but seen through eyes of an fictional character called Harrison Shepherd. Really well-written with a great narrative voice.

Finished Baking Cakes in Kigali and am about 100 pages into the Rose Tremain book for MN bookclub. Enjoying it so far.

Currently working through my annual-ish Bill bryson re-reads - love him!

I had the new Stephen King for Christmas, which I am saving for New Year's Eve. Am going to go and buy books with some of my Christmas money tomorrow I think - what shall I get?

I am rubbish at reading just one book. I'm currently reading 'the believers' by zoe heller and 'room' by emma donoghue.

I can thoroughly recommend both.

Have just started Starter for Ten by David Nicholls, author who wrote One Day which I enjoyed a lot. I recently finished The Help which was excellent.

brandybutterfly I read the believers last year, enjoyed but found it a little bit dull.

Passion - Louise Bagshawe

MOved on to Death in Seville - David Hewson.

It's a bit slow plot-wise, but I find it very insightful - it manages to make fun of everyone - all faiths and belief systems - like south park without the vulgarity, or at least not so much.

I have One Day and it's next on my list - I used to read about ten books at a time when I was younger but I think two's probably my limit now.

Have just finished The Passage which was amazing.
Have now started Under the Dome -Stephen King.Am only about 20 pages in but is very very good so far.

I am curently reading two books (happens quite a bit!) I am reading none kindle Things i want my daughters to know.. Lovely book cried first couple of chapters and then laughed!
on my lovely kindle i am reading futher obervations of lady whistledown, brill book by julia quinn and other authors!

Finished Trespass today which I enjoyed, am now going back to In the Kitchen by Monica Ali.
All the kids are in bed asleep so was going to tuck myself up with a book but I think that tiredness (ds3 having growth spurt) and cold/flu will put paid to that.