What's Everyone Reading in the New Year?

Giddy - can't sell you any Flora Thompson - I re-read them too often

Ahh Bink, Lark Rise is one of my all time favourite books which I need when I need a 'comfort-book'!! Have you read Flora Thompson's Still Glides the Stream? It's fictional (but very similar to Lark Rise. Set in an Oxfordshire villagew around Queen Vic's golden jubilee in 1887) Lovely.

Marina, I just finished Jonathan Strange a couple of nights ago and am feeling completely bereft. What a wonderful, original book. I was wishing ks was around for the same reason you mentioned prufrock- I am sure she'd like it. I had thought that without even registering the Quincunx link!

cull, I read it, I liked it ok. I think my mom sent it to me because she knows I like W.P. Kinsella's Native stories, but I don't think I liked it quite as much.

I have finally started On Beauty, having been distracted by a Heston Blumenthal cookbook, a bunch of knitting books etc etc. I'm enjoying On Beauty so far ...

currently reading gentlemen and players - joanne harris but very slowly. can't devour books like i used to!
notquitecockney: have you read green grass, running water by thomas king? read it in uni, really enjoyed it.
WWW and cam: timetraveller's wife is AMAZING. sobbed like a baby. course it probably didn't help that i read it when i was 8 months preggers!

Kitchen Diaries Nigel Slater
Snow Orhan Pamuk
The Art of Basket Weaving and Slate Engraving Dunno who by

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Oh, other than mumsnet?

I'm in America until later this week, so am reading mostly essays from authors I like (no heavy books to carry on the plane as dd's possessions seem to take up all the "optional" space in the luggage).

Just finished a fascinating essay by Oliver Sacks on aphasia, and how it's possible to be afflicted and learn to live a life worth having.

About to start reading a profile by Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote "The Tipping Point". This one is on Rick Warren who wrote "The Purpose Driven Life" which was a huge bestseller in America. Rick Warren is minister to one of the largest church congregations in America (he rents out a baseball stadium when he wants to get his entire congregation together). It will be a fascinating insight to a slice of American life that I am curious about, and don't understand at all. I find Gladwell's writing thought provoking - both in concept and style. Whatever he writes is always worth reading.

Once I'm back in London, I'll get back into more long term/in depth fare....and will probably check this thread for inspiration/ideas.

I know ... I should have a little "as previously known as" banner at the end of the message, shouldn't I.

It's rather nice to be recognised without that, though

So, what are you reading?

OK, got it - between Christmas names, name changes in general and new joiners (who sometimes pick names that are similar to other members), it can get confusing around here!

yip - got tired of the babyish bit!

Bink - are you binkie?

If you like your books to carry you away and give you a dream landscape to live in (plus nostalgia), Lark Rise to Candleford is one of the utterly loveliest books in the world. It's a bit like Laurie Lee, but kinder & warmer (less self-regarding) somehow, because it's not so much about the author as about all the other people, the community and the spirit of the place.

On the other hand, if Steven King is your favourite author, stop now!

I have just started Elias Canetti's memoirs of living in Britain (well, very much "England" rather than Britain) and am very taken with it, which is not at all what I'd expected.

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i have read hte new douggie kennedy one "state of the union"
fab

i know Melbob, Special Relationship is a great book too. His other books are not quite as good, I agree, but good easy reading nevertheless.
I've also just finished Pete McCarthy's 2 books about travel - McCarthy's Bar, which is hilarious, and The Road to McCarthy which is a great read. I love travel writing, especially by McCarthy and obviously Bill Bryson, - I've read all his books several times and always laugh out loud, which can be rather embarrassing....

I'm enjoying the new Alan Bennett - especially this:

"all families have a secret: that they're not like other families"

I finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro last week, what a sinister and upsetting book - good read though. Sometimes his repressed, understated style turns me off, but it was very effective and moving in this novel. Agree with you totally about the narrative voice mts.
Am now totally and utterly hooked on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - and Mr N has only really just pitched up in London. I see Charles Palliser gave it a ringing endorsement so Quincunx Fiend prufrock ought to check this out if she hasn't already...

Hi

About to start the constant gardener on recommendation of my Mum. Linzie though the pursuit of happiness was fnatastic but have been disappointed inthe other Douglas kennedy books I read. However "Special relationship" is a very improtant book in my life as the heroine has OC (a rare coomplication of pregnancy the one when you itch like crazy and the baby is at a very high risk of still birth. I had bnever heard of it a read it when I was 5 months pregnant and what do you know I had it. I would never have pointe my itching out to my mw otherwise.

About to start The Kalahari Typing School For Men and then got Bill Bryson's Short History of Nearly Everything lined up.

Finished Sharon Osbournes Autoboigraphy, now reading...

Allen Carr.... The Only Way To Give Up Smoking - Permenantly!

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. V moving.