What are you reading now, beginning of 2012?

Just finished Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood which was jolly good. Nearly finished Black Venus by Angela Carter. After that I'm not sure what will be next.

Before the Atwood book I'd read Gillespie and I by Jane Harris so it'll probably be her other book which I can't remember the title of right now and am too lazy to Google.

Jane Eyre was fantastic. So surprised at what Charlotte Bronte drew attention to in it- a fair days wage for fair days work; poorly paid governess jobs; slavery; religious hypocrisy; child cruelty; educating girls...So courageous and modern...

I'm currently reading a book called The Night Circus, which is all about a magical circus that appears at night and those who inhabit it. It's quite enjoyable so far in a magical-y, Victoriana way.

I've just finished reading The Emperor of All Maladies, which is a history of the medical fight against cancer. That doesn't sound like it would make a good read but it is gripping. Like a thriller and educational all at the same time. Really loved that.

Jane Eyre! I decided this year I was going to try and read at least 10 classics (ashamed to admit there's loads I've not read )

I read Wuthering Heights last week and really enjoyed it, although I wanted to thump Catherine and Hearhcliff!

Try Candide too.

Madame Bovary is one of the best books EVER!!!!!! I must re read it (read it 20 years ago!) I hope I still have my copy if not, just means I must get my kindle so can get for free.

Also Anna Karenina is simply outstanding if you liked Bovary.

I've just finished reading Madame Bovary for my local book club, about 30 years after I read it the first time. It was brilliant! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy 19th century novels.
Now I'm planning to read A Sentimental Education, also by Flaubert, and going to give Zola a try too.

I am STILL reading A Dance With Dragons, started in about October. Having raced through vols 1-3 of Song Of Fire And Ice, the last two have been a bit of a slog. Only 100 pages to go and quite looking forward to reading something else!

I have just finished Great Expectations which I loved, Rafa Nadal's autobiography which my teenage son got as a Xmas persent, which was not particularly interesting, and have just started ' The Sense of an Ending' as it is my book club's choice for Jan.

Also have to agree with the general consensus that Death Come To Pemberley was DIRE.

Reading Of Bees and Mist atm - going by the précis and the first few paragraphs I thought I wouldn't like it at all, how wrong I was I love it.

Also the The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins - he says it's for anyone from 8-80 but seems quite kid-orienated, perfect for the scientifically challenged like...er...me.

Recently read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, essential postcolonial reading.

Have to stand up for Never Let me Go after the slating it got on this thread, i loved it! And the book is way better than the film imo

I've just started to read Revolutionary Communist At Work: A Political Biography of Bert Ramelson by Roger Seifert & Tom Sibley. It was sent to me a week ago and its very interesting as it's my late grandfather's biography. It has pictures of me and my family in and events I remember from my childhood.

Kikidee

I am really enjoying both of them; they're both rattling good stories and 'American Girl' is easy to dip in and out of.

I adore American literature and non fiction writing anyway. I can also recommend 'Wrecker' by Summer Wood, 'The Love Goddess Cooking School' by Melissa Senate and anything by Barbara Kingsolver, Pat Conroy, Bailey White and Michael Lee West.

beachyhead, you're right that it isn't particularly balanced. The very nature of the areas that the wall barrier divides means that certain, very polarised views will tend to come to the fore. And I think he nails his own colours to the mast fairly early on so, as you say, you know what to expect.

But do go and see him live if you can. He does an excellent job of mixing both absolute laugh-out-loud funny bits with the much more sobering and serious stuff.

nursenic, I have Anthropology of an American Girl and Samuel Lake in my to read pile. What do you think of them?

Daz, "The Distant Hours" is great... Read it on holiday in October, took me less than a day, mainly because I couldn't put it down but also because I was without kids so could actually devout hours to reading

Just started "Death Comes to Pemberley" as got it for Christmas - disappointed that others didn't like it, I hope it's not too crap!

Very keen to read the new Stephen King JFK one too - have read good reviews on it.

Does anyone know when the next Shardlake After "Heartstone" is out?

I have just finished 'The Thread' by Victoria Hislop - her third book and really enjoyable. I didn't think I would find it as good as her first 'The Island' but actually it comes very close to it. A great read. Now starting 'The Distant Hours' by Kate Morton.

Snorbs, hoping to go to the Tricycle week he is doing on the week of the 23rd Jan....I've never been a particular fan of his, but very interested in the area, and I think it was a great read, not particularly balanced, but I didn't expect that...

I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett it was a fantastic book. Moving on to Alan Sugar The way I see it

Remus - have you read the whole Mortal Engines series? I really, really liked the first one, but I sort of imagine the rest would be very similar.

I loved Extreme Rambling. Have you seen the live show he did of it? It was fantastic and well worth seeing even if you've read the book. Apparently there's going to be a DVD too.

(I think I have a tiny bit of a man-crush on Mark Thomas )

Just finished Extreme Rambling by Mark Thomas which was amazing and I couldn't put it down. Very detailed on the wall between Israel and Palestine. Obviously very political, but not too heavy a read if you are interested in that part of the world!

I bought myself Neal Stephenson's REAMDE for Christmas but I'm finding it hard to get the time to read it. It's good so far though. And I've got Pratchett's Snuff to read next.

Just finished When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson.

Have now started The House of the Mosque (paperback) plus still reading A Carpet Ride to Khiva on my Kindle.

There's also Gangsta Granny by David Walliams in the house somewhere but DD has hidden it from me until she finishes it!