Last book of 2013, first book of 2014

Duchess Perhaps I could start writing for Downton.

Last book of 2013 was Margaret Forster's The Seduction of Mrs Pendlebury which is a favourite - I needed some comfort reading after a hectic and stressful Christmas!

First book of 2014 was Naipaul's The Mystic Masseur which I really enjoyed - it was a Christmas present, but perhaps not as much as some of his other work such as A House for Mr Biswas.

Sarah your summary of Longbourn just made me laugh. I was thinking of reading it, but the thing that's putting me off is the blurb which suggests it's for fans of Downton Abbey. I loathe Downton with a passion.

I didn't like The Man in the Picture either - didn't think it at all scary. Like you, I thought it dull and yet DH read it and thought it brilliant. OK, I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anything. No idea what he saw in it.

My last book of 2013 was The Man In The Picture by Susan Hill but I really didn't like it. It was boring and a lot was left unexplained.

My first book of 2014 was The Unknown Bridesmaid by Margaret Forster, which I liked but I felt the ending was a bit of a let down.

LemonPoppySeed I was just looking at Longborne the other day but put it back because the first line annoyed me. Something like: 'If Elizabeth Bennett had to wash her own corsets she wouldn't go about rolling in the mud with Mr Darcy so often' thought housemaid Dowdy McPoor as she gazed at her shrivelled red fingers.

Does it get better than that first line? I was in a hurry and a bad mood so I may have judged too harshly.

Am just about to start The Luminaries. Quite excited, hope it isn't a let down!

Last book of 2013 - The Shoemaker's Wife

First book of 2014 - Life After Life

Didn't clock the war link till I started reading the 2nd one!

That's rubbish, actually. I read, after Ben Elton, a Val McD (one of Tony Hill series, so 'harrowing' in a different way) and a WW2 memoir or two. See what happens when I mislay my reading notebook, having to depend on memory.

Mine weren't connected. I read Two Brothers by Ben Elton, followed by Apple Tree Yard. I try to change genre, esp if I find something has been quite harrowing. I read a lot of books set in WW2 in late 2013.

Sorry meant The last letter from your lover!

Am a bit lost as have read a lot over the last two weeks - combination of illness, holiday & cheap kindle offers.

So last book of 2013 was maybe new Bridget Jones - easy read, not great - followed by Cuckoo Calling -OK, followed by Dan Brown Inferno (terrible), and Neil Gaiman Ocean at the end of the Lane -sweet.

Have now embarked on The Goldfinch. Looks like a lot of people on here have benefitted from the cheap kindle deals over Christmas - would not have bothered with Bridget Jones or Dan Brown if they hadn't been cheap as chips.

Just finished The one hundred year old man Jonas jonasson and started The last love letter he wrote jo jo moyles.

Has anyone else struggled with the help, have tried reading, audiobooks and now trying to watch on netflix. But the book just so hard to get with the southern drawl.

Great idea for a thread!

I've just finished Longbourn, which I loved. Slightly darker look at P&P, eg where Mr. Bingley's fortune comes from, how the servants see the family, obligations etc. Lots of social context too.

I've just downloaded Love, Nina on the recommendation of a friend. Looks like an interesting book!

I finished Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfield last night will start Dr Sleep later, happy days!

Finishing To kill a mockingbird and non-fiction All hell let loose. Have The goldfinch ready to go, crossing my fingers as has been stated previously I too loved Secret history yet struggled with My little friend.

Do it!

I don't know whether to download The Goldfinch or not. I love The Secret History but struggled massively with The Little Friend.

I'm currently reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - very good. Not sure what next book will be.

I think Lizza maybe correct re editing. It was on over two weeks but then so is the One Hundred Year Old Man and that book is half the length of The Goldfinch.

Last one I read was called Stolen Child. It was one I've had on my kindle for ages, was a cheap one and having read it I can see why. My first one of 2013 is either going to be the first Hunger Games or the second Cazalet Chronicles.

Last book of 2013 was'Life after life' by Kate Atkinson which I loved so much. .a bit weird as I read it on my Christmas kindle and I've never read on a kindle before. Now picked up incendiary something by Chris cleave from the library but realised I've read it before. Want to read the year of the flood but don't know if I can face those pigoons again

Finished The Green Mile yesterday morning in the recommendation of one of my A level students. Really liked it, not usually a King fan.

Fave book of 2013 was the Snow Child. Hauntingly beautiful.

No idea what's next, will peruse the thread for ideas.

Read "A night before Christmas" to my DNiece - was lovely

First book of 2014 ? Possibly something from the "Anthology of Japanese literature" I gave myself for Christmas.
In fact you've made me go and pick it up now .....

Just as well as it's bucketing it down outside ATM ... so that will be perfect to dip into before I go first footing round to a friend's this afternoon ... always think I should have some coal to take with me ?!

Last book of 2013 was 11.22.63 loved it having not read any Stephen King for many years. First book of 2014, I'll have 2 on the go, Mad about the boy by Helen Fielding and All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings. Is piddling down with rain here so am going to hunker down with kindle for the rest of the day.

Still in the middle of Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Really enjoying it but have completely ground to a halt over Christmas. The house is quieter now and the weather is lousy so might get back into it today.

Not quite sure what my next book will be .. probably Blue Lightning, the fourth in Ann Cleeves' Shetland crime series. And I'm planning to reread some classics this year so will be having a hunt through the bookshelves to see what I fancy. Maybe some Edith Wharton to start with.