What are you reading this month?

Morningbear I did become slightly obsessed with Good Morning, Midnight. It felt like the sort of book I used to read when I was doing my degree. Part of me wished it was longer and part of me thought it might have been spoilt. I became fascinated by women in that era who live hand to mouth. I started a thread on here about wanting something similar.

Mermaid I found Life Class really enjoyable (not quite the right word) although it's not to everyone's taste apparently. I find Pat Barker one of the few authors who can successfully bring real historical people into fiction. Maybe because Tonks and Dr Rivers (Regeneration) are not well known.

I have just finished The Lollipop Shoes, which is as equal to Chocolat. I enjoyed it more than Chocolate.

Wilderness was going to say I got given My Brilliant Friend and could not get on with it at all!

Same with A Spool of Blue Thread, tried to read it and wasn't going anywhere so abandoned it!

But, SIL gave me a book of short stories by Elizabeth Taylor (no not that one) and my gosh - what an incredible writer! get hold of that if you want autumn/winter reading curled in front of the fireside!

Let me know what you think of them MrsTumbleTap especially the Sherwood ones - I think she's a lecturer somewhere in USA so doesn't write much now sadly... I find her style is amazing.

Thanks superflyhigh I'm off to look on Amazon for those!

Everysongbird yes I guess the Thomas Cromwell conclusion will be the final in that trilogy, not overly keen on those I have to say.

No one does dark humour and characterisation quite like Mantel though, she's very marmite, I know some love her dark humour and some really don't get on with it! I'd quite like Muriel from Every Day is Mothers Day etc to make a reappearance!

MrsTumbleTap well Poisonwood is gripping but I think I can see where it's leading... Same with Eight Months on Ghazzah Street.

Funnily enough even though they're not gripping as such I found Norah Jones and Brooklyn to be gripping in other ways...

If you want old school gripping the Frances Sherwood's Green and Vindication both totally different but gripping in different ways.

Oh, I love Bruuuuuuce.

I liked Poisonwood, have just picked up Flight Behaviour in a book sale, after a false start with a library copy earlier this year.

I'm reading Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, it's very entertaining.

Currently reading 'How not to die' by Michael Mcgregor.

But I need a novel for my holiday this week, you are all very wise book people!

May I ask you all what is the most gripping book you are reading or have read recently? I love a gripper! Something with sex and drugs and rock and roll is good....

I'm reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver which I saw someone reading on a train. It is excellent, gripping.

I read The Walk Home by Rachel Seiffert and found that quite hard going and was frustrated by some ends that seemed to be missing in the book.

Love Colm Toibin's books after reading Nora Jones, Brooklyn and Mothers and Sons.

Really really want Hilary Mantel to come back with a book in the same vein as Every Day is Mother's Day, Vacant Possession or Beyond Black (my favourite!). Really enjoyed Eight Months on Ghazzah Street very thought provoking!

The Loney is amazing.

I'm reading The Children's Act.

I'm reading The Trouble With Goats and Sheep. Really enjoying it although finding it hard keeping track of everyone!

The Central Park West Trilogy. Think I bought 2 NYC-based books at the same time and this was not what I expected when I started reading it. But, it's seriously creepy (in a good way) - am slightly disturbed at what's about to happen to poor Brodski.

I finished reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Understated horror story growing very slowly. I liked it.

Next up, continuing the Halloween theme of quiet horror, I'm taking The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley with me for Half Term holiday reading.

My username is also Stephen King inspired. It's from the Rolling Stones song that Jake (George) sings in front of Sadie in 11.22.63 and which leads their big bust up. Stephen is also my mate

I'm currently reading the fourth DI Helen Grace book, Girl on the Train (for book club) and A Place Called Winter, which in thoroughly enjoying.

Would you say it's worth reading Take Six Girls as well? Does it offer quite a different perspective?

Yes, although I found the sisters fascinating I did find myself disliking even Jessica at times. The book suggested that Unity perhaps became so obsessed by Hitler because she wanted to carve out her own niche and shock her parents rather than just being a middle Mitford girl. How different it could have been if she could have used her status to warn people about Nazi Germany instead. And Pamela mainly remembered the delicious new potatoes she had when she met Hitler. Anyway, I'll have to get Letters Between Six Sisters; I wonder if we'll ever get books of people's emails/tweets/messages to each other.

I have the Mitford Letters on Kindle, need to start dipping into it.