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Original poster

Soooooooooo what is everyone reading at the moment?

80 replies

foxinsocks · 01/02/2008 19:19

Am racing through books at a rate of knots due to commute. Have done Black Swan Green, On Chesil Beach, Any Human Heart and some strange Italian crime book (translated) that I picked up in an odd book shop. All great for commuting.

Must go and get some more books this weekend. So what are you all reading?

OP posts:
CaptainCod · 06/02/2008 15:07

agent zig zag

notalone · 06/02/2008 15:03

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold on recommendation by kind mumsnetters.

The Babygroup by Rowan Coleman is next on my list.

tassisssss · 06/02/2008 14:51

Just finished a Thousand Spendid Suns and the World According to Bertie

Not sure what I'll start next...

Bink · 06/02/2008 14:49

(Has this thread taken over from the last wotcher reading thread?)

Anyway - have finished Ernest Shackleton, done the Spanish Civil War with George Orwell, now reading Thesiger crossing the Empty Quarter - Thesiger is funny, entirely unexpected.

Also reading a Virago edition of an Elaine Dundy period piece about being a pretty American babe being leched over by Cyril Connolly in Swinging London ... not very convinced by that one.

And Austerity Britain, continuing.

Thesiger currently winning.

saadia · 06/02/2008 14:45

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor, written very beautifully and full of fascinating detail.

FillyjonkisCALM · 06/02/2008 14:43

oh am also reading heat by george monbiot

but it is depressing the feck out of me. the last chapter, where he actually becomes a parent and writes about how it has changed his perspective, is very very perceptive. And

FillyjonkisCALM · 06/02/2008 14:43

haruki murakami's norwegian wood

am feeling a little underwhelmed. His books seem to just run out of steam about 3/4 through.

I have been trying to finish Kafka on the shore for ages and just gave up in the end

bought the edible woman yesterday for 10p, did not know of its existance somehow (really like early margaret atwood)

Iklboo · 06/02/2008 14:36

"Death Masks" by Jim Butcher. 5th in The Dresden Series. It's a horror/comedy/fantasy series but really light-hearted too. Very good

cheeryface · 06/02/2008 14:34

just finished the thirteenth tale (would recomend) and have now started the Island, victoria Hislop.

wheelybug · 06/02/2008 14:16

Am now reading the Mitford Girls biog thanks to rave reviews on here ! It is great so far.

Need to get on with it though - have book club tomorrow night so will need to get started on that one !

MaryAnnSingleton · 06/02/2008 11:11

reading the Mark Haddon one, A Spot of Bother ? can't remember title,but is v good so far...I should be reading the Kite Runner follow up though...

ComeOVeneer · 06/02/2008 11:08

Thanks Hunniebhayz, I'll add that one to my list.

HunnieBHayz · 06/02/2008 10:14

Marshmallows for breakfast by Dorothy Koomson read this last year is FAB! also love her other book My Best Friends Girl

ComeOVeneer · 06/02/2008 10:06

I have just finished "Since I don't have you" by Louise Candlish. I struggled (and failed) to keep back the tears. I am about to start "Marshmallows for breakfast" by Dorothy Koomson.

auntyspan · 06/02/2008 10:05

Just finished 'The Book Thief" and LOVED it. Need a breather before tackling the next one.

HunnieBHayz · 06/02/2008 10:01

im reading The Baby Group by Rowan Coleman , really enjoying it

poshwellies · 05/02/2008 16:49

I had a cry over The Memory Keepers daughter also.Just finished We need to talk about Kevin-which also made me .I need something lighthearted to read now!

purpleturtle · 05/02/2008 16:39

Am reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which is lovely so far. Keeps bringing tears to my eyes.

SilentTerror · 05/02/2008 16:34

Just read 'The Book Thief'(good) and 'The Rose of Sebastopol'(not sure what happened really).
Loved 'The Thirteenth Tale' and non fiction book 'Singled Out'

InLoveWithSweenyTodd · 05/02/2008 11:12

just finished chejov's cherry orchard and have started "the oxford crimes" by Guillermo Martinez. The film is released this month btw

suedonim · 03/02/2008 23:40

I've finished 'Perfume' and have decided to read a John Simpson book, News From No Man's Land. I tried an Iris Murdoch, The Book and the Brotherhood but it's too erudite for me!

serin · 03/02/2008 23:12

Reading 'The Kite runner' and 'The secret life of a slummy mummy' at the same time.

The Slummy Mummy book is a lot better than it sounds and I've been following her column in the Times on Saturday for the last couple of years so she's a bit of an old friend.

catsmother · 02/02/2008 13:18

I'm a big Sarah Waters' fan too, but also had a DP who showed a particular interest in Tipping the Velvet ..... wonder why ?

I've just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns and have started 'Blood River' by Tim Butcher which is a travelogue of his trip up the Congo in the footsteps of Stanley. So far .... am enjoying it immensely. I read a lot of non-fiction but do find that a lot of travel writing falls down when the author starts filling the reader in on historical and geographical background (as in, that bit's not very well written and/or is stuffy and boring). Not so the case with Butcher who writes very engagingly.

pointydog · 01/02/2008 21:04

dh does not read fiction but even he was remarkably interested to hear the plot of tipping the velvet.

How To Get Men To Read.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 01/02/2008 20:37

yes, I got very annoyed once with dh because he wouldn't read a book I had suggested (which was silly of me because I don't do suggesting books as a rule....) and then we went to a works drink of his and someone very senior came up to us and started talking about this book and how fabulous it was and we laughed and laughed about it (he said pointedly 'oh my wife loved that book. It wasn't really for me!' lol).

Dh likes McEwan and both Amis and lots of that sort of ilk (though I do like some McEwan myself) and some much heavier fiction that I would struggle with.

OP posts: