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Original poster

What are you reading this weekend?

139 replies

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 20/05/2023 10:53

I'm reading Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant as recommended by another MNer.

What are you reading and is it any good? Wink

OP posts:
SilentParrot · 21/05/2023 22:23

Spanielsarepainless · 21/05/2023 21:13

Just finished 'The Way the Crow Flies ' by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Read it a few years ago and remembered almost nothing of it.

Her book Fall On Your Knees left me feeling quite depressed.

RashOfBees · 21/05/2023 22:12

pigalow27 · 21/05/2023 20:22

That's one of my absolute favourites of all time! I literally couldn't put it down. Loved it so much. It's so strange that the same book can elicit such different responses.

Show quote history

I just came on here to update - what a difference a day and a hundred and fifty pages make.

After slogging through about three fifths of the book something clicked and I just couldn’t put it down. Very, very cleverly done, and I now think that what I found to be the tedium of the first portion was actually what made the latter so successful. I’d been lulled into accepting one rather obvious version of events. If the narrative had been faster paced I don’t think the dawning realisation of what was going on would have been nearly so captivating.

Have spent about half an hour perfecting two different theories of what happened!

Viviennemary · 21/05/2023 21:17

RashOfBees · 20/05/2023 11:26

I’m usually less tolerant too, but I lost my love of reading over the various lockdowns and was abandoning book after book increasingly early on until I stopped reading almost entirely for a good while. I’m back into it after a run of good books, but since it’s still early days I’m trying to maintain a bit of discipline!

I did too. Just couldn't get past the first few pages, I'm half way throughThe Perfect Wife by J P Delaney. Its not what I expected but its really quite good and has held my interest. Not heard of this author before but seems he writes under several names.

Spanielsarepainless · 21/05/2023 21:13

Just finished 'The Way the Crow Flies ' by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Read it a few years ago and remembered almost nothing of it.

Papergirl1968 · 21/05/2023 20:29

Riverlee · 21/05/2023 13:35

Atlas - the story of Pa Salt - Lucinda Riley/Harry Whitaker.

Been looking forward to this book for ages, and so far, so good. However, it’s slightly bittersweet, knowing the author has passed away.

I didn't know LR had died. How sad. I've read some of it other books but not the Seven Sisters series yet.

Hellohah · 21/05/2023 20:26

I've just finished State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hilary Clinton.

No idea what to read next.

pigalow27 · 21/05/2023 20:22

RashOfBees · 20/05/2023 10:57

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. I’m finding it unbelievably long-winded and boring, but I just want to finish and get it to the charity shop now. I’ve read two other novels since I started!

That's one of my absolute favourites of all time! I literally couldn't put it down. Loved it so much. It's so strange that the same book can elicit such different responses.

SilentParrot · 21/05/2023 19:58

JaninaDuszejko · 21/05/2023 19:49

I'm reading South Riding by Winifred Holtby which I'm loving. Been wanting to read it for ages and really enjoy it. Glad it's 500 pages so I luxuriate in it.

I bought a copy of that recently after hearing a podcast about it. Looking forward to it reaching the top of my pile.

JaninaDuszejko · 21/05/2023 19:49

I'm reading South Riding by Winifred Holtby which I'm loving. Been wanting to read it for ages and really enjoy it. Glad it's 500 pages so I luxuriate in it.

SilentParrot · 21/05/2023 16:07

I started Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater yesterday. Quite an addictive and creepy read.

TheNewlmprovedMrsMadEvans · 21/05/2023 15:20

The Hike by Lucy Clarke l am enjoying it 😊

JaneyGee · 21/05/2023 15:15

I've got three books on the go. First, a biography of Ted Hughes (not bad); second, a collection of shorts stories by P G Wodehouse (OK, but not a superlative masterpiece like Right Ho Jeeves); and Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe (better than I expected).

I'm obsessed with the late 19th-century aesthetes atm, so when this lot are finished I'm going to order a book on that era, something that covers not just Wilde but Walter Pater, Ruskin, Swinburne, Aubrey Beardsley...the whole gang.

tobee · 21/05/2023 14:29

And now I've noted your suggestions @EmptyBedBlues !

tobee · 21/05/2023 14:28

I haven't read any of her others yet @EmptyBedBlues. The Last of Summer I noted down as it popped up as a suggestion for me to read amongst others. Then, when I was choosing books to buy myself for my birthday, it made the cut!

SilverShadowNight · 21/05/2023 13:45

@Nellieinthebarn I love the Rivers of London series too and the Audible narrator is excellent.

I've just finished a Joy Ellis book, considering what to start next.

Riverlee · 21/05/2023 13:35

Atlas - the story of Pa Salt - Lucinda Riley/Harry Whitaker.

Been looking forward to this book for ages, and so far, so good. However, it’s slightly bittersweet, knowing the author has passed away.

Riverlee · 21/05/2023 13:33

LemonLimeDivine · 20/05/2023 19:42

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh.
Started it two days ago. Completely gripped!

Absolutely loved this book. Really worth reading.

unicornsinspace · 21/05/2023 12:36

I found you - Lisa Jewell

I've been in a reading slump for a long while and I really like Lisa Jewell's books so I'm hoping it gets me back in to reading.

Norugratsatall · 21/05/2023 12:29

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Only 200 pages in but enjoying it so far. I'm going on holiday later this week and am thinking I should prob have started something smaller (it's such a tome!) to stow away in my handbag.

Papergirl1968 · 21/05/2023 12:11

The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory, about Elizabeth 1 and Robert Dudley. Really enjoying it although I find some of the language a bit inauthentic e.g. He gave a sexy smile.

cordelia16 · 21/05/2023 12:03

I've decided to read all six of the books shortlisted for Women's Prize 2023.

Yesterday I started and finished Trespasses. I thought it was brilliant.

This morning I started Pod.

Jackienory · 21/05/2023 11:15

The Millionth Chance. James Leasor. Original 1957 copy.

beguilingeyes · 21/05/2023 11:12

We just watched Slow Horses (bloody amazing) so I'm reading the books. I've just started the second one, Dead Lions.

IHeartGeneHunt · 21/05/2023 09:50

Night Music: Nocturnes Volume 2 by John Connolly. Very good, I love his way of writing.

owloak · 21/05/2023 09:48

Harry Potter- for the first time ever. I'm 30! (On book 2) Grin

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