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What we're reading

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Original poster

What are you reading? How do you feel about it?

131 replies

whatausername · 28/01/2024 18:39

I'm reading Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. I wish Mattie and Ethan were more articulate and better fibbers!

OP posts:
BouleDeSuif · 30/01/2024 07:48

A Bit of A Stretch by Chris Atkins, his prison diary. Just finished and it was very interesting.

Izzy24 · 30/01/2024 07:39

Also recently finished French Braid by Anne Tyler. Beautifully written as always and the first novel I’ve read to reference the Covid pandemic but I didn’t really empathise with any of the characters.

RampantIvy · 30/01/2024 07:09

I agree about The Ink Black Heart online chats. They didn't add anything to the book and ruined a perfectly good story.

Bhxquery · 30/01/2024 07:06

Has anyone read The Bee Sting by Paul Murray? I was loving the first part - but the second part has weird punctuation to dramatise a characters narration and it’s really seriously putting me off. Ink Black Heart by JK had the same effect on me with all the chat room text.

Did anyone make it through and was it worth it?

mathanxiety · 30/01/2024 01:54

I'm reading "Our Hidden Lives : The Remarkable Diaries of Post War Britain", edited by Simon Garfield. Very well put together; the individual voices are very authentic and interesting.

Also reading "Brooklyn", by Colm Toibin - I am finding it hard to put down now that I've finally found it again after it got lost in The Great Christmas Clean Up.

Finishing up "One Summer, America 1927", by Bill Bryson. Very interesting (I like history).

Nttttt · 30/01/2024 00:39

I’m currently reading Big Swiss by Jen Beagin. Very funny so far but does deal with sensitive subjects , the main character transcribes recordings of a sex therapist and becomes a little obsessed with one persons story (as far as I’ve read!)

TheMotherSide · 30/01/2024 00:36

bhxquery, I really enjoyed Politics on the Edge last month.
This month I'm frightening myself stiff with Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Some evenings I can't actually bear to pick it up, it makes me nauseous with unease. But it is beautifully written so I endure the churning, relentless tension.

BlueFairyBugsBooks · 30/01/2024 00:29

Good Girl Deprogramming
Its making me angry, hopeful, sad, angry again. All the emotions. It's fab.

tobee · 30/01/2024 00:24

Nothing to add other than great idea for a thread.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 29/01/2024 23:11

I'm reading How to Kill your family by Bella Mackie and it's not gripping me, tbh, I will happily read it but unlike other books, I'm not waiting for every chance to get to it....

Original poster
whatausername · 29/01/2024 23:10

I finished Ethan Frome last night and loved it! Emotional realism isn't really my thing - enough misery in life as is - but golly I enjoyed that book.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 29/01/2024 22:56

Songbirds by Christy Lefteri. I'm quite enjoying it, but the writing style is by somone chasing a literary prize rather than trying to engage the reader.

I have read The Beekeeper of Aleppo which she also wrote, and I hope this book won't be as depressing.

SquitMcJit · 29/01/2024 22:55

This is a lovely thread - I want to read so many of these! Thank you

Jojoanna · 29/01/2024 22:53

LunaNorth · 29/01/2024 22:01

Erotic Vagrancy - the story of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, by Roger Lewis.

I feel absolutely agog, like I’m sitting in a bar with my most gossipy, irreverent, hilarious friend. It’s fantastic!

Me too !

SquitMcJit · 29/01/2024 22:53

Synergies · 29/01/2024 22:48

I'm in the middle of The Wager at the moment. It's a historical non-fiction book
told in a narrative style. So well written and gripping.

But I'm getting through it really slowly. Too many distractions during the day, and heavy eyelids at night 😑

We’re both reading David Grann - I also think the writing is great. Was planning on The Wager next.

SquitMcJit · 29/01/2024 22:51

Ethan Frome is one of my favourite books.

I’m reading Killers of the Flower Moon (haven’t seen the film), it’s really interesting so far. I didn’t know anything about the Osage and oil.

And also The King’s Painter (about Holbein) which is brilliant

And also Reykjavik by Ragnar Jonasson and (weirdly) Katrin Jokobsdottir (Icelandic PM?) which is not very good and has a tedious jumping timeline. Although how someone has written a detective novel whilst also being PM is impressive…

Synergies · 29/01/2024 22:48

I'm in the middle of The Wager at the moment. It's a historical non-fiction book
told in a narrative style. So well written and gripping.

But I'm getting through it really slowly. Too many distractions during the day, and heavy eyelids at night 😑

Cathpot · 29/01/2024 22:44

Just finished City of Shadows by Michael Russell as fancied a detective series and my dad recommended it. Enjoyed it in a mild way- likeable main detective , set in 1930s Ireland with lots of history I didn’t know about the Nazis in Ireland. I’ve ordered the second one but probably won’t read it for a bit. Before that it was Trust by Hernan Diaz which I liked despite not really liking anyone in it!

Flatleak · 29/01/2024 22:25

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes. First 75% was one of the best books I've ever read. Last 25% is weird try hard genre hopping. Very sad and not sure I can finish it!

JaneJeffer · 29/01/2024 22:22

A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon. I am feeling suspicious!

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 29/01/2024 22:14

Little (Maddam tussaudes life story)

Took a while to get into but once hooked, it's brilliant!

Izzy24 · 29/01/2024 22:11

Just finished Tides by Sara Freeman.

Almost visceral.

whatsappdoc · 29/01/2024 22:09

I'm reading The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly and loving it. I can't wait to settle down each evening and read a few more chapters!

PermanentTemporary · 29/01/2024 22:03

Life and Fate by Vassily Grossman. It's engaging but a bit daunting and I do struggle to follow the names. But there are parts that are really good.

LunaNorth · 29/01/2024 22:01

Erotic Vagrancy - the story of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, by Roger Lewis.

I feel absolutely agog, like I’m sitting in a bar with my most gossipy, irreverent, hilarious friend. It’s fantastic!