What are you currently reading, how do you feel about it, and what's next on the list?

Just finished A River in Darkness, a mans escape from North Korea , really good book. Ive read a lot of defectors memoirs and I'm fascinated by their stories, hardship beyond our worst nightmares. Really recommend this one

Currently reading Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy - I’m 80% through and absolutely absorbed by it - haven’t been able to put it down so I expect I’ll finish today or tomorrow! Very well written and character driven. I’ve got Demon Copperhead on my tbr next but I’m not actually that drawn to it so might see what bargains are on kindle first ..

Not sure what my next read is…I’m hanging out for the next Cormoran Strike which should be landing on my doormat on the 2nd September 🙌🏻

I’ve just finished Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee
What a read! I couldn’t put it down and I’m praying there’ll be a sequel.

I've been in a weird reading mood.
I've started so many books and just can't get into them even though I know I will like them. So I have just read all the books in Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series whilst rewatching The Good Wife.

I was half way through Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell but on Borrowbox and didn't finish before my loan expired :(

I'm now reading Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and it's very atmospheric, I like it. Hoping it will get me back into the swing of things.

I realise I read a lot more in the colder months, warm weather means I can't concentrate so much unless I'm on holiday.

Mania by Lionel Shriver

I'm enjoying it but it's slower going that We Need To Talk About Kevin (this may also be due to me being busier) It's about a society where "Mental Parity" is prized above all. Everyone is assumed to be of the same intelligence level, any words even implying differences in ability are banned, using words like "stupid" can result in having your kids taken off you, testing and interviews are taboo. It's a parody really, a criticism of groupthink. I've heard it described as "terrifyingly plausible" - I'm not sure I'd go that far but I can see how something similar could occur I guess. It's enjoyable but not one I'll go back to probably.

Next up time for something lighter. The Writer by Valerie Keogh arrived on my Kindle the other day, must have preordered it at some point so I think I'll go for that.

@IceIceBabyBump Middlesex is a fantastic read. I bought it when it came out, fully expecting a book about cricket 😂

Jude The Obscure is rough @IceIceBabyBump because it’s SO depressing. I’ve read a lot of classics and it isn’t one I’d be in a hurry to recommend

I'm reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - letters & emails to and from a woman make her face up to mistakes in her past. So far I'm enjoying it and I'm getting hints of what might have happened in the past. Looking forward to learning more about her and her life.

I’ve seen the musical (twice) but not the film - I would massively recommend the musical.

Operation Mincemeat. Didn't see the musical, but saw the movie.

Incredible story, fascinating characters.

I have the ebook and the e-audio. Narration not great, I thought, but still enjoying it.

I’ve been re-reading some of my mum’s Wexford mysteries by Ruth Rendell.

The astounding twists in the last chapter are usually blindingly obvious about 3 chapters in. Still enjoying them though.

Nearly finished The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker. Brilliant - set in WW1, 2nd in the RegenerationTrilogy. It won the 1995 Booker.

Next The Overstory by Richard Power

Finished Lowborn, reading The Child With No Name and have Poor waiting… all interesting ……

I'm about 100 pages into Demon Copperhead and it's not what I expected, but am invested now to find out what happens to the guy!
Next is The Hallmarked Man.

@FreshAirForwardsyes I have read it, though quite some years ago, when I just read books in an enormous rush. Maybe time to re-read it!

@FoxRedPuppy @thisoldcity
Have you both read The Poisonwood Bible? In my (very humble) opinion, the very best of Kingsolver.

@FreshAirForwardsi also read Islandnof Missing Trees for book club and as you say, I wouldn't have read it otherwise and really was very taken with it. I agree as well about people not finishing the book - i love a good discussion.

@FoxRedPuppyi know what you mean about DC, I really found it hard to read something else after finishing that. I read another one by Barbara Kingsolver as my solution, Unsheltered, and really enjoyed it though it is very different to DC.

Just finished The Island Of Missing Trees for parents’ book club next month at school. It was a really engaging read to my great surprise. I genuinely enjoyed it and would never have picked it up. I’m hoping at least one of the others will have finished it too. Nothing more frustrating than the meetings where no one has got to the end yet!

Just 10 pages left of Under The Eye of The Big Bird. It is superb. Very well crafted and thought provoking. I’m eking it out to savour after tea time. Mini me thinks I’m washing up, but I’m sneaking international novels in the kitchen 😂

I absolutely loved Demon Copperfield. Actually felt sad to finish it as I missed it for a few days!

oh DC is so so wonderful, best book I've read in the last few years

Currently reading Fire by John Boyne (read Water earlier this year and just finished Earth, will pick up Air when my local bookshop says they have it back in) loving it. This series is just brilliant, he's an amazing writer and they're all novellas so an afternoon of reading on each one. I think I'll re-read them altogether in one go at another stage.

Next up is Home Front by Kristin Hannah, cos I bought it for £1.50 in a second hand bookshop the other day so that's the rest of my holiday reading sorted

Next on my TBR is Edna O'Brien's 'Girl'.

I bought the hardback when it came out (yes, that's how slowly - and trend-aversely - I go...) but have been putting it off due to feeling raw about the subject matter.

I think I could read it now and appreciate it as a work of art, especially after having treated myself to a luxuriantly slow re-read of AS Byatt's 'Possession' - pure pleasure.

The real Chibok girls, of course, are still missing.

reading - the first Cazalet Chronicles book. Really enjoying it and keen to read whenever I get chance, but oh my! Was not expecting some of the darker plot points. Thought it would be all Sunday night ITV type drama. Started reading on same day as my sister but she's raced ahead so I knew there there was something shocking ahead, but not that. Nearly finished. Not sure if I will commit to next in series, will decide depending on end of this one. Can't quite see how it ties together unless it is just war related convergence.

next- I think the new Wally Lamb has come but I haven't opened the package yet because I'm too excited and need to wait until I have finished current book and have chance to read it. If it turns out to actually be different book I'll be really thrown and need a rethink.

I just wanted to add that I persisted with ‘A Fine Balance’ and it has gotten a bit better.

There is still 8 hours of listening left though so I will be so relieved to finish it!! It has taken me months. The jury is still out.