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Original poster

What book are you reading now because it is doing my head in that I can't find something I want to read so am going to steal your ideas instead..!

168 replies

foxinsocks · 21/02/2010 15:17

I finished Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd (which I enjoyed but it wasn't a can't put down book - I stopped it and came back to it but did finish it and ultimately enjoyed it).

I am half way through Little Stranger but cannot make myself finish it. I've got to the stage where I half hope the whole of Hundreds Hall goes up in flames with Dr Faraday in the middle of it.

I've also started 2 other books - A Week in December (Sebastian Faulks) and Fifty Grand (McGKinty) and they are grabbing me but not in the way I was hoping they would. I imagine I'll finish both but I'm really hoping for a great book next iykwim.

So what are you reading and would you recommend it?

OP posts:
SuSylvester · 26/02/2010 22:10

but that home book is shit 100

Original poster
foxinsocks · 26/02/2010 22:09

lol, I might have to buy it now as it's made you all

it might also move off my front page which is a double win really

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 22:04

lol. I'd like 'it's your life, and there's no way you can live with it'. I'd get that one.

God, it's good. Honestly. I must stop talking about it now.

CarmelitaMiggs · 26/02/2010 22:03

Useful thread. Have just reserved Gate at the Stairs (used to like her short stories) and also David Vann's Legend of a Suicide. I remember the reviews: it sounded like a mindmelt.

Tortington · 26/02/2010 22:02

i am reading slaugher house 5 - becuase its one of those books i think i should read.

its andeasy read but fucking weird - i keep analysing stuff that might not be ther - oinly half way though as it is my nook to shit too iykwim

CaptainNancy · 26/02/2010 22:02

Mirrorball- I have just started The Other Hand... haven't got v far yet though.

MayorNaze- I read Peyton Place a long time ago, but remember enjoying it.

Can't beat a bit of Billy....

Original poster
foxinsocks · 26/02/2010 22:02

that one yes, it keeps wanting me to buy it with its bright blue plain cover every time I look at amazon

still better than when I was looking up self help books for my mum and was tormented with 'your life, you can live it' or some shite for months on the front page

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 22:01

I mean it's not a scary book, no. But I was all wide-eyed when reading it, made me feel perilous.

God, I hope MayorNaze gets her copy soon. I things I need to get off my chest

ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 21:59

which one, the gate at the stairs? It's scary, I was scared by it.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 26/02/2010 21:58

are you reserving with your library online? I think I can do that but then I always forget to go and get them

OP posts:
Original poster
foxinsocks · 26/02/2010 21:55

amazon keeps trying to lure me towards buying that book but I have resisted so far (you know when you check out and it says WE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS based on your last purchases)

well that and a glut of Wimpy Kid books (which mine love)

thanks ahundredtimes - will go and look at those. With luck, I will find something that grabs me!

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 21:47

Oh good Stevie. I thought it was wonderful and devastating. I still haven't got over it.

janeite · 26/02/2010 21:44

Oh I have read that Bibbity. I liked it but, as you say, since so little is known there seemed to be a lot of lovely Bill telling us how little is known!

I do love Bill though.

StevieDunton · 26/02/2010 21:44

have reserved gate at the stairs
will report back when it arrives...

bibbitybobbityhat · 26/02/2010 21:42

I am reading Bill Bryson's biography of Shakespeare. Since very little is actually known about Shakespeare, the book has turned out to be more of a study of Elizabethan England. V interesting nonetheless, and I am enjoying it immensely.

ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 21:41

Oh and I want to read:

legend of a suicide - david vann

ahundredtimes · 26/02/2010 21:39

Oh I like this thread.

I just read The Good Parents by Joan London, FIS, I think you'll like it. I really did.

Also The Spare Room by Helen Garner - though it's spare and short, but I'd like you to read it.

And my BEST book of the year so far is Lorrie Moore's The Gate at the Stairs. Oh my. I want everyone to read it and talk to me about it. But it's in hardback still.

I liked American Wife v. much.

Last year I read Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson for the first time, now in my top ten.

hearts and minds by Amanda Craig looks promising, I think but haven't read.

Leo35 · 26/02/2010 21:38

LOL at the News of the World writing! Gary seems to have not gone down that route. I heard about the book listening to him on that R4 saturday morning programme with Fi Glover (Saturday Live? Somthing like that..) Might be worth casting your eye over what's being read on R4 sometimes there is something intruiging - I got the Sacred Hearts tip from there.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 26/02/2010 21:34

Inheritance of Loss
Young Stalin

Original poster
foxinsocks · 26/02/2010 21:30

I haven't read the Gary Kemp one but I would suggest the Martin Kemp one ('True'). I bought it in an airport for a long flight and read it in one go - disclaimer, it is written a bit like the News of the World writing (i.e. don't expect Wolf Hall) but it was utterly gripping - I didn't actually know about his brain tumour etc. Was v interesting reading (esp I guess as i was a teenager in the 80s when Spandau were around!). It's not insightful at all but a bit of a romp and if you're ever looking for a bit of light and easy reading, then it's good for that (if that makes sense).

OP posts:
bruffin · 26/02/2010 21:25

I read payton pace about 25 years ago, used to watch the programme, but can't remember too much about it.

I am reading Under the Dome at the moment. I haven't got time to read it more than a few pages at the time so it's taking a long time!

Leo35 · 26/02/2010 21:20

If you like you historical crime perhaps try the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr. I've read some of the later ones and loved them. All rather disturbing, but brill storytelling and you get such a sense of the time - it's all so convincing.

Loved Kate Atkinson, Philippa Gregory Tudor historical novels. Imperium the Robert Harris about Cicero (although I didn't get into the next one Lustrum). Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant was a cracking read - loved it!

IF you like biogs, and are of, ahem, a certain age you might like the Gary Kemp autobiog. I really enjoyed it and I was not a Spandau fan in the eighties!

So many books recommended on here - love it! But so little time.....

StevieDunton · 26/02/2010 21:09

have also got peyton place out of library today - anybody read that?

StevieDunton · 26/02/2010 21:08

have reserved finest english womanhood and this thing of darkness (am Mayor Naze btw)

janeite · 26/02/2010 21:08

Pointy - I thought you were going to saythat YOU had forgotten what the story was, too. I under-estimated you - sorry!