What are you all reading atm? And is it any good?

[MrsDanversBites]

Just finished The White Queen which was piss poor frankly...unlikeable characters, overplayed motif

now a third into Alias Grace which is much better, Atwood is just brilliant isn't she

Not sure what to read next though, hence thread...

The Help.

Think I must be mising something as it hasn't grabbed me at all. Skim reading the last 100 pages so that I can move on to something better!

Before that, Nothing To Envy about life in North Korea. Strongly recommend.

MrsDanversBite - I have A Suitable Boy here, but I have to admit that I read some, and was but off by the sheer weight of the bloody thing! If only someone would publish it in 2 volumes!

Currently readin the Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Moet - loving it having just finished the Concubines "something" - which was a load of rubbish. I quite liked the Help - read it on hols, must be something to do with reading it by the pool in the sun with a beer....

Read Alias Grace years ago and quite liked it.

Enjoyed The Help but was disappointed by the ending.

Echo the Liz Jensen rec.

I liked White Tiger a lot and it's very funny (agree not really Booker-worthy though, as too light weight really) but was v disappointed with Mr Whicher.

Currently reading a modern ghost story which is so uninspiring that I can't even remember the title or the writer! It was a Times rec and I can go and look at it if anybody wants to know what it is.

Last read a silly series set in Whitby about the bride of Frankenstein's monster running a B&B. Complete nonsense but I rather liked them! I think the writer is Paul Magrs.

Next in line is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge book about the Black Death!

Who is the Black Death one by BG?, - sounds like my kind of thing.

Currently just finishing Sovereign from the Shardlake series and about to start on Q&A by Vikas Swarup.

I also recently read 'Deaf Sentence' by David Lodge OP which is an enjoyable and quick read.

I liked Cat's Eye too, - I'm waiting for my Mother to finish 'The Children's Book' so I can borrow it from her - any good?

Loved 'The Help'.

If you are after something quirky and different to the average narrative, 'Come Thou Tortoise' is an interesting read. I didn't realise how much I was enjoying it until I finished it. Makes a refreshing change compared to all the misery genre stuff around.

Kurri - it's called 'The Scourging Angel' and it's by Benedict Gummer - tis non-fiction.

I think A Suitable Boy can be bought in 2 or 3 volumes, or used to.

It is worth it but I suspect it needs time - I read it pre children and would probably struggle with it now due to time. If you can give it a go, its worht it.

yes you can

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=suitable+boy&sprefix=suitable+boy

Ooh MrsReality - I didn't realise there was a 3rd book. I loved the first and the prequel.

Off to amazon.... Thanks.

The Language of Others by Claire Morrall - only a couple of chapters in but liking it so far.... have got Wolf Hall on my "to read" pile but friends who have read it have given it mixed reviews francagoestohollywood - I loved The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

JUst finished 'As I Lay Dying' by William Faulkner

It was heartbreaking but compelling

About to start A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel (loved Wolf Hall)

Just finished 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.' I've been on another thread about this book. Was disappointed with it at first, almost gave up on it, but was gripped towards the end and will be trying the next book.

Anna Karenina - the umpteenth try in 20 years but I think this time I might make it. It's absolutely great but needs attention.

Thanks for the Sunne in Splendour recommendation, somebody - I've just reserved it at the library so that's something to look forward to.

I've been lent a biography of Edward IV which I'm looking forward to - it seems to be Wars of the Roses year, is it because of the White Queen book?

MissSchlegel A place of greater safety is way up in my top 10, although I did read it a long time ago - I fell madly in love with Camille Desmoulins, and then watched the movie of Danton with Gerard Depardieu as Danton and fell madly in love with him... As you will guess I was 17 when I read it... would love to know what you think of it.

I've just finished 'The Slap' - really kept me reading, but I agree with those who hate all the characters (have to say that I'd have been mightily tempted to slap the boy AND his horrendous parents too).

I'm also partway through 'The Sopranos' by Alan Warner which is amazing - about the (mis)adventures of a group of Scottish girls from a convent school who go on a trip to take part in a choir competition. Hilarious and full of drinking, drugs, swearing and sex. I'm now looking forward to 'The Stars in the Bright Sky' which I snaffled today from a charity shop (hooray!) - it's the sequel and on the current Booker list.

'Wolf Hall' and Lorrie Moore's 'A Gate at the Stairs' are also lined up and waiting....

I thought I was going to like The Behaviour Of Moths, as it had several of the 'ingredients' that generally appeal to me:

• a pretty cover - check
• a huge and crumbling house - check
• an interesting title - check
• batty old women - check
• secrets - check

but I thought it was really silly, unfortunately. The first half was okay but it got more and more stupid as the story progressed imho. Sorry, Jajas - we'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

maktaitai MissSchlegel I loved A Place of Greater Safety. Another dense read that takes your full concentration but so worth it.

Liked Desmouliins, but it was Danton I fell in love with and did exactly the same thing of watching the film 'Danton' afterwards(!)-altho was 32 instead of 17, not sure what my excuse was - Also watched 'Ridicule' to get an idea of the ancien régime before it fell

BelligerentGhoul you seem a bit familiar, did you used to be janeite?

just finished
One Day -loved it , although read like a film script.

guernsey potato peel and literary society-lovely light read

carry me home by terri wiltshire , someone on MN recommended-enjoyed it even though a but harrowing at times

Just finished 'Case Histories' by Kate Atkinson - loved it. Before that: 'Eat Pray Love' and the sequel about marriage, 'Commitment' by Elizabeth Gilbert - very good. Anything by Ann Tyler. Absolutely loved 'Digging to America'. Am also a fan of Lionel Shriver, eg We Need to Talk about Kevin. Have got 'The Help' on the go but it hasn't grabbed me yet - will give it another go now after the recommendations on this thread!

Like most of you, my next books are The Help and The Slap

Also have Nothing To Envy on my pile, after a rec on here.

Just finished Half a Yellow Sun which was very compelling though sad.

Also a Fannie Flag (fried green tomaotes author) think is "Can't wait to get to heaven".

Am reading We are all made of glue by Marina Lewycka. Never tempted by her Tractors book but this is great fun.

Just finished The Long Song, about life on a Jamaican slave plantation. Absolutely brilliant, by turns shocking and comic.

Also loved book before that, World without End by Ken Follett which was a real doorstop (over 1200 pages) but if you love historical fiction you may like this (and its prequel Pillars of the earth). Can't wait for his next, out this autumn, going on my Christmas list.

I recently read One Day and really liked it too.

Am reading several books in parallel, nothing particularly captivating or high brow

The Associate - John Grisham
The Camel Club - Someone Baldicci or something
Ina May Gaskin's Guide to childbirth
Childbirth Without Fear - Grantly Dick Reed
and The Guinness Book of Names

an eclectic mix!