Which should I read first?

[BelligerentGhoul]

Just been to the library and picked up:

The Secret Scripture
American Wife
The Bolter

Only The Bolter looks like the kind of thing I'd normally read. Any opinions on which I should start first?

Nobody?

Oh dear - are they all awful?

Haven't read any of them!

I think I've read the Secret Scripture. Who's the author? If it's the one I remember, it was good - hard going at times but un-put-downable at other times.

Haven't read the others.

It's by Sebastian Barry - have never heard of him but the cover was pretty and I remembered that some people on here had read it (but I can't remember if they liked it or not!). Don't want to do a search, in case there are spoilers.

Has nobody else read any of these?

I've read SS and AW.

I read them both for book group, and neither are the sort of book I'd normally go for.

AW is a very easy read, and is, allegedly, based on the life of Laura Bush.

SS was good, but a similar topic to The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, which, IMHO, was better. I found the ending disappointing, but overall it was a good read.

I'd go for AW followed by SS, and keep the one you fancy most of all for last.

Have read The vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox already. I suspect that SS and AW will irritate me (having read the first couple of pages of each) but I should at least give them both a try! They both feel rather bland.

Have read AW and SS. Would recommend AW to anyone and have been forcing loads of people to read it. Wouldn't necessarily bother with SS. I had to look it up to remember what happened. Was ok but not brill.

Yes it is the same Secret Scripture I read. I liked it more than other posters above. It was hard to get into but once the story starts to take shape, I found it very compelling.

(note to self: check out American Wife)

The American Wife is good, and a pacy read - especially when you know it is based on the life of Laura Bush. Gets a bit silly towards the end. But then so did George.

Thank you.

:) at 'so did George!'

Just been to town and got myself Shackleton's diaries and a book about Mongol herders and wolves - so I suspect that SS and AW will both have to wait now! :)

They sound interesting!

I enjoyed all three for different reasons - being non fiction the bolter can be slightly more effort, but still a good book. I think I liked American Wife the most of the lot, and SS the least, but still enjoyed it

Am loving the Mongolian wolf hunting one, so haven't started any of the three yet. Am fancying them less and less now, as so few people seem to have anything to say about them!

Thanks to those of you who have.

Loved American Wife - couldn't put it down. Read it, read it, read it now!

Lots of love, Curtis Sittenfeld

:)

Ah but Curtis - can you compete with packs of Mongolian wolves?

I am still ploughing through The Bolter. I love it but for some reason I keep drifting off it and starting other books (currently the Little Stranger) but it is a good read.

I hated The Little Stranger.

Am still on the Mongolian wolf thing - it's taking ages!