Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

What's Everyone Reading in the New Year?

218 replies

expatinscotland · 02/01/2006 16:44

I've started w/Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

OP posts:
Janh · 03/01/2006 12:45

I have been reading Margrave of the Marshes.

I am reading The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler and Bollocks to Alton Towers .

I will be reading the Time Traveler's Wife.

Janh · 03/01/2006 12:49

Oh, and will also be reading the 2 Jodi Picoults I gave DD1 once she has finished with them (Salem Falls and The Pact).

NotQuiteCockney · 03/01/2006 12:58

Janh, how are you getting on with the Tyler?

DH got me the same Booker set. I had bought it for myself the year before. It's a good deal.

I have just started the Accidental from it, but have not been drawn in really. Too busy with knitting, and trying to find the book I was in the middle of, before ...

Janh · 03/01/2006 13:11

Found it a bit slow at the start, NQC, but it jumped forward in time and seemed to take off then. Very Tylerish characters, not so many witty bits as usual but enjoyable as ever.

(I'd be a great critic )

tamum · 03/01/2006 13:54

I agree with Janh. I would be an even better critic

Fauve · 03/01/2006 19:59

JanH, are you finding Margrave of the Marshes a bit disappointing? I only read the first couple of chapters, and had, admittedly, been expecting a lot; but I found it so self-consciously "I'm a famous broadcaster"-ish that it ruined my perception of him (John Peel).

Janh · 03/01/2006 22:34

When you get to the bitter end, Fauve, you find 2 letters he wrote to his editor before starting the book, summarising what he intended to include and - although everything he mentioned wasn't in his bit, let alone the family's bit - it seems as if doing that might have taken the wind out of his sails in a way. It seemed to go "summary - descriptive bit, summary - descriptive bit" rather endlessly. Not exactly "and then this happened and then that happened", but kind of.

It was very overwritten, far too many commas, but then he talked like that. I enjoyed the chapters about his earliest years the most, so maybe you would hate the rest of the book even more than the bit you did read!

The part written by his family was very entertaining in parts, and also revealing about his many many foibles in a way that I guess he wouldn't have been himself. His part was already descending by the end of it (snivel) into long lists of tracks and artists I had never heard of which would probably have been better presented in footnotes.

I still think he was a fabulous and unique personality - well of course they're all unique but ykwim! And I was thrilled to find that all the DJs he considered sound, and not, were the ones I do.

Did you know John Walters and Andy Kershaw hated Home Truths and used to rip him to shreds about it?

ggglimpopo · 03/01/2006 22:38

Message withdrawn

Fauve · 03/01/2006 23:09

Janh, I'm not surprised they hated Home Truths, although I think the subsequent disastrous presenters show just how good he made a bad thing. If I had edited his book, I would've ripped out all the self-congratulatory and trite crap; he might have done that himself if he'd lived, or he might have got a 'blunt friend' - Andy Kershaw?!? - to do it for him. I couldn't stick it to the end. I hope his sons do well, though - think two of them are now writing for The Times IIRC.

ggglimpopo · 03/01/2006 23:12

Message withdrawn

polly28 · 03/01/2006 23:17

robin-no haven't read anything else of Andrea Ashworth's,must look some out,she writes beautifully.

amazing what she went through,what a strong person.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/01/2006 23:18

LOVED poisonwood bible...enjoy hox!

Janh · 03/01/2006 23:18

He might have done it himself, given time and a good editor - I get the impression that pretty much every word he wrote was used because there was so little (he deleted 1000s of words by accident ) so maybe it gives an unfair picture - or maybe not (there were a few of his letters and memos quoted in the book and he was very wordy).

I didn't know his sons were writing for the Times! (He had 2 daughters too; one has a toddler, the other graduated from university in the last year or so.)

Blu · 03/01/2006 23:19

Roobie; I'm reading the Closed Circle, too. Have been looking forward to it since I read the Rotters Club on holiday. Not quite as good, I think, esp as I guessed the 'twist' v early on, but still enjoying it a lot.

ggglimpopo · 03/01/2006 23:20

Message withdrawn

Janh · 03/01/2006 23:22

Will look out for it, gggl! (I got a text from your phone on NYE but it went approx "qhfgfb dsuihds dsjhfdso" only with fewer letters so was a bit baffled - wondered if DD4 is texting already?)

Blu · 03/01/2006 23:26

IS he now, ggg? He's a damn fine writer...

SleepyJess · 04/01/2006 00:32

One Soul, Many Bodies by Dr. Richard Weiss
Mia's World by Mia Dolan
What God Wants by Neale Donald Walsh

Gillian76 · 04/01/2006 00:34

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Off to read it now, acutally!

Janh · 04/01/2006 00:42

Oh, that's a good one, G76!

mummytosteven · 04/01/2006 08:09

oooh bakedpotato - another Scandinavian thriller fan here!! I've read Tainted Blood and Silence of the Grave - not bad but not stunningly good. Sun and Shadow by Ake Edwardson is pretty good, very Mankellesque. I also really like Karin Fossum - like Ruth Rendell I find..

NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2006 08:36

I'm getting into "The Accidental" from the Booker Prize thing. Curious to see how others will like it ...

Pruni · 04/01/2006 08:53

Message withdrawn

Lizzylou · 04/01/2006 09:09

Just finished The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which I enjoyed.
Have just started Beatrice by Noelle Harrison which is surprising me as I thought it may be a bit girly/chick lit and is v good so far
Then am on to The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre (present from my Mom who has seen the film twice)

saltire · 04/01/2006 09:17

I got a book by an American author called Karin Slaughter (the authors called that, not the book) and the title is Indelible. Its the third of her book that i have read. I would recommend her books. I have also just finished Fleshmarket Close, by Ian Rankin its an Inspector Rebus book. I love the Rebus books and have thenm all. I also have the enitre 6 Harry Potter books by my bed which i read with an obsessive regularity!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread