What's Everyone Reading in the New Year?

[expatinscotland]

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

Just finished reading "my sisters keeper" by Jodi Picoult.
Was a Christmas pressie from my best friend, thought it was a little odd as I've just had DD (13 weeks). I thought that it would be a little raw to read anyway, not least with hormones flying all over the place.
However, forced myself to read it, stayed up til one the other night to finish it.
Very very sad, but such a good read.
Got "Fen" by Freya North to read next, pressie from DH's best friend.

I have finished Sharon Osbourne:Extreme and it is faabulous!

Just finished The Accidental. I liked the ending, so will certainly look out for other books by her.

I think I might read On Beauty next. I liked White Teeth ok, didn't bother with Autograph Man, even though I liked the excerpt in the New Yorker.

For those of you who like David Sedaris I highly recommend Augusten Burroughs (Running with Scissors is scarily hilarious and Dry is funny and poignant!).

I've almost finished "We need to talk about Kevin" and will hopefully be moving on to "Memoirs of a Geisha".

Not sure if any of you guys have heard of it (or if it's already been mentioned) but there's a brilliant site for people in the UK called:

www.readitswapit.co.uk/

Basically, you sign up... add any books you don't want and then swap them.. it's free (apart from P&P) and a brilliant way of getting new books! I highly recommend it!

hello everyone, this is my first post! Really interesting to see what everyone is reading, as I am sitting in my bookshop wondering what to stock in the new year. Supposed to be doing a stocktake but I can tell dh that I've been carrying out vital market research

I have just ordered "Mao" from the book people, a bargain at £10.
It may sit a while whilst I summon up the enrgy to read it!

Oh, I liked Running With Scissors. Should read Dry. I read he has an actual novel (not memoir) coming out, too.

i'm enjoying on beauty nqc, it's keeping me awake when i should be sleeping! let me know what you think.

!!Excited contribution alert!!

Have just put up an old bookshelf in ds & dd's room and one shelf is exactly the height of the 70s Puffins (did you know they got half an inch bigger after that?) - so now I am forced to fill it with 15p classics from secondhand shops (which will be my reading stock this year, of course). So far have scored:

Stig of the Dump
My Friend Mr Leakey
The Phoenix and the Carpet
The Borrowers
Heidi
The Moon of Gomrath

Anyone want to suggest hunting grounds for me (London)?

(used to be binkie, by the way: reversion for twelfth night + update)

Hmm, I'd look under the bridge on the south bank? I don't really know second-hand book dealers in London that well.

hox, will probably start On Beauty. Have got a bit sidetracked by a) an issue of American Scholar we bought last summer and b) Les Particules Elementaires, by Houllebecq. I'm sure I'd hate him if I read him in English, but somehow he works in French, for me. (I realise he's an insufferable chauvinist little troll.)

The River by Tricia Wastvedt, v.absorbing story told in flashbacks, short chapters so ideal for picking up in an odd 10 minutes.

Curious Incident was covered on MN at great length 1-2 years ago, cat - mind you not all the threads listed are about the dog in the night-time

I was reading 'Toxic Parents' but I gave it to someone with a greater need because I will now be reading, 'Diabetes. A Complete Guide' and any other books which come up on the subject.

Hello,
Just had to add to this thread! I've recently discovered Douglas Kennedy, who is a great storyteller, I highly recommend his books - in particular, ''The Pursuit of Happiness'' is amazing! But you WILL stay up all night to read it...
Also adore Paullina Simons who has several novels - her best is ''The Bronze Horseman'' which is just the saddest tale but so unputdownable...and it has a sequel - ''Tatiana and Alexander''. Fabulous. I have recommended these books to many friends who have been as obsessed by them as me. Real sleep depriving stuff.

The Mitford Girls by Mary S Lovell - A gripping and very well written, very thorough account of the lives of the Mtiford Sisters - I'm not usually into biography, but this is tremendous - recommended!! Going to read Atonement by Ian McEwan next cos that the next book up for discussion in my book group I attend!!

Can't decide at all what to read next..... have loads sitting on bookshelf but new years resolution is to get back to reading lots after last year hardly reading anything (dd about to turn 1 !). Am going to choose between The Pact, Salem Falls (loved Sisters Keeper), Shadow of the winds, the sequel to the rotters club (can't remember title of top of head), or a lighter read - Alexander McCall Smith (44 Scotland St or another one I have), one of the Dan Browns.... Argh... too much choice.. oh and I promised my mum I would read her copy of Pompeii quickly as she wants to lend it to someone else and I've already had it a few months so maybe that should be my priority......

just reading Saturday by Ian McEwan the prose is fabulous but am not sure about the plot it is a good read though...

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. V moving.

Finished Sharon Osbournes Autoboigraphy, now reading...

Allen Carr.... The Only Way To Give Up Smoking - Permenantly!

About to start The Kalahari Typing School For Men and then got Bill Bryson's Short History of Nearly Everything lined up.

Hi

About to start the constant gardener on recommendation of my Mum. Linzie though the pursuit of happiness was fnatastic but have been disappointed inthe other Douglas kennedy books I read. However "Special relationship" is a very improtant book in my life as the heroine has OC (a rare coomplication of pregnancy the one when you itch like crazy and the baby is at a very high risk of still birth. I had bnever heard of it a read it when I was 5 months pregnant and what do you know I had it. I would never have pointe my itching out to my mw otherwise.

I finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro last week, what a sinister and upsetting book - good read though. Sometimes his repressed, understated style turns me off, but it was very effective and moving in this novel. Agree with you totally about the narrative voice mts.
Am now totally and utterly hooked on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - and Mr N has only really just pitched up in London. I see Charles Palliser gave it a ringing endorsement so Quincunx Fiend prufrock ought to check this out if she hasn't already...

I'm enjoying the new Alan Bennett - especially this:

"all families have a secret: that they're not like other families"

i know Melbob, Special Relationship is a great book too. His other books are not quite as good, I agree, but good easy reading nevertheless.
I've also just finished Pete McCarthy's 2 books about travel - McCarthy's Bar, which is hilarious, and The Road to McCarthy which is a great read. I love travel writing, especially by McCarthy and obviously Bill Bryson, - I've read all his books several times and always laugh out loud, which can be rather embarrassing....