What are you reading now, beginning of 2012?

[posey]

I am reading Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending. Loving it.
Also Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I have never read them before but am in the process of reading them to/with ds and thoroughly enjoying them.
Have got so many books piled up to read it is really quite exciting!

Also have to agree with the general consensus that Death Come To Pemberley was DIRE.

I have just finished Great Expectations which I loved, Rafa Nadal's autobiography which my teenage son got as a Xmas persent, which was not particularly interesting, and have just started ' The Sense of an Ending' as it is my book club's choice for Jan.

I am STILL reading A Dance With Dragons, started in about October. Having raced through vols 1-3 of Song Of Fire And Ice, the last two have been a bit of a slog. Only 100 pages to go and quite looking forward to reading something else!

I've just finished reading Madame Bovary for my local book club, about 30 years after I read it the first time. It was brilliant! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy 19th century novels.
Now I'm planning to read A Sentimental Education, also by Flaubert, and going to give Zola a try too.

Madame Bovary is one of the best books EVER!!!!!! I must re read it (read it 20 years ago!) I hope I still have my copy if not, just means I must get my kindle so can get for free.

Also Anna Karenina is simply outstanding if you liked Bovary.

Try Candide too.

Jane Eyre! I decided this year I was going to try and read at least 10 classics (ashamed to admit there's loads I've not read )

I read Wuthering Heights last week and really enjoyed it, although I wanted to thump Catherine and Hearhcliff!

I'm currently reading a book called The Night Circus, which is all about a magical circus that appears at night and those who inhabit it. It's quite enjoyable so far in a magical-y, Victoriana way.

I've just finished reading The Emperor of All Maladies, which is a history of the medical fight against cancer. That doesn't sound like it would make a good read but it is gripping. Like a thriller and educational all at the same time. Really loved that.

Jane Eyre was fantastic. So surprised at what Charlotte Bronte drew attention to in it- a fair days wage for fair days work; poorly paid governess jobs; slavery; religious hypocrisy; child cruelty; educating girls...So courageous and modern...

Just finished Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood which was jolly good. Nearly finished Black Venus by Angela Carter. After that I'm not sure what will be next.

Before the Atwood book I'd read Gillespie and I by Jane Harris so it'll probably be her other book which I can't remember the title of right now and am too lazy to Google.

TwoIfBySea - how did you enjoy Gillespie and I? I absolutely loved The Observations by the same author. The narrative voice of the young servant girl relating the story was great, I thought. Definitely read it!

Thanks for suggestions above re Candide and Anna Karenina. I think this will be a year of catching up on some classics for me too.

'Grace Williams says It Loud' By Emma Henderson made me laugh, weep, furious....Please consider reading it. She's a wonderful writer giving voice to people all too long marginalised and historically voiceless.

Gillespie and I was really good and at the very end of the book there was a sort of twist that turned everything I had read up to that point on its head. It was really involving and did not turn out as expected, even though I was thinking I knew where it was going - nope, and I liked that.

The Observations is the book I couldn't remember the name of!

And I can recommend Moral Disorder also. Really fantastic characters, sad, funny and poignant short stories that all link together.

I've just finished The Murderer's Daughters which was OK, but about to start The Fear. It's about Robert Mugabe

nursenic

Have just seen your post. Glad to hear both books I have are very good and thank you for your recommendations. I love American novels too so I'll check out those you suggest. In return, I have enjoyed Jonathan Tropper, Richard Russo and Curtis Sittenfeld.

Just finished The Sense of an Ending, enjoyed it a lot.

I have just finished reading Paul O'Grady's biography. Which wasn't too bad.
Have just started Rebecca Chance's "Bad Sisters" only read a chapter so can't say yet if its goin to be a good read for me or not.

Currently reading 1984, trying to catch up on the books I should have read as a teen lol

kikidee

Thanks for the Richard Russo recommendation. I've added his list to my amazon basket. I loved 'Prep' by Curtis Sittenfeld.

For all those who've read Snowdrops, don't forget to come and ask the author a question on Tues 31 Jan, 9-10pm. Whether you loved it or hated it, it's bound to be a lively discussion...

On my pile for 2012 is:
The Paris Wife (never got round to this in 2011)
The Marriage Plot - Eugenides
The Cat's Table - Ondaatje
Wolf Hall - Mantel (slightly daunted by this, going to take a deep breath and dive in..)

bloomingheather, keep going with Thousand Autumns - it really picks up after chapter 3. We did a great chat with David Mitchell last year if you want to have a look..

Anonymous Bird, we've got Rose Tremain talking about Trespass too...

minimuffin, The Virgin Suicides is one of my all time best books. So original, and such an extraordinary voice. Have you read The Marriage Plot yet? I am hoping to get Eugenides onto bookclub webchat this year - watch this space..

nursenic, longing to read Prep - would love to get Curtis onto bookclub as I loved American Wife.

roobyrooUK, I've been looking at the Night Circus - do you think it might make a good bookclub book?

If anyone wants to nominate a fantastic read/brilliant author that would be ace for bookclub, let me know...

Just finished Freedom by Jonathan Frantzen - OK, but not nearly as good as The Corrections.

Now starting What I Did by Christopher Wakling (I've got it on kindle but the paperback seems to be out this week).

Not expecting it to be an easy read - basic plot is 6-year-old boy runs into road, dad smacks him, social services get involved; written from the point of view of the 6-year-old - but reviews seem to say it's worth reading.

Possible book club material? The subject is certainly relevant to all of us parents.

Oo, I have Freedom on my 2012 shelf - it's a few books down the line for me, MIL has lent it to me, she said fantastic..... Not read anything else of his.

Tilly - thanks for the link.....

Have you done "Before I go to Sleep"? I have not read it but reviews are (mostly) fantastic...... When I bought it he other day, the lady in the shop said "lucky you, I've just finished it, utterly brilliant, you are so lucky to have it ahead of you!"

We are probably going to do it for our next Book Club.

Tilly good luck with Wolf Hall. One of the very few books I have been unable to finish. Just couldn't click with it.

posey I got on much better with Wolf Hall the second I realised that every time Hilary Mantel wrote "he", she was referring to Thomas Cromwell.

Before that it just felt confusing and hard work, but once that clicked, it was the best book I've ever read.