What are you reading?

[poppadum]

I am reading Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal, about a 42 year old female schoolteacher's affair with a 15 year old schoolboy. She's such a marvellous, perceptive writer that I actually ended up feeling sorry for the teacher. Full of wonderful insights into the class divide.

Next on my list is the new Joanna Trollope.

Anyone else reading anything good?

The Fairy Gunmother by Daniel Pennac. A slightly off the wall French thriller set in Belleville, Paris.

The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I do like it, but if I try and make sense of the time travelling stuff my head feels like it will implode.

a mixture of Saturday by Ian McEwan and Dead Air by Iain Banks (a fiction not a sci fi)

Small Island, as recommended by a Mumsnetter. Enjoying it so far.

a biography of elvis presley
very indepth and good
I think it is called last train to memphis

On Beauty, Zadie Smith. Makes me think of the Cosby Show.

bump!

Jodie Picoult - Keeping Faith .Its stunning like all her books .

Lee Harper "To Kill a Mockingbird" and James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small"

Made me think of the Cosby Show too, how weird, naybe where she got some of the characters?

read Empress Orchid, by .. can't remember. Loved book tho. Going to read The Kid by Kevin Lewis

A biography of Anna Wintour the US Vogue editor. Funnily enough unauthorised as she doesnt want to lose her air of mystery.

make that Harper Lee

Message withdrawn

The Leper's Bell, by Peter Tremayne

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan
Awesome biographical stories for any fans out there.

I've just whizzed my way through (i.e. skim read) a Dan Brown, Deceptive Fortress or something. I think his plots are great but the writing isn't the greatest, hence the skim reading - I explained to dh that I prob only read enough of each para to get the gist. I can see why people like his plots I suppose and it's very easy reading. Although I'm not keen on the way he uses italics.
Like this, in a fragment, for emphasis.

I have just started reading The Farm, which I'm enjoying so far and which I'm sure will make me angry with the supermarkets all over again. It's about a family having to give up their farm because they can't make a living and it's a memoir. Now that I am reading properly, every word.

loved notes on a scandal.

am just about to finish the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafon....great love story/thriller/gothic novel set before during and after the spanish civil war....page turner but nicely written (is a translation) and i've really enjoyed it...quite scarey in parts but i'm a wuss so not too scarey really....one of those books i've raced through but am quite sad to be finishing...

still finishing the dregs of a Cloud Atlas, rather wonderful
and simultaneously starting out on the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

oooooh, wind up bird is great mazzystar, & i also really enjoyed shadow of the wind soph. scared me too.

i am just finishing the map of love by nicole krauss which is fine, not breathtaking but perfectly readable. am about to start in the fold by rachel cusk & 26a by diana evans.

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende - very enjoyable so far, but have to read in short bursts for some reason..?

All time favourite book is The Bone People by Keri Hulme - re-read it every 5 years or so

ooooo has rachel cusk got a new one hoxton....love her....

Oh I have Cloud Atlas sat waiting, I just keep reading the first page then picking something else up. At the minute its some 'was she or wasnt she' book on Maryln Monroe. Didnt expect it to be any good but its been very interesting.