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Original poster

What is everyone reading just now?

251 replies

MrsSpoon · 23/03/2006 21:22

I am almost finished 26a by Diana Evans and finding it so-so, don't know if I just don't have the concentration for it at the moment as parts of it seem excellent and other parts don't seem to even register with me. It could be me rather than the book though.

Just being nosey and looking for future recommendations or titles to avoid. Smile

OP posts:
MaisonMadame · 24/03/2006 13:57

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welshmum · 24/03/2006 13:58

Who wrote 'The way I found her'? please Bagpussmum

bakedpotato · 24/03/2006 14:01

Rose Tremain, Welshmum. She's so versatile as a writer... I likedThe Colour too but that early one about the person in Norfolk who has the sexchange is still my favourite, the title escapes me though Blush

bagpussmice · 24/03/2006 14:03

Rose Tremain welshmum

bakedpotato · 24/03/2006 14:06

(was thinking of RT's Sacred Country)

suzywong · 24/03/2006 14:07

Is that the RT book where she has sex with a 14 year old boy?

Can't say I was a big fan

mrsdarcy · 24/03/2006 14:39

"Saturday" Ian McEwan. v good indeed and I know the part of London it's set in which makes it even more enjoyable.

speedymama · 24/03/2006 14:47

Just finish reading "The Painted House" by John Grisham. It is not like his other books where the central characters tend to be lawyers. This was about how the life of a 7 year old boy changed one summer in a poor part of Arkansas, USA. It was quite an engaging story that unfolded slowly and gently and provided insight into how the poor whites lived in 1950s America. I kept thinking, if it was like that for them, what was it like for black people who were mostly marginalised by society at that time.

scotchlass · 24/03/2006 14:51

Not long finished My Sisters Keeper and Confessions of a Bad Mother, which were both fab. At the moment I am reading Auswitz which is really interesting if you like 2nd WW stuff.

Posey · 24/03/2006 14:58

I have just finished "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" which is a very quick and easy read, but certainly gives you food for thought.
Before that I read "A Long Way Down" which was so-so.
Just got to choose next thing to read.

MoonLady · 24/03/2006 21:26

Where do you buy your books? I use Amazon but like to physically hold the book so trawl bookshops and often end up buying then. I love going around charity shops and get lots of bargains, This morning, though, when I called in at our local Hospice support shop all the books on dn the shelves were the ones I'd donated!!

Ledodgy · 24/03/2006 21:29

Moonlady that happened to me too I went to the local Oxfam and all the books that were there were once mine, will have to go further afield from now on.

FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa · 24/03/2006 21:59

Gosh I cried once in Oxfam after a big clear out. I really had not wanted to part with them Blush

alexsmum · 24/03/2006 22:05

i'm struggling my way through 'the republic of love' by carol shields.Finding it quite painful to be honest.Hate her writing style and the subject matter is dire- want to get through it as it's for my book club...will be having words with the person who chose it!

tallmummy · 24/03/2006 22:50

Just finishing Small Island by Andrea Levy. Takes me so long to read these days as no matter how good the book I'm so sleepy at bedtime I only manange a page and a half.

Beautifully written - witty humour - but shocking depictions of the racism in Britain during and after the war.

I recently finished republic of Love by Carol Shields - a struggle but I was determined to finish it. I enjoyed the Stone Diaries and Unless.

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 25/03/2006 17:16

Welshmum that's funny, I ended up buying May Contain Nuts whilst in Tesco yesterday, thought it looked like just the sort of thing I need, I think I've read too many serious books in the last few months. Started it this morning and am already halfway through it is fantastic and soooo true.

Finished 26a at long last and can't say I enjoyed it.

OP posts:
bijouxdeux · 25/03/2006 17:20

Past Mortem - Ben Elton - only just started though

bijouxdeux · 25/03/2006 17:21

mrsdarcy - I've been looking at 'Saturday' for a while and wondering whether its for me?

you'd recommend it then?

noddyholder · 25/03/2006 17:27

I am reading saturday too and really enjoying it

madeleines · 25/03/2006 17:30

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I've got it in hardback and it's huge and very heavy so hard to prop up in bed so I'm only getting through 1-2 chapters a night. Very good though. Lots of footnotes which seemed annoying at first but are now almost the best bit.

bijouxdeux · 25/03/2006 17:54

thanks Noddy - I think I'll give it whirl!

2labs · 25/03/2006 18:42

Going Gently by David Nobbs (for the second time). One of a very few authors who can make me laugh like a drain in public and then cry 5 mins later Blush

tamaman · 25/03/2006 18:56

madelaines, I read that at Christmas and absolutely loved it. It's not normally my kind of thign, but I thought it was brilliant.

tamaman · 25/03/2006 18:56

That would be thing

TearsBeforeBedtime · 25/03/2006 19:11

Moonlady - it's worth scouring your local libraries in case they sell off old/surplus books. ours does every so often, you can get some incredible bargains for 10p/20p!