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Original poster

Recent reads!

89 replies

florenceuk · 31/03/2004 15:55

Thought I'd just note a couple of books I've read recently - not chick lit though so suspect they don't belong on the recent "good books" thread. Mostly because I've spent the weekends recently lying around feeling ill, have read quite a few lately which I'd recommend:

Having had Cold Mountain on my shelf for ages finally read it - very good, vivid imagery, lots of blood and guts as well. I want to see the movie now. But thought death of Inman was slightly gratuituous at the end???? Anyone else think so?

The Fourth Queen - can't remember author but a recent 3 for 2 offer. Young Irish lass becomes fourth queen to Emperor of Morocco - really! Good historical read, lots of salacious detail about harem life, features a sexy dwarf - good one for the train! Those of you who liked the Red Tent may like this one as well.

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor. More serious this book - Irish go to America and suffer on the way. Lots of detail on Irish famine. Well written, very clever if lacking in truly sympathetic characters. If anyone else has read this and liked it, I recommend The English Passengers which is IMO superior.

Astonishing Splashes of Colour - recommended by someone on here, easy to read but emotionally wrenching book - can't really say what it's about without giving away plot. One for us mums-to-be to blub over.

What I Loved - by Siri Hustvedt. Read this a while ago, but want to recommend it as I think it is a fantastic book, extremely well written - a very intelligent book that is still extraordinarily readable. Fantastic descriptions of what it is like to be an artist, and I suspect Hustvedt's love life with Paul Auster is VERY sexy indeed.

Now I just need some more recommendations for me! Anybody got any?

OP posts:
Tinker · 01/04/2004 23:45

Lovely Bones - prepare to cry and cry. Well I did. A poignant book for parents I think.

Batters · 02/04/2004 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlerach · 02/04/2004 10:10

Paula71, I have just finished Playing James by Sarah Mason, it is set in Bristol for a change!!!

Have bought Time Travellers Wife, also Lucia Lucia.

T%he new Margaret Forster one looks good, anyone read it, or the above two?

vicky99 · 07/04/2004 10:52

Shooting Butterflies by Marika Cobbold is a really good book. I read it in 2 days could not put it down. A very good Easter read if you can send the kids away for the day.

Demented · 07/04/2004 15:47

sis, could find Too Close to the Falls in WH Smith but have ordered a secondhand copy from Amazon, which I am awaiting. Thanks for the recommendation.

I have also just received Riding in Cars with Boys, I really enjoyed the film, despite not being a Drew Barrymore fan, and I have heard the book is better.

sis · 07/04/2004 20:03

Oooh, feeling a bit nervous now, I hope you like it!

celticspirit · 07/04/2004 20:43

a great recent read is The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble - I recommend it!!

Posey · 09/04/2004 21:35

Just finished The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell. Not a Wexford one, nor a whodunnit, more of a whydunnit. Anyway found it very readable and recommend it.

Have now the lovely job of choosing my next read. Have a bit of a pile to choose from, mainly things recommended on here;
Lovely Bones; The Reading Group; Owen Meany; one of the books shortlisted for the first book group... Choices choices...

Slinky · 12/04/2004 14:13

I'm just in the middle of The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble - enjoying it at the moment.

Then I've got a choice between Zoe Heller's "Notes on a Scandal", or "Astonishing Splashes of Colour" or "Sophie's Choice...

Decisions, decisions.

By the way, I love this Forum - keep checking in here to get recommendations - thanks!

littlerach · 15/04/2004 15:07

The Bookseller of Kabul was good - easy to read and interesting. Would recommend it.

tamum · 15/04/2004 18:26

I've just finished Brothers and Sisters by Joanna Trollope, and loved it, I have to say. I know a lot of people are quite dismissive when it comes to her writing, but I felt as if I really knew all the people in the book by the end. Not all the motivation was quite clear, but generally I'd recommend it. I'd be interested to know what anyone else thought, especially people with experience of adoption.

Janh · 15/04/2004 19:24

Oooh, tamum, is that a new one? Is it anything like Other People's Children, because I really loved that, got so fond of some of the characters and angry with others, and was really sad when it finished. (Didn't enjoy Marrying the Mistress nearly as much.)

tamum · 15/04/2004 19:30

Yes, Janh, it's the new one- I v. kindly bought it for my mother for mother's day knowing that she would have finished it within days and would then lend it to me It's more like Other People's Children than any of the others I would say, much better than the last one (Girl from the South, was it?). It's one of those books you completely inhabit IYSWIM. I would gladly send it to you except that I've given it back to my mum now, and it would be a bit blatant even for me to ask ask for it back now....

Janh · 17/04/2004 18:12

Oops, sorry tamum, have only just found this thread again!

How sensible of you to give your mother presents you can borrow . Agree borrowing twice would be overdoing things though. I'll look out for it. (I didn't like Girl from the South at all. This one sounds much more like it!)

hewlettsdaughter · 17/04/2004 18:27

Slinky, I can recommend Heller's "Notes on a Scandal" - I've just finished it, thought it was good.

Freddiecat · 21/04/2004 15:33

Also just finished The Reading Group and really enjoyed it.

Got "The Lake of Dead Languages" by Carol Goodman from the library and it was excellent. Kind of a thriller but a woman's thriller (if that makes sense). And lots of classical references in a similar vein to The Secret History (although a different type of book)

Demented · 21/04/2004 22:24

The two best books I have read in the last six months were The Beach and Life of Pi, would highly recommend them both.

I am reading Brick Lane just now and am in two minds, I am just over a third of the way through and although I was quite enjoying it I've got to that 'waiting for something big to happen' bit. Don't want to spoil the plot for anyone who going to read it but the major incident in the book so far has been a bit of a non-event, was bracing myself for tears but the book just moved swiftly on. I like the characters though and want to know what happens to them in the end.

crystaltips · 21/04/2004 22:26

Freddiecat - I got half way through "The lake of Dead Languages" nad left it on a plane ... have just got it again to finish ....
Don't tell me the end !

crystaltips · 21/04/2004 22:27

Just done : ALice Hoffman Blue Diary and Probable Future
Both very good

Now on Mummy's Legs ..... By ?????

tamum · 21/04/2004 22:35

Oh thank heavens Demented, I do know what you mean but I'm so glad you don't hate it. I was feeling guilty. It does get better later on IMHO!

Florenceuk, I read an interview with Paul Auster at the weekend that implied strongly that the major events in Siri Hustvdet's book are autobiographical which was a bit gobsmacking.

bundle · 22/04/2004 10:24

I too enjoyed notes on a scandal, and am now reading the bad mother's handbook, which is a very very easy read. can a book be too easy??

Original poster
florenceuk · 22/04/2004 11:23

Tamum, I read that as well - I think if you search on slate, there is quite a long article on it. I am just reading one of his books now, The Book of Illusions - so far, so good.

OP posts:
lou33 · 22/04/2004 12:38

I've just finished reading The Lovely Bones. Did anyone else feel this book didn't live up to the hype?

Am about to read A Sunday At The Pool In Kigali now.

Thomcat · 22/04/2004 12:44

Just read 'Sexual Life of Catherine M' for my Book club - no-one read it, it's RUBBUSH, BORING , POINTLESS. Promised to be good as it was all about her sex life but was just v boring group anal sex from start to finish!!!!! you think that would be interesting wouldn't you!!!

Now reading 'The Know' by Martina Cole for the book club and waiting to read 'Star of the Sea' by someone O'Conner (Sinead's brother).

I liked Lonely Bones Lou, but only after a 3 hour discussion with the book club, before that I thought it wa okay. We had suchj a good discussion about it that we all came away thinking differently about the book.

Thomcat · 22/04/2004 12:51

Sorry i always call it lonely bones, I think that would have been a better title, i meant Lovely Bones.

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