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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

What are you reading atm, and would you recommend it to the rest of MN?

183 replies

Blandmum · 04/02/2007 13:58

I am reading Semidetatched by Griff Rhys Jones.

Very funny memoir. He is sopt on in his descriptions of all those ghastly teenage parties that I remember from my 'yoof'

A very funny book and I'd recoend it to all mumsnetters in their late 30s/40s. Or for younger MN to rad about what their parents got up to in the 60s and 70s!

An excellent read.

And you?

OP posts:
MyEye · 17/01/2008 15:53

The Margot Fonteyn biog by Meredith Daneman. Lots of good detail, but I don't like her writing style much: tries a bit too hard and doesn't always pull it off.

Disappointing as despite knowing next to nothing about it I'm on a ballet jag atm. The last thing I read was the vast Nureyev biog by Julie Kavanagh: wonderful in every way.

Both biographers danced professionally and JK in particular really makes you see and understand the dancing.

3littlefrogs · 18/01/2008 17:00

Jean Auel - "Earth's Children" Series. Not new, but I keep going back to them - I wish she would hurry up and finish the next one!

jura · 18/01/2008 17:08

This reply has been deleted

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suzycreamcheese · 18/01/2008 17:14

Ma Jian 'stick out your tongue'

my dad sent it and some others of his
very captivating..set in wilds of tibet..
thin book, good writer
really enjoyed it

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 18/01/2008 17:25

Marcel Proust 'Swann's Way' (in translation ). Dropped some books off at charity shop yesterday and bought this - unputdownable!!! Am saving the second volume for my holiday.

sabaidii · 20/01/2008 08:45

The Poisonwood bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

It's a fantastic book and I highly reccomend it. Very moving.

HaventSleptForAYear · 21/01/2008 14:43

I capture the Castle - by Dodie (err smith)? She wrote 101 Dalmations.
Got it for Xmas and put it to one side but am really enjoying it. quite gentle, but interesting, teenage girl's point of view

CatIsSleepy · 23/01/2008 09:10

Notes from an Exhibition
absolutely the best book I've read in ages

Psychomum5 · 23/01/2008 10:00

In the past couple of weeks I have read...

the burning girl - mark billingham. It's ok, but not his best so far. the best of his was 'sleepy head'. it didn't 'hold' me, so definitely don't read it unless you read sleepyhead first!

The Bone Garden - tess gerritson. Couldn't put this one down. it has two story's that are connected, but one set in boston in 1830, and one in the present day. she has captured the past so well (well, IMO seeing as it is impossible to know), and the merging of the two story's is great. read this in 2 days!

Skin Privilege - Karin Slaughter. really good, but quite intense on the blood and gore side (tis a crime/thriller). and it has many referrals to her earlier books, so you would need really to start at the beginning of the 'series' (6 to date I think). shock ending, and I was mighty peeved about that as I will most likely have to wait 2yrs now for the next book!.

The Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife - Naimh Greene. Really really funny, and as it is about a mum, most of the things she says and does are spot on to how my life can be at times. It is her first book, and one done very well. Tis more 'chick lit' tho, so if you aren't a fan then you would probably steer clear, but I loved it and found it so funny and easy and just the right book for an 'inbetween thrillers' read.
Tip.....don't start reading in a coffee shop while drinking.......you will laugh/splutter/choke and embarrass yourself!!

now on 7th Heaven - James Patterson. I have liked almost all his books (have got them all ), and this is starting rather well. Only started it yesterday tho, and I can leave it, so not a 'holder' as yet, altho that could still change.

Oh, and tried to start the new Patricia Cornwell book - Book of the Dead. really hard start, and I am not in the mood for her right now (and lots of her books now are the same old/same old) so will try again later me thinks.

Threadie · 23/01/2008 10:04

Re-reading Orwell's A Clergyman's Daughter,which I first read as a teen. V. disappointed actually. It's quite flat.

Bink · 23/01/2008 10:09

Mary Kingsley (and the rest of the set listed). Whole-heartedly recommend the entire set (Book People do a bargain box), especially if you have children of school age that you would like to regale with shockers about electric eels and crocodiles.

S1ur · 23/01/2008 10:09

Just finisehd

Fingersmith

it was wicked, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Now at a bit of a loss, suppose could always go back to Alfie Kohn and try to finish it this time.

ArcticRoll · 23/01/2008 11:34

Just finished The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney and really enjoyed it.
It is worth persevering with as I found the first fifty pages a bit dull.
Also Half of a Yellow Sun-Chimanda Ngozi Adichie-brilliant.

southeastastra · 23/01/2008 11:50

nearly finished the private papers of eastern jewel. i'd recommened it highly, lots of history, cross dressing, sex, cultural education.

GooseyLoosey · 23/01/2008 11:53

The Savage Garden by Mark Mills. Set in 1960s Tuscany. Great if you like a bit of a mystery but no violence.

bundle · 23/01/2008 12:14

Savage Garden was pants.

imo

bundle · 23/01/2008 12:16

also rachel cusk, arlington park

PANTS

posieflump · 23/01/2008 12:17

Just read Husbands and Other Lovers by Elizabeth Varley which was very good

MiaWallace · 23/01/2008 12:41

Half way through A Quiet Belief in Angels
by RJ Ellory.

Loving it so far and if it continues to be this good until the end I think it will become one of my favourite books.

grendel · 23/01/2008 15:03

Finished On Cheshill Beach by Ian McEwan last week. Beautifully written. Very evocative. Rather sad. (Much less word than 'Saturday' which had me grinding my teeth and muttering 'Get ON with it!'

Finished 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy a couple of days ago. Very powerful, very stark, horrifying, bleak etc. A great book but not one I'd like to read again soon. It really affected me for several days and had to give DD lots of hugs.

As a complete antidote I'm now re-reading 'Northern Lights'. What fun!

WowOoo · 23/01/2008 15:26

Just finished The Tenderness of Wolves -Stef Penney. Fab, tried to read it slowly so it would last longer.

wheelybug · 23/01/2008 18:52

Finally finished my bookclub book last night which won't be getting a good rating - it was a real chore...

About to re-read Ballet Shoes ! I finally watched the tv film on sunday and wasn't convinced by the cheesy ending so decided to re-read it to see what really happened (maybe it did have the cheesy ending, I don't remember).

Then I will read On Chesil Beach.

That's as far as I've planned

Saker · 23/01/2008 20:16

Just finished "English Passengers" by Matthew Kneale - would really recommend it. Now I am feeling rather bereft and wondering what to read next - which is why I am looking at this thread...

1066andallthat · 23/01/2008 20:44

An Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
Eating for England - Nigel Slater
The Tenderness of Wolves and Half a Yellow Sun.

They are all books I would happily pass to friends. Does anyone know which book "The Tenderness of Wolves" reminds me of - set between France and just-settled French Canada - a girl, growing up in a chemist's? It is driving me mad - I remember all the details, just not the title!

Trolleydolly71 · 23/01/2008 21:00

Message withdrawn