What are you reading this month?

[EverySongbirdSays]

At the moment I'm reading A Spool Of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

I've also read The Last Act Of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink

Take Six Girls by Laura Thompson

and

The Circle by Dave Eggers

All really different

I didn't really get anything new from it .I did enjoy it though. Again, she was very charmed by Diana and fawned about it. The only new thing I learned from either biography was that both Diana and Jessica had abortions and that felt like something I never needed or had any right to know.

My username is also Stephen King inspired. It's from the Rolling Stones song that Jake (George) sings in front of Sadie in 11.22.63 and which leads their big bust up. Stephen is also my mate

I'm currently reading the fourth DI Helen Grace book, Girl on the Train (for book club) and A Place Called Winter, which in thoroughly enjoying.

I finished reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Understated horror story growing very slowly. I liked it.

Next up, continuing the Halloween theme of quiet horror, I'm taking The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley with me for Half Term holiday reading.

The Central Park West Trilogy. Think I bought 2 NYC-based books at the same time and this was not what I expected when I started reading it. But, it's seriously creepy (in a good way) - am slightly disturbed at what's about to happen to poor Brodski.

I'm reading The Trouble With Goats and Sheep. Really enjoying it although finding it hard keeping track of everyone!

I've just read a book called American Pastoral, a book that just seems to end in mid air like half of it is missing. It started so well too.

It's about a couple whose lives fall apart after their daughter gets involved in the anti Vietnam movement, it's just told really oddly though, and also focuses on things which are only incidental to that story

The Loney is amazing.

I'm reading The Children's Act.

I'm reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver which I saw someone reading on a train. It is excellent, gripping.

I read The Walk Home by Rachel Seiffert and found that quite hard going and was frustrated by some ends that seemed to be missing in the book.

Love Colm Toibin's books after reading Nora Jones, Brooklyn and Mothers and Sons.

Really really want Hilary Mantel to come back with a book in the same vein as Every Day is Mother's Day, Vacant Possession or Beyond Black (my favourite!). Really enjoyed Eight Months on Ghazzah Street very thought provoking!

Poisonwood is one of my favourite books

The next Hilary Mantel will surely be the conclusion to the Thomas Cromwell trilogy?

Currently reading 'How not to die' by Michael Mcgregor.

But I need a novel for my holiday this week, you are all very wise book people!

May I ask you all what is the most gripping book you are reading or have read recently? I love a gripper! Something with sex and drugs and rock and roll is good....

I'm reading Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, it's very entertaining.

I liked Poisonwood, have just picked up Flight Behaviour in a book sale, after a false start with a library copy earlier this year.

Oh, I love Bruuuuuuce.

MrsTumbleTap well Poisonwood is gripping but I think I can see where it's leading... Same with Eight Months on Ghazzah Street.

Funnily enough even though they're not gripping as such I found Norah Jones and Brooklyn to be gripping in other ways...

If you want old school gripping the Frances Sherwood's Green and Vindication both totally different but gripping in different ways.

Everysongbird yes I guess the Thomas Cromwell conclusion will be the final in that trilogy, not overly keen on those I have to say.

No one does dark humour and characterisation quite like Mantel though, she's very marmite, I know some love her dark humour and some really don't get on with it! I'd quite like Muriel from Every Day is Mothers Day etc to make a reappearance!

Thanks superflyhigh I'm off to look on Amazon for those!

Let me know what you think of them MrsTumbleTap especially the Sherwood ones - I think she's a lecturer somewhere in USA so doesn't write much now sadly... I find her style is amazing.

Wilderness was going to say I got given My Brilliant Friend and could not get on with it at all!

Same with A Spool of Blue Thread, tried to read it and wasn't going anywhere so abandoned it!

But, SIL gave me a book of short stories by Elizabeth Taylor (no not that one) and my gosh - what an incredible writer! get hold of that if you want autumn/winter reading curled in front of the fireside!

I have just finished The Lollipop Shoes, which is as equal to Chocolat. I enjoyed it more than Chocolate.

Morningbear I did become slightly obsessed with Good Morning, Midnight. It felt like the sort of book I used to read when I was doing my degree. Part of me wished it was longer and part of me thought it might have been spoilt. I became fascinated by women in that era who live hand to mouth. I started a thread on here about wanting something similar.

Mermaid I found Life Class really enjoyable (not quite the right word) although it's not to everyone's taste apparently. I find Pat Barker one of the few authors who can successfully bring real historical people into fiction. Maybe because Tonks and Dr Rivers (Regeneration) are not well known.