What are you currently reading, how do you feel about it, and what's next on the list?

[IceIceBabyBump]

Currently:
I'm currently about half way through "Enter Ghost" by Isabella Hammad.

Feeling:
I've been working my way through the six books shortlisted for the Women's Prize and this is the last one. It's probably bottom of my list of those books. I haven't at all clicked with the characters and I'm finding it quite boring to be honest.

Next:
I've just had my next stack of four books delivered and I think I'll try George Orwell's "1984" next. I'm excited.

Oh this is a nice idea for a thread!

Currently
Because I can never have just one book on the go, I'm currently reading A Natural History of Ghosts by Roger Clarke, The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham (for book club), and re-reading Longbourn by Jo Baker.

Feeling
I feel like I should get on better with Jo Baker's books but I just find them a little prosaic. (It's not her, it's me!) A Natural History of Ghosts is a fun romp even for this committed sceptic. And The Kraken Wakes is a 1950s sci-fi with all the issues you'd expect of a book matching that description, but there's no-one like John Wyndham for slowly building tension as his genteel English protagonists start to realise that some THING is here with them...

Next
Probably a re-read of Persuasion while I'm in the Austen mood, and I should make a start on a book I own that promises tear-free potty training!

Just finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I had been sceptical about, but loved.
Currently reading The Kite Runner. It's an interesting, sometimes amusing but often discomforting read.
Next, Broken Light by Joanne Harris

Currently reading the latest by Irvine Walsh. The two previously were the first two in the series.
Feeling glad that I only discovered the series when the latest had been released as I would have been itching for the third which tied it all up nicely.
Will likely read either the new Mark Billingham or Stuart Macbride next.

Currently reading: Pompeii by Robert Harris, and also have a non-fiction book about AI on the go called The Coming Wave.

Feeling: the Robert Harris is very much a holiday read, but am feeling very entertained. Makes me want to go and visit Pompeii and view the amazing archaeological sites.

Next: a new translation of The Odyssey and Fraud by Zadie Smith

Currently reading Strange Sally Diamond

feeling: hmm well I do like it but I think its
dragging on a bit. Reminds me a lot of My Child which I only read a short while ago so that's probably why

Next is The mumsnet book
club one by Adele Parks sorry I can't remember the name but it's all ready to
go on my kindle

Reading Fabulous Finn by Dave Wardell. Good so far. Not long started it

I don't know what's next I'll decide that when it comes to it!

The Thursday murder club, the first one. I'm only a few chapters in but finding it dull and can't get over hearing smug Richard osmand narrating it in my head.

A little life...slowly. Allan carr easy way to stop smoking, also very slowly

Plaything by Bea Setton

It's gone a bit creepy in the middle and thoroughly enjoying it

I'm reading all the Elly Griffiths 'Ruth Galloway' books in order and have just got as far as The Dying Fall, which I found a little bit 'lacking' somehow, although I'm not quite sure what I mean by that. I think it's my own fault for reading the books one after the other, which does tend to make any quirks of the author stand out. Have ordered the next in the series and looking forward to reading that.

Currently

Reading #7 of the Maeve Kerrigan crime series by Jane Casey and Artemis by Andy Weir

Feeling

Addicted to Jane Casey and it's really not my usual thing
Artemis is ok so far but not a patch on Project Hail Mary. Again, Sci Fi is unusual for me

Next

I got a few things in Kindle deals yesterday and think I'm going to try Jilly Cooper's Riders or continue with either Jane Casey or Jodi Taylor's Chronicles Of St Marys series (time travel/history)

Currently reading Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

It's excellent. Small and huge all the same time. Atmospheric, strong sense of place, human, humane. Definitely merits its place on the Booker list. Second favourite read of the year so far for me.

Will soon be moving on to My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss, and very much looking forward to it.

Currently - Elena Ferrante’s ‘My Brilliant Friend’
Feeling - This is my third time now trying to read this book. I can’t get into it at all. I’m trying to persevere because everybody says it’s fantastic so maybe it gets better, but I don’t look forward to picking it up and I hate that about a book!
Next - ‘Held’ by Anne Michaels

I couldn't get on with 'My Brilliant Friend' either. Tried a couple of times, but giving yourself permission not to carry on with books you're not getting anything from is liberating...

I've two audible on Borrow Box -

Dervla Murphy - Ireland to India with a bicyle. Truly engrossing and humourous in parts. Amazing to think this woman went solo in 1963 on a bicycle from Ireland through Europe, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Amazing story and she took it all in her stride.

First (by Evan Thomas) the biography of Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female to serve as a US supreme court judge, amongst many other achievements. A great listen.

One paperback for "real reading"

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Read it and see.

Currently: "The Gods of the Woods". Next up: "The Women". Am really enjoying what I am reading now snd very excited for the next one!

Thank you for all your contributions so far. I love hearing about other people's reading.

That's really interesting about "My Brilliant Friend". So many people absolutely rave about Elena Ferrante’s novels but they've never quite appealed to me and I've struggled to articulate why that's the case.

I've just finished The Exorcist's House by Nick Roberts, I'm always trying to find a novel that genuinely scares me, but this was not it.
Next is The Examiner by Janice Hallett, can't wait to start!

I also gave up on My Brilliant Friend, the writing was a slog. I'm confused by its status as the best book of the century.

I'm reading the Ruth Galloway series too and have got up to The Stone Circle. I'm really enjoying them, for fairly undemanding reads.

Current reads - One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware. I've nearly finished this and feel this is a bit meh really. Perhaps, coming straight after The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith, which I loved, it feels quite disappointingly thin with many silly plot holes.

And, A Very Private School by Charles Spencer. I started this today, and haven't got far yet, but so far very good. Likely to be quite a harrowing read.

Up next, In A Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor. A re-read.

I couldn't get on with My Brilliant Friend either. I've tried twice and haven't managed to get past half way. The writing felt quite slow and I wondered if it had maybe lost something significant in translation.

I hated it. Our book club read it, and I could barely manage to get through enough of it to participate in the discussion.

Current read - Troubled Blood - Robert Galbraith. I'm enjoying it, but boy..i wish someone had the balls to edit JK properly. The book could be half as long...so much waffling. endless details about horoscopes.
The latter HP books suffered from the same thing.
Next up, a Jack Higgins I found in a little free library. Looks a bit 'blood and thunder'. Not sure I've read him before.
Didn't like the Richard Osman at all. Not bothered to try another one.

Currently reading The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella. Not my usual thing and I’m finding it rather slow and really lacking in any real ‘hook’ to make me want to read on. Also feel the reason for the character’s burnout is very weak and that’s distracting me. Maybe I was expecting too much!

Next I will probably read the new Liane Moriarty one but can’t remember its name!