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.

I like a psychological thriller but I’m finding most of them very dull and formulaic at the moment and badly written too in most cases. If I see one more book with ‘Girl’ in the title…..(with the exception of Gone Girl which was very good)

My recent reads, that I have enjoyed, were:-

1. The Death of Us - Abigail Dean.
2. Beautiful Ugly - Alice Feeney
3. The Puppet Show - Patrick Redmond
4. The Little House - Philippa Gregory

Finding it difficult to find anything else that will hold my interest long enough for me to finish it.

@MotherFlumper Have you tried anything by Gillian McAllister? I really enjoyed her books Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Just Another Missing Person and Famous Last Words

@Blackcountryexile Thanks! I’ll have a look.

I've started the Niccolo series by Dorothy Dunnet. I'm enjoying them (read the first two) but my word they're dense and convoluted.
I'm re-reading the Reacher books in between as a palate cleanser.
Love a bit of Lee Child.
I had another go at a Richard Osman yesterday. Abandoned. Don't like them at all.

Small island by Andrea Levy

Finished Story of a Murder by Hallie Rubeunhold-a bit disappointing and not as good as her previous book, The Five.

Just started Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh

Just finished Water by John Boyne. Beautifully written and thought provoking.

Also read Absolutely and Forever by Rose Tremain. Well observed and finely crafted tale of middle class longing from a bygone era.

Just finished Fingersmith by Sarah Walter’s and The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson. Fingersmith was amazing and I am still missing reading it! The Darkness was ok as a thriller, very easy to read.

Im going to start One Day by David Nichols. I’m working my way through books I’ve previously bought from charity shops and not yet read- Fingersmith was one!

@FoxRedPuppy
Fingersmith was amazing and I am still missing reading it!

I thoroughly recommend The Night Watch and The Paying Guests too.

I’ve been on a reading roll the past couple of days. Re-read Sea of Rust and Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill. They give a different spin on the AI apocalypse. Day Zero is the first book, but I read them originally the other way round. I absolutely rate them both.

I also got up to date with John Boyne’s Elements series- having read Water last week, I was keen to read Earth and Fire before Air is released next month.
Earth and Fire are both very dark. Well crafted, but dark. I’d say the subject matter is somewhat triggering- approach all of these books with some caution.

I’m about to jump into Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers, having very much enjoyed her other novels.

Currently reading The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer. It's been hanging around on my shelves for quite a while, unread, and I'm enjoying it very much. Kicking myself for not reading it sooner.

Next up, probably something else that's been hanging about unread for too long. I've got plenty to choose from 🤔

I'm reading a Dick Francis! Proper blast from the past. I used to love them and they're still great.

I’m currently reading The Skeleton Key, but I’m really struggling to get into it. I will persevere ..

Is this the one by Erin Kelly? If so stick with it. It really does get better.

It is. It came highly recommended, so I’m sticking with it, but it’s just not really holding my interest so far.

I love these books, brilliant.

I'm excited to read the new Hunger Games book, just downloaded it and it's next on my list.

I'm halfway through Sunrise on the Reaping, enjoying it though not as much as the original trilogy, and it's kind of weird knowing what happens afterwards but still good and racing through

Next book is for bookclub https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/17/john-vaillant-firestorms-fire-weather-baillie-gifford-canadian-blaze#:~:text=A%20week%20later%2C%20recalls%20John,houses%20was%20piles%20of%20nails.

I just finished Every Man for Himself by Beryl Bainbridge. This was a great read despite the fact we all know the story. I took it with me to finish on a trip abroad this last weekend but didn't have time to read. So had a bit of a gap before the last 30 pages, and felt annoyed with myself I might have lost the atmosphere. But I found myself physically reacting to the climax. A sudden jolt of terror. Which took me by surprise.

A strong sense of language and societal expectations which felt accurate.

Now to choose my next read. Not sure what yet.

Current read is Amy & Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout. I like her novels very much and have read the Olive Kitteridge and Amgash series and The Burgess Boys.

However, maybe I'm just tired this week, this one is moving along at a snail's pace. I've been reading it since Thursday and am still only at page 80. I'm not expecting great drama, that's not what you get with Elizabeth Strout's novels but I was expecting to find characters that interest me and I haven't found that yet. Both Amy and Isabelle seem a bit washed out and lacking somehow. Not DNFing it though, but it may take a while to read.

After this, I think may be In Memoriam by Alice Winn which has been waiting patiently for the right time.

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron.

Slower than his others to get going in the initial chapters, but soon picked up a lot.

Its a standalone, but really worth a read if you like the Slow Horses series.

Not sure what next..

Currently:
The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller

Feeling:
Pretty bored to be honest.
The characters are all very wooden and unlikeable.
The look-backs are really weird, unnecessary and dull - I've started skipping over them.
It's incredibly poorly-paced - I'm about 50 pages from the end and stuff has only just started happening.
I've enjoyed most of Claire Fuller's other work so I was very disappointed with this one.

Next:
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

Currently reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki.
I’ve actually been dipping in and out of it for months and keep getting sidetracked by other books. It’s ok. I’m looking forward to hearing what others have to say about it when I get to bookclub.

Next up; The Safe Keep.
it’s the first in my pile of this year’s Women’s Prize books. Quite excited.

Just started White Teeth again. Never managed to get very far into it.

I've never managed to read White Teeth. I've tried, several times, in the past and failed to get very far into it. I gave up officially the last time and sent my copy to the charity shop. I suspect Zadie Smith's books are just too clever for me.

I’m reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. . It is utterly brilliant.

@Citygirlrurallife really enjoying it. Looking forward to the inevitable film.