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.

Have just finished Demon Copperhead. Am I the only person on the planet who found it hard going? It feels 3 times longer than necessay , a basically good story but sooo drawn out.

I’ve just finished The Pisces by Mellissa Border, a very mad book. Disliked by many because the fictional character kills a dog and falls in love with a fish. But I liked its insights into love, women’s need for love to feel complete (possibly humans’ need, but she’s writing from an woman’s perspective) and mental health associated with lack of love and feeling abandoned.

After three Miranda July novels and then this fishy one, I’m now on By Your Side by Ruth Jones and I’m not really enjoying it. I think she’s a better screenplay writer than novelist. I find her writing style a bit dull and repetitive and after four very wild American women authored novels it feels tame and too cosy and I’m struggling through it. I am however on target to hit 12 books this year which is 11 more than I managed last year! If I didn’t spent so much time on here I’d be reading proper stuff, like actual books.

I couldn't agree more. The first third to a half was good, but meh, it dragged.
I did enjoy spotting the links between the novel and its inspiration as I know the original very well.

What did piss me off and made me wonder about the author was her saying she was inspired by Dickens's depiction of poverty in "David Copperfield" when writing Copperhead. "David Copperfield" is not about poverty. What did stand out were obvious links to "Oliver Twist" in the section on the youth farms.

I've just finished "Brideshead Revisited". It was good in parts but generally hard going, and a bit thin.

I've just started "The Safe Keep" by Yael van der Wouden. I'm enjoying it so far.

No idea what's up next. I've had a few duds recently so I'm really struggling with what to try next.

Just finished reading The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. It was a good read in the sense that it was quite quick to read. I'm still pondering it and wondering what I thought of Tony Webster and his predicament and the other characters. I don't know if there's a definitive answer. Or whether there isn't and different thoughts are valid iyswim. Maybe I will read it again with the benefit of knowing the ending.

I'm on holiday ATM; in England, and have spent most of the afternoon reading my new book; Sweet Caress by William Boyd. I'm enjoying it so far. I read Any Human Heart at the end of last year and can't help but compare the 2 as I read. And comparing The Sense of an Ending to AHH. William Boyd tends to be very readable.

Love Diary of a Provincial Lady. I also have it as an audiobook read by Georgina Sutton which is a real comfort listen for me.

Just reading that back I'm annoyed that I've expressed myself so badly! When I say it was a quick read it makes it sound that that is what I think makes it good. What I mean is it was very short and it kept me gripped. Easy to read while yet also made me think about it a lot.

I'm currently reading 'Disgrace' by JM Coetzee for my book club. It's beautifully written, gripping and disturbing - the main character is vile but then shows glimpses of humanity that are completely at odds with how he is presented - there will be some good book club chat I think.

Joining the thread x

Currently.

Book: The Other Mothers, K. Faulkner ( first chapter in). Expecting twists and turns.

Audio: Famous Last words, G. McAllister. Read by
Emilia Fox.
Feeling: Really enjoying it, soft narration, waiting for the answers. Will definitely listen/read to another of the same author.

On my next pile: Such quiet girls, Noelle W. Hill delivery from my book subscription.

Wrong Time Right Place is entertaining @happyandhopefull.

Thanks, I’ll see if it’s on audible.

I am reading (and also listening on audible when in the car or when going to sleep) Verity by Colleen Hoover. Its really good I am really enjoying it. I have not read any of her books before I like her style of writing I have found the story easy to follow

Currently reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, which is spectacularly good.
Next up is Sliver by Ira Levin, not one of his best, I fear.

@happyandhopefulli love Gillian McCallister, all her books are good.

@HRTQueen Verity is possibly her best book, some of the others can be a bit formulaic. It Ends With Us and the follow up also very good though.

@loveawineloveacrisp thank you I shall read It Ends With Us next

Oh!! I’m ready The Safe Keep too. Quite atmospheric so far.

I'm just coming to the end of The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane.

I've loved it - set in Australia in 1883, a small boy wanders off from his families homestead during a dust storm. The book is set over seven days and nights as the community search for him and give support to the family. There's a big cast of characters but they're all well written and we find out about who they are and how they came to be living on the edge of the desert. The background to the book is the desert landscape, the sky and the sun.

Next on my list is The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce.

I have just finished re-reading Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and listening to Stephen Fry read P. G. Wodehouse. When Stephen Fry was asked who his favourite writers were, he said "the three w's," meaning Wilde, Waugh and Wodehouse. I think I agree.

Next I am going to read George Eliot's Middlemarch. I have never read a word of Eliot, so it will be interesting to compare her to Jane Austen and the Brontes.

Currently reading The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, enjoying but it hasn't grabbed me yet so finding I'm easily distracted out of reading. Not far through yet though so will give it time as I'm loving the central characters, just not the premise of the book being cogniscent.

Next up Butter

How are you getting on with it? I finished it a couple of nights ago.

It was very good, but the end section, Part Three, was slightly too fast-moving compared with the atmospheric build up in the first two parts. I'd have liked to read more about Isabel's emotions and feelings throughout Part Three.

Reading Sweet Caress by William Boyd. I'm finding that, when I'm reading it, I'm enjoying it but when I'm not, I'm not racing back to it. But it's still early-ish and hoping it will draw me in more soon. So far it hasn't got the usual humour I'd expect from Boyd. I'm also "on alert" as to whether he can "get" a female lead/first person character; whether it rings true.

@IceIceBabyBump

I’m about half way through. I’m enjoying it so far. Feels like everything is building up to something uncomfortable and tense.

I’m now reading Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers…devouring is a
more apt word, it’s superb.
Listening to The Names by Florence Knapp.
Equally superb and a first novel so I hope to see more
from this author.

That’s interesting. I enjoyed Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers but hadn’t thought to see whether she’d written anything else.

I'm reading The White Dove by Rosie Thomas. It's a hefty tome. I usually really like her stuff but I'm finding this a bit dull.
Might try The Day Of The Jackal next as Frederick Forsyth has just died and i don't think I've read it.