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’m reassured to see this because I bought All The Colours Of The Dark after hearing rave reviews but I just can’t get into it right now. I’ll stick with it then!

I’ve just finished The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale and I’m reading I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue which I am really enjoying

It was a dnf for me, it was so boring.

I also love everything Elena Ferrante writes! My Brilliant Friend trilogy is great on audiobook BTW

Just started The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru, literally one chapter in. I have high hopes as I've liked all his other books I've read. Have a long train journey tomorrow so I hope it grips me enough I can spend the whole time reading and not want to reach for my phone!

Next: There are river in the sky for bookclub

Oh really? Pah!

I’m halfway through The Story of the Lost Child, the 4th book in the My Brilliant Friend series.

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that however intelligent she might be, Lenu can be a complete idiot.

Totally agree - she's not at all the perfect main character that so often appears when people write long sagas. She's a total idiot at times, and as for Nino...she's very believable though! The Italian tv series is perfect if you ever get the chance to see it. I think its on Prime.

Must do at some point!

I didn't get on with Elena Ferrante at all. I finished My Brilliant Friend with some relief and had no desire to read any more.

The writing was wonderful and description of the life in that part of Naples at that time incredibly evocative. I realised later, when I listened to the Radio 4 adaptation, that I just didn't like the characters, found them intensely irritating and so wasn't interested what happened to them.

Currently reading Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe

Feeling- found Stibbe last month when I read Love, Nina and now I’m reading and listening to as much of her writing as I get hold
of. Her style is wonderful.

Next: Nina Stibbe - Went to London, Took the Dog.

Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt for book club. Alternating between print and audiobook.
Not bad. But so far more interesting for the history than the story itself.

Just finished Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer which was quirky, sad, funny and unique. I rated it a solid 3 out of 5.
I think next on my list is Mrs Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. Hopefully less about grief and more light hearted!

Loved Mrs Benson's Beetle! It's been a few years now but lovely read

Just stormed through 3 books in a fortnight which I recommend as were real page turners and very well written but not easy reading content emotionally:
2 Cathy Glass memoirs of fostering, Neglected and A Terrible Secret.
First One in Last One Out, the true story of an Auschwitz survivor.

Absolutely loved There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. Have you read The Forty Rules of Love by her? I loved that too.

I'm reading Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz which I'm really enjoying. Next book is The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson. I think it's a take on the John Fowles book The Collector which I read about 30 years ago!

"Absolutely loved There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. Have you read The Forty Rules of Love by her? I loved that too."
DH bought me a copy of There are Rivers in the Sky as one of my birthday books. Somehow I just don't fancy it - strange really because I've read most of her other books and really liked them.

I’m 2/3 through There Are Rivers in the Sky & loving it. Didn’t think it would be my kind of book at all but reading it for book club & really enjoying it.

Just read de Beauvoir’s « lost » novel The Inséparables and really enjoyed it. I burned through her memoirs and The Second Sex in my teens but have never read any of her fiction. She is a precise, skilled writer who can choose just the right word. I might read The Mandarins at some point.

Currently reading the first of the Seven Sisters series and quite enjoying it.

I finished The Bastard Of Istanbul by Elif Shafak today and wasn’t that keen

Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood', the seminal true-crime book. I can see what the fuss is about, he was clearly an incredible writer and it's compelling stuff both about a horrible crime and also very much about rural middle American communities.

Not sure what's up next, probably some literary fiction; I tend to alternate my genres (my last read before this was science fiction). Maybe the most recent Elif Shafak book, as I loved the Island of Lost Trees.

@Tisfortired - I couldn't get that much into the book either. Maybe it's just something I can't relate to having never had a very close friendship like that.

Just finished a really disappointing Mary Higgins Clark called The Anastasia Syndrome.
About to start a Thomas Harris that I've never even heard of called Cari Mora.

I've only read Island of Missing Trees which I loved so I'm glad to have the excuse to read another by Elif Shakf

I tried to read this as part of a book club a few years ago and couldn’t finish it. I actually barely got halfway. I just couldn’t get into it and found it difficult to read. The rest of my bookclub loved it and I often see it highly praised. I thought it was just me 😂

Just read Albion by Anna Hope and Among Friends by Hal Ebbot. Both were average - they started well but then tailed off. Among Friends was very overwritten.

Currently reading The Favourite by Fran Littlewood and I’m enjoying it so far.

Sorry to jump on here without answering the question but you all seem so knowledgeable I am going to follow up some of your recommendations. I have a question...a good few years ago I remember a female tv presenter (possibly a news presenter) was promoting her book that was a behind the scenes fictional look at TV..I just can't remember who it was. Tried googling but no result. It wasn't Fearn Britton or Judy Finnegan. Any ideas please?