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 read real books as well. I usually have a paperback and audiobook on the go at the same time! I like to listen to audiobooks while I run.

Fair enough! I don’t run 😁🙈

I used to listen to audiobooks in the car on long journeys, but have had to stop that after getting a speeding fine. It was 45 on the M1 when it should have been 40, just in case I'm giving the impression of being reckless, but I just missed the change of speed limit sign because I was so engrossed in the last few pages of a whodunnit.

I've been on a non-fiction trend recently. I'm currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed which is the story of her deciding to hike the Pacific Crest Trail after the death of her mother and her self-destructing her marriage. I'm about a quarter of the way through and I'm a bit undecided at the moment. She's a really good writer but the choices she made baffle me - I get the sense she's not taking that much personal responsibility for what she did prior to the hike and the consequences thereof. Maybe there will be more clarity and understanding as I go on.

I recently finished The Battle of the Beams by Tom Whipple which I enjoyed immensely. It's very geeky, being about the development of radio navigation systems and radar during the second world war and the efforts to jam them. There are some absolutely fascinating people and events and it's written in a very entertaining manner. I loved it but I can imagine it's got quite a narrow audience.

Just finished Budgie's autobiography. For thode that don't know he was the drummer in Siouxsie and the Banshees among othet bands )Slits, Big in Japan)/ I enjoyed the book immensely though it was an audiobook rather thana paperback. Budgie was narrating which was lovely to hear/ I He has a lovey
warm sounding voice. I found his early years quite entertaining as we are a similar age and he references watch with mother including the Woodentops (who I hated) on tv and some of the advertising slogans that were around then. He goes on to the Liver[ppl music scene etc. His marriage to Siouxsie wa quite eye opening too.

Just finished Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderer’s, which I actually really enjoyed! I just picked it up on a whim for an easy read but I was keen to see how it all played out in the end.

just deciding my next week. I’m very slowly working my way through Butter - I might just leave it for now and try again when my book group do it. Tempted to give March Violets by Philip Kerr a try, as have seen that a new Apple TV show is being made with Jack Lowden starring and I love him, so will definitely watch it!

During my week’s holiday I read Neneh Cherry’s memoir “A Thousand Threads”, which was fascinating, and “I who have never known men” by Jacqueline Harpman which I can’t stop thinking about - such an unusual tale.

I’ve just finished I who have never known men. Quite liked it. Probs wouldn’t recommend though as I think Book of The Midwife does this better.

I’m about to try and make headway with The Safe Keep, which I appear to have been reading for months now.

In reality I have just not been as gripped by it as I thought I’d be. See also, Butter. Finally finished it, thought it was meh.

Swann by Carol Shields . I've owned it for years and must have read it before but can barely remember anything of it.

Starts slow but picks up - very enjoyable at the end . It was published in 87 and it does seem like a bygone era where people write letters to each other and spend their free time reading and crocheting.

Next - not sure. Maybe The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

I’ve just finished Girl, Woman, Other. Phew, quite a story, cleverly told weaving the stories of what seem like unrelated women. All the difficult stuff is covered; race, gender, sex, abuse, youth, old age, identity. My friend recommended it, said she thought I’d like it, but might struggle with bits, I’m not sure which bits, it was hard hitting but well told and powerful memories and insight into feminism in the early 80’s when all men were potential rapists (and many other generalisations about all aspects of life, sexuality and even food). I may have to buy a copy to reread (library copy).
Im now trying to read Big Swiss but not really warming to it, I’m only a few pages in though.j

Next - not sure. Maybe The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

Pat Barker is great! Love all of this trilogy.

I’ve given up on Big Swiss and started on Salt Snow by Julia Armfield and already liking it more.

I gave up on Big Swiss when the MC started to French kiss her dog!

Currently:
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. Part of the ACOTAR series

Feeling:
I cannot put this series down. This is the 3rd book of this series and it's taking about 2-3 days to read each one in between work and housework.
It's amazing, and never something I would normally read (fantasy, Faeries, Humans, Magic, War, Love, Lust, Secrets, Death etc).
Can't stop telling people to read it lol

Next:
Obviously I need to read the next 3 in this series, I've already read the Empereon series (Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm), I think I'll look at the other books from Sarah J Mass as I think they somehow link in with the ACOTAR series.

Recently finished Mister Pip. It’s old now (2006) but I couldn’t read it til after I’d read Great Expectations (couple of years ago). It’s about a small coastal village on an island near Papua New Guinea during a civil war; a white man teaches the kids through reading Dickens’ GE. It was captivating, tragic and disturbing. Googled and found there is a film starring Hugh Laurie so have to watch that now.

Now trying to finish The Leopard which I put down to read Mr Pip.

Finally, thankfully, finished Butter. Oh my goodness that was a slog. I wish I was a better DNF’er but I unfortunately tend to stubbornly persist with books I’m not enjoying as a matter of principle so I waded through. After all the rave reviews I was really looking forward to it but by the time I’d hit the midway point the book was sending me to sleep. I mean I literally fell asleep reading it on more than one occasion. Perhaps the fact I’m really not a massive foodie didn’t help.

It does raise some interesting and pertinent points around sexism in Japanese society and the start was promising but overall this was dull, repetitive (felt like screaming when I read about the taste of butter for what felt like the 100th time) and overall very disappointing.

@Eastie77Returnsi agree about Butter, I found it a huge slog by the end though enjoyed the first few chapters as it's quite an unusual story and I was interested in what it was saying about life in modern Tokyo. But I was left mystified by the end (did she murder them or not?)

I'm now reading The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey which is okay and likeable enough, though I'm starting to find it repetitive. Next up is Zennor in Darkness by Helen Dunmore, an author I absolutely love. I think it's her first novel and so I'm really looking forward to it. I usually avoid all books about WW1 but I'm making an exception for this author.

I’m 60% through Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. I’m finding it very slow but there’s just about enough interest to keep me reading. I’m hoping something happens soon…

I have Demon Copperhead lined up next on my tbr although tbh I’m not that drawn to it at the moment

I have just abandoned The Sentinel by Lee and Andrew Child. Just dull.
Why Lee Child, who must have more money than god, has handed over his creation to his brother to ruin will forever be one of life's great mysteries. I love the Reacher books, I've read them all and this is awful. The signature moves are all there...Reacher arrives in a small town where strange things are happening etc, but the magic is gone.
Please Mr Child, give your character a humane ending before you've ruined your legacy forever. These books are unreadable.
Next up I have a new John Sandford, Secret Prey and I'm loving it so far. I thought I'd read all of the Prey series but have been delighted to find recently that I seem to have missed about ten of them. Deep joy.

I posted earlier on this thread but I am still trudging through All The Colours Of The Dark! Unless the ending is amazing, in my opinion, it’s way too long and drawn out but I also, just don’t really like the style of writing. I’m determined to finish it though!!!

I'm reading Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. I'm a big fan of her work so I'm probably biased, it's as good as I was expecting.

I just wanted to add that I persisted with ‘A Fine Balance’ and it has gotten a bit better.

There is still 8 hours of listening left though so I will be so relieved to finish it!! It has taken me months. The jury is still out.

reading - the first Cazalet Chronicles book. Really enjoying it and keen to read whenever I get chance, but oh my! Was not expecting some of the darker plot points. Thought it would be all Sunday night ITV type drama. Started reading on same day as my sister but she's raced ahead so I knew there there was something shocking ahead, but not that. Nearly finished. Not sure if I will commit to next in series, will decide depending on end of this one. Can't quite see how it ties together unless it is just war related convergence.

next- I think the new Wally Lamb has come but I haven't opened the package yet because I'm too excited and need to wait until I have finished current book and have chance to read it. If it turns out to actually be different book I'll be really thrown and need a rethink.

Next on my TBR is Edna O'Brien's 'Girl'.

I bought the hardback when it came out (yes, that's how slowly - and trend-aversely - I go...) but have been putting it off due to feeling raw about the subject matter.

I think I could read it now and appreciate it as a work of art, especially after having treated myself to a luxuriantly slow re-read of AS Byatt's 'Possession' - pure pleasure.

The real Chibok girls, of course, are still missing.

oh DC is so so wonderful, best book I've read in the last few years

Currently reading Fire by John Boyne (read Water earlier this year and just finished Earth, will pick up Air when my local bookshop says they have it back in) loving it. This series is just brilliant, he's an amazing writer and they're all novellas so an afternoon of reading on each one. I think I'll re-read them altogether in one go at another stage.

Next up is Home Front by Kristin Hannah, cos I bought it for £1.50 in a second hand bookshop the other day so that's the rest of my holiday reading sorted