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 reading Hamnet and I’m absolutely in love with it. How did this gem slip past me? So beautifully written and head and shoulders above the other two books I’ve just finished set in the 1500s. I enjoyed The Marriage Portrait earlier this year but I think this is better.

The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee. It seems good but I’m not very far in.

I just finished the To All The Boys I Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han. I know, I know but I'd read some heavy stuff earlier in December and wanted some easy YA fluff over Christmas. And I enjoyed it. May find the films on Netflix.

This evening I'm starting The Flea Palace by Elif Shafak. I got it from my book club Secret Santa. I am looking forward to it because I've read other books by her and really liked them.

I've just finished The Correspondent by Virginia Evans and loved it. I'm now about 15% into The book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd which I am also really enjoying.

Currently reading landlines by Raynor Winn. Undecided on next book to read got loads to choose from

i have just finished The healing Seasons of pottery, which I loved. Also please look after my Mom which was not as good

Currently reading ‘Unruly’ by David Mitchell, about British Kings and Queens, Took me a little while to get into it, but fascinating book. Written in a light hearted, relatable style and educational as well. I never knew we almost had a Queen Matilda ruling the land.

Previous book was a Christmas themed book, ‘A Merry Irish Christmas’, a chick lit, Christmas book which was an enjoyable, easy read book.

I wasn't going to read another Javier Marias book but gave in and am currently reading Thus Bad Begins. It's very slow going and nothing much seems to happen until you get over half way through. That does seem to be the case with all of his books. I'm sort of enjoying it but also wanting to finish it so I can start Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin which I got for Christmas. Totally different genre!!

I’m reading Pillars of the Earth and loving it!!

Oh I loved Unruly! So interesting!

I DNFed a book by her for the same reason. Eye-wateringly bad.

I've nearly finished 'The Stranger's Child' by Alan Hollinghurst, which I've really enjoyed. I'm still not quite sure what the title has to do with the book though. Yes, it's part of a line of poetry from Tennyson and poetry is a big theme in the book, but I'm hoping that the final part (about 50 pages) will enlighten me. It's very well written though and I've romped through it while on holiday.

I'm getting to the end of 'Caledonian Road' by Andrew O'Hagan. I'm enjoying it a lot though it's one of the those books where you're not sure how you're supposed to feel about the main character (well, I'm not, but I have a feeling that it is part of the point). I'm not sure if I'm supposed to feel he deserves bad things to happen to him or not, I'm assuming they will by the end, but I'm not certain.

I’ve just finished The Names by Florence Knapp, I thought it was great

One of my top reads of 2025

I’m most of the way through The Pretender by Jo Harkin. It’s kept me reading and reminded me about Tudor history I’d forgotten. It’s a very human book and refreshingly short of battles, I like the way it’s written from a naive viewpoint.

Just finished:
"Stone Yard Devotional" by Charlotte Wood. It was fabulous - quiet and put me in mind of the smell and feel of highly polished wood throughout.

Now reading:
"Beautyland" by Marie-Helene Bertino. DH bought it me for Christmas.
How is it:
I would never have picked it up in a billion zillion years but its absolutely brilliant. Its 2pm and I'm already itching to get to bed tonight and read it.

Up next:
"Headshot" by Rita Bullwinkle. Another one from DH for Christmas, really looking forward to it.

Oh @IceIceBabyBump I’ve got Beautyland, I will bump it up

I've just returned The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. I thought it was really bad.

I remember Connie Willis mostly because she had people taking shelter from air raids in the Blitz in the Jubilee Line.

If you want time travel, you need to check out Jodi Taylor, if you haven't already. (Sorry, not time travel. Investigating historical events in contemporary time.)

Looking at all the weather news, I'm thinking it's time for a re-read of Winter Holiday.

Currently reading Whisper Cottage by Anne Wyn Clark. I have met her twice (she is the MiL or one of my husbands friends) and both of her books I have are signed. The other one i have is the shadows of hill house, I enjoyed that one. Most of whitehead is Karin Slaughter, Karen Rose and Rachel McClean.

I have just finished Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell which I very much enjoyed.

Have moved on to North Woods by Daniel Mason because Maggie O is quoted as loving it on the back cover 😂 I'm only 30 pages in and to be honest, it's not grabbing me at all ... I'm not sure whether I will continue with what appears to be random ramblings of an insane person and a weird obsession with apples. But time will tell.

My next will be either Tom Lake, James or the third book in the Kat and Locke series (depending how I feel).

I'd be really keen to hear what you thought once you've read it.

I found the opening 10-ish pages slightly disjointed so it didn't grab me straight away. But I was hooked pretty quickly.

I'm not alone! Thank you!

Yes I have read the first few St Mary's books, I liked them to begin with. I just felt they got a bit repetitive and didn't visit time periods i was interested in but was certainly entertained.

Love reading reviews on this thread but can't help lurking suspicion that certain books are positively described by yer actual publishing agents on mumsnet ..