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 had to have a second go at North Woods as I found it hard to get into the first time. In the end I adored it - probably my top read of 2025. I also love Maggie O’Farrell!

That's encouraging. I will persevere. Although I have picked it up about 10 times this evening and am still on the same page I was whilst reading on the train on my way home from work 🤦🏻‍♀️

Been mostly listening to audiobooks as I often do this time of year - always great when I've got present wrapping, cooking prep and tidying to do! Started with Edward Petherbridge reading Howard's End - one I've listened to many times before.

Then Nicola Upson's Christmas novella The Christmas Clue. Set just after and during WWII inspired by the husband and wife who invented the board game Cluedo and including them as characters. I've listened to the first of Upson's books with Josephine Tey as a character before. I think she creates the historical atmosphere really well but that the actual detective story and suspense is somewhat lacking.

Now just started listening to The Marlow Murder Club so must be going through a bit of a cosy crime listening phase.

I think it's probably just people are more likely to want to share what they've enjoyed, and forget what they haven't. (Yes, 'Whiteout' by Ken Follett, I mean you. A book that made me cringe in its writing of women. A bit unfortunate as it had a female main character.)

Just finished 'My Husband' by Maud Ventura which features a woman completely obsessed with her husband and whether he loves her as much as she loves him. Kind of bonkers. Some very nice ideas though. Translated from French and that seemed to me a bit odd in places, but I think it's an American translation rather than a British English one so maybe just that.

I have several books on the go at the moment.

Resolved to read more classics this year so one of them is 'Middlemarch'. I know there are many people who adore this but I'm about half way through and I'm not really enjoying it. Nor am I feeling improved for reading it.

I'm listening to 'The Black Wolf' by Louise Penny, the latest in a fairly lengthy series set in Quebec. I have to say that they're becoming a bit samey, with the kind, patient hero acquiring adversaries who are becoming signifiantly more villainous, but there's enough here to keep me coming back, mainly the idyllic (if it weren't for all the murders and murderers...) village of Three Pines where our sainted hero lives.

I've also just started 'The Ten Year Affair' by Erin Somers which Bookshop.org tells me isn't released until next week. Someone at Foyles on Charing Cross Road must have got carried away and put them out early. It's very good so far.

I'm reading The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith. I watched the Strike series on BBC over holidays. I have paused Americanah, which I was reading as I just couldn't properly get into it. I think I needed a break for some crime thriller!

Just finished The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell. Interesting to read and get his thoughts on life at the time (the 1930s), his political rant at the end is all a bit incoherent and bonkers.

Next - Mother's Boy by Patrick Gale.

Agree with pp about the Ken Follett book Whiteout. One of the worst books I've read.

As to whether publishers are on here touting their books - its possible though I've never thought that.

Have thought it in the Style and Beauty section when you get certain brands mentioned...

Still slogging through 'Middlemarch' but interspersing with other books. New release 'The Ten Year Affair' was okay but probably quite forgettable, ultimately.

However, I have just flown through 'On the Calculation of Volume - Volume 1'. It's a quick read but there's something profound and haunting about it, and I feel that it will stay with me. That said, I don't think I'm minded to read the follow ups. It stands alone well and I can't imagine there can be any concise or satisfying explanations for what happens to the main character.

Next - more Middlemarch and also 'Sololand' by Hassan Blasim.

I feel that if we have a thread 2 or 3 or 4 of this, we will have a post from you @pippistrelle ... It's the year 2045 and I am still ploughing on with Middlemarch.

I feel your pain. I hated Anna Karenina but was bloody determined to finish it. When I finished it, I wished I hadn't of bothered 🤦🏻‍♀️ But you can do this!

I think it was recommend on here or on the best book of 2025 thread but I’m reading All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr and really enjoying it. I’ve also read a couple of other recommendations from both this and the 2025 thread and last week read Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, which I wanted to enjoy more than I did. I just found some chapters much better than others. Also read Last one at the party by Bethany Cliff, which I found a fun easy read.

"Day 454 in the Middlemarch House, and pippistrelle has gone berserk with a bottle of Tippex and eradicated all mention of Mr Casaubon..."

To be fair, it's only been 10 days or so. But it feels a LOT longer. And it's certainly a lot longer than most books would take me.

Note to self: Don't try Anna Karenina next.

I've just finished The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd which I really enjoyed.

Next I'm going to reread (for the umpteenth time) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, before starting Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.

Haha @pippistrelle Mr bloody Casaubon may be the reason I’ve never re read it! Poor Dorothea, what was she thinking? Poor naive girl.

I'm reading "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks. Interesting historical context but flat characters and lots of short sentences. Wearing after a while.

Currently reading two books:
"Good Material" by Dolly Alderton which came in a bundle that DP got me for Christmas.
"Brightly Shining" on audio book by Ingvild Rishoi for book club.

Feeling:
"Good Material" is absolutely not my usual type of book. The writing is pedestrian, the characters are both unlikable and completely two-dimensional, and there isn't any kind of story beyond two annoying twats splitting up. I'm not bored as such but I'm not itching to read it nightly.

"Brightly Shining" is simply awful.

Up Next:
"Ordinary Human Failings" by Megan Nolan. I read a couple of pages and it looked good so I'm excited to go back to it once I've finished with the bollocks I've got going at the moment.

Currently reading The Gathering by Anne Enright which is about a woman who's brother has just died - I am liking it, although it's one of those books I kind of forget about when I put it down.

Also just started The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner, about a woman who has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a man who was stalking her. Good so far.

Next - I might read The Tall Bones by Anna Bailey.

I am currently "reading" All The Colours Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker. I put it in inverted commas because, unusually for me, I am listening to the audiobook. Currently busy decorating and thought it would be a good chance to get through quite a long book, and one we are also going to discuss at book club quite soon.

I wasn't convinced it was quite my thing at first but I'm hooked. It's absolutely brilliant despite not being something I'd ever have picked up off my own back. I do wonder how much of that is to do with the audiobook format and whether that helps build some kind or relationship with it - and whether I would have liked it quite so much if I'd read it the old fashioned way!

I almost enjoy having tasks like decorating to do, @Oganesson118 , just so that I can listen to an audiobook for a good long stretch. Two birds with one stone.

I finished a book about the history of women's textile crafts. The name escapes me, but whatever it was called, I found it annoying because it had a strong focus on art and creativity, rather than the practical necessity that drove weaving, knitting and sewing. And that wasn't what the cover blurb promised.

Currently reading 'The Gifts of Winter' by Stephanie Fitzgerald. I was expecting something philosophical but it's more sort of geared towards those who might suffer from milder cases of SAD, in the self-help area. It's a kind sort of book, but not really for me. Looks nice though, with a silver birch and a robin on the cover.

And, of course, I'm still reading Middlemarch. I always will be.
Not sure yet what else next.

I'm reading The Giver Of Stars by JoJo Moyes. I usually love her stuff, but I'm really struggling to get into this one.
Just finished The Edge by Dick Francis, which is superb.Set on a Canadian race train. I'd forgotten how great his books are and it's long enough since I read them to have forgotten most of the plot.

I was recommended TGOS and thought it was OK but didn't love it. Just didn;t grab me at all.

I finished Middlemarch. To say that it was not for me is an understatement.

As an antidote, now reading 'Bat Eater' by Kylie Lee Baker. It's set in New York during the pandemic. It has social commentary, a serial killer and... hungry ghosts. I quite like it.

Reading ‘butter’. Does it get any better? I
can’t say I’m grabbed. The writing seems rather stilted;perhaps it is the translation

No. Good concept poorly executed.

Thank you.

I think it’s one for the pass on pile then!!

I could never get past that awful peeve