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 currently reading "The Long Road to the Deep North" after it cropped up on a few lists.

It's awful. Boring as bollocks. I might make it a DNF tonight.

Next up is "The Natural Way of Things" by Charlotte Wood (got "Stoneyard Devotional" for Christmas and absolutely loved it)

I love that review @IceIceBabyBump 🤣🤣

I've just finished Brimstone by Callie Hart and now I'm going to go back and finish The Girl With The Louding Voice that I abandoned half way through a while ago.

Am halfway through Arundhati Roy's memoir " Mother Mary Come To Me' and it's incredibly good. Moving but not misery lit, beautifully written, even droll in parts. Just been longlisted for the Women's Prize.

Am halfway through Arundhati Roy's memoir "Mother Mary Come To Me'

I've now got Paul singing Let It Be in my head.
When I find myself in times of trouble....

Really enjoying this thread, so many ideas.

I'm currently reading Chasing Hare, enjoying it so far.

Also reading Mrs Collins which I started as a huge Austen fan and whilst I like revisiting the characters I'm not always on board with the way they're presented.

Just finished The Correspondent which I thought was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed as any form of letters, diaries, epistolary fiction or non fiction is a real favourite.

Next up is Blitz Spirit, real diary entries from people during the war who wrote for the Mass Observation project, looks really interesting.

Both The Correspondent and Raising Hare are on my Kindle already! Glad to hear they are good.

Interested to see what you think of them@CharlotteRumpling 🙂

For me The Correspondent was one of those holy grail books where you're totally immersed and can't wait to dive back in any moment you can!

I've just finished 'Cranford' by Elizabeth Gaskell which had some deft touches and humour that I wasn't really expecting. That said, it still felt like homework.

Also just finished Maggie O'Farrell's memoir 'I Am, I Am, I Am'. It's beautifully written but I didn't warm to it. It seems unfair - and faintly ridiculous - to criticise a memoir for being a bit self-involved. And yet, here I am...

I'm now reading 'Small Town Horror' by Ronald Malfi which is Stephen King-alike. Protagonst who's successful out in the world returns to the run down town he grew up in, and a buried secret seems to be unearthing itself. Possibly literally in this scenario. So far, an enjoyable page turner. Although so much depends on the ending in these sorts of books, that I'm reserving judgement for now.

I am struggling to get into Stonemouth by Iain Banks. It's boring the pants off me and I think I'm going to abandon it.
Next up is The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie.

I’m another who didn’t like My Brilliant Friend.

I’m currently re-reading A Treachery of Spies by Manda Scott. I’m enjoying it, although occasionally I think it’s a bit too clever for its own good. I’m also dipping in and out of Brian Patten’s Collected Love Poems which are lyrical and delightful and sad and funny.

Next will be The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields, and a history of the French canals, both of which I picked up on a whim in the library.

Now reading "The Natural Way of Things" by Charlotte Wood.

Its absolutely brilliant.

Next up is "Acts of Desperation" by Megan Nolan

I had a massive clear-out of books over the weekend. I'm giving about 30 to WOB and getting £17 back. Another 20-ish are heading to the charity shop. My books shelves are wonderfully curated now with books that make me happy and I'd potentially re-read.

“Return to Inis Mor - Brian O’Raleigh

This is the second in the series, the first being ‘Passage to Inis Mor’ . Both books contain wonderful story telling, and are about a man who returns to the Irish island, Inis Mor. The books have a slight, magical touch, and are very descriptive and evocative. Definitely worth reading

Not sure what I’m going to read next, but have just downloaded (on kindle) the third on the series. I don’t usually read books from the same author straight after each after.

I finished Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It's not one I would have chosen myself as not enjoyed other Japanese novels I have read. It was a book club one. It was alright, readable but a bit tedious and predictable.

Back to one of my preferred genres now, psychological thriller and enjoying Trust Me by TM Logan. Only started yesterday and already 65% of the way through, though slightly helped by not being able to sleep last night!

Just finished Cold Comfort Farm which grew on me and I found an absolute joy. The humour is razor sharp and so well observed, buoyed up by being very odd and surreal in places. Very modern.
Alongside it I read the very gentle Tales from End Cottage, a children’s book that had been recommended on here somewhere. It was published in 1970 and is about Mrs Apple, her cottage, two cats, her Peke and her hens, and it’s delightful. Extremely soothing. Wonderful line drawn illustrations. I’m not sure where it was set but liked to imagine somewhere like Pembrokeshire.

'V13' by Emmanuel Carrere just finished. The story of the trial that followed the terrorist attacks in Paris on the Bataclan and other locations. Not as harrowing as it might well have been. But sad, sad, sad.

Now reading 'Blindness' by José Saramago. An epidemic of blindness spreads through a city, and society crumbles. Reminds me of JG Ballard (who I love), so that's good. Not exactly a cheery read but it's intriguing and thought provoking.

Currently reading The Naked Light - Bridget Collins. I enjoyed The Binding but not quite so fond of this one - it's a bit slow

Have the Twyford Code to read next

I just finished ploughing through Butter. I really didn’t enjoy it, I lost interest in the characters and I felt it was quite disjointed. The food descriptions were quite mouth watering though.
I’m now onto some non fiction; Divided: Why We’re Living In A World of Walls by Tim Marshall (of Prisoners of Geography fame).

I'm reading Marnie by Winston Graham. I love his Poldark books and this is very different. I've never seen the Hitchcock film.

Just finished Alchemised. After a very rocky start I fell in love with it. Infact, I intend to re-read it now that I'm familiar with the world building and the magic structure (I ended up writing my own glossary to keep track of it all).

Currently nearly halfway through King Sorrow by Joe Hill. It's good and I'm enjoying it but it lacks that visceral edge that I love in Stephen King's writing.

Just finished Chlorine by Jade Song. I thought this was great, quirky, well paced, different.

Next is Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Others this year so far have been:
All the colours of the dark - amazing
Instructions for a heatwave - easy reading, good characterisations
The Birthday Party - good mystery, well paced with a decent twist

@worrisomeasset Slow Horses, DH and I thundered through all the Slow Horses books and enjoyed them so much I took out a subscription to Apple TV just to watch the series (well, also Gary Oldman in lead role). Worth every penny. We have watched each season more than once too, but we have had a few years to do it in.

Someone here mentioned Slow Gods by Claire North. I checked it out from the library and 5 stars. One of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a while.

I’m reading Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides (about 100 pages in) and listening to, nearly finished The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. I’m enjoying both. Rory Kinnear is excellent as narrator for The Word is Murder. I like to listen to something fun and gripping, but read something a bit more literary.

I’ll have to choose a new audiobook soon. I definitely find that the narrator makes the difference; something that should be good can be ruined by a narrator I don’t take to and vice versa.

That’s interesting and good to hear as someone just gave that to me; The Secret Painter.

It’s my birthday this week and my favourite thing to do is go into a big bookshop (likely Waterstones Piccadilly) and get myself some books to treat myself. I can feel the desire coming over me 😁; but having to try to stop myself as I have a ludicrous number of books on my tbr pile. Ok actually tbr piles. I’m getting to the stage that even if I die at a very advanced age I’ll not finish. Especially as I’m a slow reader 🐌📖

I have begun on the Guido Brunetti crime series by Donna Leon. They are set in Venice. Really atmospheric and fascinating.