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.

God, I remember reading that at university. Horrifying. It's odd that we don't hear more about the Japanese invasion of China and the atrocities they committed. It's been kind of glossed over.

I'm just back from holiday where I read Strange Sally Diamond & Eleanor Oliphant. Oh my, I absolutely adored, and I mean adored both of them. Totally different to the lighthearted 'easy read' I'd usually take away.

Any other recommendations for something similar?

Animal Farm is great. So is the cartoon. Animal Farm is one of those books everybody knows but never bothers to read. There are quite a few books like that – Brave New World, 1984, Brideshead Revisited, Oliver Twist, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, I Claudius, Jane Eyre, Tess of the D'Urbevilles etc. Because of the films and TV adaptations we feel we know them and that we've 'sort of' read them and so don't need to bother. But they're always worth it. Classics become classics for a reason.

Thank you. Cannot wait to get started now. 😅

Have you read "The 100 Year Old Man..."

That's got similar light-hearted but well-written vibes.

I’m reading The List by Yomi Adegoke and hating it. I feel obliged to finish it but can’t wait for it to be over.

It was a DNF for me, I hated it almost immediately.

Currently reading Godkiller
Halfway through and really not bothered about finishing it. If it doesn't pick up it's going back to the library this weekend.

Next up I think will be Wild Fire, which is an Ann Cleeves book. I'm a bit fed up after reading a few new authors recently that have not hit the spot for me so want to return to a more reliable author to feel like my time is a bit better spent.

Currently reading The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.
I’m really enjoying it, but because it is such a weighty tome (I have it hardback) I’m finding I can’t read it in all the places I normally read, (I can’t just pop it in my bag because it doesn’t fit, and it’s uncomfortable to hold open when I am lying in bed), so I am progressing very slowly, and consequently finding it hard to keep all the multiple characters and plot straight in my head between sessions.

Next up: No idea, so I may get some ideas from this thread.

Currently: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Liking it but not loving it. The structure drives it along.

Next: Carrie Soto is Back also by TGR (saw them both together in the library). We Carrie Soto briefly in Malibu Rising and she stands out from the crowd as an interesting character so expecting to enjoy this one more. After that, the second Slow Horses novel and Normal People (started it on mat leave and never got round to finishing it, DD started school today so thought I should pick it up again!).

Currently

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Feeling

It’s a telling of a large number of Greek myths. From the perspective of a privileged rich upper class white male. It’s a bit of a slog and there’s not really a new perspective on anything. I’m probably spoilt by Pat Barker, Natalie Haynes, Madeleine Miller etc who were fresher. I’ll finish it but I don’t love it.

Next
Not sure!

Thanks, yes I've read some of the others, although I loathe Jane Eyre with a passion. We did it for O'level and spent forever on the thing. I'm a speed reader and the teacher hated it if we read ahead, so we would do a handful of pages a week. It was excruciating.

It was truly horrific. I suppose there is so much history they have to cherry pick a bit but it does feel odd we don’t even really know about it unless we go looking for it, considering the scale of what happened. So even though I wasn’t 100% a fan of the book, I am glad it exists and glad I have read it.

I have just finished The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu and I cannot stop thinking about it and discussing it with DS. It is so dark and thought-provoking.

I have a library book on me with a two-week deadline, but I will have to read Cixin Liu's next book first.

‘Wuthering Heights’

I know it’s a classic, and I’m determined to finish it, but don’t really get it. I thought it was going to be some big love story - Heathcliffe is such an iconic person, but it’s full of people just randomly dying. Not really sure I like any of the characters.

Next

• not sure yet, something light and enjoyable. May even be a trash chick lit type book.

The cuckoo's calling Robert Galbraith

I'm about half way through and loving it. Trying to work out who the murder is. Loving the character of Strike and learning his back story.

Next- not sure so following this thread with the hopes to get inspiration for my next read.

I'm totally hooked on this series - they just get better & better.

Currently a little over 20% in to In Memoriam by Alice Winn and I already have a broken heart.

Next? Not sure but, options:

Silvia Moreno Garcia - Gods of Jade and Shadow, Velvet Was The Night

Dennis E Taylor - Bobiverse books 1-5

Andy Weir - The Martian

Edited by Sylvia Moreno Garcia and Paula R Stiles - She Walks In Shadows (I’m most looking forward to this one)

The Martian's really good but it's one of those rare books where I think the film was actually better.

I finished My Brilliant Friend. I can totally understand why so many DNF it, but it got me and I’m onto the second book 😅.

Just finished Robert Harris's new book Precipice. I galloped through it as it's not hard to read. It's a shocking story and does a very good job of describing that summer prior to WW1. Not sure I really loved any of the characters....

Currently reading 'Where the pieces lie' by JD Kirk, love Tartan Noir and this is the latest in his Jack Logan Series.

Next will be the new Ian Rankin Rebus book which is due on 10th October.

Always on the go are the Outlander books, I get to the end of the huge series and go back to the beginning, they are my comfort read, I have them on Audible to drift off to sleep with, know them so well that if I miss some when I fall asleep it doesn't matter.

Ten days after starting the thread, an update:

Currently:
I'm about 30 pages off finishing Orwell's "1984"

Feeling:
I like the overall vibes of the book and it feels prescient. But I'm finding it hard work and I'm really, really looking forward to finishing it tonight. I don't like the characters and I hate the way he writes about women. The story feels a bit "thin" but the book is padded out with dense and repetitive descriptions of Party ideology, ambitions and methods. The whole book wouldn't been better as a novella and I'm actually quite disappointed at how bad its turned out to be.

Next:
Toss up between "All Names Have Been Changed" by Claire Kilroy and "Ashland and Vine" by John Burnside. I'll likely go for Claire Kilroy's book.

I've just finished The Bee Sting by Paul Murray for my book group, and I'm a bit fuming about it tbh. It's about 640 pages but it drags quite a bit in various sections, far too much lingering on backstory and no real drive through the story. Then basically an unfinished ending! Gutted that I'm not going to be able to spend the usual time at book group as picking DH up from airport tonight - really want to discuss this one!

Went onto The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella as wanted something fast and light, enjoying it so far!

Next is The Examiner by Janice Hallett - excited to start this one!

When is the new book coming out?! I can't wait. 😭