What are you currently reading, how do you feel about it, and what's next on the list? Part 2

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The original thread is nearly full: Page 40 | What are you currently reading, how do you feel about it, and what's next on the list? | Mumsnet

So, here's another one to keep us going!

I would like to join despite missing the previous thread.

I just finished Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, which I have reviewed on the 50 books thread in detail. Suffice to say my reaction was mixed.

I have just started the first Ruth Galloway as a palate cleanser and as part of a 3 mysteries in March challenge. One chapter in and the old fashionedness of it is very soothing after Ministry!

And next it will be Alison Weir's Queens at War which I am reading for the Goodreads Winter Challenge.

Thanks for the new thread Ice ... I loved reading the old one.

I'm currently reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo. I'm only 4 chapters in so not really feeling anything yet 😂

I finished The Correspondent by Virginia Evans at the weekend, I was slightly hungover and read it in a day and loved it.

Can I join? Just finished Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and its the best thing I have read in ages. Not seen the film, but the book was so affecting and beautifully written.
I am now reading Middle England by Jonathom Coe, as a bit of a change. Not sure about it yet.

I finished Crossing Places which was fine but a bit old fashioned for me. Interesting how attitudes and style have changed in less than 20 years.

Started Queens at War but am finding it a bit dry. Reading it for a challenge so am persevering. But have begun Widows of Malabar Hill on the side and am enjoying that quite a bit.

Next on the list after Widows is Geneva by Richard Armitage.

My first DNF: The Women by Kristin Hannah which I have had to put down after 5 chapters. It was like reading something written for a 12 year old (I genuinely thought I’d accidentally picked up a book meant for Young Adults when I started reading). No depth or nuance whatsoever, repetitive lines. The author has apparently written several bestsellers and this book was on a NYTimes recommended list that I always trust. Epic fail!

I wasn’t on the previous thread, but this sounds like an interesting discussion! I’m currently reading James by Percival Everett for my book club. It’s a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim, the slave he escapes with, so is naturally quite a grim story. I also feel I’d get on better if I’d read Huckleberry Finn recently and could remember the original plot.

Haven’t decided on my next book yet, but it’s between Greenwitch by Susan Cooper and The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard.

Gosh, I agree completely, I couldn't read beyond the first few pages...it is SO badly written; if a book is badly written, I have a visceral response and can't read on, even with good premise/plot...

I've just finished In Memoriam by Alice Winn which I loved, then went onto reread Birdsong by Sebastian Faulkes ( last read in the 1990s, and changed my life). Didn't disappoint.
I liked Convenience Store Woman, rather heartbreaking.
Reading When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén, a little depressing but well written.

I was honestly shocked. It was like something from an amateur writer’s group. I remember reading the opening paragraph and thinking “this is an awful start” but hoping it would get better as the plot sounded interesting. I cannot believe the author is allegedly an established writer with a dozen or so well received books to her name. The cliché ridden and clunky sentences were laughable.

I have 3-books on the go at the mo but my favourite is Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L Sayers.
A re-read, I have previously read it a dozen times but it is in my bag for when I am out (on the bus, waiting for an appointment etc) and so far this week I have got through three quarters of it.

It is one of those books that makes me research where it is set and want to visit the location.

Finished Widows of Malabar Hill. Really enjoyed it. I don't like cosy crime and I don't like gritty violent crime and this was in the middle with a nice dose of social history as well.

Still plodding through Queens at War, which has picked up a bit now I have got to Margaret of Anjou.

Moved onto Geneva by Richard Armitage (yes, that one). It has started out well but I kept thinking about the world of Widows of Malabar Hill so I have also started the second book in that series - The Satapore Moonstone.

Currently reading A Good Deliverance by Toby Clements. It's about Sir Thomas Malory who wrote the Morte D'Arthur. He's telling his life story to someone in his prison cell. It's OK, not as good as the other books I read by the same author.

Next on the list is The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons, finishing the Cantos series which I have really enjoyed.

Currently reading Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz. The book within the book is rather simplistic as per usual, but with the modern day bits is still very enjoyable.

Next , maybe Slags. (forget name of author)

I’ve finished James by Percival Everett, but feel I would have got more out of it if I’d read Huckleberry Finn recently.

I’ve now started The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard, and my next book will either be Greenwitch by Susan Cooper, or Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett.

What a coincidence! I reread The Light Years recently and have Marking Time and James planned soon!

I was reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and I’ve just given up around halfway through. I was so bored! It was beautifully written but dramatically uneventful. It may appeal if you enjoy quiet, character-driven fiction, but it wasn’t for me.
I am now reading the Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal and it has me hooked early on thank goodness.

‘Birdsong by Sebastian Faulkes ( last read in the 1990s, and changed my life).’

Me too! Maybe it’s time to read again.

Currently reading Anne of Green Gables because it was 99p on kindle books and I love it! so calming and gentle - just what you need as you’re dropping off to sleep and makes a nice change from my usual dystopian, misery 😁

I'm currently reading The Man Who made Husband's Jealous by Jilly Cooper.
I originally read all her books as they were published in the 80s and 90s. I watched Rivals on Netflix last year and loved It so decided to re-read some of Jilly's books. It goes without saying they wouldn't be published now.
I thoroughly enjoyed Polo but this one isn't quite doing It for me, partly because I don't really love the characters. What I do love is her sense of humour and the lavish descriptions of the countryside.
I've also started Americanah and next up I'm going to try North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill.

I haven’t joined before but would like to.

I’m reading Shakespeare: the man who pays the rent by Judi Dench. It’s fascinating and I love her insights into the female characters she’s played but it’s hard going and dry in places and has taken me ages. Aiming to finish this month and will move on to The other mothers by Katherine Faulkner.

I'm rereading Angela's Ashes

Absolutely superb book

I usually read crime stuff but at the library I picked Blott on the Landscape by Tom Sharpe as an antidote to death and violence.

I'm starting it tonight and hope I will be laughing loudly rather than shuddering in horror. 😆

I am reading two books atm - Imperium by Robert Harris, which is the first book in his trilogy about ancient Rome and specifically Cicero, and Three Days in June by Ann Tyler. Both very different, both very good. I don't normally read two at once but I had a hairdresser appointment this afternoon and needed a thing book to pop in my bag and Imperium was too big.

My next book will be the second in the trilogy, Lustrum. I actually bought it first- in a second hand sale, without realising it was partbof a trilogy.

So I started listening to All We Can Know by Ian McEwan as Middle England by Jonathan Coe wasn't really floating my boat. And then I had to buy the actual McEwan book as audible was going too slowly! Finished it this morning. I loved it. But I am a McEwan fan.
Going back to the Coe now... i have bought The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, but have made a pact that I will not start that until Coe is done....
I may or may not keep to that!!!

I’m about to start something new after finishing Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst which I thought was deathly dull