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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

knittedsloth · 04/06/2026 15:18

pippistrelle · 30/05/2026 12:55

Interesting to hear your view of The Vanishing Half @IceIceBabyBump as I've had it hanging round for a while but not got around to reading it.

I read Evelyn Waugh's 'Helena' which was a bit bonkers. The narration was like reading Homer but with dialogue by Bertie Wooster.

I followed that with Somerset Maugham's 'Up at the Villa' - a novella set in Tuscany just before WWII. A lot more action than I was expecting. Lovely cover.

Than I moved on to 'Servus' by Emma Southon, a look at slavery in Roman times. She writes in a matey, informal style which is engaging and warm, but in the end, I felt that it detracted a little from the weighty subject matter. She also conveys a lot of interesting information. However... Did you know that slavery is bad? If you're in any doubt, this book will ram home the message by telling you countless times that she doesn't think slavery is a good thing. Just in case that hadn't occurred to you before.

Now reading another of Waugh's less well known works - this one is 'Edmund Campion: Jesuit and Martyr' - a straight biography/history. Well straightish as clearly, he's a big fan.

Next up will be 'Solcae House' by Will Maclean which is described as 'The Secret History meets The Haunting of Hill House'. Now, I love both of those so I'm bracing myself for disappointment, of course.

I'm reading Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. She wrote a play by that name first, that was highly successful and was made into a National Theatre Live film. I listened to the audiobook, which was read by Jodie Comer, which was based on the play, in which Jodie Comer played the protagonist. Then I found the novel in the library, which is evidently Susie Miller's first novel.

It's good but I am struggling a bit to get into it, I'm not sure why. It might be nothing to do with the book but just to do with life etc etc.

The reason I quoted you in this post @pippistrelle is that I recently read "We have always lived in the castle" by Shirley Jackson. It is an absolute tour de force. I have ordered The Haunting of Hill House as an audiobook from BorrowBox. It's popular so I'm having to wait. I might see if I can get an actual paper copy as well.

I'm impressed with your reading list. I enjoy audiobooks a lot these days, my eyesight isn't brilliant for reading print, and if the narrator is a good one you get a lot out of listening. I always go for the unabridged versions.

pippistrelle · 04/06/2026 17:05

I always feel vindicated, @knittedsloth when someone enjoys a book that I like! And I'm right there with you on 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'. I hope that you don't have to wait too long for 'The Haunting of Hill House'. Interestingly (well, to me, anyway), I've just bought a work of memoir by Shirley Jackson - 'Life Among the Savages' which is described as 'caustically funny'. I had no idea, until last week, that she wrote such things, and I find it hard to imagine, but looking forward to it.

And I couldn't agree more, @knittedsloth that a good reader can elevate an audiobook. The reverse is also true and a bad reader can ruin a perfectly good book. I love a good audiobook and that's usually where I indulge my trashy thriller and the odd bit of chicklit habit. That said, I'm currently listening to 'The Black Death' by Thomas Asbridge which is excellent. It also reminds me that audiobooks are a much cheaper and lighter way to enjoy expensive, heavy (I mean that literally) tomes.

I enjoyed 'Solace House' very much, and it did, indeed, have echoes of both '...Hill House' and of 'The Secret History'. Nicely written (I learnt a new word!), nicely paced, pleasingly bamboozling in places.

Currently reading 'Raveheart' by Graeme Armstrong. It's quite hard to describe - speculative fiction against a backdrop of rave music/culture, all set in - and written in the language of - North Lanarkshire. Graeme Armstrong has a lovely turn of phrase but I think some people might find the language a bit off-putting. Still, it worked with Irvine Welsh, so I hope that, where necessary, people are prepared to work a little bit harder than usual on the language. He seems like a thoroughly decent bloke too, and has done a lot of work in schools after his last book on gangs.

MotherOfCatBoy · 06/06/2026 22:14

Found you all again.

Just finished The Names, which I absolutely loved, though hard to read in places (domestic violence). I cared about the characters and was very invested in finding out what happened to them. I liked the every-seven-years chapter structure, it reminded me of the old 7-up series tracing children’s life outcomes. I do like these alternative lives/ sliding doors type plots.

Also reading, non fiction, The Nutmeg’s Curse, which is basically about extractive capitalism and climate change. So that’s fun.

Silverbirchleaf · 07/06/2026 08:16

“The Night Before the wedding” - Emma Robinson

Really enjoyed this story about a bride uncovering family secrets both in her fiancé’s family, and in her own. It’s well written and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. It was also nice to read a book which wasn’t a thriller, romance, murder etc - not quite sure what category you’d put this in.

So if you want an interesting, absorbing story, this is for you.

Not sure what’s on the cards next.

IceIceBabyBump · 09/06/2026 12:47

I loved "We Have Always Lived in the Castle". I might re-read it in autumn this year. It's incredibly atmospheric. Beautiful.

Claire Fuller's work has a bit of a Shirley Jackson vibe actually - quiet and haunting.

OP posts:
IceIceBabyBump · 09/06/2026 12:51

For my birthday, DP got me loads of Women's Prize winning books. I'm reading "The Idea of Perfection" by Kate Grenville (2001 winner). I'm not impressed at all.

Before that I tried "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett (2002 winner) and gave up because it was so boring.

Bloody hell.

I might try "Property" by Valerie Martin (2003 winner) next.

Or I have "John of John" by Douglas Stuart waiting for me which I am certain will be brilliant.

OP posts:
Monolithique · 09/06/2026 13:21

Just finished Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood. Very good, thought provoking.

Next The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 09/06/2026 13:28

I’m reading the “Strange” series by Japanese author Uketsu

Drpawpawspaw · 09/06/2026 15:06

Drpawpawspaw · 22/05/2026 11:35

Hamnet - finally. I'm not that far into it but not getting the hype just yet.....

need to finish it before watching the film!

I take it back! Took me a bit to get into but loving Hamnet now..

PinkPerpetue · 09/06/2026 15:08

Eastie77Returns · 14/03/2026 07:54

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’ve enjoyed all her books except this one . Gave up on it too

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 09/06/2026 15:38

The Women is very very overrated

MrsMouse03 · 09/06/2026 16:09

I’ve just finished The Mad Wife by Megan Church and about to start Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.

pippistrelle · 09/06/2026 20:02

'Ghost Stations' by Patrick McGuinness. Best book I've read so far this year. It's a series of essays, some about places the author has lived, some about backwaters of culture. I have learnt a lot, I have looked things up, I have new things to add to my reading list. But none of it felt pompous or pretentious. He has a lovely turn of phrase and insightful points to make. Hats off to anyone who can make fin de siecle Belgian symbolists interesting! He does seem to have a bit of a downer on Swindon though. I've never been there but it made me feel defensive for it.

I'm about to start 'Lucien' by J R Thornton - The Secret History meets Saltburn, apparently...

pippistrelle · 09/06/2026 20:04

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 09/06/2026 13:28

I’m reading the “Strange” series by Japanese author Uketsu

I can't quite decide whether I like these or not. They're simultaneously too simple and too complex. They confuse me.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 09/06/2026 20:23

Yes @pippistrelle I’m only on the 2nd one, but they live up to the Strange alright! Totally agree about how they are simplistic AND confusing

CaffeinatedSeagull · 10/06/2026 07:36

Theme at my book group for this month is historical fiction (not a genre that I’m excited about tbh) so went with ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzgerald. It’s short, so will hopefully be able to finish it quickly and then start something on my short list!

deeahgwitch · 10/06/2026 09:52

Silverbirchleaf · 07/06/2026 08:16

“The Night Before the wedding” - Emma Robinson

Really enjoyed this story about a bride uncovering family secrets both in her fiancé’s family, and in her own. It’s well written and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. It was also nice to read a book which wasn’t a thriller, romance, murder etc - not quite sure what category you’d put this in.

So if you want an interesting, absorbing story, this is for you.

Not sure what’s on the cards next.

Thank you for the recommendation @Silverbirchleaf
At present I am slowly getting through reading The Wedding People. I expected it to be better.
I read Ruth Jones By Your Side.
God that woman is talented.
It was a good holiday read.

mrstea301 · 10/06/2026 11:29

I’ve just read The Women for my book group, we’re discussing it tomorrow and I’m interested to see what people think. I liked it but didn’t love it - got a bit bored with the main character and found it a bit repetitive. Also a bit annoyed at the ending - felt like it almost rendered the point of the book as useless, as thought it was meant to be about enduring loss etc.

currently reading Next In Line by Marion Todd and enjoying.

got a few choices lined up for next - King Sorrow by Joe Hill, John of John by Douglas Stuart or maybe Rivals by Jilly Cooper, depending on my mood!

Arran2024 · 10/06/2026 11:56

deeahgwitch · 10/06/2026 09:52

Thank you for the recommendation @Silverbirchleaf
At present I am slowly getting through reading The Wedding People. I expected it to be better.
I read Ruth Jones By Your Side.
God that woman is talented.
It was a good holiday read.

I loved the Wedding People and am currently reading the Ruth Jones, which I am slogging through tbh - not feeling it at all.

faial · 10/06/2026 13:31

I've recently finished Ice by Anna Kavan (which was very weird, short, largely without plot and dystopian with two rather horrible male characters) and Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy which I liked initially (mostly the setting - isolated self sufficiency) but it got a bit silly plotwise later on.

Just begun The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware as I've been unwell and needed something fairly undemanding. Am at a bit of a reading crossroads and no longer in a book club so joining for some ideas - I've really enjoyed some of the books mentioned so far.

I agree with PPs about Kristin Hannah, she's an awful writer.

LethargeMarg · 10/06/2026 15:49

I just finished ‘a Family Matter’ by Clare Lynch (one of the many good deals on kindle this month) which started well but I felt never really quite got going. I felt I never really got to know any of the characters and was quite underwhelmed. Just starting Fruitfly which so far, so good…

Bitolderandwiser · 10/06/2026 16:00

Reading "The Road Home" by Rose Tremaine about a Eastern Eurpean who comes to Britain as a "legal" as he stresses to tell people so they know he;s not an illegal immigrant.
Over half way through, it's very moving and thought- provoking.
I'm hoping for a happy ending as he's a widower sending money home every week to his mother and daughter.

RubyEspadrilles · 10/06/2026 16:04

I am reading a whole load of books at once because I keep putting them down and not being able to find them when I want them. So am reading:

Thirteen Storeys About three stories in I thought "this reminds me of the Magnus Archives podcast" and then realised it was by the same author. I'm finding it a bit repetitive, as similar spooky things happen in each "story" to people who seem quite different on the face of it but don't read or react very differently to each other. I have also just dropped in it the bath so it needs to dry off before I can get back to it. At least the bath didn't instantly turn to blood, or a hand reach out of the plughole to get it.

Fly Wild Swans Learning a lot from this about China that I didn't know, I haven't read Wild Swans though which possibly I should have done before reading this!

The Hall-Marked Man ordered it from the library in November and it just arrived, but I have only read the first chapter so far, I do find JK very very readable.

Rogues, Widows and Orphans An entertaining account of various things to do with books and publishing, everything from monks making mistakes when copying manuscripts and blaming it on the devil, to sensitivity readers.

Once I get through all that, I need to read the Square of Sevens as its on its sixth renew at the library.

21ZIGGY · 10/06/2026 21:13

PinkPerpetue · 09/06/2026 15:08

I’ve enjoyed all her books except this one . Gave up on it too

I really enjoyed it, but im a basic bitch.

pippistrelle · 11/06/2026 13:34

'Lucien' by JR Thornton, in spite of its billing, wasn't anywhere near as good as 'The Secret History or even of 'Saltburn' - and I though Saltburn was, at best, mildly entertaining. So, wouldn't recommend.

Now reading 'Trad Wife' by Saratoga Schaefer which is folk horror. Tremendous fun so far, if you like that sort of thing.

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