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!

'Villa Coco' by Andrew Sean Greer. This author won a Pulitzer prize for an earlier novel. I read that and thought it was okay but couldn't understand for a second why it had won a prestigious literary award. I was drawn into this one because of its Tuscan setting and promises on the cover that it would be a lovely summer read. It was okay. Didn't quite seem to know what it wanted to be and ended up not being anything much. Reminded me of Graham Greene 'Travels with my Aunt', only not so good.

Now reading the Shirley Jackson family memoir. There is nothing different from her style of writing in her horror stories so I keep expecting something creepy to happen. I can't help but think she was playing up to that by, for example, talking about how their new house seemed to know where each piece of furniture should go. It's quite a disconcerting effect. But she was a great writer.

I’ve just finished Fruitfly which I thought was brilliant but imagine it would not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s quite brutal, a bit like Yellowface with ethically dubious characters but I was gripped. Im now trying once again ro read ‘we begin at the end’ which I keep starting and giving up but has been recommended to me many times so I’m going to try and get into it.

I am in Haworth for the weekend, so I am reading Catherine, a retelling of Wuthering Heights by Essie Fox. It is good and I am enjoying it, but it feels like a slightly YA, dumbed down version of the original. Seen from Catherine's POV it lacks the brutality and emotional pain of Wuthering Heights.
I bought Glass Town, a graphic novel based on the Brontës juveniles by Isabel Green from the Brontë Parsonge shop. I have never read a graphic novel so I am looking forward to it.* *

Picked up Hilary Mantel’s Mantel Pieces, a collection of mainly book reviews but also essays and memoir from 30 years of writing for the London Review of Books. God she’s good. From the Rushdie fatwa and freedom of speech to Diana and Kate Middleton, she skewers lazy thinking and gets straight to the point. I wish she were still here.

Gave up on The Woman in Cabin 10, and also on The Invisible Library and now reading Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak which seems good so far.

If you read back the last few pages, you’ll find there’s a few posts about ‘The Women’ , me included. I’m glad I read it, but didn’t get the hype. The Vietnam war was interesting, and the attitudes of the day, plus how the post traumatic stress affected them and wasn’t recognised. However, I felt the book ran out of steam in the second, American half, especially the relationships, , which due to various factors conveniently ended. A bit of a cop out. So I didn’t hate but didn’t love it either, and why was it called ‘ The Women’ when it was about one woman?

Yes- I get exactly what you mean about it running out of steam!! I was also a bit annoyed about the end - I don’t want to spoil it but I felt that the ending was a bit convenient and really stepped on the points that the author seemed to be trying to make about the devastation of war!

interestingly, people seemed to feel the same in my book group - enjoyed it overall but felt it had issues. A couple of them had read the nightingale and said it is essentially the same story in a different era which impacted their enjoyment.

Im now onto King Sorrow by Joe Hill - a bit out there but I’m enjoying it, very strong Stephen King vibes, as you may expect!

Precipice by Robert Harris. Extremely interesting and a good read.
Had started John Lanchester's Look What You Made Me Do but didn't finish in time for library due date. Will pick it up again - was quite good as well.

Just finished The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews. It's ok but I wouldn't say it's a 'must read.'

Next Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst. Should be better.

‘Whistle’ - Linwood Barclay - so good , sinister and creepy, but good story and well worth reading. Not sure I’m ever going to look at a train set the same way!

Next book - Felicity Philips cozy mystery book - Steve Higgs - need something light and easy to read next (I’m working my way through the series).

I'm reading "John of John" by Douglas Stuart now.

It's absolutely brilliant.

Next up will be "Hekate" by Nikita Gil.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towels and I am LOVING it. I highly recommend it. Next on the list is Notes from the Underground by Dostoevsky. A student in my Yr9 class is reading it (not typical for my school!!) and I felt inspired!

I’m reading “The things we never say” by Elizabeth Strout, it’s excellent! Definitely my kind of book, characters that I totally believe in and relate to.

@AndresyFiorella I loved the Gentleman in Moscow. Truly wonderful.

Just started The Romantic by William Boyd. Good first couple of chapters, we’ve just arrived at Waterloo… can’t escape the bloody place! (Winks at fellow Les Mis readers)

I've just read Castaway by Francesca De Tores, a novel about Alexander Selkirk. Really enjoyed it and thought it brilliantly written.
Next going to start Land by Maggie O'Farell. I usually love her books but OH has given up on it.

I agree Hamnet was beautifully written and I really enjoyed it.

I finished Three Daughers of Eve which I really enjoyed. Now trying to read Gain by Richard Powers but it's not really grabbing me.

I’ve just finished The Boy From The Sea by Garrett Carr. It’s taken me around 6 weeks to read as it wasn’t grabbing me, probably should’ve given up on it but hoped it’d become more interesting.

I’m now reading The Barbecue At No.9 by Jennie Godfrey. I’m only on the second chapter but it’s drawing me in.

So glad to hear that about 'Castaway', as I'll be starting it shortly.

Just as soon as I finish 'Discontent' by Beatriz Serrano which is about a woman who handles the rat race by having a created a niche where she does as little as possible. It's sharp and caustic, and kind of relatable. Very much enjoying it.

I've also just finished 'Margaret Beaufort' by Lauren Johnson, an engaging history.

Just finished My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, uncomfortable and made me cry. Didn’t read the blurb beforehand, only the bit on the front where Stephen King called it a ‘package of dynamite’. Think everyone should read it.

Currently reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and thoroughly loving the ride, laughter and horror pair so well these days.

The Manningtree Witches. It's good.
I might read Black Venus or Vox next.

I absolutely loved "My Dark Vanessa".

It was powerful but quite subtle in building tension and creating a real sense of claustrophobia and spiralling.

Hugely, hugely recommended.

I am so glad to not be alone with this! Can you recommend anything else you’ve read that is similarly unsettling and psychologically intense but perhaps not with the same subject matter?

Yes!!!

"Eileen" by Otessa Moshfeigh (not spelled that right!)

"We have always lived in the castle" by Shirley Jackson

"Bitter Orange" by Claire Fuller

I'm sure I have more, let me think!!

Thank you thank you, added all three to the to read pile in my kindle. I loved My Year of Rest and Relaxation so I’m looking forward to Eileen.

Not sure which to start with now I’ve finished Yesteryear. I don’t usually get through books quite so quickly but I couldn’t stop reading this one. Dark and funny plus a great mystery, and a thoroughly unlikeable and unreliable narrator. Bliss!