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What are you reading now and next ?

147 replies

Wheelybug · 13/04/2009 19:33

Alwayes like reading these threads and am on MN far too much at mo whilst I am bfing so me -

Sashenka by Simon Montefiore. Was a mothers day pressie. It is ok but not wildly page turning hence why I am on MN and not cracking through it.

Next - the luminous life of Lilly Aphrodite, beatrice colin. For book club.

Also have Becoming Queen, Kate Williams, Sea of poppies, Amitav Ghosh and the new Phillipa Gregory on my imminently to be rad pile.

OP posts:
lalalonglegs · 15/04/2009 15:27

liath - smart granny

yappy - yes, I have. Both books are very moving although will admit to being slightly appalled by his father's egotism. Have you read As If which I think is one of the best and most intelligent analyses of the Bulger killing and trial?

MrsMattie · 15/04/2009 15:32

I've set myself a weird little challenge this year - to read only non-fiction books (trying to get my nappy brain back in gear again after having another baby) So I've given up my beloved novel (only for 12 months, though!) and have been ploughing my way through books on history, politics, art, biograophies etc.

I'm currently halfway through 'The Case For Israel' by Alan Derschowitz and am going to try to dig out a book about the history of Guyana (where my husband's family are from) next to get up to speed, and also really want to read that Paxo book on the Victorians.

tigerdriver · 15/04/2009 21:24

Hi Janeite

Well I'd never heard of it, but found it in a bookshop and thought I'd give it a whirl. I like Peter Ackroyd in small doses.

It is pretty weird. Am only about 2/3 of the way through so will reserve judgement. I am enjoying it, but I like a bit of Gothic....

It would be a good choice to shake up a stuffy book group that has recently read Sophie Hannah and Jodie Pickled. Not that I'm bored or anything .

I think I'd recommend reading it than not reading it, so give it a go.

yappybluedog · 15/04/2009 22:08

lalalonglegs - yes, although I read it pre dd, don't know if I could read it again

janeite · 15/04/2009 22:54

Thanks Tiger. I HAVE read it - just haven't met anybody else who has, in order to talk about it!

Would be interested to see what you think of the ending, when you get to it.

tigerdriver · 15/04/2009 23:21

Hey, Janeite.

Without a complete spoiler (although I guess it will be a pretty obvious ending), what did you think?

Why didn't this book get any publicity when it came out - I am quite good at new interesting fiction but missed this by a mile?

And do you think I should foist it on my v mclass and dm reading book group?

janeite · 15/04/2009 23:23

I'm afraid I was very disappointed by the ending - won't say any more than that.

I think it could be interesting for a book group - certainly better than Jodie bloomin' whatshername. 'Frankenstein' itself is way better though.

tigerdriver · 15/04/2009 23:29

Yep agree with that. Jodie P was desperate, so was Sophie Hannah (don't get me started, I had a political aversion to her middle class twaddle), and as for the time we "read" PS I love you.... well.

I do like the idea of Frankenstein though. In fact might be the next read instead of Denis Lehane (who you can always save for a nice rainy day).

janeite · 15/04/2009 23:30

Never heard of Sophie Hannah. I suspect i don't want to!

tigerdriver · 15/04/2009 23:34

I suspect, J, from some of your posts, that you and I have similar tastes. Ish.

If anyone tells you that she is "amazing", "you have to read her" etc etc. Take it from me. You don't.

anyway, enough of that hijack....

nooka · 16/04/2009 05:16

This week I have read:
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Charlie Bone and the Hall of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo
The Archon by Catherine Fisher and
My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt

I'm now reading the Scarab (last of the Catherine Fisher trilogy) and
The West Beyond the West, which is a history of British Columbia where I am now living.

Then I need to go back to the library for a refill! The high volume is because they are all children's fiction, nice for a wind down after an intense day at work.

cyteen · 16/04/2009 09:29

tigerdriver I read a Sophie Hannah book after being won over by totally gushing reviews in the Guardian and it was absolute dross. I was really quite shocked at how poorly written it was and had one of those 'has the reviewer read the same book?' moments.

Cosmosis · 16/04/2009 11:18

hannahsaunt, in that case it is imperative you read them in order. Definitely.

janeite · 16/04/2009 18:46

Today I read Forster's 'Maurice' on the train. One or two really lovely, well written scenes in it but mostly not very good I thought.

claireybee · 16/04/2009 18:55

Now - The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, not really getting into it tbh, I was expecting a novel based on the true story but it just reads like a list of facts to me.

Next - Erm, something with star in the title and a boat on the cover (It's upstairs and I can't be bothered to go and look)

littlerach · 16/04/2009 19:04

OhDearWhatAMess, Finest Type of English Womanhood is brilliant.

I am reading Mosquito Coast now, Threeaux.

Have Shadows of the Workhouse, Jennifer Worth ot hread next.

bunjies · 16/04/2009 19:22

Now: We were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. Never read anything by her before but it came in a Book People collection. I'm really enjoying it.

Next: not sure but it will be something else from the same collection.

Jennifershesaid · 16/04/2009 19:38

Gosh everyone here is well-read!

I'm trying to read the Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver at mo - it had great reviews on Amazon but can't get into it - that fake cockney accent is annoying for starters. Anyone read it? Also reading Chez Nous by a French lady - on the weird side of quirky!

Nothing wrong with a bit of chic-lit - I enjoyed 'One thing led to another' by Katy Regan, though not sure I know why she didn't just make it an autobiog instead (Marie-claire readers agree?) as it was just like an autobiog with the names changed IMO

Jennifershesaid · 16/04/2009 19:38

Gosh everyone here is well-read!

I'm trying to read the Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver at mo - it had great reviews on Amazon but can't get into it - that fake cockney accent is annoying for starters. Anyone read it? Also reading Chez Nous by a French lady - on the weird side of quirky!

Nothing wrong with a bit of chic-lit - I enjoyed 'One thing led to another' by Katy Regan, though not sure I know why she didn't just make it an autobiog instead (Marie-claire readers agree?) as it was just like an autobiog with the names changed IMO

lottiejenkins · 16/04/2009 19:46

Im reading a Katie FForde book about a woman whos a graden designer.........I do like her books! Ive got a Maeve Binchy short novel lined up for after that!

lottiejenkins · 16/04/2009 19:47

Make that a garden designer!!!

MrsDanversAteMyIpod · 16/04/2009 20:17

Reading Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, very moving and quite a different style for her I think...

Lined up for next read is The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett, can't wait.

Claire236 · 16/04/2009 20:18

Just finished The 19th Wife which I thought was great to start with but gradually went off as I read more of it. About to start Willy Russells The Wrong Boy which was recommended by someone I work with. A bit dubious to be honest but always looking for something different to read.

Loved Hold Tight, A Thousand Splendid Suns & The Book of Lost Things although apparently that is very different to John Connollys other books, so whoever it was who said they were going to read something else of his you might be disappointed.

janeite · 16/04/2009 20:34

'The Wrong Boy' is good, silly fun, especially if you happen to be a Smiths fan!

ThriceWoe · 16/04/2009 21:30

I'm reading the latest Sophie Hannah, 'The Other Half Lives'. Interesting to hear the opinions of her previous books (which I've also read). They're all very strange. Now I've started this new one, I'm starting to feel seriously irked by her insistence on completely unbelievable situations, not to mention her wildly dysfunctional characters. I've never met anyone like them in RL and frankly, I hope I never do.

Lined up next was Michael Holroyd's fab biography of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, but have to admit I've already dipped into it as welcome relief from S. Hannah....