What book are you reading now because it is doing my head in that I can't find something I want to read so am going to steal your ideas instead..!

[foxinsocks]

I finished Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd (which I enjoyed but it wasn't a can't put down book - I stopped it and came back to it but did finish it and ultimately enjoyed it).

I am half way through Little Stranger but cannot make myself finish it. I've got to the stage where I half hope the whole of Hundreds Hall goes up in flames with Dr Faraday in the middle of it.

I've also started 2 other books - A Week in December (Sebastian Faulks) and Fifty Grand (McGKinty) and they are grabbing me but not in the way I was hoping they would. I imagine I'll finish both but I'm really hoping for a great book next iykwim.

So what are you reading and would you recommend it?

LOL at the News of the World writing! Gary seems to have not gone down that route. I heard about the book listening to him on that R4 saturday morning programme with Fi Glover (Saturday Live? Somthing like that..) Might be worth casting your eye over what's being read on R4 sometimes there is something intruiging - I got the Sacred Hearts tip from there.

Oh I like this thread.

I just read The Good Parents by Joan London, FIS, I think you'll like it. I really did.

Also The Spare Room by Helen Garner - though it's spare and short, but I'd like you to read it.

And my BEST book of the year so far is Lorrie Moore's The Gate at the Stairs. Oh my. I want everyone to read it and talk to me about it. But it's in hardback still.

I liked American Wife v. much.

Last year I read Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson for the first time, now in my top ten.

hearts and minds by Amanda Craig looks promising, I think but haven't read.

Oh and I want to read:

legend of a suicide - david vann

I am reading Bill Bryson's biography of Shakespeare. Since very little is actually known about Shakespeare, the book has turned out to be more of a study of Elizabethan England. V interesting nonetheless, and I am enjoying it immensely.

have reserved gate at the stairs
will report back when it arrives...

Oh I have read that Bibbity. I liked it but, as you say, since so little is known there seemed to be a lot of lovely Bill telling us how little is known!

I do love Bill though.

Oh good Stevie. I thought it was wonderful and devastating. I still haven't got over it.

amazon keeps trying to lure me towards buying that book but I have resisted so far (you know when you check out and it says WE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS based on your last purchases)

well that and a glut of Wimpy Kid books (which mine love)

thanks ahundredtimes - will go and look at those. With luck, I will find something that grabs me!

are you reserving with your library online? I think I can do that but then I always forget to go and get them

which one, the gate at the stairs? It's scary, I was scared by it.

I mean it's not a scary book, no. But I was all wide-eyed when reading it, made me feel perilous.

God, I hope MayorNaze gets her copy soon. I things I need to get off my chest

that one yes, it keeps wanting me to buy it with its bright blue plain cover every time I look at amazon

still better than when I was looking up self help books for my mum and was tormented with 'your life, you can live it' or some shite for months on the front page

Mirrorball- I have just started The Other Hand... haven't got v far yet though.

MayorNaze- I read Peyton Place a long time ago, but remember enjoying it.

Can't beat a bit of Billy....

i am reading slaugher house 5 - becuase its one of those books i think i should read.

its andeasy read but fucking weird - i keep analysing stuff that might not be ther - oinly half way though as it is my nook to shit too iykwim

Useful thread. Have just reserved Gate at the Stairs (used to like her short stories) and also David Vann's Legend of a Suicide. I remember the reviews: it sounded like a mindmelt.

lol. I'd like 'it's your life, and there's no way you can live with it'. I'd get that one.

God, it's good. Honestly. I must stop talking about it now.

lol, I might have to buy it now as it's made you all

it might also move off my front page which is a double win really

but that home book is shit 100

got hearts and minds in a 3 for 2

ds looked at it

"ooh look it spells HAM" he said

The Marilynne R book, Home? I haven't read it, it's sitting here though. I like her. I even have a book of her essays on Calvinism fgs.

Housekeeping a phenomenal book. But it isn't one that I'd sing out to everyone. I can imagine lots of people not liking it.

I wish I could say I'd send you my copy FIS. But we've got a thing going on, not sure I can let it go just yet. See Now everyone is going to read it and hate it and think it long-winded and it'll be all my fault.

Just finished "How To Train Your Dragon" which was quite enjoyable.

Currently hooked on The Help.

an oldie but goodie ... duet for three by joan barfoot...about 3 generations of women who try and fail to avoid the mistakes of the generation before... it's a good read

a hundredtimes, i thought housekeeping was a great book...not one for when you need a book to pick you up though!

I've just started The Time Travellers Wife but also have A Thousand Splendid Suns waiting to be read. I've just finished Thanks for the Memories by Cecila Ahern which was ok though I wasn't that keen on the ending. If You Could See My Now is my fav by her

Last nght I read goodnight beautiful. Wasn't that into it at the begining but by the end was absolutely bawling my eyes out

I ahve almost finished American Wife and it is v good.

has anyone read The Reader? I almost bought it in waterstones.

English Womanhood v v good read.

And The Secret River.