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?

Arrrgh! Got all excited when someone mentioned Edward Rutherfurd so went on Amazon to order 'New York' and it's not available until July! (paperback version that is) If it's as huge as his other stuff then the hardback will be too heavy to read lying down in bed! Will just have to wait I suppose...

at someone (Janeite?) who said it was her mission to spread the word about This Thing of Darkness, I completely agree!

Yes it was me. I think I am a little in love with Captain F.

I have juts started 'The Floating Brothel' - v good so far.

DD1 read Purple Hibiscus this weekend and said it was brilliant. I haven't got around to it yet.

just

Just finished Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, which I really enjoyed but it took quite a while to get into it. Recently read Brooklyn by Colm Toibin which was lovely and has stayed with me much more than I expected. I read both of those with my book club. Another book that the rest of the group read and loved (I didn't as DH and I prefer to spend January fretting and bickering about the tax return) was called Under Fishbone Clouds.

I bought The Floating Brothel ages ago, yet another book I need to get to some time this decade...

I've started reviewing books for a website called www.thebookbag.co.uk - lots of ideas for books to read there, and each review comes with further reading ideas at the end - - there are lots of reviews for kids' books and teenage fiction but I have to warn that it may encourage you to buy or borrow more books. They welcome more reviewers too but you need to think you can read and review a book within 2 weeks of it arriving as obviously publishers sending review copies want to see that those reviews appear.

I have two books to review at the moment - I'm currently reading Jim Kelly's [Death Watch] which is officially published this week - it's a crime novel set in Norfolk and with a police detective duo - I have a bit of an issue with a major part of the plot here in that it doesn't ring true and I can't suspend my disbelief, but I've raced through it very quickly and may finish it today.

I will then have to read Mary Beard, It's a Don's Life about university life, it sounded like an interesting read and I heard her on the radio a few weeks ago, but this is a library book and is overdue and I can't renew because someone else has a reservation, so it will cost me 11p a day to read it until that reservation is fulfilled (there is one other copy in the system and not out on loan) or I return it.

Yes, I liked Brooklyn too v much Rolf. Stayed with me for ages, quietly affecting isn't it?

gordon bennett! am reading the girl with a dragon tattoo for book club and am tempted to make this the only book i've not finished for it...is it worth it or should i get old filth by jane gardam off my library pile?

How far are you Polly? I nearly gave up until about page 50, then was totally hooked.

just before 50...feeling bamboozled by detail and not very interested...will keep going for another 50 or so and see

First 50 pages was all a bit disjointed and bitsy, but I think he is just introducing all the characters and I wondered where on earth it was all going to come together. It does, believe me!

Hope you enjoy!

Finished The Floating Brothel. I enjoyed it but there was a lot more conjecture than there were facts.

Re-read Miss Pettigrew at the weekend as well - bliss!

Why are you fed up my dear?
I shall email you tomorrow and cheer you up...

Aww thank you (still fed up though!). I am taking refuge in "Persuasion" tonight and trying not to think of work. How are you?

Need more book recs, folks! What are you reading now?

Janeite - I think as an Austen fan you might like Brooklyn by Colm Toibin too?

I am currently reading the new M Amis, which is making me laugh A LOT.

I've just finished FROM HERE TO PATERNITY by Matt Dunn - it is hilarious and so accurate too! It's all told from a male perspective but he is so insightful. I've read all of his books and cannot wait for the next one. It is literally one of those you cannot put down.

well have just got the floating brothel book....the cover has a picture of the women on one of the floating brothels and in the middle of them is a man who looks very like ashley cole...

I'm rereading "The Girl Who Played with Fire" Steig Larsson - as I read it too fast first time round & I am delaying reading the third book in the trilogy as it's the last - and I've enjoyed them so much.

Now there is is film of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" out I just have to see too!