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What are you reading now?

(1001 Posts)
loopylou Sun 22-Nov-15 20:09:17

Thanks are due to the lovely GNs who, some months ago, suggested books that might rekindle my love of reading.
I'm hooked on CJ Sansom's Shardlake series, utterly engrossing.
I'm really surprised just how much I'm enjoying reading historical 'Whodunit', probably the last thing I'd have chosen a few months ago.

numberplease Mon 30-May-16 22:37:15

Devil`s Star was good. I`m now reading The Sunshine of Your Smile, by Joan Jonker. I`ve read one other book from this series, of which there seem to be a lot, they`re alright, but I`m not that struck on them, but they were given to me, so am going to read them anyway. They are a bit silly really.

Falconbird Tue 31-May-16 07:09:10

I've just finished reading "Queenie" by Jacqueline Wilson. It's my Book Group choice for this month. The book is aimed at older teenagers so is a real change for us.

It's about TB treatment in the early 1950s and as I was in an Isolation Ward for 5 weeks with meningitis for 5 weeks in 1958 I found it very accurate and interesting.

practical Tue 31-May-16 22:18:35

The Kingdom By The Sea by Paul Theroux

Deedaa Wed 01-Jun-16 21:22:09

I've just finished "Shop Girl" by Mary Portas. It's the story of her childhood and early working life. Having always seen her involved with places like Harrods and Harvey Nick's I was amazed at what a poor family she came from and the tragedy she had to rise above.

Grannyknot Thu 02-Jun-16 06:27:48

greenfinch I loved The Rosie Project. I plan to read the follow up.

But I am now reading a Sophie Hannah book The Orphan Choir. The theme at the heart of it is a mother's devastation at having her son sent away to boarding school at the age of 7 at her husband's insistence. I'm finding it interesting because that situation has caused a lot of problems for one of my friends who bears a great deal of resentment to her husband for exactly that reason.

Liz46 Thu 02-Jun-16 09:16:09

Mary Wesley - Jumping the queue. Most unusual and unpredictable. I read it with hardly a break and enjoyed it but don't quite know what to make of it. Strange but clever author.

thuberon Thu 02-Jun-16 16:49:28

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg

gma Thu 02-Jun-16 17:41:54

I have just bought Maggie O'Farrell's "This must be the place" with some of my birthday money!! Big hardback book and I can't wait to start it! In view of the fact that footy is on TV tonight, guess what I will be doing!! Happy days!!

Bellanonna Thu 02-Jun-16 18:44:57

Not sure if this has been discussed. I'm sure it has, but I'm near the end of Kate Atkinsons A God in Ruins. Really enjoyed it and don't want to finish. Only criticism is how it jumps about in time, but I've now got used to that. A really good read.

Deedaa Thu 02-Jun-16 21:32:56

Liz46 I worked my way through all Mary Wesley's books about 20 years ago and really liked them. I thought "Harnessing Peacocks" was particularly good.

Jane10 Thu 02-Jun-16 21:37:48

There's a lot of hoohaa about Jojo Moyes 'Me before you' but I found it cloyingly sentimental and frankly a bit silly. I had been so impressed by an old book of hers 'Ship of brides' that I had had high hopes for it. Seriously I would recommend 'Ship of brides'. Its about an old ship's last run carrying 600 Australian brides to the UK after the last war. Good characters, setting and story.

Greenfinch Thu 02-Jun-16 21:53:28

grannyknot Idont think The Rosie Effect is quite as good. However. it is quite fun to see how Don copes with Rosie's pregnancy in the light of his problem.

millymouge Thu 02-Jun-16 22:13:07

A Notable Woman, the journals of Jean Lucey Pratt. Starts in April 1925 through to May 1986.

Anya Fri 03-Jun-16 09:59:34

Yes, I read that many, many years ago practical - in fact it was the first book if his I ever read. Thoroughly enjoyed The Road but did find his humour rather dark occasionally...but still funny grin

numberplease Fri 03-Jun-16 17:08:09

I`m now reading Broken Promise, by Linwood Barclay, promises to be good, his books usually are.

practical Sat 04-Jun-16 16:06:50

Anya I get them on cassette tape so that when I cant sleep I put headphone in and soon drop off. I was listening to his
'a walk in the woods' last night. They have made it into a film now so am waiting till it's on video, it's about the Appalachian Trail in the USA.

Stansgran Sat 04-Jun-16 18:41:04

Been on holiday in Cyprus and had ordered Death in Cyprus by MM Kaye from Amazon. I like reading books about where I've been not necessarily travel books. This was a light read and slightly fifties romantic soppy but she does write well. I used to love The Far Pavilions as a teen . Terribly swashbuckle romance.

Grannyknot Sat 04-Jun-16 18:46:11

greenfinch of am away soon for a few days and that will be perfect light reading. smile

numberplease Sat 04-Jun-16 22:11:54

I`ve just finished Broken Promise, can recommend it. I`m just about to start Let Me Call You Sweetheart, by Mary Taylor Higgins.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 12:50:03

I have just finished The Citadel (yes I know, it took me ages. I don't settle down with a book half often enough) It was a great book. It was really gripping. Why haven't I read anything by AJ Cronin before in my life of reading?! confused Yes, his books are a bit outdated now, especially regarding attitudes to women, but they have such good storylines.

Going to download another of his books now.

BBbevan Thu 09-Jun-16 13:01:43

Belladonna have you read ' Behind the Scenes at the Museum ' by Kate Atkinson.One of my absolute favourites.
Just finished ' My life in Houses' by Margaret Forster. Love anything by her

Bellanonna Thu 09-Jun-16 13:03:44

I've got the Citadel on my pile. I read her others and couldn't put them down. Recently finished Kate Atkinson God in Ruins. Enjoyed it but couldn't fathom out why she needed to alter the ending. It was a moving and enjoyable read apart from that.

Bellanonna Thu 09-Jun-16 13:06:18

Oh how weird that we X posted BBevan. Yes, I've read all of her books. Behind the Scenes was my first, I think. Also love M Forster, but haven't read that one.

chelseababy Thu 09-Jun-16 13:55:00

I've recently finishe The Holiday Home by Fern Britton. Again set in Cornwall and about two sisters and their families who share a holiday homw. Secrets from thw past are revealed....I preferred it to A Good Catch the recent GN book club read by Fern. I'm now reading The Hidden Child book 5 in Camilla Lackberg's Swedish series. Main characters are a woman writer and a detective. Best to read book 1 first (The Ice Princess) as the private lives of the character's develop over the books. This is the third one I've read and I enjoy them.

Maggiemaybe Thu 09-Jun-16 14:33:35

I really enjoyed A Spool of Blue Thread (Anne Tyler). Some authors go off after a few books (as one of my reading group said "like bad meat" grin), but all of her books are as fresh as the first ones.

Now I'm nearing the end of The Improbability of Love, by Hannah Rothschild, which I didn't fancy at all (it's a reading group choice). It's a satire about the art world and includes all sorts of bizarre characters and sub-plots. I've learnt a lot about art and cooking and rich people, which probably doesn't sell it too well, but it's been a fabulous read.

In between I tried without success to get into Victoria Hislop's The Sunrise. If there was a yawn emoticon I'd use it.

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