What are you reading now?

Sapiens: a brief history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.

"The Bertie Project" by Alexander McCall Smith. One of his Scotland Street series. Very light and entertaining. Just the thing right now.

"It can't happen here" by Sinclair Lewis. First piblished in 1935, and reissued by Penguin Classics (20 Jan. 2017) The Amazon blurb is :-
"It's 1935 and discontent is rife in America. From the political margins appears Buzz Windrip, charismatic presidential candidate and 'inspired guesser at what political doctrines the people would like'. Sweeping to power amid mass elation, he promises wealth for all and the dawn of a glorious new era. Small-town newspaper editor Doremus Jessop is worried, especially when the new regime becomes increasingly authoritarian. But what can one individual do to fight an all-powerful state? Sinclair Lewis's terrifying cautionary tale pits liberal complacency against popular fascism and shows: yes, it really can happen here."

I am only at page 25 and it hasn't happened yet, but some familiar attitudes are appearing.

I`m coming towards the end of the second half of an omnibus by Phil Rickman. The first one was The Man in the Moss, it was so confusing that I was considering packing it in, but am so pleased that I didn`t, after the first 100 pages it all came together and got really good, and I loved it right up to the end on page 594. It`s a story of witch craft still having a hold on a village on the moors in Lancashire. This one that I`m reading now, Crybbe, is in a similar vein, but set on the border between England and Wales, near to Offa`s Dyke. I didn`t like this one at first either, but it turned into a page turner, and there are 664 of them!

I am reading "The Co-op's Got Bananas" by Hunter Davies. Started it today and I am really enjoying it. It's Hunter's story of life growing up in post-war Britain.

The book of Joy,by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, inspirational reading.

Elegran - 'It can't Happen Here' by Sinclair Lewis was mentioned in a talk about Trump by George Carey, ex-Archbishop of Canterbury a few days ago.

Greyduster- I must read 'The Bertie Project' soon, he's a lovely character and so cleverly written by Alexander McCall Smith.

Diamond Dust, by Anita Desai. If you like short stories these are very compelling. I am enjoying this book, the writing is brilliant.

A totally engrossing and enlightening book called 'The Big Necessity' by Rose George, all about ........'adventures in the world of human waste'

It's probably the least likely subject matter ever to be disclosed on GN! ?

Dannirae thanks for the mention of "The Coop's Got Bananas" by Hunter Davies - I've ordered a copy.

That's good Tricia - I hope you enjoy it!

Loved "Ashes of London" thanks to everyone who recommended it.

Just finished Saturday Requiem by Nicci French the latest in the Freda Klein series. If you haven't read them they are great. They start on Monday and each one is a different day of the week. They combine murders, psychology and the traces of London rivers, great stories.

This thread comes and goes, I've read quite a few more since I last posted including "The Ashes of London", which was good, I think I preferred another of Andrew Taylor's which I also read this year, "The Scent of Death" again historical, set in New York during the American War of Independence. Other recent reads "I Found You" Lisa Jewell, she writes well, she may be perceived as a writer of chick lit, but her books are quite perceptive, not light and frothy. "The Other Mrs Walker", can't remember the author, a debut novel slightly in the mode of Kate Atkinson and Black Water Lillies by a French crime writer Michel Bussi, set in the gardens at Giverny home of Monet. Unusual. I'm going to start a new book today, not sure what, I've quite a few "to reads" lying around.

'Earth and Heaven' by Sue Gee. Her writing is beautiful, just like painting a picture with words.

Am. Re-reading an oldish paperback The Road to McCarthy, very funny but not as good as McCarthy's Bar which is about Ireland.

I'm not sure if I picked up a recommendation for The Vanishing by Sophia Tobin from this thread or somewhere else, but I'm very glad I did. Very Bronte-ish story about a young girl taking on a role as housekeeper in an isolated mansion on the Yorkshire Moors. Quite dark and gothic.

As soon as I finished it, I downloaded her other two books, The Silversmith's Wife and The Widow's Confession. I found both very enjoyable. Just sorry she hasn't written any more (yet!). If you like historical thrillers, you may well enjoy these.

I've started to read The Co-op's Got Bananas by Hunter Davies.
And also an unusual biography of Anton Chekhov - Scenes from a Life by Rosamund Bartlett. Which describes some of the geographical background to Chekhov's life. And also an idea of the rich social history of Russia, a huge country whose culture and traditions we underestimate.
Chekhov's short stories are so personal.

At the moment I`m reading The Twenty Three, by Linwood Barclay, the last in his Promise Falls series, and am really enjoying it.

The Twenty Three was a great conclusion to a series, but I will miss them. I`m now just about to start The House by Princes Park, by Maureen Lee.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. About a quarter of the way through and enjoying it very much so far.

Wonder if this is a 1 off??
Just been reading a poetry book which might be unique? I've really enjoyed the poems written by five sisters recalling their childhoods, teenage years and experiences in later life. Some are quite funny, some thought provoking and others quite 'deep'. The contents include drawings by the poems' authors. Would recommend to anyone who may be interested - it's available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback form - the Kindle is only a couple of pounds. The title is Say Kangaroo (even the title is apt and explained) - written by - would you believe Five Sisters.
Also just reading for the second time The Belle Fields by Lora Adams and am enjoying it again. Surprising what you miss the 1st time round? The story is about a young girl who lands a job in the local 'Big House' and through many twists and turns ends up in deep trouble. The end is not what I imagined it would be and I'm looking forward to the promised sequel. The descriptions of the massive differences in the lifestyles of the poor and wealthy are well written as are how the communities celebrated important events (Mayday, Christmases etc) at the turn of the 19th century. Would definitely recommend both books - happy reading!!

I've just started "A Prayer for Owen Meany". I often lurk on MN for book recommendations and the praise for this one is unanimous, having read a couple of other of their "best choices" that turned out to be all time favourites, I have high hopes that this will also be very good, if not outstanding.

'The Axeman's Jazz' a first novel by Ray Celestin. It's a crime story set in New Orleans after World War I when Jazz was beginning to take a hold and a young Lewis (sic) Armstrong was at the beginning of an illustrious career. It's very well written and successfully evokes the atmosphere of New Orleans a century ago. I'm half-way through it and still have no inkling of the Axeman's identity.

The House by Princes Park was a nice family tale, starting in 1933 and ending on Millenium Eve. My next book will be Tuppence to Tooley Street, by Harry Bowling.

I have just finished reading ' The keeper of lost things' by Ruth Hogan, which has sat languishing on my ' to be read' shelf for some time. I can heartily recommend this gentle, entertaining story which kept me thoroughly engrossed from beginning to end. It's a really clever story, which links different times and characters in an interesting way.