What are you reading now?

Following on from Elizabeth is Missing I read this book, and agree with others it was quite depressing, but very well written. Although, not a happy subject, I did read an excellent book relating to Alzheimers, called "We are not feeling ourselves" This covers the gradual onset, a 3 generational story spanning 50 years or so and very much in the sweeping American novel genre.

I have just stared The Lake House by Kate Morton, a great big tome of a book. I love Kate Morton's books, bar one that I found disappointing. I think she writes fantastically well about England, in spite of being Australian and from what I can gather not living here.

I'm just about to start The Road to Little Dribbling.

I love Bill Bryson, me.

'I Pilgrim' for book club. I can't say I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm not very keen on thrillers or spy/war books, in more of a Jane Austen type reader really, though book group has led me to read a wider range of books.

Just finished a book, in English, written by NY author and journalist, John Biggs. Called 'the Marie-Antoinette' - all about the history of one of our most famous local watchmaker, Breguet, who started his apprenticeship with his step-father in a farm opposite us, in 1761- before going to London and Paris- were he became the most famous watch maker ever- on the Quai des Horlogers in the Ile de la Cité. Marie-Antoinette had a lover who was a SWedish Prince, and he asked Breguet to make the the most beautifuk, expensive and complicated watch ever- for her. She went to the guillotine before it was finished- we all know that story. The watch took many many years to complete and was then bought be various collectors- finally ending up in an Arab Museum in Jerusalem!!! Where it was stolen in 1983 in one of the most complicated theft ever. It just could never be sold of course- and when the thief died, his wife decided to give it back. In the meantime, Breguet company in Switzerland near me completed their own Marie-Antoinette from drawings and descriptions found in Breguet's archives.

Very exciting as I will be translating the book into French after Christmas- as there is so much interest here.

Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie, one of my feel good reads.

My latest Scandi crime author is Camilla Lackberg. She is "the hottest female writer in Sweden at the moment" I'm on the second book now so that must be a recommendation!

I`m reading More Lives Than One, by Libby Purves. It was passed on to me, it`s okaaaaay, but a bit boring, I wouldn`t actually recommend it, but will finish it, I hate giving up on a book.

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.

I can't get into Scandi authors at all.
Perhaps I should 'try harder'!

The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse - gripping!

I`m now reading another book that was given to me, Five Quarters of the Orange, by Joanne Harris. It`s alright, but not really what I go for, won`t be rushing for more by this auuthor.

It's one of my favourite books, number

I am reading The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop. I do enjoy her books.

Merlot, I don`t dislike the book, the further I get, the more interested I become, it`s just a lot different to my usual reads.

I love Victoria Hislop- didn't know she has written a new book- what is the Sunrise about? Will buy it when in the UK over festivities.

I did like Harris's Chocolat- didn't you?

I read at least 2 books a week so I get through quite a lot. Favourite authors: good old Terry Pratchett, I'm really am going to miss finding out what happens next in Discworld, Kate Morton, Liane Moriarty, Sue Hill and Helen Dunmore.

This year I have also discovered Sarah Waters, I found The Paying Guests so good, I immediately read everything else she had written. I particularly like Affinity, I like the way the ground shifts just as you get used to a situation.

But the reason I'm writing this is because I have just read a book that made me laugh out loud but left me in floods of tears and that rarely happens. A Man called Ove by Fredrick Backman is about a grumpy old man who has lost the will to live. Doesn't sound a lot of fun, but it was great. Just a little story about one man and the community he lives in, but incredibly moving and heart warming. Loved it so much I just had to share it.

I got out another book this morning that was passed onto me, it`s Number 10, by Sue Townsend, of Adrian Mole fame. I`ve never read anything of hers, but the blurb said it was hysterically funny.........er, no. After 65 pages I gave up, not like me to give up on a book, but it was absolute rubbish, didn`t even raise a smile, maybe I`m an old misery?
I`m now reading Azincourt, by Bernard Cornwell, an author I`ve heard great things of, but never read him. So far, it`s very good, I may just try more of his books.

Don't Look At Me In That Tone Of Voice!: Adventures of a Confused Sixties Childhood

Don't Tell My Mum!: Continuing Adventures of a Confused Seventies Childhood

Don't Blame Me, It's Everybody Else!: The Continuing Adventures of a Confused Seventies Teenager

Don't Know Where She Gets That From! (Adventures in Parenting

All by Alex Cotton I read them on my Kindle. If you want easy amusing reading that takes you back to the sixties and seventies you'll enjoy these. I was a child in the fifties, but a lot of what she says was still relevant to me.







Alex Cotton (Author)

Wilma - I almost accidentally read Rivers of London, certainly shan't forget it. Until I just read a previous post of yours I hadn't realised that Urban Fantasy is a genre. Unsure whether it's for me but it's certainly powerful!!

I'm happy that my book club is going to read Celia Imrie's new book.

Has anyone given up on The Book Thief? I've been trying to read it for ages and want to watch the dvd when I have. However, I just seem to get bogged down with the words and reach the end of each page feeling that I'm getting nowhere. As it's aimed at young adults I feel that I should be able to read it. Should I persevere? I really want to watch the film but know I'll never return to the book if I do. Sometimes it will take me ages to get into a book, but it just isn't happening with this one .

I gave up on it too Tegan; I frequently find 'popular' books don't do anything for me.
I'm reading The Martian by Andy Weir (alongside Lamentation by C J Sansom) as bedtime reading and it's really gripping. DS recommended it

number i read Azincourt - i couldn't put it down. I'm a big Cornwell fan. I am just about to start reading The Ghost by Robert Harris. DS says it's good. I've had three books from the library recently and don't seem to have settled to any of them - think i'm going through a reading dry spell!

Elrel until about 5 years ago I'd never heard of it as a genre either. Apparently it's actually one of the many sub genres of Fantasy, but as far as I am concerned it's quite different from any Fantasy books I've read. It's also one of the fastest growing new genres and it's got me hooked. I must have around 10 authors now that I love reading and can't wait for their next books.

I have a real treat at the moment because I just discovered that I hadn't read Shattered, the latest book in Kevin Hearne's The Irish Druid Chronicles series. Don't know how I missed it, but I am loving it now. I listen to audiobooks most of the time and the narrator Luke Daniels is the just brilliant in this series. One of the characters is an Irish wolf hound called Oberon who can talk to his owner Atticus (the main protagonist) and their conversations are so funny! Daniels uses a Scooby Doo voice for Oberon which may sound childish, but it absolutely is not. Each book is so well researched, so I'm learning as I am being entertained. Definitely a series to start at the beginning though (1st book is called Hounded).

I use the website Good Reads all the time to get reviews of books to get a good idea of whether a book will interested me or not. Would definitely recommend this site.

Thanks loopy. My daughters 6th form pupils gave it to her as a end of term present one year; when I picked it up and read the first page I found it so quirky and unusual I felt I to read it. I may cheat and skim through the book [which will then ruin the film for me, I guess].

Tegan and Loopylou - I've been feeling guilty at the many books I've begun and not finished, indeed in several cases not really got far enough in to give them a chance! The Book Thief is one, shyly hiding under my bed!

Wilma - I rather like the sound of Kevin Hearne's books. I fear Rivers of London is unforgettable (not in a good way, except for the rivers!) and will forever haunt me both near the church where GS1 was baptised and when I encounter a certain entertainment!! It's just not for me though I'm intrigued by the genre itself.