What are you reading at the moment

Gransnet! It's so addictive I havn't time for anything else.

Is anyone else listening to Book of the Week at 9.45 on Radio 4? This week it is Stop What you are Doing and Read This, which is a series of essays. Jeanette Winterton today talking about Nan Shepherd's book The Living Mountain - brilliant - can't wait to get the book. A real readers feast!

After seeing all the hype on the news about the premiere of the film War Horse, I now have a yen to read the book, but don`t know the author`s name, can anyone enlighten me, please?

Michael Morpugo, something like that , maybe Morpago.

Michael Morpurgo. I downloaded it to the Kindle and couldn't put it down - had to know what happened. It's a gripping read and doesn't pull punches. I don't think I want to see the film, preferring to add the pictures for myself.

I have just read "Shadow", also by Michael Morpurgo. It is a children's book, but it too was a wonderful book. It is about a child who is befriended by a dog in Afghanistan, and who becomes an illegal immigrant in this country. A very simple but emotional read. Hope they make a film of it too. Can highly recommend it, especially if you have GC that you can pass it on to once you have read it.

Thank you all x

I urge you to go and see "War Horse" on the stage if you are anywhere near London. It is the most amazing and moving play with life size horse puppets, which you only see as horses after a short while. So well acted, enjoyed by all ages and one of the best plays I have seen in many years. Take tissues....
I will now read the book by Michael Morpurgo.
The film has had glowing reviews so I hope to see that too.

I've just fallen in love with Cormac McCarthy's writing all over again. Having said I though I'd have a break in between reading his Border Trilogy, I can't put it down and am half way through 'The Crossing'.

He does a lot of readings of his books. We saw him read Private Peaceful and then War Horse. I was pleased that I could thank him for writing such beautiful books. He and his wife do a lot to help underprivileged children, as well.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern......Wow what a book!!! It is like nothing else that I have ever read. I was completely out of my literary comfort zone when I downloaded a sample of it on to my Kindle, but I had read various reviews of it and decided to give it a try!! Within an hour I had the full version and I was hooked. It is the story of two magicians who decide to train their own apprentice and match them against each other in a fantastic competition which will take years to complete. The Cirque des Rives(The Circus of Dreams) becomes the arena for Marco and Celia, yet neither of them knows who their opponent is or what the outcome will be. It is a magical story full of amazing characters and wonderful descriptions, you can feel the Ice Garden,walk on the clouds and smell the caramel and popcorn. As quickly as the circus appears it is gone again, have you really been there, did it really happen? Try it for yourself, I am still reeling from the experience of it all.

Your review is so enticing, I shall have to read this book

I am starting rereading the Alexandrian Quartet. How fa I'll get I don't know.
It seems very strange to be typing on a proper keyboard, that doesn't do the capitals or those dam apostrophes!. And what's more everything is in different place. Moan moan moan! I'll get used to it.

I have just read a very good medical thriller, thought provoking with issues of transplants, rejection, animal experiments and I couldn't guess the ending!
Only on Kindle and very inexpensive.
Tolerance by Richard Roseveare.

I'd forgotten about the Alexandria Quartet. It was cult reading 50 years ago when I was in my final year at University! Can't believe it was that long ago - half a century.

Annobel the same thought occurred to me! I remember really trying to read the first one and not "getting" it at all. Maybe time to have another look? Maybe!

If anyone has just read War Horse or seen the stage version or film and so is in World War One mode, try "My Dear, I wanted to tell you" by Louisa Young. Areas of the Great War I wasn't aware of are covered. I was aware of the plastic surgery reconstruction in World War 2 at East Grinstead, but this book deals with reconstruction in WW1 among other things. No, don't be put off by that...........the whole is moving and page turning. The author's grandmother was a scultor and the widow of Captain Scott who worked with a pioneering surgeon to make clay casts of the wounded men to help the surgeons in their work. Perhaps I've said too much, but the whole is a seriously good read.

Testament of Youth! Fantastic! Everyone should read it.

eGJ, strangely enough, I was just recommended that book by someone on another forum, it must be an omen, so I must get it now!

Goodness Annobel that makes me feel so ancient. Was it really 50 years ago that we all read the Alexandria Quartet? They were definitely "make or break books". I remember one good friend saying she would never feel quite the same about me when she discovered I loved them. I felt the same about her and Aldous Huxley, but I got converted to him later. Was thrilled when younger DD fell for the AQ too, though I doubt if many of the young read them these days.

I re-read "Brave New World" a while ago; while obviously the science is out of date, the story is still chilling in terms of society. Look at what we can do now, with cloning, gene manipulation. Combined with a nanny state.....

Have discovered ...via my Kindle ...a whole new genre called 'cozy mysteries'.

They mostly have some sort of crafting back story, such as knitting or sewing ...and involve a murder. But, the key to genre is the lack of graphic violence, swearing or sex.

Gently, easy reading to snuggle up with on a cold winter's night.

My comfort reading of choice is Georgette Heyer - I own about 8 and am currently downloading them 2 at a time on my kindle - sheer bliss. I even relish a train jpurney or a wait at the hospital!!

Oooh, Gracesmum, I had a thing about Georgette Heyer, my English teacher at Grammar school recommended them, and from age 14 up to about 16, I read every book that she wrote, and LOVED them, but nowadays, with my propensity for gory thrillers, maybe they wouldn`t go down quite so well.

Another Georgette Heyer reader here. I too am downloading my favourite GHs onto my recently acquired Kindle bit by bit. Also Jane Austen (full works for free), Athony Trollope 'Barchster' novels and John Buchan. All of then comfort reading.