What are you reading at the moment

Did anyone else download Memoirs of a Porcupine from the Kindle Daily Deal? I thought it sounded rather intriguing, but I'm 38 pages in and wondering what it is really all about. Think I might give up.

I have just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Border Trilogy. One word - stunning!

There are few books that I finish and feel truly sad to have finished - but this was one. I've now got to decompress before starting a new book!

Just finished The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. It is a wonderful, ethereal read, quite short. It could be read in one sitting and it is so gently compelling that it would have been easy to do so, definately a story to read this time of year - winter not summer. I have read both her other novels. I loved Labyrinth I don't remember the story but her ability to convey a sense of place is uncanny. Carcasonne is one of my 'must visit' places now. I didn't enjoy Sepulchre. But I really loved this one. It will stay with me for a very, very long time.

At long last I've read The Help by Kathryn Stockett and couldn't put it down. It brought back memories of when I was in the US in the 60's and saw the segregation signs which I couldn't believe at first and which left a sour taste in my mouth. My mum had a housekeeper before we moved house who I remember even though I must have been just 2 or under. She was black and I remember being carried on her hip whilst she did the vaccing. I also remember being intrigued by her hair. My mum and she got on very well together and I didn't come across prejudice myself until I went to the US.

Yes I read it last week GG and likewise, riveted.
I'm sure it seems like ancient history to the kids learning about this in school, but it is still very much in living memory isn't it.

I too read The Help last week and enjoyed it - especially the 'pie' incident. It does not seem possible that such segregation occurred so recently.
My 12 year old grandson, who is mixed race, recently asked his mother what a racist was. I was pleasantly surprised that he did not know. Perhaps things are improving, at least in Oxfordshire. I think GS is more likely to be teased for being short and liking to dance.

Biggran, I too have read Labyrinth and Sepulchre, but didn`t know about The Winter Ghosts, so will look out for it. Like you, I loved Labyrinth, I also liked Sepulchre, but not quite as much.
Has anyone on here tried any Sarah Rayne books? She writes a good thriller, with spooky undertones, but without sounding silly or outrageous.
I`ve just finished Shatter the Bones, by Stuart McBride, another in his series of Scottish police thrillers featuring Det.Sgt. Logan MacRae, it was even better than others that I`ve read, and they were good.
I`m just about to begin reading Before I Go to Sleep, by S.J.Watson. It`s been recommended to me by several people, so I presume it`s a good `un!

I used to have a folder of cuttings from pags.and papers of book reviews but I no longer need that as I now have the many comments from all you lovely GNetters
Currently reading 'The Beacon' by Susan Hill.Just heard her on Radio 4 Book Talk.

One of the better sites for book reviews etc is 'Love Reading'. You get send a list of books monthly which they recommend. Old and new. This month is a list of the books to be read on the Channel Four book club which starts next month. Last year the books were excellent, and I read most of them.

Finished "Me before You" by Jojo Moyes; couldn't put it down and had to read to the last full stop before I went to sleep! It made me laugh out loud at times; at others it brought a lump to my throat. I can't reveal the plotlines as it is the unexpected that makes this compulsive! I don't usually appreciate the phrases quoted on book covers, but this time "Gorgeously romantic and partner-ignoringly compulsive" WAS just right! Like to hear if any other GransNetters have read it ............but don't give away the plot!!

I`m about three quarters of the way through Before I go to Sleep, by S. J. Walton. Very unusual plotline, but I` m eager to see where it`s leading. It`s about a woman who lost her memory over 20 years ago, every day when she wakes up she has to learn who she is, then when she goes to sleep it all disappears again from her memory.

I've just finished "A Sister's Gift" by Giselle Greene. It was an Amazon deal, and I hadn't heard of her, but it was a great book, with a nice, but not heavy, literary feel.

bigran Carcassone was my first September holiday after I retired as a teacher. We had intended to go some years before, but my breast cancer meant we'd had to cancel. In the interim, I read "Labyrinth" which made the visit so much more interesting. The whole "langue d'oc" thing was fascinating too, wasn't it?

Maniac - what do you think of The Beacon? Is it a new one of Susan Hill's? I've ordered The Kind Man from the library and may just ask for The Beacon, too.

Greenmossgiel, have just read A Kind Man, thought it was lovely. Really enjoy Susan Hill's detective series with Simon Serralier. Haven't read or heard of The Beacon so will check library download list now.

I'm just finishing The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, in which he traces the history of his well-to-do Jewish forebears through the changing ownership of a collection of exquisite netsuke. This also coincides with the rise of Nazism and anti-semitism in Austria which is echoed disturbingly in some of the xenophobic rhetoric heard from the extreme right in this century. A salutary reminder. It isn't an easy read, but an absorbing one.

'The Beacon'published in 2008.
Quite a short book (150 pages).In her interview Susan Hill said that she constantly prunes her writing to minimum.She certainly does in this book but wonderfully conveys an atmosphere or a character.it's haunting.I'm halfway through will finish tonight.
I've bought ''The Vows of Silence' (one of her crime novels) from a charity shop.
Thankyou hattie64 for your tip of 'Love Reading' booksite.I'll certainly get onto that.

Me too!

Glad you enjoyed it too Annobel.

Thanks, Maniac. I'll request it from the library. I think I may have read Vows of Silence. Good idea to have a look at the site Hattie64 spoke about - it's not always easy to keep up to date with reviews.

There is also www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/ which gives recommendations according to age group.

Hattie64 ! That website is wonderful; many hours are going to be spent.....................

Hattie64 thanks for the tip, have registered with that site

Thanks for the LoveReading recommendation Hattie...off to look at it now.
Have you tried Fantastic Fiction? A really good site for book reviews, new books, info on authors etc.

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Has anyone read "pure"?

What, this one jeni? ()

www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Frank-Mulder/product-reviews/3832794212/ref=sr_1_3_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1