What are you reading at the moment

I've just read the biography of Bess of Hardwick by Mary S Lovell- an excellent book about a remarkable woman, second only to Elisabeth 1 in terms of power and influence in the 16th century. I find I enjoy biographies much more these days.
Having said that, I'm now reading The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern) - a wonderful, fantastical novel (I like to ring the changes) which could just as easily be read by a teenager. It's about a circus, the Cirque des Reves, which appears only at night. The performers are wonderful, but need to ensure that their audience don't realise they are actually performing magic. Really appeals to me!

I read 'Before I go to sleep' about 9 months, it is now on two book club choices, Channel 4 and Richard and Judy. I enjoyed it, and don't even think of flipping to the last page!!!
I thought the Reluctant Fundamentalist was a terrific read, if my DIL hadn't given it to me, I would never have read it. One of my all time favourite books is Bird Song, recommended read.
I happened upon some Swedish crime books on Amazon, you know, if you like this etc. So today I picked up at the library 'Ashes to Dust' by Yrsa Sigudardottir (icelandic) and ordered 'Until thy wrath is past' by Asa Larsson, who I have never read, but this is her third book with a 5 star rating, anybody read any of her books?
It is some time since I read a crime book, so looking forward to it.

I have also order 'night circus' from a previous highly recommended review. Can't wait to read it.

I think I have read an Asa Larssen - I never remember their names but remember tha name was like Stieg Larsson, but different. It was about people snowed into a hotel, thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Scands really go in for dark crime stories don't they? And I thought it was all IKEA and Norwegian Wood. Glad Before I go to Sleep is recommended hattie64 -thank you!
And I am so glad you enjoyed Bess of Hardwick, fatfairy (?) I love that book and read it about once a year as she is /was such an amazing woman. Funny how that Elizabethan age produced 2 such strong "liberated" women - and that she managed to keep on the right side of Elizabeth too!!

Anne Holt's book 1222 was about people snowed up in a hotel. Is that the one you are thinking of gracesmum? Or is it such a common experience in Scandinavia that lots of thrillers are written in that scenario?

I think you are right Annobel. Good book though
Alzheimers' book club for me - the one where you discuss the same book each month because you have forgotten that you did it last month - you know "what's it" by What's his name
Mea culpa!!
(Still think I have read a Larsson other than Stieg!)

I'm a member of that one too!

...you mean you actually remember that you read a book about something sometime.....I am in awe.....

I think I did.........

I'm not sure if I read it on here or in a magazine but it was recommended to read 'Miss Read' books as they are like a soothing balm when there is a lot going on in your life! So that is what I am reading..........and it's working!!

I've got a couple of them on my bookshelves, I think, curlynana! The thing is, when I get my 'worry head' on, I find myself staring at the pages of a book, and getting nowhere with it. I'm glad it's working well for you, though!

Gracesmum, I finished Before I Go to Sleep the other day. Wasn`t sure if I was going to like it, and it IS a rather unusual tale, but I enjoyed it.

I do know what you mean greenmossgiel - I can only read at night in bed, I would just stare at the page too if I tried to read any other time. I have to keep busy during the day when I'm worrying.

I'm like you curlynana and find it difficult to read at any other time than in bed at night or in the morning with a cuppa in bed! Any radio or TV noise puts me off what I'm reading, and my DH has one or the other on all day!

I have read a few Jodi Picoult at the moment I am reading House Rules.

HOUSE RULES is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis.
I am just over half way with this book at the moment it looks like he is up for murder as with her other books things are never as it seems.
I usually read at night in bed but I tend to nod off . I try to read in the day but DH puts the tv on and this distracts me so I pop up stairs and lie on the bed and start reading and then before I know it I've nodded off !!!!!!!

Have just finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It's about a young poor black woman with a family who died from cervical cancer in 1951 and without her family's permission the cells from her cancer were removed and used around the world [they multiplied in a way that had not been seen before] for research into drugs and disease. Scientists knew her as HeLa. The story is about the author's discovery about the real woman and her family. It is heartrending in places and raises ethical questions about ownership of human tissues. A very good read which would provoke a lot of discussion in a book group.

As a contrast I'm now reading Dean Koontz's Breathless and like many of his books I find it hard to put down.

Goldengirl, a few years ago I was a real Dean Koontz addict, then I suddenly stopped reading him, maybe I should give him another go?

I`ve just discovered that Jo Nesbo has another book out, The Phantom, so that`s definitely a must buy. Harry Hole rides again!

I'm reading ' Halfway gone' by Matt Padmore.... funny and sad, a really good read.
Before that it was last year's Booker winner ' The Sense of an ending' and before that the previous year's Booker winner 'The Finkler Question' .... I think I need to re-dress the balance and find a heroine!

I`m in the middle of Next to Love, not my usual reading matter, but enjoying it. Maybe it`s beneficial to change reading habits occasionally.

'The Lacuna' by Barbara Kingslover - struggling with this but I will win! Looking forward to the new Jo Nesbo too numberplease. Have just finished 'The Slap' and 'When God was a Rabbit', both enjoyable in their own way.

I liked that, Mrs Hat, but admittedly it takes a bit of getting into. I found the historical context fascinating.

I have just started reading Charles Dickens again spurred on by the films that were on over Xmas but find I can only really get into them (quite hard going with the language etc) if I have watched the film first. So far have read Great Expectations and have just started Bleak House as I remembered I had the DVD in the cupboard so watched that first. Have also just re-found the "Miss Read" books in the library and also "one pair of hands" - Monica Dickens which I first read years (and years ago) so they are next on the list.

Mrs Hat I totally agree with Annobel. I also enjoyed 'When God was a Rabbit' but thoroughly disliked 'The Slap' as did my reading group.
Just finished my last book and wondering what to read next, will browse back over these posts for ideas!

Have fun woody. I rather like Our Mutual Friend myself.