What are you reading at the moment

I have just read 'Old Filth' by Jane Gardam and I LOVED it. Very moving and beautifully written. I have never come across this author before though she has written quite a few.

It is about the life of a Judge from when he was born in Malaya ,sent back to England to be educated and his very eventful and tragic life. Funny in parts and I thoroughly recommend it.

Jools Holland's autobiography interspersed with The Secret Life of Bees

So sorry that Between a Mother and her Child by Elizabeth Noble has come to an end. Dealing with family relationships, it will charm you with romance, bring tears to your eyes and keep you turning every page fast as it keeps you wanting to hear how the characters develop. It's kept me from doing lots of things I perhaps SHOULD have been doing today.................but it has been pouring with rain all day!

I re-read Tess recently and saw this sad tale in a new light. Hardy is really rather naughty, peppering the pages with sexual innuendo disguised as unforgiving bucolic misery in misty, murky Dorset. I did enjoy it but agree with others that this is not a book to read if what you really need is a pick-me-up.

Joanna Trollope's Daughters-in-Law is a quick, light read but the "message" (to mothers-in-law) is writ too large in my humble opinion.

As for The Help, this is a brilliant novel that never preaches. I am looking forward to seeing the film.

I read Before I Go To Sleep before it became over-hyped. It is a clever yarn but might have benefited from some razor-sharp editing.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James was disappointing. It's meant to be a murder mystery and a follow-up to Pride & Prejudice. James is a much-admired writer but even she cannot compete with Austen.

Finally I read The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins a couple of months ago and was suitably spooked!

Oh ... raggymac. I, too, read Jane Gardam's Old Filth recently. And loved it.

jack I too read Death comes to Pemberley, and although I liked the way in which she wove Darcy and co into the story, I thought the ending was a great big let-down, I think she should have left Austen well alone.
I have just read Anthony Trollope's The Warden which I thought was lovely.
Am now startin Next to Love by Ellen Feldman.

Have just finished Conn Iggulden's Empire of Silver. Now started Lustrum by Robert Harris - off to a good start!

Loved "The Help"!

I read Old Filth a couple of years ago, I agree with the comments, an excellent book. I discovered it because the Librarians at a small library I belong to had a display of all their favourite books. A wonderful way to discover new authors.
As to favourite authors, nobody to my knowledge has mentioned Mary Lawson's 'The Bridge'. A wonderful book, highly recommended.

I love everything Jane Gardam has written-there is a prequel to Old Filth and there is the People of Privilege Hill. She wrote Bilgewater which is good.

Enjoyed Hide and Seek by Katia Lief, am now just starting another of hers, Five Days to Die, it`s started off well, hope it continues the same.

I'm reading an autobiography called "Maggies Breakfast" by Gabriel Walsh. It's set in Dublin in the fifties. It's a brilliant book. I can't wait to go to bed at night to read a bit more. I buy most of my books at charity shops, but this book caught my eye in the Waterstones window and I had to have it.

baNANA as promised, my views on 'Before I go to Sleep', it was enjoyable enough but certainly not worth all the 'hype'. Now reading one of JoJo Moyes offerings and finding it interesting enough. I keep promising myself to read something of 'depth' next, but never seem to get there!

I am reading The Fifth Woman, a Wallander story by Henning Mankel which I soon realised I had seen on TV, but it has so much more in it than the adaptation and anyway, I cannot for the life of me remember hoodunit.
I also took gracesmum's advice and read Raven Black by Anne Cleeve, set in Shetland. An excellent example of the detective genre - the ending comes as a surprise although when you think about it, you realise there were a few pointers. I am trying to be patient and not download the next one just yet. It reminded me of the detective stories by Michael Ridpath, set in Iceland, but Anne Cleeves has a much better plot - in my opinion.
Having looked at my Kindle download record, I have come to the conclusion that I have been reading far too much detective fiction!

Annobel, I've picked up Henning Mankel's Italian Shoes from the library. I haven't read any of his before, and am finding it a bit 'strange' and gloomy. I will persevere though - for the present, anyway!

That's Scandinavia for you, green. Wallander is introspective and depressive! Try Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole books for a taste of Norway.

Hmm - may give them a go, Annobel.

Just started a book called "Chin Up Girls" - it is a collection of obituaries of women, famous and unknown - it is very interesting - I would recommend it.

Just started reading 'Or she dies' by Gregg Hurwitz, very good so far -

'First, Patrick receives the mysterious DVDs. They show invasive footage of him in the privacy of his own house. Soon, Patrick and his wife Ariana find themselves questioning everything and everyone as their lives unravel. Someone is clearly out to get them. And then, the email arrives: Go Alone Do What We Say Or She Dies' ....

Libradi, I loved Or She Dies, I read another of Greg Hurwitz`s books a while back, but can`t remember the title.
And Greenmossgiel, I agree with Annobel, give Harry Hole a try, all Jo Nesbo`s books are excellent, but for continuity you need to start with the first one, I think it was The Redeemer, but not certain. I`m waiting for The Phantom to get a bit cheaper, at the moment the paperback`s dearer than the hardback!
Ive just read my second book by Mary Higgins Clark, I`ve Heard That Song Before. It was okay, but like the last one I read, her books seem to dwell on the upper crust of society, at times I tended to forget that it was set in America, I felt that I was reading about British rich society folk.
Am now just getting started on Dead Ringer, by Mary Burton. Women are being murdered and left with a gold pendant round their necks bearing a name, different each time, but they all bear a striking resemblance to a local TV presenter.

numberplease - I used to read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark years ago. I don't think I would like them now. I saw that you read a lot of Jo Nesbo's stuff - may give it a go. I'll see what's in the library and try and start with the first one.

Numberplease I've read 'You're Next' by Greg Hurwitz, that was really good and I'm finding 'Or she dies' easy to get into. Not read any by Mary Burton but will have to take a look as I usually enjoy the same authors as you.

That`s the one, You`re Next! This Mary Burton looks as if it`ll be good, but not very far into it yet.

Greenmossgiel, this is the correct order of Jo Nesbo`s books.

Redbreast
Nemesis
Devil`s Star
Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard
The Phantom

I have just finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and absolutely loved it. Seeing the film made me want to read it, and I'm so glad I did. It's a complex family history from the Dresden fire storm to 9/11, told mostly by the very precocious young boy who loses his beloved father on 9/11, and sets out to solve a mystery he feels his father has left him.

Thanks numberplease! I'm really into the Henning Mankell one now - and thoroughly enjoying it!