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Books/book club

What are you reading at the moment

(1201 Posts)
Hattie64 Thu 26-May-11 19:58:46

I have just started reading 'The Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd. One of the reviews 'Wonderfully written, powerful, poignant and humerous'. Well I shall find out, I am on page 26 at the moment, and is very easy to read.

Minsk Sun 14-Aug-11 15:51:01

I absolutely loved this book, totally absorbing and extremely well-written. You're in for a treat!

ElseG Sun 14-Aug-11 16:00:50

As part of our church's book club, I am reading Life of Pi. I do hope it starts to make sense soon because out of the four books they have chosen recently I have only enjoyed (and understood) one!!!

Acheron Sun 14-Aug-11 16:06:56

ElseG you sound just like me at the local library book club. To make it worse I am usually out of step with the rest of the group - although perhaps not - at least it gets a spirited discussion going but then I'm quite mouthy and opinionated. sad

I haven't read Life of Pi. I'm starting On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry tonight.

ElseG Sun 14-Aug-11 21:06:06

I think Acheron that I am a bit of a Clutz when it comes to reading and I read for enjoyment mainly. When they sit and discuss the books the depth they go into is way above my head. Thick as two short planks, me grin

Annobel Mon 15-Aug-11 08:04:09

I'm struggling with 'The Crimson Petal and the White', having been told on Gransnet that the TV serialisation was brilliant. However, the book, which is about prostitution in the 19th Century, is just too graphic in its descriptions of sex for me and I'm not prudish, or don't think I am!

christineH Mon 15-Aug-11 19:17:56

I tried to watch it on TV but it just didn't interest me. I've just bought The secret life of bees and am looking forward to starting it. Just let me finish Kingdom of Shadows by Barbara Erskine (again) , I get so wrapped up in her stories.

Annobel Mon 15-Aug-11 19:19:46

I read The Secret Life of Bees last month. I am sure you'll enjoy it.

dizzyblonde Mon 15-Aug-11 20:58:26

I love the complete 'Diaries of a Provincial Lady' by E M Delafield. I have read it so many times and it makes me laugh every time.

greenmossgiel Mon 15-Aug-11 21:07:29

Daughters-in-Law (Joanna Trollope). Really makes you think about the control/power played out by parents and in-laws! She's a good writer, I think.

Anne58 Mon 15-Aug-11 21:34:39

Halfway through, and very much enjoying "The Time Travellers Wife"

dorsetpennt Tue 16-Aug-11 10:02:17

We all more-or-less seem to read the same books with some variations. I hate the Danielle Steele types, RomCom books etc - being a history buff I usually head there first. Am reading Jerusalem by Simon Sebag Montefiore at the moment which I'm enjoying very much. In between those type of books I try and read something lighter - guess what I found in the library this week. Peyton Place!!! I remember reading that, and hiding it from my parents, in the late 1950's. It was considered very rude indeed. I lived then in a small Canadian town in Ontario and it had been banned, however we frequently visited the US as the border was a few hours drive. I'll never forget the bookseller's smirk as he put it in a plain paper bag. I've borrowed it to read after the Jerusalem book to see if it's still going to be 'rude'

absentgrana Tue 16-Aug-11 10:12:30

I have tried a number of books recommended by gransnetters, including When God was a Rabbit, and been fairly disappointed every time. That's not a criticism of other people, just a reflection of different tastes. However, I have nearly finished reading The Room and think it's a real tour de force, so I'll carry on perusing this thread for suggestions and recommendations. smile

greenmossgiel Tue 16-Aug-11 10:32:27

Secret Life of Bees - very very good, I thought! smile

GoldenGran Tue 16-Aug-11 10:43:56

Have just read the first of the IVY Malone mysteries, don't have the author's name at hand will get it later' They are a sort of modern day "Miss Marple", but much more fun with Ivy being an American old age pensioner. Great comments on getting old and being invisible. Not great literature just great fun.grin

Annobel Tue 16-Aug-11 16:20:07

I got started on Jo Nesbo while on holiday: The Redbreast, so now I have acquired Nemesis and can't wait to start. I'm still ploughing through The Crimson Petal and the White but not sure I really want to finish it. I might skip to the end and see if it ends the way I think it will!

Acheron Tue 16-Aug-11 16:38:00

I have just started On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (book 4 on my list). I'm only about 30 pages in but I think I'm going to enjoy it.

Anne58 Thu 18-Aug-11 20:26:27

I am just a few pages away from finishing " The Time Travellers Wife" and am experiencing that rare feeling of wanting to get to the end to find out how it ends, but not wanting to "leave" the book.

I read every night, and sometimes sneak a few pages in the morning while having my in bed cup of tea (I work full time). DH and I read a lot, mostly thillers such as Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver etc, which we buy in the charity shops, each read one then swap with each other. I don't think dh would enjoy "The Time Travellers Wife" but I am so glad that I added it to our most recent charity shop pile!

PS We are in danger of being buried in books, we keep meaning to take a load back once we have read them, so that they can re-sell them!

crimson Thu 18-Aug-11 21:59:33

Right; I really am going to give the book another go..too many people have said how much they've enjoyed it.

ElseG Fri 19-Aug-11 08:47:21

I loved The Time Traveller's Wife and know just what you mean Phoenix.

At the moment I am reading Life of Pi for a book club and it is leaving me cold. I will finish it but bet I won't be able to discuss it, the only part which caught my attention was the suggestion that Christians are 'hat-wearing Muslims' smile

GoldenGran Fri 19-Aug-11 14:41:30

Phoenix good reason for getting a Kindle! It hasn't stopped me buying books, as I love the feel and smell of them, but it does cut down the growing bedside pile! Loved The Time Traveller's Wife, and just could not finish Life of Pi.
Felt quite guilty,as it was being raved about at the time-I felt I was missing a point that everyone else was getting.

Annobel Fri 19-Aug-11 14:53:31

At last, I've finished 'The Crimson Petal and the White'. And it ended the way I thought it would, though I'm not quite sure exactly what happened to the heroine. Anyway, there's too much overt sexual language and graphic description of sex for my liking. That leaves me cold. I much prefer the power of suggestion. Now I can get on with the next Jo Nesbo book.

Anne58 Fri 19-Aug-11 19:07:50

GoldenGran, restricted budget means a Kindle is not an option currently!

Also, tbh, I'm really not sure how I would get on with one, I do so love a proper book, but I suppose it's a case of "you never know until you try"

(Part of my current economy drive means that I no longer buy my usual newspaper Mon to Fri, which saves £5 a week. In my lunch break I look at it online, but it is not the same, and you can't do the crossword unless you subscribe)

eGJ Sat 20-Aug-11 13:04:33

Just been given a kindle; and yes I have a pile of books as well. I wondered whether I'd like it. Statred with a new book I thought I'd like to read and I was converted straight away. The Kasmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas on my kindle is getting the way of other things to do, but it IS raining outside today!

biggran Sat 20-Aug-11 13:22:35

I have just finished One Day because I kept reading about it and how wonderful it is and now it is a film. I feel ambivalent about it. It is not about our generation and older than my children's so it was difficult to relate to the characters. At least now I know what all the fuss is about.

I quite enjoyed When God Was a Rabbit but could not get on with Time Travellers Wife.

Now started a novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir with a non-fiction account of her life to follow - also by Alison Weir. Much more my sort of thing.

Annobel Sat 20-Aug-11 16:22:17

I've been thinking about the Alison Weir book, so will be keen to hear your verdict, biggran. And I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one who didn't 'click' with the TTW. My book group was also distinctly underwhelmed by One Day, couldn't feel much affinity with the characters.

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