What are you reading at the moment, part2

Well, I`ve finished Suite Francaise, but, although some may like it, I can`t bring myself to recommend it, as it bored me rigid!

Meant to say, I`m now reading Dead Connection, by Alafair Burke, OK so far.

I've had trouble sticking to any book lately, just can't find anything to 'grip' me. I'm reading 'The American Boy' by Andrew Taylor - I picked it up in a charity shop and so far, I'm enjoying it. Previous to that I have been reading Peter Robinson - detective stories that I enjoy. I just can't read anything too violent (Martine Cole) or too slow (Danielle Steele). Trouble is I just am not happy without a book on the go!!

Dead Connection was good, but obviously not QUITE that good, as I guessed who the main baddie was.
Am now reading the first of 3 Jim Kelly books that I got from Amazon, Death Wore White, and enjoying it so far. It`s set on the Norfolk coast, an are we know quite well, so I`m constantly picturing the scenes in my mind.

Just read 'Jackdaws' by Ken Follett. A thundering good read - quite exciting, if somewhat unbelievable in parts!
Also, The Greenhouse by Audur-Ava Olafsdottir; not quite sure what I thought of this one but quite enjoyed it as it was, I think, set in France; all about a young man from Iceland off to work in a monastery garden and trying to 'find' himself i.e.getting to grips with the loss of his mother and becoming a father after a one-night stand(it was a cheap download from Amazon)
Number I couldn't cope with Suite Francaise either

curlynana do stick with the American Boy it's a great book and evokes that early 19th century period very well. If you find you do enjoy it I can recommend another great book by Andrew Taylor called Bleeding Heart Square set in the 1930s, again with murder and mystery as a central part of the plot and against a backdrop of the rise of the fascist black shirts in London at that time.

I`ve just finished Death Wore White, by Jim Kelly, really enjoyed it, just started another of his, The Fire Baby, not enjoying it quite so much, yet, but things may change.

Gally, meant to say, I`m glad it`s not just me, re Suite Francaise!

I'm reading The Sweetest Dreams by Doris Lessing. She couldn't finish her autobiography as such, because of libel cases, so she has made the last years from the 60s onwards into a novel. It lacks a lot of the punch of her novels but she is trying to be truthful about her life. I shall finish it but have lying on my bedside table the latest by William Boyd 'Waiting for Sunrise' and can't wait to get started.
I think novels about World War 2 are just not for me. I have read enough about the horrors and when you add up just how many books you can still read in your life time; about 12 -20 for each year, then I have to be choosy and if I don't like a book after 30 pages then I give it up.

Half way through Someone to Save You by Paul Pilkington. Very exciting suspense /thriller.. Just finished The One you Love by the same author; amazing what you read when desperate for something different. All downloads to the Kindle

The Fire Baby was OK, but not as enjoyable as Death Wore White. Am just about to start on The Water Clock, also by Jim Kelly.

Agree GoldenGran. Just finished the same book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and thoroughly enjoyed it though it made me cry too.

Enjoyed The Water Clock. Am now reading Shelter, by Harlan Coben. Didn`t realise till I started it that it was the first in a new series by him, of books for teenagers, featuring Mickey Bolitar, nephew of his more well known character, Myron Bolitar. Actually, it aint half bad, for a kids book.

I'm reading 'From a Clear Blue Sky' by Lord Mountbatten's grandson, Timothy Knatchbull who survived the IRA bombing that killed four people including his twin brother Nicholas. It's a very moving account of what happened and how a very close family dealt with such a terrible event. Parts of it are desperately sad but it's also very uplifting because you cannot fail to admire their stoicism and love for one another.

Death comes to Pemberly by PD JAMES. It's brilliant. She has caught Jane Austin's voice perfectly and it's the usual wonderful twisty detective story that Phyllis James excels at.

Shelter turned out to be rather good, and enjoyable, seeing as it`s aimed at teenagers. I`m now giving a new Swedish author a go, I`ve just started Midwinter Sacrifice, by Mons Kallentoft.

I'm reading The Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell, third in his series The Warrior Chronicles. If that's a reflection of life in the 9th century, I'm really glad I wasn't around then. A very bloody account of conflict in the times when Alfred was establishing his kingdom. Saxons v Danes; Christians v Pagans. I will have to read the fourth book eventually, but will need time to recover from this one! Who was it recommended these books - jingl?

Having recommended it to other people I read Seabiscuit while I was on holiday; I'd realised that, although I'd dipped into it many times, I hadn't actually read it from beginning to end and, two days after finishing it I'm still very much in their world; another time and another place. I feel embarrassed in that, having said what a good book it is, it is far more about the horse and his connections than it is about America at the time, and it's probably more for the hardened racing fan such as myself, but I still maintain that it's one of the most beautifully written books that I have ever read and the reason I'd dipped into it so many times is that I can just open it at any page and lose myself in the beauty of the prose. Staying just [but only just] the right side of sentimentality it tugged at my heartstrings over and over again. I remember when it was first published, reading about the vast number of people that the author had interviewed; the amount of reserarch that went into the book is phenomenal. The horse and his connections are now so real to me, even though he stopped racing years before I was even born. I may even stay up late tonight and re watch the film, which I haven't seen since it was on at the cinema years ago. Will I cry watching it? You betcha.....

Oh, I also read the Lady and the Unicorn by Tracey Chevalier [I enjoyed Girl with a Pearl Earring]. Thought it was a bit lightweight at first, but then got drawn into it and now want to go to Paris to see the actual tapestry [hadn't realised that it was about a real tapestry when I read it]. Good excuse to go back to Paris!

I have seen the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries at the Musée de Cluny a couple of times, crimson and then I read the book which I thought gave a good insight into the weaving of these wonderful tapestries. I know you'd love the real things - just don't go on a Tuesday. My sister and I went in the spring to renew our acquaintance with this fascinating museum and found it was closed on Tuesdays.
You mean you need an excuse to go back to Paris?

I`ve just finished Love You More, by Lisa Gardner, it was very good, I read the last 100 pages very quickly because I wanted to know the outcome as soon as possible. I`m just starting on The Devil`s Edge, by Stephen Booth. I`ve read a couple of his books and liked them, so this should be OK.

Just googled the tapestries; they are so beautiful..on utube it shows them in detail as well.

I have also just finished this book, I couldn't put it down actually, one of the best stories I've read for a long time. Sad, but also hopeful, and it certainly made me think about my own relationships and what I could have done better to open up communication.
I see its on the Booker longlist, I do hope it gets through at least to the shortlist next week.

Sorry folks, I forgot to mention the book was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry! Which was the first book mentioned in this thread.

The Devil`s Edge was very good, really made the Peak District sound very creepy. I`ve just started on Death Toll, by Jim Kelly, I`m starting to quite like his books, especially as they`re set in a part of the country that I`m reasonably familiar with.