Gransnet forums

Books/book club

What are you reading at the moment, part2

(476 Posts)
GoldenGran Thu 12-Apr-12 10:59:20

Ok, I,ll start the next one. I have just finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,it is an unusual story of an ordinAry, quiet and rather sad man who receives a letter from someone in his past. He writes a reply and sets off to post it,but keeps passing post boxes and eventually decides to deliver it by hand. He lives in Devon and the sender is in a hospice in Berw ick upon Tweed.i loved it and thoroughly recommend it, It is in the end about love pain loss and redemption.

wetweekend Mon 25-Jun-12 13:05:09

Because that's how it was when I joined. Maybe I'll change it later... It's the opposite of what I am in reality! (Some of the time)

Annobel Mon 25-Jun-12 11:50:31

Sorry, wetweekend (why give yourself such a gloomy name?) I meant to say welcome to GN. Keep on posting so that we can get to know each other. Enjoy GN.

Annobel Mon 25-Jun-12 11:01:55

Am reading a detective story set in the Solomon Islands - Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent. Great local colour, though the plot is beginning to defeat me. It was a Kindle deal of the day last week. 99p makes it worthwhile to try different authors.

wetweekend Mon 25-Jun-12 10:52:26

New member here. Always reading book critics so glad to find this site. Would recommend a Kindle. It's increased my reading X4 - if you want to do that! You can download samples free. Have enjoyed The Blue Door recently - harrowing WW2 experiences of a lady imprisoned by Japanese.

IdaMae Sun 24-Jun-12 20:59:42

Crazy Age by Jane Miller is a good, if sober, read.

gillybob Thu 21-Jun-12 14:54:27

Oh dear maybe its just me but I am very much enjoying being in bed with Mr Grey thank you very much !

Yes I know its rubbish but hey ho !

Just finished The Paris Wife which is the story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife. Really enjoyed it.

jeni Wed 20-Jun-12 19:21:26

I read them in my youth and am rereading them. It's an interesting exercise. I had forgotten his prose was so purple!

Anagram Wed 20-Jun-12 19:15:50

crimson - takes you back, doesn't it? grin

Annobel Wed 20-Jun-12 19:13:03

jeni, I don't think I know anyone else who has read the Alexandria Quartet although they were quite a cult while I was at University. I liked them at the time, but sometimes it crosses my mind to re-read them and see if I am equally impressed in my old age. I still have them all in the bookcase so may get round to it ...... one day.

baNANA Wed 20-Jun-12 19:09:54

When I'm 64 and Anagram do give it a go, it's full of nostalgia and whilst amusing in parts, it's also heartbreakingly moving as well.

jeni Wed 20-Jun-12 19:09:53

The Alexandria quartet.

crimson Wed 20-Jun-12 19:07:00

.....love and peace sunshine!

crimson Wed 20-Jun-12 19:05:38

Have got some in the kitchen; Body Shop circa 1969 I would imagine [still smells ok smile].....

Anagram Wed 20-Jun-12 19:00:02

Oh yes, I remember Patchouli Oil! The scent of Hippies! grin
I like the sound of that book - thanks baNANA.

whenim64 Wed 20-Jun-12 18:45:26

Bought it for my Kindle from Amazon - how quick was that? grin

whenim64 Wed 20-Jun-12 18:40:21

Thanks for the tip baNANA. This books sounds just up my street smile

baNANA Wed 20-Jun-12 18:30:42

Just read a sublime book, "We had it so Good" about an American who is a Rhodes Scholar back in the late 60s and the book traces him, his wife and several friends' lives from the time they were at Oxford together pretty much up to present day against the backdrop of significant events of the past 50 years or so. It makes several references to an evil smelling substance called "Oil of Patchoulli", which friends and I covered ourselves with in our teens, especially when heading off to rock festivals. Anyone else out there remember that? Read this book if you are born late 40s to mid 50s and lived your teen years in the 60s/70s it's a real 10 out of 10 read, best book so far this year. Another good recent read "The Pile Of Stuff At the Bottom Of The Stairs" sort of in the vein of "I Don't Know How She Does It" starts off as a bit of a rant by professional working mother against thoughtless but likeable husband, but gets better as it goes along and has some amusing moments. I am presently halfway through "The Making of Us" by Lisa Jewell also promising.

feetlebaum Wed 20-Jun-12 16:04:28

Having just finished Rex Stout's Too Many Clients (I'm a nt for Nero Wolfe) I've just started one I last read in the early 1950s, by Herbert Jenkins, one of his 'Bindle' novels. Written during Great War, it tells stories of a removals man, who is rather a resourceful cove... very entertaining, although some of the attitudes seem strange today - he foils an attempt to create a Suffragette demo in Downing Street, for example.

Annobel Tue 19-Jun-12 16:15:57

yes, no doubt, but my Kindle is now full of things that I've still to read!

numberplease Tue 19-Jun-12 16:09:33

Annobel, you`ll be wanting The Lewis Man when you`ve read The Blackhouse.

Grannylin Mon 18-Jun-12 22:07:00

I agree when.Read 50 Shades- its just a cheap thrill written very badly.Coincidentally, I am reading DH Lawrence's 'The Rainbow' again and really relishing the language.

Annobel Mon 18-Jun-12 21:34:26

Thanks for the recommendation of The Blackhouse. I have just downloaded it - not as expensive as some.

numberplease Mon 18-Jun-12 21:29:39

Hattie, I agree about The Blackhouse, and have recently read the follow up book, Lewis Man, also very good.
Immortal, by Dean Crawford, has turned out to be not at all bad, but not the best book I`ve ever read.
I`ve been reading rave reviews on another forum for Fifty Shades of Grey, plus the other 2 in the series, haven`t tried them, but just don`t fancy them at all.

Anagram Mon 18-Jun-12 21:17:32

No interest in it either. I read 'The story of O' in my youth and it left me cold - I think 'Fanny Hill' was more erotic!

whenim64 Mon 18-Jun-12 21:13:45

My daughter and some friends are reading it on Kindle. It's porn-drivel with a sado-masochistic theme. She told me not to bother, but she downloaded it out of curiosity. If I'm going to read stuff like that, I want it well-written, like D H Lawrence!