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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.

auntie1 Tue 10-Jul-12 03:49:47

I have recently read A Disguising of Tailors by Sandra Anderson available on Amazon as Kindle or paperback. A mystery thriller full of twists and turns that travel between England and the beautiful Norwegian countryside. It is about a power hungry villain who is about to be given a knighthood, can this be stopped by the other characters in the story? It was a great read full of exciting events without the graphic violence that puts me off reading so many books. The presentation of the book is good, clear print on white paper which is easy to read and chapters that are not too long which is fantastic when you have a busy life and just think 'I'll read to the end of the chapter!' I shall look out for another book by this author.

yogagran Tue 10-Jul-12 13:30:09

I've just downloaded today's Amazon Daily Deal which sounded different, could strike a chord with a lot of us and it's only 99p today

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_162964907_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000577623&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=E95F49E3C9B24F34A2C1&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=296064607&pf_rd_i=daily%20deal

Annobel Tue 10-Jul-12 14:23:15

Thanks for the tip-off, yoga. I usually look at the deal of the day first thing every morning, but forgot today. Yes, it does look intriguing and the reviews are good - so I, too, have downloaded it.

Greendorrie Wed 11-Jul-12 11:50:04

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of The Thread (June's book of the month). I enjoyed it so much that I have now bought The Island and The Return from Oxfam shops. I am reading The Island at the moment, and enjoying that as much as The Thread. I have never been to Greece or Crete, but the books make them sound like great places to go for a holiday.

Silverbirch Wed 11-Jul-12 15:54:21

Am reading 'Its All News to Me' by Jeremy Vine. Its about 25 years working for the bbc and is wry, self-knowing, often hilarious and self-deprecating. He worked for some time as a political correspondent and his account of the level of spin that goes on by the political parties is extraordinary and disappointing!x

numberplease Wed 11-Jul-12 17:24:22

At the moment, I`m about two thirds of the way through Perfect People, by Peter James. I`m so used to his Roy Grace mysteries that it took a short while to get into this, but really enjoying it now. It`s about the perils of having a "designer baby", really very good.

crimson Wed 11-Jul-12 23:34:07

I'd forgotten that I ordered a copy of Call the Midwife from work. Thoroughly enjoying it but feel very sad that she died before it was shown on the telly. Love the way she writes. I know someone on here mentioned it a while ago, but it really is uncanny how perfect Miranda Hart was for the part of chummy.

Annobel Wed 11-Jul-12 23:51:55

I am now reading River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh, the second of a trilogy which began with Sea of Poppies. While I enjoyed the first, this one is quite confusing because the groups of characters who finished the first book together have been split up by various circumstances and he jumps quite suddenly from one group to another. It's also quite hard to remember who is who when it's a couple of years since I read the first. But I am persevering and hope it all becomes clear in the third book - not out yet.

numberplease Thu 12-Jul-12 00:13:51

Annobel, I bought River of Smoke last weekend, but haven`t read it yet, not read anything by this author before though, so should I read the other one first, do you think?

crimson Sat 14-Jul-12 11:55:08

Nearly finished Call the Midwife. Shall read her other books when I can get them. I keep thinking of when Jeremy Paxman was on the family tree programme [news headlines 'Paxman cries'] and he kept saying 'we don't know we're born. The chapter on the workhouse is particularly moving. I'm planning a visit to Southwell Workhouse soon and shall look on the place in a completely different light after reading this. In fact, looking on the visit with a certain amount of trepidation now. Can't help but feel the sadness will be tangible somehow.

Notsogrand Sat 14-Jul-12 13:34:16

Just catching up on your comments about Jim Kelly Merlotgran I can see that it would be irritating to have the area you live in taken advantage of!
We were living in Hastings when I first read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist. Tressell had set the book in Hastings and it was quite amusing trying to interpret where & what he was alluding to.

I've just finished reading Josephine Hart's Sin, which has been re-released as a Virago Classic. The central character's jealousy of her adopted sister leads to a spiral of revenge as the years go by. It's a fairly brief book, but well written and absorbing.

betsysgran Sat 14-Jul-12 14:32:11

Just finished Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. I missed the film so read the book instead. Great book which makes you think about hopes and dreams and doing something about them instead of just talking about them.

JessM Sat 14-Jul-12 14:59:57

Book better than film! Apart from K Scott Thomas's performance.

eGJ Sun 15-Jul-12 07:38:09

The latest Lynda La Plante - Backlash - is keeping me from doing all sorts of things I should be doing. Great pace and winding up to the usual satisfactory conclusion (for Anna Travis that is!) Up early to finish the last 150 pages!! smile

numberplease Sun 15-Jul-12 17:33:20

Just finished The Tin Ring, by Zdenka Fantlova, quite harrowing reading, but a good read nonetheless. Am now reading No One Left to Tell, by Karen Rose, looks promising, but haven`t read a bad one by her yet, so expect this to be well OK.

Ariadne Sun 15-Jul-12 18:59:17

I've just finished "Night Waking" by Sarah Moss. Some superbly drawn characters with whom one could identify, and a nicely woven story. It was good!

gracesmum Sun 15-Jul-12 23:21:03

The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan - do read this magical and enchanting , also moving, book.

Notsogrand Mon 16-Jul-12 07:41:23

It may have already been mentioned on this thread......but I'm half way through the new Sherlock Holmes book, House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. I ordered it from the library and had to wait a long time before it was available. Definitely worth the wait! Just like reading Conan Doyle.

Gally Mon 16-Jul-12 08:44:50

I've just read My Dear I wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young which I downloaded onto the Kindle for my journey to Oz. I think it was mentioned on GN a year or so ago, but well worth mentioning again. Set in the early part of the 20th century going into the First World War. I loved it and polished it off during one sleepless night battling jet lag so will probably have to read it again when in the right frame of mind to read the bits I probably missed grin

eGJ Mon 16-Jul-12 17:57:09

Now onto Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen. I nearly gave up after a couple of short chapters, but glad I persisted. It's a strange haunting mix of a spy story, a family torn about by death, a child's imaginary world and a true event -the bear. Very gently written you are drawn and need to read on. Worth reading every page to the end!

GoldenGran Mon 16-Jul-12 18:43:53

I have that and have not started it yet,so now I will thanks eGJ. I am reading Skis by Michael Frayn, not far into it, but looks fun and well observed.

JessM Mon 16-Jul-12 19:11:54

Having enjoyed "Going Postal" by Terry Pratchett, I am reading the sequel "Making Money". A potted course in economics - do we need the Gold Standard? What is money, really? And what about banks...?
Does not have the brilliant plot device that opened Postal but Moist is a character that merits a second outing. If you have never tried Pratchett these are not a bad place to start. Perfect light reading with fantastic witty writing and much cleverness.

eGJ Sat 21-Jul-12 08:32:54

Are there any other Stella Rimington fans out there? The new Liz Carlyle appeared on my kindle on Thursday and I'm trying hard not to let it take over my life as her books are so compelling! The Geneva Trap has drawn me in and is up to the usual standard.

flowerfriend Sat 21-Jul-12 10:58:45

I have just finished the first two of the Fifty Shades trilogy. Well, it was different. I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed it. Not great literature but it fitted the bill for light summer reading and I cannot wait to read the third. Can I hear some tutting going on in GN land?

Nonu Sat 21-Jul-12 11:53:01

The last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin . Really enjoyed , didn"t think I would . Sure no tutting in GN land , but if there is so what ? what ever floats your boat I say smile