What are you reading.

I have just finished The Winter Mantle by Elizabeth Chadwick. It is set in the reign of William the Conquerer. Chadwick's books are meticulously researched and her characters leap into life on the page. Her novels about Eleanor of Acquitaine are brilliant.

Not very far into it yet, but I think I`m going to enjoy The House of Dolls.

Re-reading Terry Pratchett's Small Gods at the moment.

I've just finished Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It charts her life from growing up in a strict Muslim household in Somalia and Kenya to her escape from an arranged marriage and her life in Holland where she became a public figure and made a film with Theo Van Gogh who was assassinated in the street as a result. It gives a fascinating insight into the upbringing of Muslim girls and illustrates what we can all achieve with strength of character and determination.

The Lat Voyage of the Valentina was okay, but I still didn`t like it as much as Secrets of the Lighthouse. I`ve just finished The Skin Gods, by Richard Montenare, very good if a bit gory in places. I`m just about to start on The House of Dolls, by David Hewson.

Just finished The Little House by Philippa Gregory- not an historical novel but a psychological thriller.
It is a very easy read but packs quite a punch. We are doing it at Reading Group so will be fascinated to see what comments it gets.
If you have ever had an interfering MIL it is a must!! I haven't but still enjoyed it although I was desperate to throttle all 4 main characters at times!

A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore recommended by Good Housekeeping! The Streets of Paris hide a dark past during 1937 to the 1940's. It then moves on twenty years to the daughter who is a talented young violinist & she feels the vibes. Feels that she has been there as a child & so the plot thickens. I found it a compelling story of war and enduring love.

I've read "Dodger" by Terry Pratchett pompa it's set in Victorian London and involves Charles Dickens. I enjoyed it but Discworld is still favourite.

I didn`t care much for the Little Old Lady, so not too sure about trying The 100 year old man. The Last Refuge was good, but his other books that I`ve read were better. I`ve just finished Want You Dead, by Peter James. It`s a Roy Grace story, I love them, but was unsure about this one after reading a bad review, but I thought it was as good as they usually are. I`ve just started Last Voyage of the Valentina, by Santa Montefiore, but have only read a few page so far, but have high hopes of it, after enjoying her Secrets of the Lighthouse.

I'm half way through The Hundred Year Old Man Who Jumped Out Of The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson and finding it a really good read,I was told about it by a customer who comes into the charity shop where I work and he told such a good tale about it I felt I had to get a copy,so glad I did really enjoyable.
Its of a similar vein to The Little Old lady Who broke all The Rules but this takes you to meet all the important people in history over the past century.

No I haven't Pompa but I do so admire how TP is handling his dreadful illness.

His books have an almost cult following.

I like dystopian novels but I think TP's are more science fiction.

Has anyone read any on the non discWorld novels by Terry Pratchett ?

I am reading Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. This book was sent to me by Gransnet. Enjoying it very much. Thank you. [Smile]

Just finished "The White Princess" by Philippa Gregory the story of Elisabeth of York who married Henry Tudor fascinating details about the princes in the Tower. It's the latest in the Cousins War series of books great stories of the women who lived through the Wars of the Roses. Now reading Alice Munroe- Runaway- short stories-brilliant Canadian writer

I am half way through The signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert and enjoying it enormously. It's a big sweeping, historical epic. So very different from Eat,Pray,Love.

Just reading The Luminaries on my Kindle. It's so well written you would think the author had lived in that time [1800's.]I know that not everyone likes this book, but so far [half way through] I am enjoying it.

Consolations of the Forest by Sylvain Tesson. Beautifully written account of the 6 months the author spent in the wilderness on the shores of Lake Baikal in Siberia. Highly recommend.

I'm just about to start 'Moriarty' by Anthony Horowitz. It is his latest Sherlock Holmes book except Sherlock and Dr. Watson don't appear in this story. Can't wait to open the book tonight.

His previous book 'House of Silk' was great.

That`s good news Deedaa, thank you.

numberplease I think I read somewhere that the paperback of Lamentation would be out early in 2015.

I am now an armchair expert on American pro female wrestling in the fifties [grins]. Isn't it lovely when a book takes you to a world so far removed from your own?

I`ve now finished Don`t Let Me Go, and it was really good, I`d recommend it to anyone wanting a good read with human interest included. I`m just about to make a start on Last Refuge, by Craig Robertson. I`ve read a couple of his books and liked them, so hoping for the same from this one.

Another Anne Tyler "If morning ever comes" This is an early one first published in 1964.

You can never go wrong with an Anne Tyler.

I have just finished an ARC of 'The Never Open Desert Diner' by new author James Anderson (out in Feb) and it was wonderful. Set in Utah with a strong sense of places, it is about a fairly rootless truck delivery driver called Ben and his curiosity when he meets a women living alone in an abandoned housing development.

I have reviewed it on my website if anybody is interested?

I am now reading 'Thunder in the Mountains: a portrait of American gun culture' by Craig C Collins which, yes, it does contain some grim tales of carelessness, criminality and the appalling slaughter of the Native American people BUT it also has stunning depictions of the American landscape, of the importance of the gun to hunters (people who truly did and do live off the land) and ecology. He talks of the Bristlestone Cone trees which are extremely sensitive to weather- each tree is its own weather station-and thanks to this, the US weather service has been able to build a detailed annual weather report for each year dating back to the Ice Age. Collins talks of his hikes along the Pacific Crest trail and around the Sierras and about his childhood.

It will be out soon.

Lastly, 'The Sweetheart' by Angelina Mirabella is set in the 50's world of USA female pro wrestling and tells the story of 'Gorgeous Gwen Davies' who has to juggle her own issues with body image, her ambition and strength in the fifties where womanhood was domesticated and defined by cute and the artifice of wrestling itself.

I'm starting A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.
My nephew got me hooked on the show, so I figured I'd try the books which I hear are even better. Has anyone here read it or any of the books in the series?