What are you reading now?

I am reading "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl" which is a biography of Grayson Perry. The content is interesting but the writing is appalling. He dictated info to a woman who then wrote the book.

Just finished 'Kisses on a Postcard - a Tale of Wartime Childhood' by Terence Frisby. He and his brother were evacuated from Welling in Kent to a Cornish hamlet. A touching and evocative story of growing up in the early 1940s.
I found it a fascinating account of simple British life with kindness and decency shining though in dark times

I`ve just finished Far From Home, by Val Wood, and then Florence Grace, by Tracy Rees, both good reads. Far from Home is set in the USA at the time of the gold rush, and Florence Grace is set in London and Cornwall in the 1850s. I`m now reading a thriller by Paul Finch, called Ashes to Ashes. Someone is going round disposing of people with a flame thrower.....

I'm reading Hunter Davies' autobiography "The Co-op's got bananas!" which is a really good read. He has a dry turn of phrase and describes so much of what I remember from growing up in the 1950s. Some of you may remember his columns in the Sunday Times - which always made me laugh - and he has lost none of his humour and descriptive powers. I recommend this book.

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. Very good - based on fact.....this author has done a lot of research for this book. I always enjoy a book when you learn something new!

Ashes to Ashes was great, if a bit gruesome in places. I`ve just started Die of Shame, by Mark Billingham. It`s the first book I`ve read by him that isn`t about DCI Tom Thorne.

Finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Got a bit unfocussed about half way through and I found it slightly disappointing.

Now reading Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling - it's interesting and very funny.

Just about survived the verbose "A Prayer for Owen Meany" all 700 plus pages of it, much loved over on MN and for which I had high hopes for having plucked some previous recommendations off their book theads, which did turn out to be all time favourites of mine. I found this one tedious, so over detailed, really could have been edited down a few hundred pages, I practically gave up but wanted to keep going because it's such an acclaimed book, but it didn't do it for me at all. Light reading required now, I've just started "I See You" follow up book to "I Let you Go" which I found a great page turner with a twist.

Just finished The Night Watch Man by Richard Zimler. A great psychological thriller, set in Portugal. The main character is a cop with a personality disorder and a hidden past. Absolutely gripping and so realistic. Loved The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon as well so I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

Jenni Murray's "History of Britain in 21 Women"
A bit predictable with her choice of the "usual suspects" but worth reading regardless.

Just enjoyed the new Elly Griffiths 'The Chalk Pit'. There was a waiting list at the library, so others must enjoy the author too. It's the latest in her crime series featuring forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway. Had a couple of implausibilities in the plot, but the main characters and their relationships are very well done and the heroine (lecturer, single, independent soul) is very sympathetic. If you've not read the others, probably best to start with the first, which is 'The Crossing Places".

I often re-read favourites & currently it's "The Forty Rules of Love" by Elif Shafak.
Will be browsing James Naughtie's BBC Radio4 Bookclub for inspiration (love reading a book & then listening to an informative discussion about it).

Die of Shame isn`t really doing it for me thus far, and I`m halfway through it now, it`s the first book by Mark Billingham that I`ve not really enjoyed, unless it`s going to pick up very soon. I won`t give up on it, because it`s not something I do, but also hate to be disappointed in a book that sounded promising.

I thought the same callgirl1 but I did carry on and finish it and it was worth it. Apparently the female police person in this features in the next Frank Thorne book too. (I have read all M B's standalone novels and do prefer the Frank Thorne series.)

I'm reading The Co-op's got Bananas by Hunter Davies. I am his age and lived like he did in a council house in N. England. The cold and the meals amd the games and the freedom of roaming the streets. Its all there in that book, I can't put it down!

I'm a big fan of Elly Griffiths too, Ellen.

I did stick with it Alima, and it did get better, but still not as good as the Tom Thorne books, although he came into this one at the end, didn`t he? I`ve just started a book by Mary Higgins Clark, called Where are the Children. It looks as if it will be good, but it`s only one of those shorter books.

I've just finished Conclave by Robert Harris. I love his thrillers, although I've never been able to get into his Roman novels. This one is about the election of a new Pope when all the cardinals are shut away from the outside world. As the voting starts secrets start to emerge about the leading contenders - but how to check facts when you're shut away?

Where are the Children was good, but it was a shorter book, so over way too soon. I`ve just finished No Man`s Land, by David Baldacci, really good, reminded me a little of the Jack Reacher books by Lee Childs. I`ve just started The Steel Kiss, by Jeffrey Deaver, another Lincoln Rhyme book, they`re usually good.

Doing a lot of walking at the moment so am currently listening to Susan Hill's The Pure in Heart (Simon Serrailler series)
Long-awaited monthly Book Group choice, The Muse (Jessie Burton) beckons at bedtime!

Apparently the Simon Serrailler series are going to be televised.

I like the Simon Serailler series. Wonder who will play the key characters?

I have just read an Indian book which I downloaded for free when it was on offer for the Kindle. I was surprised at how readable it was. One Night at the Call Centre by Chetan Bhagat.

Now starting on Evelyn Waugh's "Scoop". I suppose I should have read that when at school, but better late than never.

I've just finished "Stop the Clocks - thoughts on what I'm leaving behind " by Joan Bakewell. She writes well about all the changes she's seen throughout her long life - she's in her early eighties. Thought provoking, melancholy at times but I enjoyed it.

For all Margaret Forster fans, recently I read what was her last book - "My Life in Houses". It's her life story, related to all the houses in which she has lived.
Well written and thoughtful but sad when you read that her breast cancer has returned and you know that her final days will be spent in a hospice.