What are you reading now 2

Currently reading/enjoying the works of Margaret Drabble. Love her writing.
Recently read "The Dark Flood Rises" (2016), which focuses on a 70-something woman and her friends. The themes are ageing and mortality. Not as depressing as it sounds!
Now half way through "The Pure Gold Baby" (2013), which centres on a young single woman in the 1960s who must give up her aspiration to be an anthropologist in order to raise her developmentally disabled daughter. Again, sounds depressing, but isn't!
Highly recommended.

Just finished How To Stop Time by Matt Haig. Chose it for my book club. It's about a man born in 1500's & still going strong as he ages very slowly & trying to find his daughter who has same condition. Not bad at all - librarian suggested it.
Before that I read Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris- latest in Chocolat series & Transcription by Kate Atkinson- both good but I do like both these authors.

DD has just lent me the book I got her for her birthday: 'Rules of Civility' by Amor Towles. Story of two twenty something girls in New York in the 1930s. She loved it; I found it difficult to get into, but the more I read, the more I am hooked.

I'm halfway through The Miniaturist at the moment. Really enjoying it, had me intrigued right from the start. I also really enjoyed How To Stop Time craftycat.

Just discovered Donna Leon who write about a detective in Venice.

Her books are really well constructed. It has interesting cases, little asides and a private war with his boss plus his views on the Italian Government, make him a warm and humorous detective.

I am also reading a Buster Keaton Biography by Marion Mead. This is fascinating it starts with the family history and gives a real Insight to the USA at the start of the century.

just started reading"So much life left over" by Louis de Bernieres.
Very engaging so far, looking forward to picking it back up later today.

About to start 'The next step in the dance' by Tim Gautreaux, another of DD's books. It is set in America's Deep South.

Transcription by Kate Atkinson. I am enjoying this after years of not being able to read due to brain fog.

“A Thousand Ships” by Natalie Haynes. It is the aftermath of the fall of Troy, and this is ten years of war from the women’s perspective; the desolate captive royal women, the enslaved, the self absorbed, manipulative deities who started the whole thing, and the lady herself - Helen. A brilliant novel, interweaving all their stories into one riveting, tragic strand.

I’ve just started to read “World Without End” by Ken Follet. I enjoyed the first book he wrote in the series, set in the same place, but 200 hundred years previously which was called “The Pillars of the Earth” which I found captivating. This one looks as if it will be the same. A hefty book of over 1000 pages, so it’ll keep me going for a bit!
I’ve just finished “Tombland” by C J Samson which is his latest Shardlake novel. I thoroughly enjoyed that, too.

Presently reading the story of the long running 'Last of the Summer Wine' - from its tentative introduction in 1972, right the way through - brilliant read on the background to one of my favourites over they many years - very interesting knowing the background stuff!
Would also recommend some fiction for those who liked stuff like Downton Abbey etc - try 'The Belle Fields' and its sequel 'Ashes of Roses' by Lora Adams - enjoyed both books and have re-read both - surprising how you can miss stuff the first time round?
Anyone in to poetry - try 'Say Kangaroo' written by Five Sisters - very nostalgic collection of poems written by 5 sisters growing up in the 50s and 60s - covering school days, christmases, pets, holidays etc etc and also includes sketches and drawings. Some moving, 'deep', funny - certainly took me back to my childhood! If you try any - hope you enjoy.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh admittedly not fiction but it is giving me insights into staying in the present as opposed to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Reading 'the darkness' by Ragnar Jonasson ( Icelandic noir) and just finished 'Manhattan Beach' by Jennifer Egan which was excellent

Recently listened to The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley the story goes from a young girl's childhoood up to her 70's. It switches from the present to the past and i loved it. Got the book from the library to start with but it was so thick it would have taken for ever to readand my eyes tired easily nowadays. So listening as an audio was great, still took a week though.

At the moment 'In a Land of Plenty' by Tim Pears For the 3rd time. A perfect antidote to all the crime novels I have been reading. Might read ' Behind the Scenes at the Museum' next. That will be the 4 th time

Just reading Himself by Jess Kidd.
A wonderful book, quintessentially Irish....Funny, well written, entertaining, an old murder to be solved, magic realism, and a nod to several writers, including Dylan Thomas.Themes of the outsider, the Western hero striding into a small town to stir it up.Am half way through and don’t want it to end.

I've just started 'The Overstory' by Richard Powers. Fascinating book, linking people to trees... it's quite hard going, but I'm enjoying it. Good for mind stretching.

Ive just finished reading Nettie's Secret by Dilly Court. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast moving story, didn't take long for me to read as I couldn't put it down! Will definitely be reading this author again.

I loved the lighthouse keepers daughter by hazel gaynor ! It’s a brilliant historical fiction book ! Also just finished I looked away by Jane Corry a great thriller

The kings Witch by Tracey Boreman I'm a big history fan , ive also just finished a book about emma hamilton that is fantastic

Mother Ship - Francesca Segal. This is a fascinating and riveting account of the period immediately after the author's twin daughters are born at 30 weeks, that conveys the simmering tensions, highs and lows of being thrust into the nailbiting environment of the neonatal intensive care unit.

I really enjoyed reading this book and was fascinated to discover after reading more about the author, that she is the daughter of the Erich Segal of Love Story fame. No wonder she writes so well. Highly recommended.

I very much enjoyed Louise Voss's 'The Old You'. It's a thriller with lots of twists and turns. Some of the events are a bit crackers, but she writes so well that I was completely carried along by the story.

Doing a re-read.. almost finished it.. Thursdays in the park.. Hilary Boyd....light&easy&I love it...don't want it to finish even though I have read it before ?

Kate Atkinson, Transcription (excellent)
Sally Rooney, Normal People ( enjoyable holiday read.)
Outsider, Stephen King ( very good page turner.)

I must look for that book BlueSapphire as Tim Gautreaux is a fantastic writer ( of the Deep South).?
I have read two of his books so far, but am hopeless with titles.