What are you reading now 2

Presently reading The Lonely Leader about Montgomery covering his early life and loads of interesting writing of his time in the desert and particularly Normandy. It's fascinating when you just scrape under the surface just how lonely a life he led, with all the jealousies from his peers when he found the way to finish the War. Great contributions from his son - sadly he lost his wife just after he was born. Would recommend this interesting (but not too 'heavy') book to anyone.
Anyone who likes romantic fiction set early in the early 1900's two good reads I've enjoyed are The Belle Fields and its sequel Ashes of Roses by Lora Adams. Very pacey books - descriptive of the times, sad, funny and was glad when the sequel finally appeared to answer most of the questions left over from the first book which had a real unexpected twist at the end. Thank goodness it all worked out in the end!
Anyone trying any of these hope you enjoy as much as I did - good reading.

Have just read Past Imperfect by Julian Fellows, and really enjoyed it. It's a comedy of manners, often very funny and also very acidic at times.
There is a wonderful cast of characters, and the story goes back and forth between the 1968 and early 2000s in the world of .debs and high society.There are also depths in it to do with ageing, loss, and the contrasts between expectations and actual outcomes. I hope it's made into a TV drama or a film eventually.

Am now on the 7th and last of the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. Highly recommended. Each one ends on a cliff-hanger and you want to start the next one straight away. Best read in order: the first one is 'Only Time Will Tell' and the last is 'This was a Man'. Each one took a few days to a week to read as they are so compelling.

Loved the Miniaturist and Trespass. Can't wait to see the TV version.

Have just finished Trespass by Rose Tremain, and really enjoyed it.This is the first book by Tremain that I have actually liked!
It’s set in France (the Cervanne) and so well written and poignant that I could hardly put it down, and finished it in two days.

Thanks for the tip, Terribull, I'll look out for that on TV!

I am reading Bill Bryson’s “The Road to Little Dribbling” which I picked up for 50p on our library’s second hand shelf. What a hilarious, informative, fascinating look at our country. Can’t put it down!

I have just finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
It is quite unlike any other book I have ever read and had me gripped from the beginning.It is a mystery revolving around two sets of identical twins of different generations and their relationship with each other.

I'm reading The Minuatrist, set in late 17th century Amsterdam, it's very good, I gather it's been filmed for television and will be on next month so I'm glad to read the book before I see the drama.

Read quite a few of his. The only one I didn't really like was that fairly recent one about a photographer. Maybe I just didn't get it!

I have only read two other of his books, apart from Any Human Heart - Restless and Ordinary Thunderstorms. Both were outstanding. I don't know why I haven't simply worked my way through his entire back catalogue. I would start now, but for the 40+ unread books on my Kindle and a shelf or two of print books languishing upstairs.

I'm reading Wm Boyd's A Good Man in Africa. I've lived in the part of the world he writes about and although this novel is set in earlier times, I'm smiling wryly at the things he writes about.

I dont think I've read any his books before so that's another author for me to follow.

Glad to hear so many of us have read Any Human Heart,
and it makes me wonder why Wialliam Boyd who has written so many first class novels has not been awarded the Man Booker prize.
I started with his books with Brazzeville Beach about research into the behaviour of apes and even then, decades ago, he wote that the apes themselves were aggressive and what a shock it was to the research community. Now it is universally accepted.
Research has come a long way since then but it remained typical for William Boyd to write really well and interestingly on so many subjects

Well I've inhaled the next two books in the 'Old Filth' trilogy. All so good. I'm quite bereft now they're finished although the ending is very satisfactory.
I'm now on another Jane Gardam book: Crusoe's Daughter. Its completely different and has an almost Dickensian feel. Apparently it was Jane Gardam's favourite of all her books. What a wonderful writer she is.

Oh and yes, Any Human Heart! Read that some years ago, it was just brilliant!

I've just finished reading Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak. An unusual and engrossing story set in Istanbul (present time) and Oxford University (past). Can recommend it. Now I'm 12% (Kindle!) into Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas, which I'm finding rather slow - not sure whether I'll stick with it...

I`ve just finished reading The Dry, by Jane Harper, set in Australia, I enjoyed it a lot, agree with Terribull that it would make into a film very well.
I`m now reading Last Seen Alive, by Claire Douglas, too soon to give an opinion, not read very far yet.

Another fan here of Any Human Heart. Brilliant.

Jane10 same for me with Old Filth. I loved it! I haven't read the other two yet, must get round to that.

I'm reading A House Full of Daughters by Juliet Nicolson. She is a granddaughter of Vita Sackville-West and the book is a memoir/biography of five generations of women of her family. It's not wonderful work of literature but if you have an interest in the Sackville-West/Nicolson clan, it's very interesting.

I completely agree with MargaretX re 'Any Human Heart'. Fabulous writing!

'Old Filth' by Jane Gardam is absolutely wonderful. I'm loving this book so much that I'm trying to read it really slowly so I can put off finishing it. It's not dirty - filth in this context means - failed in London try Hong-Kong! It's the life story of a Raj child who grows up to be a lawyer and judge. Beautifully written. A real gem. Did you pick up that I quite liked it?!

I have just fishing the The Whistler nice books having great knowledge. I love this book so much may be helpful in future.

Thanks, MargaretX for the recommendation - Queen Mary and the House of Windsor. I'll get hold of that.
I like Penelope Lively but haven't kept up with her later books. I'll look for those as well.
Does anyone like legal/courtroom thrillers and have any to recommend?
I have read a few John Grishams and love the Father Anselm books by William Brodrick and Shardlake books by C.J.Sansom. Any more like those?

I enjoyed The Bone Field, am now reading The Bomb Girls Secrets, by Daisy Styles, set in the 1940s. OK so far.

Goodness me, you need a strong stomach to read The North Water! I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone, to be perfectly honest. Still, it's done and I can move onto something more soothing.