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Books/book club

What are you reading now 2

(460 Posts)
MargaretX Mon 12-Jun-17 15:02:44

I'm looking for books to read or download onto my Kindle
I've just finished The Co op's got Bananas by Hunter Davies and its hard to follow it!
And so sad that Margaret Forster has died last year. I will read all her books including non fiction again sometime.

Eloethan Thu 19-Oct-17 23:18:35

"Is there anything you want?" Margaret Forster. I haven't read any of her books before and am quite enjoying this one.

BBbevan I really enjoyed Cat's Eye - hope you do too.

BBbevan Fri 20-Oct-17 04:41:06

Absolutely love Margaret Forster. Try ' Have the Men Had Enough' next Eliothan Or ' Shadow Baby' love them all, they are my default books ?

Nana3 Fri 20-Oct-17 05:52:29

I've just finished Instructions For A Heatwave, by Maggie O'Farrell, another book set in 1976. She is such a good author I'm reading her new one now, This Must Be The Place.

Jane10 Fri 20-Oct-17 06:43:43

Ooh lovely. Thanks everyone. I've got a few of your previous recommendations stored up in my kindle to look forward to. Currently I'm reading 'Glenn Miller Nights' by the prolific Laurie Graham who I first heard on on this thread. I've now read almost all of hers. What a diverse writer! Loved the 'Duchess of Nowhere'!

callgirl1 Fri 20-Oct-17 16:56:10

I Am Missing was really very good. I`ve just started to read The Bone Field, by Simon Kernick, it promises to be good.

Fennel Fri 20-Oct-17 17:40:16

I've been reading Bill Bryson's Neither Here nor There about his travels in Europe in the early 90s.
It was reprinted recently.
I enjoy his books, have read a few, by no means all.
Also re-reading Guys and Dolls, On Broadway, short stories by Damon Runyon - one of my favourite books.

callgirl1 Fri 20-Oct-17 18:05:29

I`ve read and enjoyed 2 of Bill Bryson`s books, would like to read more.

Eloethan Sat 21-Oct-17 00:41:55

Thanks Bbevan.

callgirl1 Sat 21-Oct-17 15:20:37

Enjoying The Bone Field.

eGJ Sat 21-Oct-17 15:29:33

Working my way through the latest from Ken Follet. Column of Fire takes the trilogy which started with Pillars of the Earth to 1558. Another huge read and l’m not sure I’all get through it before I need to take it back to the library. This one wanders far from Kingsbridge, but the ebbs and floes of events in Europe keeps one page turning and reading late in the night! Will need to buy it for my kindle grin

MargaretX Sat 21-Oct-17 15:49:56

LUPIN if you like reading about the Edwardian time try Queen Mary and the House of Windsor. by Anne Edwards. Its not as good as William Boyd's Any Human Heart which is one of the best books I have ever read and I've read it twice already.
The Duchess of Devonshire's book is amusing and interesting and those of her sisters as well, it is amazing how well they write considering they had no regular education.
One of the sisters was a close friend of Hitler and he broke her heart but looked after her when War started.
I've just read'Passing On by Penelope Lively. I find it hard somehow to read very modern fiction nowadays so keep on with my old favourites Margarte Drabble and Margaret Forster and David Lodge.

J52 Sun 22-Oct-17 18:33:21

Just finished The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. It’s brilliant, very gripping and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2017.
It’s about a girl escaping slavery in the American South with twists and turns in every chapter.

Nana3 Sun 22-Oct-17 21:16:07

I've read it too J52, not an easy read but glad I read it.

SueDonim Sun 22-Oct-17 21:57:02

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.

callgirl1 Mon 23-Oct-17 00:19:46

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

Lupin Mon 30-Oct-17 14:22:49

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?

iCustomBoxes Mon 30-Oct-17 20:55:19

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

Jane10 Mon 30-Oct-17 21:32:10

'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?!

Jane10 Mon 30-Oct-17 21:34:29

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

SueDonim Mon 30-Oct-17 22:24:16

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.

Morgana Thu 09-Nov-17 18:53:53

Another fan here of Any Human Heart. Brilliant.

callgirl1 Thu 09-Nov-17 20:55:19

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.

Bathsheba Thu 09-Nov-17 21:15:34

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...

Bathsheba Thu 09-Nov-17 21:16:43

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

Jane10 Fri 10-Nov-17 07:15:11

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.