What are you reading now 2

“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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Murder at The Vicarage by Agatha Christie. Large print version, I don't really need the large print but I have noticed you get some interesting books in the large print section which are not available in the normal print area so I always have a quick look now. Prior to that it was the Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. I have read all three of her books in reverse order purely because that is when they were available.

Just finished 'Longbourn', the story of the servants below stairs in Pride and Prejudice. It's our current book club choice, so I shall have to think of things to say about it at the next meeting! I quite enjoyed it, but thought the ending was far too neat and tidy and quick.
Just got the next month's book 'All the light we cannot see.'

Dipping in to French Provincial Cookery by Elizabeth David.
I love cookery books, and have read this one many times.
For some reason I don't like fiction.

The Butterfly Box by Nora Naish.I am enjoying it but there are rather too many characters to keep up with and the whole middle section is a flashback with totally different characters apart from the main one. I am interested to see how it pans out though.

Just reading & enjoying The bookseller of Kabul..by Asme Seierstad...
Brilliant..

Oops sorry that was for my recommendation The Good Samaritan

On sale for kindle a £1

Just ordered
The Deceit Syndrome: Catch 69. A novel written by a Dr about the dismantling of the NHS 68 chapters. All monies goes towards helping to fight the sell off of the NHS

I received a copy of The Craftsmen by Sharon Bolton via Gransnet. It seems to have been separate from the book club books. I couldn't read it fast enough but I think many would find the child murders to be too gruesome. Interesting angle to the main character being a WPC in 1969! You can imagine the dreadful male comments and expectation of her always making the tea. I have already downloaded another of her books to my kindle so I hope this will be as good.

I’m reading The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware. Got it through my local library as an ebook this morning and am halfway through. Really engrossed in it.

Ooh just seen your post Merelina and the Salt Path is on my Kindle ready to read next as it is our book club read at home. We meet every 2 months - perfect as it allows time for our own choices too as sooner meet ups might become prescriptive. Two friends and I started the club 13y ago and it’s been brilliant - the core members (6 of us) are still members with others who dip in and out as and when.

Last week I read Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ and thought it was excellent. She comes over as such a warm, approachable lady from humble beginnings but used her brain and was very focused. The insights into life in the White House were wonderful!

Yesterday I finished Lucy Mangan’s ‘Bookworm’ which was a great read for bookish people like us - a great reminder of lots of lovely childhood books such as Milly Molly Mandy (one of my favourites as a child), The Secret Garden and Alice inWonderland.

This morning I started Henry Marsh’s autobiography called ‘Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery’. It’s good to flip genres - one of the joys of reading!

Am rereading PD James - The Lighthouse. Luckily can’t remember who did it. I have a cousin who has decided never to buy another book - she will read through her bookshelf certain to enjoy

I'm thoroughly enjoying the 'Time Travellers Guide to..' series. At the moment it's Elizabethan England.

It has so much more and interesting information than ordinary history books.

For instance, did you know that a 'barefaced lie' has its origins in the fact that women used to cover their faces with masks and hoods when travelling?

92% through Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
This book was an answer on an episode of Eggheads I watched last week & one of them ( Barry I think) said it was a good book so as I was just finishing a book I downloaded it.
I think it is a first novel for this author & it occurs to me again that first novels are very often far too long with far too much shoved in. I wonder if it is because they think they may never write another one. This could have made at least 3 normal books.
TBH I am longing to get to the end as I have ceased to actually care about the characters & I want to get on to the new Joanne Harris.
I very rarely put a book down without finishing it but I'm tempted!!!

Just finished The Sand Path by Raynor Winn, and went into a decline when I turned the last page. It is beautifully written and inspiring. I felt so involved with Raynor and her husband Moth making finishing the book a loss. It’s a true story of how to triumph. Also just read The Librarian by Sally Vickers, another hit for me.