The Light and the Mirror by Hilary Mantel.

Halfway through Mirror and Light now and also obtained Wolf Hall, which I've already read but will do so again.

Ben Miles played Profumo.

You mean reading the book? Need to check.

Was it Ben Miles, or Miller? He played John Profumo recently.

The interview [finally got to it without falling asleep] was wonderful. I'm also listening to book on book at bedtime on catchup at night as I drift into a sleep. Even with the subject matter I'm finding it very calming.

Thanks Sparklefizz; I found the Graham Norton show on catchup and listened to it last night albeit falling asleep before the interview came on. However, Graham Norton cheers me up so much I shall listen to his show all the time from now on. I don't know why he worried about interviewing Hilary Mantel; she may have a brain the size of the universe but they are like minds in their individual quirkiness. I shall relisten to it again today.

That was a really interesting interview, Sparklefizz. Graham Norton said he was very nervous about interviewing somebody so much more intelligent than himself (), but he made a good fist of it.

I've just checked on my local libraries website and found I can download the unabridged audiobook of The Light and the Mirror free for 14 days. It's nearly 40 hours long, so now is an ideal time. I can get plenty of cupboards and drawers sorted while I listen to it, perhaps a bit of gentle decorating as well....

If you had two copies -or, for instance Wolf Hall as well as The Mirror and the Light you could hold one in each hand and use them as part of your daily work out. ?️‍♀️

Quick !!! Hilary Mantel is on Radio 2 talking about her book at this moment (11.35am)

I will get it on my Kindle. I loved Wolf Hall & Bring up the Bodies. Such a long time ago! I went with a friend to London & saw both theatre productions with Ben Cantrememberhissurname. Brilliant actor. Dark hair. Oh well.

I’ve brought the unabridged audio book of BUTB on MP3 player (free to borrow at the library in the U.K.) with me out here in Spain. I’m going to settle down to it this afternoon. Thought it would refresh my memory before buying the new novel. Handy too as we are in lockdown and the running time is 12 hours ...
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I bought it on the first day it came out and now I'm totally immersed. Here we are living in strange and frightening times and somehow the vivid fears and uncertainties of that long ago time are giving me hope. When I finish the book I can really think all that through. Keep safe

We usually listen to Radio Four while having our lunch and they’ve bloomin’ well put it on then as well as Book at Bedtime, so now we sit in silence as I don’t want to spoil my good read - and I haven’t even started it yet!

Meant to add it is easier than holding a weighty book in bed.

It is the BBC Book at Bedtime this week. Abridged I know but still worth listening to.

Yes; I'm watching the programme at the moment [I've nodded off a couple of times; not because it's boring but because I watch tv late at night]. What a fascinating woman she is. She reminds me, in a strange way, of that art loving nun; Sister Wendy Beckett [may have her name wrong]. There's something gloriously other worldly about Hilary methinks.

The recent BBC2 documentary - Return to Wolf Hall -was fascinating. I'm no history buff, but loved the TV series of Wolf Hall; I'm prone to having a short attention span but couldn't take my eyes off the screen while Ms Mantel talked us through her life and unique literary style.

My copy fell on my head last night as I fell asleep holding it, and I can't prop it up at meal times as you need one hand to keep it open. Definitely would have been better in two volumes, but still savouring every page.

I do most of my reading either in bed (there'd be a risk of severe concussion if I fell asleep holding this one) or on the bus (it could dislocate my shoulder if it was in my tote). I loved the other two though, so must get it soon. I'm considering buying it as an audio book. I haven't had one of those for ages.

I bought a copy today as my local libraries are closing tomorrow which means I won’t get my reserved copy until this crisis is over. And this really is the best time to settle into such a doorstop of a book. I bought it in Smiths and got a free book too.

How does a Kindle work if you need to continually check back to the long list of characters and family trees at the start of the book?

I started it ,but as you say, hard to snuggle up with in bed. Also having to check who is who until after get into it.
It's a treat, just need to get going.

Looking forward to reading it too.

To comfortably read any book weightier than a skinny paperback I prop it on my iPad stand which was three quid from Ikea a few years ago. I place that on a cushion by day or a pillow in bed at night, to spare my wrists!

I shall get it on Kindle at some point.I loved Wolf Hall ( but having bought the book could hardly hold it, the hardback was so heavy.)
I bought Bring Up The Bodies as a paperback, much better!
Mantel’s best work, this trilogy.

DH bought it for me half price in our local Tesco on the day it came out. I haven't started it yet as I want to finish the book I'm into first.

I don't understand why it was reduced as soon as it came out... or why It was immediately serialised on the radio. Were the publishers not expecting it to sell?

I’m also having trouble with the size. It needs two hands and won’t stay open but I’m getting through it so quickly that I think there’s a lot of white space around the print. The story itself is not particularly long so the paperback will be much easier to handle.
I so resent having to spend £25 on the hardback, which I don’t want but I can’t wait a year for the paperback.
And yes, I bought it at full price from our local independent bookshop.