What books are you reading and why?

I've read the first book in the trilogy before but not the other 2. The school library has all 3 in this time so I will get to read them all.

Just finished The Convent by Sarah Sheridan - its a murder mystery. It was recommended to me, which is why I read it, I'm glad I did as it was gripping.

This week I have read, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (again), Slave Old Man (for work) and also am nearly done reading A Dry White Season (also for work).

I am really enjoying A Dry White Season, but Slave Old Man was a bit too deep and heavily symbolic for me. OK if I was planning to write about it for myself, but not to teach to teenagers.

I previously moaned about the poor selection on Amazon First Reads but have to eat my words after reading West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. I was hooked from start to finish. A wonderful heartwarming story though also illustrating the hardships of 1930s America.

Reading all kinds of lighthearted fluff at the moment Jenny Colgan in her cafe or Isabel Dalhousie series from Alexander McCall Smith. Don't seem to have the staying power or appetite for anything that requires too much concentration or plot following. I blame Covid but.... might be old age!

During times of stress - like now - I usually reread Jane Austin as it takes me to another time and place. Have just discovered the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, also set in regency times. It is the basis for the recent, very popular, Netflix drama which I watched first. The books are a good read if you like romance and don't mind a bit of sex too.

For comfort/escapist reading at the moment, the whole Mapp and Lucia series on my Kindle.

Ooo try The Tenant of Wildfell Hall if you like Austin, GrannyRose. Anne(?) Brontë.

Will do, GagaJo. Thanks

I'm dipping into various favourites. Just about to start The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I enjoyed Radio 4 adaptation of Dantes Divine Comedy so have bought a copy.
One of my biggest disappointments is Stephen King. I have been a massive fan since the 1970s. Recently however I have found myself enjoying the books initially but feeling bored half way through . The only exceptions were the one where the main character travels through time to prevent the assassination of Kennedy and Mr Mercedes.
I started The Institute and had very high Hope's of a return to form but sadly no.

I belong to two book groups. For one I am ploughing my way through Scott Fitzgerald "This side of paradise", it's dreadful! In the other one we doing my choice Bernadine Evaristo " Girl, woman, other " which is very good. I've also got two other books waiting, "Shuggie Bain", and "Hamnet".

I am 2/3rds through 'Broken Heart' by Tim Weaver and can thoroughly recommend it. I think I bought it in a charity shop. I will certainly be looking out for other titles by this author.

Finished “Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg”. I read this to see if it might be a book my GS would like. Well it might be if it were not for the bad language. It was curiously engaging though. Next book is “State of Treason” by Paul Walker, the first in an Elizabethan spy trilogy. Started well.

I am reading a book on linguistics that requires a lot of thinking on my part. I read it before I do my blood pressure reading as it takes BP down as low as that of a a healthy youth

I’m reading Shuggie Bain, set in Glasgow about a child and his relationship with his alcoholic mother. It’s bleak but with flashes of humour and tenderness. It also puts my own consumption of wine into perspective !

Ooooh Alexa. That sounds interesting. I have been looking at language and power with a student today.

Gagajo, "The Secret Life of Pronouns". 'Psycholinguistics to be precise.

"I’m reading Shuggie Bain, set in Glasgow a---"

I am interested in why the name Hugh is pronounced like Shuggie. And I guess the Scots pronunciation is true to etymology of the name. I think Hugo is another version .

A Man called Ove.

By Frederick Blackman.

A charming tale set in Sweden.

I'm reading Where the Crawdads Are and can't get into it at all. I read Murakami's Killing Commendatore after Christmas and loved it. It's slow, beautiful and mysterious.

I’ve just this minute finished “A Man called Ove”

An absolute delight and highly recommended.

Now about to start “The House by the Lake” by Thomas Harding.

“State of Treason” was a decent read if you like Tudor spy novels, but S. J. Parris’s books are better.
I have moved on to “The Epstein Prophesy” by Robert Masello. Might be classed as science fiction - too early to tell.

Jillyjosie

I'm reading Where the Crawdads Are and can't get into it at all. I read Murakami's Killing Commendatore after Christmas and loved it. It's slow, beautiful and mysterious.

Have a go at finishing Where the Crawdads sing. It's definitely worth it.

I have just finished an excellent book "The Woman in the Photograph" by Stephanie Butland - a very interesting and thought-provoking novel based on feminism.