What books are you reading and why?

Alexa

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

Do you recommend?

Just finished The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. I've enjoyed her books in the past but found this one boring to begin with. The later chapters were better, but predictable. I think she has used similar characters and plots too often and is beginning to run out of steam.
Now reading the latest of AnneCleeves's 'Vera' series, 'the Darkest Evening'. I just wish I could get Brenda Blethyn out of my head while I'm reading it.

Recently finished The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak. I got a bit irritated by the author compiling lists eg of different tradesmen etc to illustrate how cosmopolitan the city was and I didn't really get involved in the story until about 3/4 of the way through but it was well worth reading.

The Wedding Group, Elizabeth Taylor (novelist not film star?) Just adore her books and think she is underrated. Not sure how I will feel when I finish her complete oeuvre.
Very English, acute observation and a touch of Austen about her.

White wave - if this is the House by Lake near Berlin (think it must be) I was so struck by the book that I insisted on going to find it when in Berlin two years ago. Still there. All a bit overgrown and quite a trek along a muddy path to find it. DH pretty fed up ... ☹️

Just finished my book club read 'The Man I Think I Know', by Mike Gayle. Thoroughly recommended. A story of two men who meet again for the first time since school many years previously, and after disastrous circumstances. Very moving.

Am about to start on my next Chtistie, 'The Secret of Chimneys'.

January's book was "Perfume - A Story of a Murderer" by Patrick Suskind. February's club choice is "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett and March's choice is Camus' "The Plague"

In between the club choices I read a wide variety and have dozens of unread books on my kindle. The only time I pay more than £1 is for book club books. Over the last month or so I've read the first 4 in the Bridgerton series. Quick to read an a bit formulaic. Right now I'm reading a Patricia Cornwell thriller.

I`ve just finished All Fall Down, by M J Arlidge, and really enjoyed it. A good twist towards the end.

I have just started Shuggie Bain audio book, three hours in .
Good grief it’s bleak and shocking.

Has anyone read it ? Is it really representative of Glasgow at that time ?

I’ve just had delivered a book just published, written by a friend, it’s about a young girl, set in the future, I may pass it on to DGD afterwards. Not sure if I’m allowed to mention it on here.

Just wondering if anyone on here has read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle? Its an amazing book, quite long at 560 pages. Its about a deaf boy being brought up in America, with his family who train farm dogs. Its mainly told from the boys point of view, and how he copes with the stresses and strains his parents go through. Its a very absorbing read, very different and i loved it. The author is David Wroblewski. If you decide to read it, let us know what you think of it. I have passed it on to a few friends who also loved it.

Just started 'Hamnet', which I was able to buy over the counter on Monday!

Tombland, because I like CJ Sansom’s books. He’s not popular in Gransnet but neither an I ?

I’ve just started Hamnet. Only 40 pages in and I love it.

I’m reading The Ninth Child by Sally Magnusson. Because I really enjoyed The Sealwoman’s Gift. This one is just as good, the setting this time is Victorian Scotland.

JG Farrell's unfinished last novel 'The Hill Station'. I loved his other books and was so sorry to hear he'd died in a drowning incident before finishing this one. So far it's wonderful. I love his style and characters. I know I'll hate it when I get to the space where the rest of it should be though. An editor has compiled his notes and sketched out how it would probably have ended and the author's Indian diary is included.

The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel.
It’s a bit slow compared to the first two books in the series, but I’ve still got 800 pages to go, so plenty of time for it to gain pace.
I have a real soft spot for Thomas Cromwell, and I find this period in history fascinating, I also like the style in which it’s written, although, I admit I sometimes I have to check who she’s talking about, it skips about a bit.
To all of you reading Hamnet, it’s a beautiful book, hope you enjoy it.

I am reading Hamnet right now, Maggie O'Farrell is such an accomplished author, it is a beautiful book. In my head I can imagine it being very filmic.

I’m reading The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal, set in Victorian London. It’s about the Pre-Raphaelite artists and a young woman who agrees to model for one of them as long as he teaches her to paint. Very good so far.

Some Peter James whodunnit I picked up in The Works the other day (3 for a fiver) - I forget the title, plus an Elizabeth Taylor (The Soul of Kindness*) on the Kindle - a re-read.
I’m doing a lot of re-reading of favourites nowadays, but still have far too many non-keepers waiting to go to charity shops, which I’m sure must be inundated ATM.

I dare say I should go and buy a few before landing them with any more. I suppose a few more to add to the tottering piles won’t hurt.

*a most deliciously awful main character in that one!

I have never read any of Agatha Christie, so I’m beginning with the Belgium detective and the first book. “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”

Just finished The husband’s secret by Australian author Liane Moriarty which reminded me of Jodi Picoult who I like . Also recommend the salt path by Raynor Wynn and Son of a silverback by Russell Kane . I’ve also read a couple of Ann Tyler books lately and enjoyed Where the crawdads sing . I listen to them on Borrowbox or Libby apps free through the library service.

Listening to the radio in the car on the way to a meeting I heard part of The Colours of all the Cattle. I finished it as an audio book and I’ve started rereading The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

I have just finished 'The Ninth Child' by Sally Magnusson. It is a brilliant mix of fact, fiction and folklore all set in Scotland in the mid 1850's. Well worth a read.

I'm reading two books at the moment, one library book and one on my Kindle. One is 'My One True North' by Milly Johnson, lighthearted but with feeling, and the other is
'After I've Gone" by Linda Green, a sort of pschycological thriller.