What books are you reading and why?

I'm also about to reread A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara because it was wonderful, though heart wrenching.

Just finished Expectation by Anna Hope - a wonderful book about female friendship - recommended! About to start A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. Our library has free reservations at the moment so I am taking full advantage of this service!!

I am reading Mrs Bridge by Evan S Connell. Set in pre-second war America it is witty and very clever. Nice short chapters too so you can read it is little bursts.

I'm reading When I Come Home Again by Caroline Scott. It's about a man who comes home from the Great War traumatised and the women who hope he is the man they have 'lost'. I have a special interest in WW1 as a friend owns the Lochnagar Crater on the Somme. I've always read several books a week - when I was young most children could read before they started school so I got the habit early! Also we didn't have a television so my sister and I read for entertainment. My husband finds it peculiar that I always read and watch television at the same time but I tell him; there are soooo many books in the world and life is short. A few years ago one of my sons bought me a Kindle for Christmas. I resisted it at first as turning the pages of a book is such a pleasure, but now I love the instant way books can come to me.

This is a really useful thread and I've noted lots of suggestions. I'm currently reading through the Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri. I'll probably re-read all my Georgette Heyers next as I think enough time has gone by for me to have 'forgotten' them. I've also got all the Margery Allingham 'Campion' novels and the Dorothy L Sayers 'Peter Wimsey" novels to go through. These three authors were all inherited from my mother who also enjoyed a good read.

I'm reading Doctor Zhivago as it's been on my book shelf for ages (along with many titles) and thought it was high time I got it out and actually read it. I'm about three quarters through. It differs greatly from the film, well it would, wouldn't it?

I like to alternate between slower, deeper books and faster moving thrillers so it'll be something entirely different next.

Mazmoonshine54

I've just finished Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It was on my must read list.

I've just watched a doc. About Ddm on o e of the free channels (PBS I think) Fascinating woman.

I have just finished Virginia Nicholson's 'Singled Out - how two million women survived without men after the First World War'- published by Penguin in 2008. It gripped me from start to finish. Full of incredible, moving and brave stories showing how much we still owe to this generation, who gave us new role models and paved the way for so many of the life chances we now take for granted.

'American Dirt' by Jeanine Cummings. Incredible book and so well written. Was hooked right from the beginning. Highly recommended. Also 'The Plague' by Albert Camus. About fear and isolation as people are in the grip of a deadly plague.

I'm currently reading Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. It's definitely not my usual sort of thing - detective novels, thrillers & plenty of blood & guts & action! This one was recommended on Between the Covers , Sarah Cox's literary programme on BBC2 on Friday last week. The plot just caught my imagination & I'm really enjoying it for a change. Like many others, I recently read & thoroughly enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club - again, not my usual type but it was refreshing & very Richard Osman, I could hear him as I read. I really love reading & lockdown is the perfect excuse to fill my Kindle & curl up in front of the logburner

icanhandthemback ... your post echoes my position, especially your last sentence.
Can I say, dont be too hard on yourself.
Can I recomend any of Oliver James books on the same subject?
As I found them to be interesting and helpful as well.

'American Dirt'. Incredible book and so well written. Was hooked right from the beginning. Highly recommended.

Currently listening to James Mace’s excellent series of books on the Anglo-Zulu war. I wanted to learn more about the politics and history of former British territories. It was only taught from the empire’s point of view when I was at school many years ago.

I am reading Peter James' 'Find Them Dead' which is the latest in a detective series set in Brighton. I would have ordered it from the library for a 60p reservation charge but the second Lockdown has sent that packing so I bought the book on a 'Two For £8' at Tesco's. I am really enjoying it for the plot which involves drug running, county lines and witness nobbling and also the West Sussex background.

The other one on the 'Two-For' is the latest Lynda Le Plante and I am looking forward to reading that.

I alternate with 'worthier ' titles suggested by my book group. I have just finished 'The Offing' which was also a very jolly read.

winterwhite

My current 'downstairs book' for daytime is Britain AD by Francis Pryor, about the dark ages and myths about King Arthur. I'm reading it because I've just got round to it. Bought by me in some 2nd hand bookshop because it looked interesting and readable, which it is.

My 'upstairs book' i.e. bedtime is a detective story from the British Library crime club - 1930s body-in-the-library stuff. I'm downstairs at the moment and can't remember author or title.?

Your post made me laugh * winterwhite*!!
I too have upstairs and downstairs books, plus one for the car as well!!
( as I get left whilst H does the leg work for us!!)
As for forgetting titles and authors,......?!!

In April I read Lockdown written by Peter May some 15 years ago! It was fascinating. Since then I've read a number of fiction books: Little White Lies by Philippa East and The Catch by T M Logan amongst them. Recently I read The Choice by Edith Eger. It's been on my Kindle for a while but I needed to be 'ready' to read it. Obviously NOT a fiction book, it was remarkable as is the author.

My daughter has just been recommended that we read, "It Didn't Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle" by her mental health support worker. Recent events have had her tentatively diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder which is often caused by an attachment problem with their parents. I have to confess that I am rather struggling with the thought that my actions have inflicted this on my daughter but as I had attachment issues with my mother, she had them with hers, I am hoping to find it illuminating and, hopefully, healing.

Inishowen, I read American Dirt a few weeks ago, couldn't put it down although quite harrowing, needed some light reading for the next book!

I’m halfway through the 2020 Booker Prize shortlist at present and feeling somewhat disappointed

Just bought a used copy, from Amazon, of South of Broad by Pat Conroy. I read it many years ago, and was moved by it. Hoping I'll enjoy it second time around.

I'm a massive fan of crime fiction and thrillers....just finished Lockdown by Peter May (perhaps not the best to read during these times!), and have just moved onto another by him, Entry Island.

If I remember rightly, Rosamund Pilcher's books were set in Cornwall (and France?)

Currently I’m reading books by Carolyn Brown, an American author. Once I got used to ‘Y’all’ and looked up what sweet tea was I was hooked. Not my usual genre - I’m more a Jonathan Kellerman reader, but Carolyn Brown appeared on my Kindle Unlimited suggestions. No grisly murders, no psychological thrills just good story lines. I read all the free ones and enjoyed them so much I actually bought some as well!

I am reading Stephen King, Last Watch as it must be the only one of his I have not read. I love a good thriller or spooky book but not horror as such. Don’t like blood and gore.

I hate threads like this! I read when I should be doing other things and this thread just encourages me!

I was disappointed with the last two by Anne Tyler books. I think she's getting to the end of the road. I found them padded and repetitive although I have enjoyed all of her others.

I am re-reading Alison Lurie instead. I also thoroughly enjoyed Bill Bryson At Home. Fascinating historical information.