What books are you reading and why?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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'.

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 ... ☹️

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.

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.

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.

Alexa

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

Do you recommend?

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.

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.

“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.

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

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

An absolute delight and highly recommended.

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.

A Man called Ove.

By Frederick Blackman.

A charming tale set in Sweden.