What are you reading right now?

I agree, BAnanas that Star of the Sea was a far superior book to The Lovely Bones. A much stronger narrative and a merging of the story of the Irish famine with the account of the migrants' voyage to the New World. Very moving and very intriguing too.

I've been wondering how everyone else gets their books. I use and love the local library when I'm in UK but have to rely on charity shops when abroad,it makes for an interesting selection.
I enjoyed reading The Lovely Bones but it seems such a long time ago now that I think I might look for it again. I have just read The Promise by Susan Sallis. It isn't a thriller, a story of a growing friendship between a 16 year old girl and an 80 year old woman that she meets through a GCSE project. An absorbing read for a change.

annodomini it's good to hear that someone else feels the same, I adored Star of the Sea, Joseph O'Conner it's author, in my opinion, is a very accomplished writer, it's probably one of the best five or so books I have ever read.

I do like the sound of Star of the Sea BAnanas. I think if I'd read The Lovely Bones at the time it came out expecting something amazing I would have been disappointed the subject matter put me off at the time] but I liked the film because it was slated by the pundits. I often come away from a film feeling disappointed because Mark Kermode has raved about it, whereas if I'd seen it with no preconcieved idea I would have felt it was ok. Strange thing, the weight of expectation I guess.

Yes Tegan do agree if you really want to see a film you have to make up your own mind without being put off by reviews, often they can be very mixed. I will go and see the Great Gatsby at some time this is a film I believe that has divided a few opinions.

Kermode liked it [which surprised me]. Will probably go to see it early next week. There are some good films coming out soon but there haven't been many recently that have made me want to see them. I've just watched The Man Who Fell to Earth which was on after the BBC programme about Bowie. I'd realised I'd never seen it but must admit to hoping every half hour or so that it would finish sooner than it did. Very much of it's time.

BAnanas, don`t be daft, you weren`t butting in, there aren`t any private conversations on here!

Dustyangel, I download books to my Kindle. I think one of the things that most worried me about moving abroad was the fact that I couldn't just walk into a bookshop or library and buy something. The kindle has made all the difference. Before anyone says why not read French books, the answer is that I do, but you would not believe how many of the books on sale here are translations of English / American authors.

Thanks Mamie,yes one of the biggest downsides about moving abroad is the lack of easy access to English books,even to be able to check which is the best fact book for natual history or gardening for instance. The local council are trying to get more English books into the library but that
is mainly aimed at encouraging Portuguese students.
On my next trip back to England (after half term because of cheaper flights) I plan to buy a simple Kindle just for MY books. At the moment DH and I share a Nexus 7 with kindle app and it is just not working out !
Good for you for reading French books, I can only manage magazines in portuguese and I seem to be fairly unusual to even attempt that.

We have a simple Kindle each, registered to the same account so we can share books. It works well.

I bought my Kindle two years ago before going on holiday with my family to Provence. Since then, I shudder to think how many books I have downloaded - I could count them on my Kindle account but haven't summoned up the courage. It certainly saves space on my bookshelves. Speaking of The Great Gatsby (were we? ) I'm going to see it tonight with friends. Looking forward to it as I have a soft spot for Leonardo di Caprio, though I thought that Robert Redford was a very good Gatsby in the earlier version.

Just finished Maggie o'farrell's Instructions for a Heatwave. Really good. Usual dysfunctional family but quite a surprise in it. Also a very short rather feeble mystery about an army court case in India at Cawnpore by Ann perry . Rather too much pleasure in describing the horrors of the uprising. I had forgotten I didn't much like her writing.
I've just bought the times offer of a book by Marian Keyes and I have a rather strange book by Ruth Ozeki. In the pile to read is Margaret Forster's The Other Bridesmaid and a Lynne Truss book about Tennyson in the Isle of Wight .

Just started reading Joanna Trollope's "The Soldier's Wife".

I am working my way through Game of Thrones and it is just wonderful. Didn't think I would enjoy it but I can't put it down. Am on Book 3 Part 1, Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow. Go, Tyrion Lannister!

I recently had a look at this series on amazon, are there 7 books in total? Am very tempted.

I did go to The Great Gatsby tonight but nearly missed out due to a flat battery. However my friends came and picked me up. I enjoyed it, although found it a bit more frenetic in the party scenes than was strictly necessary. As for Gatsby himself, I think I'd still come down on the side of Robert Redford, though diCaprio was excellent and I can't quite put my finger on why I prefer RR. Carey Mulligan played Daisy sensitively and Tobey Maguire as Nick provided the narrative link as well as being a pivotal character in the drama. On the whole, Baz Luhrmann caught the spirit of Fitzgerald's Jazz Age successfully.

That's what Kermode said; pointed out that the film has been remade for the current generation. I can watch Tobey Maguire in anything [well, other than Spiderman].

You know, years ago I read quite a few books by Jack Higgins, loved them, but haven`t read any for a while. I`ve just started another, fairly recent one, A Devil is Waiting, but so far it`s just not grabbing me. Maybe I`ve outgrown him?

Just read two good books 'The Orphan Train' by Christine Baker Kline and 'The Light Between Oceans' by M.L. Stedman. The latter was especially moving.

A Devil is Waiting was OK, but can`t go wild about it. Am now reading my Gransnet prize, Home Front Girls, by Rosie Goodwin, and have surprised myself by really enjoying it.

Home Front Girls was a lovely read, can well recommend it. Am now reading The Killing Room, by Richard Montenari, creepy and gruesome...........but good!

Really enjoyed The Killing Room, now reading Faithful Place, by Tana French, OK so far.

I have three on the go at the moment, The book of the month 'Cleaner of Chartres' an 'Agatha Raisin' and a Terry Pratchett 'Carpe Jugulum'.
I pick each up according to the mood I am in AND, I love my Kindle

Enjoyed Faithful Place, set in Dublin, story built around a policeman and his dysfunctional family.
Now reading The Deep Dark Sleep, by Craig Russell, set in Glasgow in 1955. Not very far into it yet, but alright up to now.

Half way through Blue Monday by Nicci French, psychological thriller enjoying it so far. Just bought my husband the new Peter James "Dead Man's Time" as I have become quite hooked on his "Roy Grace" books myself, although found the last one disappointing.