What are you reading right now?

Tegan obviously we can't all agree on what we think makes a good read, but I loathed The Lovely Bones, although the film was panned I did think it was slightly better than the book, usually for me it's the other way round. I read it before it was selected for Richard and Judy's reading list. On the recent Gransnet on line discussion with Judy Finnegan, I said that I hated it and she agreed that she didn't really like it either, but stated that she was over ruled and we both lamented that it beat a far better book in that year's selections "Star of the Sea" to become the over all winner. Nevertheless, numberplease, don't let me put you off because we all come to different conclusions on books and you may well love it.

No, haven`t read The Lovely Bones, keep meaning to, but haven`t got around to buying it yet.

This series does the same. Did you read The Lovely Bones? Think that was in their book club when it first came out. Not, at first glance the sort of story that would be nice to read, but I loved it [and the film].

I`m just a lover of good thrillers Tegan, with the odd diversion to other genres now and again.
On This Morning, back in the days of Richard and Judy, they did an item one day about some skeletons that had been found and dug up in a village somewhere down south, and in an attempt to see how far people do or do not stray from where they were born, they extracted DNA from two of the skeletons (they were a good few hundred years old) and compared with people living in the general area, and they got 2 matches! The skull of the male skeleton was worked on, can`t remember what the process is called, to bring up the facial features, and it did look remarkably like the man who`s DNA matched it.

I do find that sort of thing fascinating. The series I've been watching on BBC4 was able to work out where people had lived thousands of years ago, and some of them were shown to have travelled from other countries, even though all they had to go on were a few bits of bone. I'm always amazed at how many books you read, number, and the variation in what you read. I'm well impressed!

Tegan, I typed Jefferson Bass into my search engine, and one bit about the 2 men was a little video of one of them showing the viewer around the body farm, a little gruesome, but very interesting.

This was part of a travel programme [or something like that]. I can't remember who was presenting the programme or series, and had forgotten about it till you mentioned it [it's going to bug me now!]. I can eliminate CountryFile [I think].

There was a TV series once about a body farm in Britain, but there isn`t one over here yet. If they start one up, they can have me when I`m gone!

I saw a programme about that place once; people donate their bodies to it, don't they? [number; I don't know my pathologists from my anthropologists!]

Correction. I should have said forensic anthropologists, NOT pathologists.

I don`t know whether I want to see Les Mis or not. The story doesn`t tempt me, but there are some beautiful songs.
At the moment, I`m reading another Jefferson Bass book, about forensic expert, lecturer and pathologist Dr. Bill Brockton, who runs the Body Farm in Tennessee. He`s fictitious, but the Body Farm certainly isn`t. Jefferson Bass is/are actually 2 authors, a Mr. Jefferson and a Mr. Bass, both of them are forensic pathologists, and I really like the books, although I wouldn`t want to live in close proximity to the Body Farm!

I wasn't keen on Les Mis either . Although I very much want to see the stage show now. But then, at the time I was so overwhelmed by seeing Life of Pi I don't think anything would have impressed me. It is being shown as an outdoor scrrening at Calke Abbey later in the year, though [Les Mis, that is] and I think that will be great fun with everyone taking picnic tables and wine.

I agree with you Tegan and number, I felt whilst it was original, sad and poignant, I would never put it in my fantastic reads category, but then I felt the same about the Les Mis film!

Thanks Tegan, I was expecting to be shot down in flames by outraged readers!

number; I'm glad you said that. I found it instantly forgettable but everyone seems to love it. It was a pleasant holiday read but I found it a bit depressing [and that's coming from someone who likes to wallow in melancholy].

I've nearly finished Dover Beach by Leslie Thomas who wrote The Virgin Soldiers. It's about the lives and loves of people in Dover at the start of WW2 - kind of Foyles War written in a James Herriott style.

A very good read.

I`m about two thirds through Harold Fry, it`s OK, but it`s been a bit over hyped, I think.

Having finished Harold Fry, which was good, but not fantastic, I am now reading Kate Morton's The Secret Keeper. Loved her first two books The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden. I thought her third one, The Distant Hours was a complete dud, over long and a weak story. However, she is back on form with this latest one I can't put it down.

Titanic Lives by Richard Davenport-Hines. It is a really interesting book about the lives of people who funded, built, launched and travelled on the Titanic. Apparently the highest death rate was amongst second-class male passengers, because they stood back and did as they were told. Many, if not most of the lifeboats were nowhere near full when they were launched.

Anno, I`ve finished A Cold Day for Murder, the first Kate Shugak book, I enjoyed it, but it was a trifle "tame" for me, but having read the first couple of chapters of the next one, A Fatal Thaw, that sounds a bit meatier! I`m now reading Innocent Graves, by Peter Robinson, a DCI Banks mystery.

I'm reading, 'Last Bus to Woodstock,' by Colin Dexter.

I`ve just started the first of the Kate Shugak books by Dana Stabenow, A Cold Day for Murder, not read much as yet, but think I`m going to like it.

Hi Number , yes you well be right , although Michael himself is no slouch .
Funny you should say that though , I dip into Mapp & Lucia , EFBenson,from time to time and always I picture

Geraldine McEwan
Prunella Scales
Nigel Hawthorne

as it was on TV nigh on 40 years ago , OMG where have those years gone.

Same goes for Agatha Christie - Poirot , always picture David Suchet
when I read them .

Heyho , have a good day .

Yes Nonu, I`ve read quite a lot of Michael Connelly`s books, I picture Harry Bosch as looking rather like Ray Winstone, would you agree?

matson Glad you like Anne Tyler; she has written some thought provoking novels.