What are you reading right now?

At the moment, I`m reading Birthdays for the Dead, by Stuart Macbride, a murder story set in Scotland. I`ve read a few of this author`s books, but they`ve all been about DS Logan McRae, never come across this detective, Ash Henderson before, but enjoying it.

I have that, Barrow - pretty good for its time.

I have just started re-reading The Great Gatsby. Read it many years ago and don't think I appreciated it then

The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson (Finnish - translated). Sparsley written, quite but beautifully composed and insightful.

(Don't be put off by her creation of the Mommin stories for children - this is written for adults)

Foray3 : Have you tried reading A J Jacobs -The Year of Living Biblically. He writes a bit like Bill Bryson and is most amusing.

The Woman Who Went to Bed For a Year - Sue Townsend. Skimmed the last 100 pages, found it really amusing at the beginning, but after a while I started to find it tedious, but glad I've finished it so I can move on to something a bit more absorbing. A Sue Townsend fan on one of the other GN book threads stated that it left her feeling the same, but can't remember who that was now.

The Girl You Left Behind, by Jojo Moyes. Very fitting that I should have started it today, seeing that the first part is set in France in 1916, during the time of German occupation. Not my usual sort of reading material, but enjoying it so far.

i,m reading " the good earth " by Pearl S Buck. first published in 1931 ! its very moving and am enjoying it very much.

acommonreader, I like the sound of your recommendation, I like to read this type of book in winter, I haven't heard of it before but will be looking out for it now winter is upon us. Have read Crimson Petal and the White mentioned in your link, also good, and would also recommend The Meaning of Night, The American Boy, Star of the Sea, The Quincunx a Dickensian pastiche. All of these are mysteries set in the 19th century and ideal winter reading in my opinion. However, bought Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell last December as I thought it might also might be in the similar vein as the others I have mentioned, but unfortunately I couldn't get on with it.

Message deleted by Gransnet.

Loved Not Dead Yet, was undecided for a while, but ended up really enjoying it. Now reading Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott, going back to my childhood.

Gave up on Murakami too weird. Just starting an old favourite, The Secret Pilgrim, by John le Carre.

I'm reading Peter Brown's 1971 book reprinted: 'The World of Late Antiquity AD 150-750'. Having recently been to see the Staffordshire Hoard at the Stoke Potteries Museum, and been blown away but the workmanship and the artistry, I want to learn more about the period of history often dismissed as the 'Dark Ages'.

I'm also reading Martin Bell's 'Through Gates of Fire: a Journey into World Disorder'. Scary stuff, based on his long career in war reporting.

Meant to add that I have recently finished Me before You, by Jojo Moyes which will be next month's read for my book group. More absorbing than I thought it would be - about a young woman, out of work who accepts a job caring for a quadroplegic who was formerly a high flying business executive.... read it if you want to know if the two of them jell.

I have read Wolf Hall - a heavy book and quite heavy going, but worthwhile although there are some stylistic aspects I don't like. Bring up the Bodies is waiting for me to finish Ian Banks's latest, Stonemouth.

I urge you to read Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, by far the best books I have read in years. Compelling and captivating.

I've just started 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami.

Now reading Not Dead Yet, by Peter James. I love the Roy Grace stories.

I read Waiting for Sunrise but found it not quite up to his usual standard but definitely a good read. I'd suggest Any Human Heart as a good introduction to his writing.

I picked up a thread on GN a while ago about Anthony Trollope, and on the strength of this post, I ordered The Prime Minister. I'm enjoying every paragraph. The English is superb.

Last week, on holiday in the UK I read the latest from Ruth Rendell. The Vault. A Wexford novel. She is perfect for long hours sitting at airports and on the plane.

Just finished Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes. I don't like Downton Abbey (ducking to avoid flak emoticon) but this is a gripping tale and is a great insight into aristos and their attitudes.

Death Mask, by Kathryn Fox.

Not very original, but having put it off as I was sure I wouldn't really like it, I am reading and enjoying Song of Achilles*.

I've just read 'Bold as Brass' Hilary Devey's autobiography, picked it up in the book swop at the local station for a 'light' read on the train. She's a survivor, which makes her book very inspiring. What a grafter too, and with such no nonsense business acumen, and what I also like about her is she couldn't give a toss what people think about her (she's the newest dragon in Dragon's Den) e.g. says that people apparently made comments about her outfits on the show and her response is "I worked hard for those shoulder pads" . She has survived 3 marriages, has a son who became a heroin addict, thankfully now off the drugs, then had a stroke and all along carried on building a business (operating in a 'man's world') which has a turnover of £93 million a year. And now has a new career on the telly. Amazing woman.

I think Boyd's plots have grown more convoluted with each new novel. The one before this, 'Ordinary Thunderstorms' was pretty involved too. Certainly, you will find that his other works measure up to this one. He manages to mix comic scenes with serious themes - try 'Armadillo'.

I liked the idea of escaping via parallelism, quite a neat concept. It was my first William Boyd, whether the others will match up to this one I'm not sure. It was definitely full of surprising pieces.