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What are you reading right now?

(674 Posts)
CharlotteOldie Wed 14-Mar-12 15:33:00

Always fascinating to know what people are reading and what they are making of it. I am deep in the Herries Chronicles by Hugh Walpole. A wonderful sweeping panoramic look at English history through the prism of a family from the Lakes. Highly recommended

eGJ Wed 19-Sept-12 09:09:44

Just finished Valentine Grey by Sani Toksvig. Think Boer War, "Pretty Polly Oliver" treatment of homosexuals and this contains the lot!!

annodomini Tue 18-Sept-12 13:18:50

Ditto, Mamie. Deaf Sentence, based on his own experience of hearing loss was hilarious but also insightful. My DS found that it gave him some insight into the way his partially deaf 7-year-old son hears conversations, especially in a gathering of people all talking at once.

Mamie Tue 18-Sept-12 12:46:45

David Lodge is brilliant, I think. Gentle, ironic, perceptive and very funny. I love Changing Places, Small World, Nice Work, Therapy, Thinks and the brilliant Deaf Sentence, to name but a few.

baNANA Tue 18-Sept-12 12:35:24

No annodomini I haven't read any other of David Mitchell's books, found Cloud Atlas really unique, but a bit hard going at times. Went to the cinema last night saw a trailer for the Life of Pi, haven't read that either, but the trailer looked kind of awesome as the Americans might say.

annodomini Tue 18-Sept-12 09:17:24

Yes. baNANA, Cloud Atlas must have been a challenge for any film maker. It's a fascinating book and ultimately rewarding. Have you read another of Mitchell's books, Ghostwritten? Also worth reading.

Bags Tue 18-Sept-12 09:11:42

Wanna do some swaps, mamie? wink

I've never got into David Lodge. What's that one like? Must be good if you're re-reading again and again.

Mamie Tue 18-Sept-12 09:07:15

Peter Unwin: The Narrow Sea - a history of the English channel.
David Lodge: Changing Places. (for the umpteenth time)
Anthony Beevor: The Second World War.

Bags Tue 18-Sept-12 08:26:09

Instinctive Archery Insights by Jay Kidwell
Hitch 22 by Christopher Hitchens
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Island on the Edge of the World: the story of St Kilda by Charles Maclean

feetlebaum Tue 18-Sept-12 08:19:13

Up to my ears n Trollope... reading Framley Parsonage, and have just watched DVDs of The Barchester Chronicles, Alan Plater's adaptation of The Warden and Barchester Towers.

baNANA Mon 17-Sept-12 14:16:12

Yes annodomini, stupid me it is Enduring Love, I think Endless Love was a song! and I agree about the film of Atonement I enjoyed it as much as the book, so often this isn't the case. I wonder what Cloud Atlas will be like, such an unusual book.

annodomini Mon 17-Sept-12 12:54:08

I'm waiting for Sweet Tooth to go down in price or to appear in the local library. I loved Atonement - one of those few books which the film didn't ruin for me. Think you mean Enduring Love, baNANA - which is a play on the double meaning of 'enduring' - apologies for being pedantic blush

baNANA Mon 17-Sept-12 12:22:23

Loved Cat's Eye read it many years ago. I have recently bought the Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood which I'm told is good, hope it is because it looks quite long. Sweet tooth sounds interesting but I will wait till it goes into paperback. I have read Atonement which I loved and Endless Love by Ian McEwan which I though was OK. I've just started the latest Lee Child, Jack Reacher book, I've never read one before, my husband tells my they are terribly good.

flowerfriend Mon 17-Sept-12 09:58:13

Just finished Cat's eye by Margaret Atwood. Just started Sweet tooth by Ian McEwan.

foray3 Mon 17-Sept-12 04:25:29

As a newcomer to "The Oldie" I am getting enormous pleasure from reading not only the magazine but the items in this forum. Thank you, it is great to find I am not the only curmudgeon with a sense of humour. My problem is finding books to read that are humourous, entertaining and interesting. Bill Bryson, Richard Bach, Bernard Cornwall, Douglas Adams, Spike Milligan even.

Ariadne Thu 12-Apr-12 11:09:25

feetlebaum I don't have a problem. All has been clarified, thank you. End of conversation.

Anagram Wed 11-Apr-12 22:42:41

Oops! wotsa, we seem to have strayed onto an Oldie Segment! Sorry folks...blush

Anagram Wed 11-Apr-12 21:37:41

Wouldn't that lead to a huge number of threads, jack? And they wouldn't be able to contain them under one heading - they'd be all over the forum!

wotsamashedupjingl Wed 11-Apr-12 21:34:41

Actually, I think we should all go here and get free choccies. smile

jack Wed 11-Apr-12 19:35:31

I am reading War and Peace on my Kindle (49p!). The social observations are hilarious, and very pertinent to the above "spat"!

I have been too ill (bronchitis, asthma etc.) to worry about crossing threads with the Oldie lot. But even if I were well I don't think I'd want to enter the debate. Question. What debate?

What I do think we need on Gransnet is a breakdown of reading threads. The subject heading "What are you reading now?" is too broad. Couldn't we have a book title instead - so that all those interested or intrigued could contribute?

We could start with an author or a title and take it from there. Who agrees?

feetlebaum Wed 11-Apr-12 18:41:55

@Ariadne : What's your problem? And put Carol down while I'm talking to you... Why the indignation?

Baffled green eyes (like gooseberries in tomato soup my first wfe said)

glammanana Wed 11-Apr-12 18:08:08

Carol I am not the dumb blonde everyone thought I was blush grin I have been using the "flip" for while,but I think we should keep all the posts because there are many many books and the thoughts of other GNers are very interesting when I find I have to look for something interesting to read as sometimes I tend to find I need to change my reading material.

Carol Wed 11-Apr-12 17:36:16

Stansgran I recently learned how to 'flip' the thread so the latest post comes up straight away and you don't get bogged down with all the ones that have gone before - don't know why I hadn't cottoned on - it's there on every page grin

Stansgran Wed 11-Apr-12 16:55:33

But the one on Gransnet is long and can get a bit entangled-why not delete 200 postings when some thread reaches 250. I tend to read only short threads. Just reading The Return by Hakan Nesser-read it 3-4 years ago and couldn't work out what it was all about -since then i've been reading lots of Scandinavian crimme and in particular the Martin Beck series and seem to be more on the same wavelength.All rather silly

Ariadne Wed 11-Apr-12 16:17:01

Carol smile

Carol Wed 11-Apr-12 16:00:15

Ariadne ((hugs)) It will go away again - it did the other week! smile