What are you reading right now?

Sue Townsend? Last one I read of hers was Adrian Mole the prostate years which started off funny and they went glum.

Yes, I agree about those, but I liked this, though probably wouldn't have chosen it! And the one about the royal family wasn't bad ( The Queen and I?) haven't read anything else by her.

Didn't you think that there were a lot of loose ends left lying around though, Ariadne? (The woman who went to bed for a year). I enjoyed it, but the ending left me frustrated.

I've just started 'Absolute Friends,' by John le Carre.

I've just given my son Cloud Atlas to read, he likes books with umpteen different threads and it has certainly got that. I found it heavy going when I read it a few years back. I'm wondering what the film will be like.

Last week I read Whisky From Small Glasses, a murder story set in the Kintyre area of Scotland, in a small town called Kinloch, but anyone who knows the place will instantly recognize it as being Campbeltown. It`s written by a local man, Denzil Meyrick, and, although I did enjoy it, there were a few spelling and grammatical errors in there, doesn`t say much for the publisher!
Then I read Say Goodbye, by Lisa Gardner. I`ve read and enjoyed quite a few of her books, this one was no exception, but was a bit creepier than usual, and quite sad.
Am now reading Beyond Evil, a British thriller by Neil White. I`m enjoying it now, but the first half of the book was a tad slow.

Finally finished Joe Boyd's White Bicycles. I read the first part several years ago but, after seeing Ashley Hutchings play and talk at our village hall, dipped into the second part of the book where Joe managed and discovered several acts such as Pink Floyd,Fairport and Nick Drake [Ashley had given him Nick Drake's phone number, sensing what a precocious talent he was, and still blames himself for Nick's early death].He also managed The Incredible String Band who, strange as it may sound, turned to Scientology, and there's an interesting account of Joe's attempt to understand that strange religion which, thankfully he had the sense to walk away from. A fascinating retrospective look at the sixties as seen through the eyes of someone who states 'I became the 'eminence grise I aspired to be and disproved at least one sixties myth; I was there and I DO remember'.

Beyond Evil was quite good (eventually). I`m just coming towards the end of Awakening, by S.J. Bolton, it`s brilliant. A small Dorset village is becoming overun by snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous, and people are dying............ Must look for more by her.

Really enjoyed Awakening. Am now just making a start on Victims, by Jonathan Kellerman, an Alex Delaware story, haven`t read any of these for a while, nice to get back to them.

Reading Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre. Was told I wouldn't like it but I am enjoying it immensely. It's really funny, in a sad sort of way.

I'm reading 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles,' by Agatha Christie.

Had a big phase reading all Agatha Christie books. Loved them! Will have to revisit.

They are good, aren't they, even though old-fashioned. I can never tell who-dunnit right to the very end, although I've read most of them now.

Victims, as expected, was a good read. I then read a Karin Slaughter quick read book, Martin Misunderstood, and it was the daftest thing I`ve read in a long while, not at all like her usual offerings. Am now reading Watching the Dark, by Peter Robinson, a DCI Alan Banks tale, great so far.

I'm reading, 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,' by Rachel Joyce.

Snap! Ian. I have just read The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared. Interesting contrast.

The Appointment by Herta Muller.
A day in the life of a young woman during Ceausescu's totalitarian regime.
An intense read, and I can hardly put it down.

Have just started The Chessmen, by Peter May, the third in a trilogy, consisting of The Black House, Lewis Man and this one. They`re set in the Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis, and if this one`s as good as the other two, I`ll be well pleased.

Nearly finished 61 Hours by Lee Childs - a Jack Reacher story. I really enjoy his books, and this is a particularly good one, set in snow blizzards in Kansas, so when looking out the window at the frozen pond and snow flurries here, I really felt the atmosphere.

I like the Lee Childs books as well, I fancy Jack Reacher summat rotten!

Yes number .... me too!

However, I understand Tom Cruise is playing Jack Reacher in the film, One Shot. Apparently he bought the film rights amd then cast himself as Jack.

I can't think of a worse casting.... Jack is dirty blond, huge, enigmatic loner and 6'5" ..... Tom is about a foot shorter, and just not at all similar to Jack.

I understand that Tom Cruise has box office appeal, and if you haven't read the books it might be fine just as an action movie, but for me it is wrong.

I may reluctantly go and see the film and then decide, but not sure I can face it. Will probably just stick with enjoying the books and my imagination.

I've just finished The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford..absolutely brilliant. Such a wonderful insight into English aristos and their weird habits and perceptions because they are based on the reality of her life. Love in a Cold Climate is particularly amusing.

Yes, Sunflowersuffolk, I know what you mean, I definitely won`t be watching the film. In my mind, Reacher looks a lot like Peter Schmeikel(sp), but there aren`t an awful lot of actors who look like that, I suppose.
I`ve nearly finished The Chess Men, very good it`s been as well, although a fair bit of time shifting made it a little confusing at times.
My next book will be Gravity, by Tess Gerritsen.

I'm reading 'Night of the Fox,' by Jack Higgins. It's a cracking read.

Have just finished The Last Coyote, by Michael Connelly. It`s an earlier Harry Bosch book that I seem to have missed out on before, very good though. Am now reading a book from a different genre, On Dublin Street, by Samantha Young, not sure if I`ll enjoy it or not, we`ll see.