~Andrea~

Oh I really enjoyed Cassandra Darke. I'd definitely recommend that. And it's quite Christmassy so would be a good seasonal read!

I can relate to that. In terms of the bible itself, there are bits of it I do love actually, Genesis for instance (in spite of its challenges) and there are some wonderful and really interesting things like Job and Ecclesiastes that I'm also drawn to, and some of the psalms. I could happily leave the law though. Leviticus. Ugh!

I'm afraid I haven't. Would you recommend it? Have you read any other Posy Simmonds?

I'm a Christian too, although I must say the bible is not my favourite book. In fact I often struggle with it somewhat. I also don't really think of it as a 'book' as such but more as a collection of writings. I find it much less cohesive than an actual book, although clearly consistent threads and themes can be found running through it. I've been reading Alister McGrath's book, 'Christian Theology, an introduction' this year, and among other things it discusses the origins of the Christian canon and how it was put together. I've found that very interesting.

This looks great! Good cast too. I'm looking forward to it!

This author sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.

Thanks Rybread. That looks interesting!

Haha that sounds a little unusual. However, if it works it works. Wherever you can get some quiet I guess. I do 90% of my reading in bed. Occasionally I'll read in the garden or (rarely) in the living room.

Hi and welcome Munipenny I enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd. Look forward to chatting with you in the forum.

I do. Not heard of Emma Bombeck but I'm already sold on Betty McDonald. That sounds good too! This thread is becoming a dangerous place

I'm really fancying a bit of something spooky or a dark mystery this Autumn. I might dip into my Edgar Allen Poe short stories and I think I have a Susan Hill lying around somewhere.

I'd never heard of Betty McDonald but she sounds really interesting. I might have to read one of her books now!

Yes FC is quite a light read actually, more of a romantic adventure story so far.

Great review of Rebecca, Willoyd. I must must must read it soon, though from what you've said I'm assuming having seen the old black and white film will spoil it somewhat. I'm currently enjoying Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek at the moment. I'd recommend My Cousin Rachel as another of hers you might enjoy: an intelligent and well written dark romantic drama with a touch of the thriller about it (without being overly thriller-ish).

Gemma Bovary by Posy Simmonds From Amazon: Gemma is your average girl-about-London. Dumped by her ambitious lover, she rebounds onto a safe bet, gentle furniture restorer Charles Bovery. But Charles comes with an ex-wife and children and Gemma baulks at being the unpaid baby-sitter. When money falls into her lap, Gemma flees London and drags Charles to Normandy, where she spices up her increasingly dull marital life with a bit on the side named Patrick Large. But then she dies, under mysterious circumstances. I read this when on a break from the previous read (The Well) while in post (minor) op recovery and it was the best medicine I could have asked for. I loved it. Great artwork, great writing, great characters, great plot and plenty of humour to boot. I think I'm rapidly becoming a Posy Simmonds megafan!

The Well by Catherine Chanter Set in the near future in an England plagued by drought and with new emergency laws to prevent the misuse of water, this book tells the story of Ruth, living under house arrest at The Well, the idyllic farm she bought with her husband Mark. Only the dream life they planned together became a nightmare in which she lost everything, including her precious grandson Lucien, whose tragic death at the Well is still a mystery she is desperate to solve. This was an unusual kind of story, a dystopian, mystery thriller I guess. From the outset I was intrigued, though it started a little slowly. It's beautifully written and I was interested in the story as it slowly unfolded from the patchwork of Ruth's memories. I had a bit of a dip in the middle where I kind of lost my mojo with it and had to take a break, (however this was when recuperating from some minor hospital treatment so it may just have been I wasn't in the mood because of that) but I found I got quite engrossed in the second half of the book. Overall I enjoyed it, but I did find it at times relentlessly literary. The prose is crafted almost like poetry and it gave it quite a samey feel. I felt it could perhaps have done with some variation of style throughout to make it feel more dramatic and pacy. I'd recommend it though.

I've not long started Frenchman's Creek and I'm loving it so far. I've been meaning to read Rebecca for years but I think I'm going to get to it quite soon now.

Hello! Welcome to the forum! What kind of books do you read? My day is going well. I'm currently eating lunch. Which can only be a good thing

Oh I wasn't trying to shoo you away by sending you to another forum! I hope it didn't come across that way! You are most certainly very welcome here!! But that forum I linked to I found quite useful when I was writing, though I haven't been there for some years. There are some writers on this site though the writers' corner here is a little on the quiet side these days, although it may pick up with the new 'writing opportunities' thread. You are obviously welcome to join in there Even if you're not much of a reader there is plenty of general chat that goes on here too!

Hi Iain, Yes this is indeed a book readers forum, however there are a few of us with more than a passing interest in writing. Alternatively you may find a site like https://absolutewrite.com/forums more helpful. (I used to frequent it many moons ago.) But since many writers are often avid readers as well, perhaps you will like it here regardless. Welcome to the forum in any case

Yes this is me too! I prefer to chip in to a conversation rather than dominate it. I need a lot of space and I love living alone as I get to control how much 'people' time I have. I don't mind being in the spotlight now and again as long as it passes over me pretty quicky! Too much attention and I can feel the need to hide! Oddly most of my friends are fairly extrovert so I do tend to get on with extroverts quite well! Perhaps it works because there's less talking for me to do!! Even though I'm more of a listener than a talker I can find a lot of listening quite draining. Sometimes this is a problem when I'm with particularly chatty person and can't get a word in, I feel like it's information overload! I sometimes I find I'm such an introvert that I forget I do need company now and again and have to consciously stop myself from being a hermit! I don't think your vote registered as the poll is showing the forum to be 100% introvert at the moment

I've never read any Dan Brown, but I agree that sometimes you just can't beat a bit of Pulp Fiction. Looks like you're enjoying your reading lately Chrissy.

I've not long started reading The Well by Catherine Chanter and I have to say, so far it's great! It's an intelligently written psychological thriller type thing, and it's all very intriguing so far. The writing is really good so I'm hoping to rattle through it!

Ooh I'm being spoiled again by winning the July giveaway. A beautiful looking copy of A Christmas Carol which I shall enjoy later in the year and some very posh looking tea, which as a loose leaf girl I shall definitely enjoy! Thank you @Hayley

Thank you Gaia. I definitely would recommend Robin Hobb's other trilogies over this one.