Janet Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 One of my favourite books from last year. I'm suffering from a lack of reading time, which is really frustrating. My husband is out at a rehearsal of Rigaletto this evening, so I'm going to hopefully get stuck in then! I'm sure I read somewhere (not here) that it was a difficult read, but I'm not finding it to be so, which is good. I've been feeling slightly fed up so bought myself some books. Vilette by Charlotte Bronte Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment (as soon as I saw it was about a daschund I had to buy it) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Chronicles Of Narnia series by C S Lewis Sorry to hear you're feeling fed up. I have Vilette to read and loved The Night Circus and also the Narnia books (apart from the last one, which I wasn't so keen on). I hope you enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 I finished The Little Paris Bookshop today. It was okay, but nothing special, and didn't have the same charm that I've enjoyed in the contemporary French novels I've read over the last couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I've been feeling slightly fed up so bought myself some books. Vilette by Charlotte Bronte Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment (as soon as I saw it was about a daschund I had to buy it) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Chronicles Of Narnia series by C S Lewis I hope you enjoy all of your new books . I bought The Night Circus quite a few years ago, but I still haven't read it. I plan to do so some day though. I finished my last read and plan to pick a new book later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I was a bit disappointed in the Little Paris Bookshop as well, maybe it was the translation, I found it a nice read but a bit "twee". I didn't like the last Narnia book either, very depressing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I forgot to reply about the Narnia books. I read most of them when I was a child and I enjoyed them. Though my most important memory of them involves reading one of them (a library book) in the car on the way to France, and I got very carsick reading it (I think I was re-reading it but I'm not sure). I think since then I haven't been able to read as much in the car anymore (which I find a real shame). I did buy an omnibus of the whole series, in English, a while ago, but I haven't (re)read it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Most of the way through Universal Harvester, *still* don't know what to make of it Also reading Stranded by Bracken McLeod, which isn't the most well-written book I've ever come across but I'm curious to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I started Family Roundabout yesterday and I'm already a third of the way through. It's by Richmal Crompton who wrote the Just William children's stories, but this is a grown-up book. It's very good so far! It's also a Persephone book, and I was in Waterstone's this afternoon, intent on just browsing, when I spotted another Persephone book on the shelf, so have bought myself The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I finished Family Roundabout this afternoon. So enjoyable, and surprising for me, as there's not much of a plot, it's more of a meandering look at two intertwined upper middle class families between the wars. Another to chalk up on my Persephone books list, and thanks to poppyshake for giving it to me for my birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) I'm feeling quite restless with my reading lately. I've nearly finished Insomnia by Stephen King, and I should pick up How The Mind Works by Stephen Pinker which I started a while ago, but I'm so indecisive with what to read next. I was going to read The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner, but after browsing Amazon I've just now bought Grunt by Mary Roach, which I'll probably read next. It's a nice - if not frustrating - problem to have, with so many books to choose from. Edited March 18, 2017 by bobblybear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I finished Family Roundabout this afternoon. So enjoyable, and surprising for me, as there's not much of a plot, it's more of a meandering look at two intertwined upper middle class families between the wars. Another to chalk up on my Persephone books list, and thanks to poppyshake for giving it to me for my birthday. Awww .. so glad you enjoyed it It always gets such good reviews so I thought I'd be pretty safe with it but you never know. Most Persephone books meander along though don't they? .. the ones I've read have anyway, but I love them for that. They're not hectic at all .. it's always so relaxing to read them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I'm currently reading Benjamin Alire Sáenz - Last Night I Sang to the Monster. So far it's nice, but I'm not that far into it yet. It's about a teenage boy who is an alcoholic. This book was recommended by someone who was an alcoholic when he was younger. I'm liking the book so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Awww .. so glad you enjoyed it It always gets such good reviews so I thought I'd be pretty safe with it but you never know. Most Persephone books meander along though don't they? .. the ones I've read have anyway, but I love them for that. They're not hectic at all .. it's always so relaxing to read them Well, I've yet to read a Persephone book I didn't like yet, so you were pretty much onto a winner anyway! Plus, I intend to read them all, so even if it had been a duffer, I would still have wanted to read it. I'm actually going to start on another Persephone straight away, and I'm going read a collection of short stories next - The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sazed Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I think I'll finally be able to finish Midnight's Children tonight!! I've been reading it for over two months, so it's about time. I'm also about to finish my re-read of A Study in Scarlet, which I'm listening to on audiobook - the wonderful new Stephen Fry version After that, I'll be starting The Catcher in the Rye as well as Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, which, to be honest, I'll be reading mostly for revision, because one of my uni modules was basically just a summary of his theories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I'm currently reading Benjamin Alire Sáenz - Last Night I Sang to the Monster. So far it's nice, but I'm not that far into it yet. It's about a teenage boy who is an alcoholic. This book was recommended by someone who was an alcoholic when he was younger. I'm liking the book so far. I've read Dante and Aristotle by him and really enjoyed it I finished Stranded by Bracken McLeod - not great, really. The ending was really bad. Close to finishing Universal Harvester - STILL don't know how I feel about it! My response is will be all down to the ending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Still reading Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie. It's supposed to be a classic comic novel. I'm a third of the way through it and I haven't cracked a smile. I demand a smile out of this book! A guffaw would be sheer nirvana. Has anyone else here read it? There was a film made in the late 40s, which I haven't seen. I wonder if that's any funnier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I've read Dante and Aristotle by him and really enjoyed it Nice to hear read that . I've read that one too, it was really good! I didn't like Last Night I Sang to the Monster quite as much as D&A, but I still enjoyed it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Still reading Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie. It's supposed to be a classic comic novel. I'm a third of the way through it and I haven't cracked a smile. I demand a smile out of this book! A guffaw would be sheer nirvana. Has anyone else here read it? There was a film made in the late 40s, which I haven't seen. I wonder if that's any funnier. l haven't seen the film - I have the book on my wish list, but maybe I won't bother now. I'm still reading The Essex Serpent. I really want a good run at it, but I've been so busy. It's frustrating because it's so good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kafka On The Shore Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I read Sjon's The Boy Who Never Was yesterday. It was okay but after everything I've read about it, I was mildly disappointed and thought it's probably a bit overrated. Haven't read anything else by him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 In the end, Universal Harvester wasn't amazing. I did like it, but it was just underwhelming, and I'm not really sure I even understood the point of it. Shame, as the cover is very pretty but I can't justify a hardcopy for my shelves without liking the book more. I've started Niceville by Carsten Stroud - I absolutely loved the first chapter but I've read reviews saying it doesn't follow through on the goodness the beginning promises, so we'll see. I need to pick a second book to start as well, not sure what it will be yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirley Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 The Exile - James Patterson - a bookshot The Girl on the Trail - Paula Hawkins - quite enjoying this one Still reading Spectacles by Sue Perkins - this is so funny - well I think so anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Still reading Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie. It's supposed to be a classic comic novel. I'm a third of the way through it and I haven't cracked a smile. I demand a smile out of this book! A guffaw would be sheer nirvana. Has anyone else here read it? There was a film made in the late 40s, which I haven't seen. I wonder if that's any funnier. I love the film! I think it's funny, but I don't know how close it is to the book and I guess we all have a different sense of humour, so you may not find it so. It was actually on television last weekend and it's available on BBC iPlayer until Saturday 25th 9:30am (I think they can only make films available for 7 days) if you want to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I'm halfway through The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield, and the short story I've just read (although unfinished) was amazing. I haven't read any short stories for ages, and I'm really enjoying coming back to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I love the film! I think it's funny, but I don't know how close it is to the book and I guess we all have a different sense of humour, so you may not find it so. It was actually on television last weekend and it's available on BBC iPlayer until Saturday 25th 9:30am (I think they can only make films available for 7 days) if you want to watch it. Ooh, thanks for letting me know, I'll jump on iPlayer and take a peek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Ooh, thanks for letting me know, I'll jump on iPlayer and take a peek. Happy to be of service. I've almost finished The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield. Interesting collection, although lots of them were never completed, but there one in particular that's among the best short stories I've ever read, despite being unfinished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I finished The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry today. My favourite book of 2017 so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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