what are you reading at the moment?

[Laurel]

I've just finished The Well of Ascension which is the 2nd Mistborn book - absolutely brilliant! Started a bit slow but then the 2nd half was great and the ending has got me dying to read the next one. Am gonna try and resist to get our group reads and readlongs read and save The Hero of Ages for Christmas week!

[[deleted user]]

Just read and very much enjoyed, These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - to make up for the rubbish Regency romance that I read the other day.

[Joy]

I've just finished Terra by Mitch Benn (of Radio 4's Now Show) - there doesn't seem to be a link to it on here. It's a Young Adult book but I really enjoyed it - an imaginative sci-fi.

[[deleted user]]

Just finished Crusoe's Daughter which I struggled to get into at first but couldn't put it down after a couple of chapters. It's about a girl who, at a young age, is sent to live with her unworldly Aunts in an isolated house near the sea- she grows up to be a very strange woman - obsessed with Robinson Crusoe.
I loved it . On with Tales from 1001 Nights and Alison Munro next

[Angela]

I just finished A Christmas Carol. Is it sacrilege to say I thought it was a bit over rated?

[Laurel]

Angela wrote: "I just finished A Christmas Carol. Is it sacrilege to say I thought it was a bit over rated?"

I love it but I do think it's very difficult to judge it on it's own merits as we have all grown up with it in so many different versions.

[Angela]

That's so true. I heard for years, especially from my hubby, how amazing it was. Perhaps my expectations were too high.

[[deleted user]]

You've reminded me that I haven't read A Christmas Carol yet this Christmas - though I have watched both -muppets Christmas Carol and Scrooge. I think I'll cuddle up on the sofa today and read it.

[Joy]

Angela, I agree. I read A Christmas Carol last year and was disappointed. Scroog e' s 'conversion' seemed too sudden and I've preferred some film adaptations.

[Angela]

@Joy - it's hard not to feel a bit of disbelief isn't it. I guess that's why some classify it as a kids tale because of its haste in getting to the moral of the story. And seeing dramatisations always gives you expectations...

[[deleted user]]

I don't know - I think that seeing all those incidents from his past from the outside as it were, and the terrible, cold, loveless aftermath of his death would have been enough to change anyone. But then I'm somewhat biased as I love this book.
On another note - according to Wikipedia - we'd all be observing Christmas very differently (or perhaps not at all) if not for a Christmas Carol - so lets all raise a glass to Mr Dickens tonight. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christ...

[Angela]

Lee thank you for posting that link. I hope you don't mind but I read your comment and some of the info out to my husband and he whole-heartedly agrees with you :-)
I might try again one day. I think Dickens has given too much to the world to give up on him completely.

P.S. Happy new year friends!

[[deleted user]]

Course I don't mind Angela - and a very Happy 2014 to you and yours .

[Laurel]

Right now I'm reading Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and also having another crack at The Children's Book by AS Byatt - I've tried to read it before but gave up but having more luck this time round so far...

[[deleted user]]

I love both of those.

[Hilary]

I've never read the Byatt one but Alias Grace is a favourite I've read a couple of times. I seem to reach a different conclusion about it all each time I read it.

[Hilary]

I've nearly finished the Dark is Rising which I've enjoyed. This is going to sound terrible but sometimes you just need to read a simple uncomplicated story that doesn't need much thought or interpretation, especially over Cristmas when so much is going on.

[Ellie]

That's precisely why I read a couple of Christmas themed chick-lit books. Though really wish I hadn't bothered with one :-/

[Laurel]

Definitely, it was just what I needed when I read it as well, I was tired and couldn't concentrate on anything but a good, old fashioned story for kids with magic and adventure and stuff was just the ticket!

[[deleted user]]

My heads very woolly at the moment - I think it was that last Black Russian!

[Hilary]

I've just finished The Reason I Jump: One Boy's Voice From The Silence of Autism written by a 13 year old Japanese boy.

I was fascinated by a review I read of this very short book and decided to give it a go. It gives an explanation from the author's point of view of why he behaves in the way that he does. It certainly made me think.

[[deleted user]]

Sounds intriguing.

[Joy]

I've been able to read quite a bit over Christmas. One was Still Life which I thought I'd seen recommended in this group, but have searched and can't find any reference to it. Anyway it's the first in a detective series set in Quebec and I thought it got better as it went along - enough to make me want to read another.
Also read The Cuckoo's Calling which I enjoyed very much, once past the prologue. Another detective (private eye) - good plot and convincing characters.
With both the above books (especially Still Life) the story is told from more than one view point and there is an element of 'head hopping'. I've read a lot on the skill / art of writing over the last few years, in an attempt to improve my own attempts at fiction, and changing from one character's internal thoughts to another's within the same passage/ chapter seems to be universally frowned upon as it's said to distance the reader from the situation. However here we have two acclaimed authors doing just that!
Now reading American Gods. I've only started to read Neil Gaiman this year and he's becoming one of my favourite fantasy authors.

[Laurel]

Hope you enjoy American Gods Joy - I like Gaiman too.

[[deleted user]]

Still enjoying Tales from the 1001 Nights - the 7 Voyages of Sinbad have been my favourite so far - though I certainly wouldn't have wanted to join him on any of them. All the other Sailors on his voyages were either drowned or eaten by various unpleasant things.
Catching up with Pickwick Papers next, then Persuasion and then The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

[Hilary]

I've just started For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway. I'm a member of a local reading group and it's our read for January. I have a vague memory of reading a Hemingway novel and not being impressed but I can't remember which one. I'm hoping I'll have lots of good things to say about this one though!

[[deleted user]]

My dad is a big fan of For Whom The Bell Tolls .

[[deleted user]]

Sorry - something happened to the rest of my comment - meant to say that he (my dad) says that For Whom the Bell Tolls is rather less misogynistic than other Hemingway books.

[Hilary]

Perhaps that's what I didn't like about the previous one whose title I can't remember - dreadful memory lately!

[Angela]

My hubby highly recommends it - i just asked him again and he said 'it's excellent!' with much enthusiasm.

[Joy]

I've read 460 pages of American Gods and I'm really bored! Such a disappointment as I loved Neil Gaiman' s others that I've read. Not sure whether to press on for the remaining 180 pages.

[[deleted user]]

That's a shame - people seem to rave about it as well.
I'm nearly at the end of The Mouse and His Child which is rather enchanting - in an odd and melancholy sort of way and about a quarter way through The Ballad and the Source (R Lehmann) which is riveting. it's the story of a kind and generous woman with one fatal flaw - the belief that she should and must do and get everything she wants - and the damage she inflicts on herself and everyone who loves her.

[Hilary]

I haven't decided on a Lehmann book yet but that sounds good, Lee. I'm still on with For Whom the Bell Tolls and not enjoying it one little bit to be honest. Just hoping it improves as I have to finish it by Tuesday.

[Laurel]

American Gods is a bit of a marmite book from what I can tell, people either love it or hate it!
I'm trying to choose between Invitation for the Waltz and Dusty Answer for my Lehrman book while I'm just finishing Alias Grace

[Laurel]

Ok well, I finished Alias Grace which was very good and am now about halfway through Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams which isn't what I thought it would be like but is quite good all the same.

[Cynthia]

I am reading three books presently. First is The Crysalids which my son is reading for an online English class, so I am reading it alongside him. Second is The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson, and third is Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones. The Crysalids is an interesting read and makes you ponder our own society. The Thunderbolt Kid is Bryson's childhood, quite fictionalized I am assuming! Mister Pip I have just started, but its setting in the South Pacific is intriguing.

[Joy]

Laurel - I read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency when it was first published & remember enjoying it.
Cynthia - I'm a Bill Bryson fan. Love his sense of humour.
Have given up on American Gods - life's too short!

[[deleted user]]

@ Cynthia - I read Mr Pip a little while ago- I really enjoyed it but more for the story of what was going on, on the Island than for the ponderings about Great Expectations.

[Cynthia]

Laurel-What did you think of Alias Grace? It is my favourite Atwood book, but I haven't met anyone who also had this book as their favourite Atwood book. I like the combination of real history and the tale.
Joy-My favourite Bryson book is A Walk in the Woods.
Lee- In your opinion does one have to have read Great Expectations to understand the references? Fortunately I read it last year, but I have heard this is a criticism.

[[deleted user]]

It's hard to say (Great Expectations is a favourite of mine) - but I think probably yes.
Alias Grace is my favourite Atwood too - I've been hoping she'll write another book with the same feel ever since- it almost makes me feel like I've been drugged on opium and am dreaming the story :0)

[Laurel]

I really enjoyed Alias Grace, if I was to choose a favourite of hers from what I've read so far it would be between this one and The Blind Assassin.

I'm also planning to read Mr Pip shortly as it's the next stop on my round the world trip - pleased to hear it's good (Also I love Great Expectations)!

[Laurel]

I'm reading Dusty Answer for our monthly author choice which is beautifully written, and also trying to finish The Children's Book by AS Byatt which is not a quick read - parts of it are fascinating and other bits just drag

[Hilary]

My favourite Atwood is The Handmaid's Tale, but Alias Grace is a close second. What amazes me about her is that all her books seem to be very different.

[Jenny]

I am currently reading Robinson Crusoe and Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner, which I am enjoying very much. I had never read anything by Stegner before, but unless this book takes an unexpected turn to the worse I think I will put him on my list of authors to explore further. He reminds me of Richard Yates minus the alcohol theme.

Re Atwood: I really liked all books mentioned by her so far + Surfacing which was my second book by her after The Handmaid's Tale. I am not yet sure what to make of her MaddAddam series, I will have to read part 3 sometime this year and decide, but I think I prefer her earlier novels. Has anyone read/finished the series?

[[deleted user]]

Just added Crossing to Safety to my to read list - it sounds excellent. I definitely want to read Robinson Crusoe this year - I recently read Crusoe's Daughter by Jane Gardam which in parts is almost a meditation on it and it really whetted my appetite.
I've got the 1st of the McAddams books on my kindle - but haven't got round to it yet.

[Cynthia]

Crossing to Safety sounds intriguing. One has to wait in line for many books at our library, so I am now in line for it sometime in the next year......
Another Atwood I really enjoyed was Cat's Eye.

[Jenny]

I haven't read Cat's Eye yet, but heard really good things about it. Looking through the list of books I've read by her, and books of hers still on my TBR makes me realize just how many books she's written!

[[deleted user]]

And as Hilary says they're all so very different from each other.

[Laurel]

Yeah just cos you don't like one Atwood doesn't necessarily mean you won't like any of them. I enjoyed Cat's eye as well and also the 1st Madaddam book Oryx and Crake but I'd like to read the other two as well.

Crossing to safety does sound good - I thought it might have been on the Boxall's list but have just checked and it isn't

[Hilary]

I enjoyed Oryx and Crake but didn't realise it was part of a series, or have I misunderstood your post Laurel? I'd forgotten Cats Eye but I didn't much enjoy the Robber Bride and I disliked The Blind Assassin