What are you reading in 2014?

[Jan]

Reading The Lord of the Flies. Just finished Les Miserables: boy, need a truckload of hankies for that one!

[Debbie]

Less Mis is definitely a heartbreaker.

[Jo]

Reading The Pedant in the Kitchen and listening to Americanah

[Jackie]

Starting Bridget and Joan's Diary by Bridget Golightly and Joan Hardcastle.

[Danielle]

Reading The Guilty One and listening to The Remains of the Day

[Jo]

Danielle. The audiobook of Remains of the Day stopped me in my tracks. Couldn't stop listening. Lucky you!

[Jackie]

I'm going to start Saturday by Ian McEwan. Haven't read any of his before but I've heard Atonement is very good. Hope this one will be too.

[Danielle]

Jo, it's due to you that I checked out this book. Dominic West does a magnificent job in narrating this story. I find The Remains of the Day very atmospheric as it gives such a clear picture - you can almost visualize it.

[Debbie]

Jackie wrote: "I'm going to start Saturday by Ian McEwan. Haven't read any of his before but I've heard Atonement is very good. Hope this one will be too."

Ian McEwan is one of my favourite contemporary authors. I loved Saturday, hope you enjoy it. I prefer some of his earlier work to Solar and Sweet tooth. Atonement and Enduring Love are fantastic and well worth reading.

[Jo]

Atonement is on my TBR for this year.

That's great to hear Danielle, I agree about Dominic West.

I have now started The Goldfinch. Quite early for our group read I know but it is a long book and I will need to break off to read my book club book and for half term so wanted to get going with it as I am so excited about it.

[Joy]

Jo wrote: "Danielle. The audiobook of Remains of the Day stopped me in my tracks. Couldn't stop listening. Lucky you!"

I agree - wonderful book.

[Jan]

Reading The Goldfinch. Enjoying it so far; extraordinary detail.

[Sandy]

I'm going to start Goldfinch soon.

[Jackie]

Going to start Perfect by Rachel Joyce.

[Paul]

Jackie wrote: "Going to start Perfect by Rachel Joyce."

Nearly got that out the library the other day. Is it good so far?

I started Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin in the Middle Taiga yesterday, Not bad so far.

[Pat]

Just finished Perfect. Its not (drum roll) perfect, but its good. Well worth the 30p deal from Waterstones cafe in Swansea when we were there last (a promotion)

[Jo]

Good to hear Pat, I paid 99p for it, so hopefully still a bargain at that price. Look forward to reading it in due course.

[Paul]

Started Marina last night. Gothic horror supposedly, but whilst it isn't scary, it is a bit creepy at times

[Jason]

I'm gonna give that one a go Paul.

[Paul]

Have you read any of his others? The Shadow of the Wind is superb

[Debbie]

I thought Shadow of the Wind was spectacular, haven't read any of his others. Curious to know how Marina compare.

[Jen]

I'm being a terrible reader lately, currently re-reading Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series.

[Bella]

I'm currently reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins on my kindle and The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey at home. Enjoying both at the moment.

[Jo]

I've started a new audiobook today. A Cupboard Full of Coats, free download from the library.

[Charlotte]

Paul wrote: "Have you read any of his others? The Shadow of the Wind is superb"

Have read the three of this series, Prince of Mist and another one...forgotten its name, midnight something or other. I love his style. how did you find Marina?

[Paul]

Charlotte wrote: Have read the three of this series, Prince of Mist and another one...forgotten its name, midnight someth..."

Nearly finished. It is ok, but a touch too YA for my liking.

[Paul]

Just started Who Touched Base in My Thought Shower?: A Treasury of Unbearable Office Jargon. Very amusing so far

[Catherine]

Paul wrote: "Just started Who Touched Base in My Thought Shower?: A Treasury of Unbearable Office Jargon. Very amusing so far"

I had to laugh at the title of that book!

I am obviously alone in not being completely wowed by the Shadow of the Wind! I'm taking the opportunity this year of reading several of the classics I'd meant to read but never got round to reading. Have read a few already and am currently reading The Catcher in the Rye and have Crime and Punishment in my sights.

However, just finished reading Plain Murder, which was written in the 1930's as a kind of British foil to American noir novels. It's set in the 1920's but it doesn't feel dated and there is a kind of dark, tongue in cheek humour about it.

[Sandra]

Just started The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. So far I'm enjoying her writing style.

[Jackie]

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

[Charlotte]

Starting Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris...the beginnings of Hannibal Lecter.... been many years since I read these books.

[Emma]

Reading Gone Girl at the moment and really enjoying it so far.

[Cathy]

Last Friends - third in a trilogy about the end of the British Empire. Funny, poignant, sad - everyone is very old and looking back over their lives - but also lovely to find out more about all the minor characters from the first two novels.

[Maria ( ZITA )]

Just finished "Whistling In the Dark" It was very good.

[Jan]

Just finished "Ray Hicks and the Jack Tales. Fairly interesting treatise on oral story-telling. I somehow found it gratifying that the "Jack" tales came from Northern Europe, particularly England, to Scotland (where they became the "Jock" tales) and Ireland (where they became the "Jake" tales). These were the hybrids brought to Appalachia and shades of their origin come through: there are references to the "King" and to "guineas."

[Jo]

Just starting my next audiobook, one of my Magic Square books, Alex. Listening time is plentiful right now, as I am in the garden, doing some decorating and walking the dog which gives me a few hours a day to listen and I love it.

[Jennifer]

I am STILL reading the game of thrones books although I am on the last one now!! I have mixed emotions about finishing them - it feels so unnatural to be finishing the books without it being the end of the series and I think I will feel a little lost! Having said that - I am really looking forward to tackling the ever longer (especially now) list of books on my tbr list!!

[Jennifer]

Debbie wrote: "I thought Shadow of the Wind was spectacular, haven't read any of his others. Curious to know how Marina compare."

Shadow of the wind is one of my favourite books of all time - I also loved the angels game - dont know what it is about his writing! His books aimed at YA's are also very good - can be quite chilling!

[Emma]

Jennifer wrote: "I am STILL reading the game of thrones books although I am on the last one now!! I have mixed emotions about finishing them - it feels so unnatural to be finishing the books without it being the en..."

I started the first book but really couldn't get into it and gave up. However I love the tv show! Do you think its worth trying to read the books again? Ive always preferred books to films/tv so it seems really odd for me.

[Debbie]

I'm making a start on The Scarlet Letter

[Danielle]

Listening to The Secret Scripture

[Jo]

Debbie wrote: "I'm making a start on The Scarlet Letter"

How is that? I picked it up last week, but had The Goldfinch glaring at me begging to be read, so I put The Scarlet Letter down after a page and a half and as yet, haven't gone back as I am hurtling through Goldfinch.

[Debbie]

I would recommend skipping the first lengthy chapter on the court house and going back to it at the end, if you wish. It is mainly a rant. I loved Hesther's story but the whole tone of the book is heavygoing. It was a short read, I don't think I could have perservered if was a tome.
I'm still mulling it over before I write a reveiw.

[Paul]

Jennifer wrote: "I am STILL reading the game of thrones books although I am on the last one now!! I have mixed emotions about finishing them - it feels so unnatural to be finishing the books without it being the en..."

I am aiming to read one of those a month from June onwards.

Just started Americanah and The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction!

[Jan]

Debbie wrote: "I'm making a start on The Scarlet Letter"
Debbie: I re-read it recently and found it extraordinary (unlike when I read it in high-school since I was completely unprepared to appreciate it. I found it very modern in some ways, with its psychological exploration of the characters. There is also a bit of "thriller" in the daughter.

[Charlotte]

I read the Game of Thrones series over the course of about 7-8 months last year...bit of a test in endurance. i loved the first two books, but their world just keeps getting bigger and bigger with so much detail given, heaps of new characters and it hurt my head to try to figure it all out with each new book! I am relieved that it will be another while before the next book is due out...I don't think it works too well to read them too closely together. I lost track of what I really enjoyed about them, simply because they are too epic to be read closely together.

[Charlotte]

I am reading Waiting for Sunrise by william boyd. My third book of his...particularly enjoying it as it begins in Vienna, in 1913, with WW1 breaking out during the novel. Seeing as I am now in my final weeks in Vienna before returning to the UK, it feels apt to be reading it. Makes me realise what I will be missing when I leave, and what I will have learned from being here :)

[Jan]

Reading a truly extraordinary novel by William Styron called Lie Down In Darkness. It's that wonderful richly poetic southern prose, but not overly saccharine: not Southern Comfort but more that first taste of finely aged bourbon over ice. Only half way through but, Oh, so tragic!

[Paul]

Started Gold by Chris Cleave today. Borrowed it from a friend last August, and as I am seeing her on Monday, I thought that I had better read it!

[Jackie]

Going to start reading The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.