What are you reading in 2014?

[Pat]

I struggled with wolf hall on audiobook too. Next one in trilogy was fine though

[Danielle]

Currently reading Embers

[Paul]

The Book People have got a pile of Hilary Mantel's books for £17 at the moment

[Toyah]

I have just finished Mansfield Park. It's taken me six weeks! It was enjoyable but I will be glad to move on to something else.

[Paul]

Currently reading Revelation which is really good so far, and Move Along, Please: Land's End to John O'Groats by Local Bus, which isn't bad.

[Jackie]

I'm going to start Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein today.

[Danielle]

Currently listening to The View on the Way Down

[Lisa]

Started yesterday Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami - who is one of my favourite authors.

Love it so far - intriguing and full of his trademark touches.

[Jackie]

Going to start Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle today.

[Maureen]

Had just finished Colourless Tsukuru. Going to start Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon.

[Jason]

Stone Mattress is finished, liked that book.

Now starting Anna Karenina

[Paul]

Maureen wrote: "Had just finished Colourless Tsukuru. Going to start Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon."

Welcome to the group Maureen. What sort of books do you enjoy?

Next batch of books to be read are:

First Among Sequels
Bedlam
Harvest
Paraphernalia: The Curious Lives of Magical Things. Steven Connor
The Spinning Heart

[Toyah]

Now reading Claws by Ricky Sides which is some light relief after Mansfield Park :)

[Maureen]

Thanks John for letting me join this wonderful reading group. I do not have a set genre in which I read but I do like History non fiction not historical novels though. I am more into the plot of the story. If it pique my interest I will read it. I do welcome any good recommendations.

[Maureen]

Oops...I mean Paul. Where did John came about?? I guess I was thinking about my nephew and I inadvertently wrote his name down...sorry about that. :)

[Jason]

That's ok Maureen we all call him John.... or at least we will now. hehe

[Pat]

Loved Anna Karenina

[Sandra]

Anna Karenina is one of those strong books...

[Paul]

Maureen wrote: "Oops...I mean Paul. Where did John came about?? I guess I was thinking about my nephew and I inadvertently wrote his name down...sorry about that. :)"

:-)

[Joy]

I've got Travelling Light by Tove Jansson (of Moomins fame) from the library. It's a collection of short stories and I've read the first two, but not really wowed. The author is certainly talented at creating scenes and atmosphere but neither of the two stories I read really went anywhere. Might just try one more.

[Paul]

Joy wrote: "I've got Travelling Light by Tove Jansson (of Moomins fame) from the library..."

I have read A Winter Book by her which is more short stories. There were a couple of gems, but the rest didn't inspire me at all.

[Jo]

I am reading One Plus One, which is rather dull, but now I have started I must finish it.

Also listening to Irene which is part of my series challenge and utterly gruesome.

[Jackie]

Finished Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Just 2 stars from me. Didn't really enjoy it and not sure how it won a prize!

Anyway, today I'm going to start reading A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash. The author's name is making me want to give it a high star rating on its own..

[Cathy]

Life After Life. 8% in and loving it. Bliss after Crime and Punishment!

[Pat]

Jo, I used to think I had to finish books that I started. Our book club now does the 100 page test. This began when I realised that most classics need 100 pages to explain the background. Then they are excellent. If after 100 pages our group hate it we can, without compunction, give up. Some books don't even last that long, but generally 100 is guilt free. Life is too short....

[Toyah]

Finished Claws by Ricky Sides last night and started Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Currently finished with 15 books for my Magic Square Challenge, this'll make it 17. I'm determined I'm getting to 25 by the end of the year but I'm not sure how that'll pan out! :/

[Jo]

Pat wrote: "Jo, I used to think I had to finish books that I started. Our book club now does the 100 page test. This began when I realised that most classics need 100 pages to explain the background. Then they..."

I agree Pat, and sometimes I do give up, but I realised with this one I could read about 20 words a page to skim it to the end and I wasn't going to miss anything in terms of plot. Took a couple of hours of my life, and at least I finished it without any particular trial or tribulation. Also, it was lent to me by a friend and I just felt I needed to say I had read it, as she really enjoyed it and I am not a very good liar.

100 pages is a good measure, though sometimes I don't even get that far!

[Paul]

On the fifth book of First Among Sequels for the series challenge. Liking this one better than the previous

[Danielle]

Currently listening to Covenant With Death. Started of interesting, but still early days whether I will like this enough to finish.

[Jackie]

Starting A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvette Edwards today.

[Pat]

Jo, me neither.

[Jo]

Jackie wrote: "Starting A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvette Edwards today."

I really enjoyed that, on audio.

[Jackie]

Just finished it Jo. I thought it was a really good book. Hope she writes some more!

Going to start reading The Birth House by Ami McKay later today.

[Paul]

Reading Bedlam by Christopher Brookmyre. Kind of a cross between a gamers book and a techno thriller. Good so far. Must read more by him at some point as he write with a rare wit and humour

[Sandra]

Started yesterday All the Light We Cannot See.

[Jo]

Sandra, interested to know what you think about that.

I am now reading The Girl with all the Gifts and listening to The Graveyard Book.

[Jackie]

I'm about to start The Undertaking by Audrey Magee.

[Sandra]

Jo wrote: "Sandra, interested to know what you think about that.

I am now reading The Girl with all the Gifts and listening to The Graveyard Book."

Jo, I'm about 25% into it and so far I'm liking it. I'm finding the story of this two kids very touching.
Did you read it?

[Jo]

No, I've not read it, but it is on my TBR and have seen quite a few reviews of it so am interested.

[Cathy]

Now reading another Jasper Fforde - Something Rotten - for the series challenge. Finding it more engaging than the previous one in the Thursday Next series.

[Jason]

Just started Last Exit To Brooklyn liking it so far, style reminds of Henry Miller.

[Paul]

About 1/3 of the way through At the Water's Edge: A Personal Quest for Wildness. He has kept a journal of his walks on the same route round the Loch, and notes all the wildlife that he sees. Not bad so far

[Danielle]

Listening to An Officer and a Spy and really enjoying it. Halfway through Shipwrecks

[Conny]

I'm currently readin Shakespeare on Toast and really enjoying it so far

[Conny]

I'm currently readin Shakespeare on Toast and really enjoying it so far

[Paul]

Cathy wrote: "Now reading another Jasper Fforde - Something Rotten - for the series challenge. Finding it more engaging than the previous one in the Thursday Next series."

I finished this series this week. Or so I thought. Looks like there may be an eighth!

[Cathy]

Paul wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Now reading another Jasper Fforde - Something Rotten - for the series challenge. Finding it more engaging than the previous one in the Thursday Next series."

I finished ..."

Oh no! I'm only on the fourth and I think he's already stringing out the idea further than it really merits...

[Jo]

I am starting my next audiobook What Alice Forgot.

[Paul]

Just started The Girl with All the Gifts. Very different so far.

[Sandra]

Nos starting The Headhunter's Daughter: A Mystery for my local book club. So far is funny and interesting.