What are you reading in 2014?

[Jo]

In the car a lot this week, so not a lot of sitting time to read, but sitting time to listen instead, so am onto Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life narrated by the author and it's absolutely great.

[Paul]

Just started Badgerlands: The Twilight World of Britain's Most Enigmatic Animal. Good so far

[Jan]

Reading Les Misérables. First time since high-school.

[Carol]

Jan wrote: "Reading Les Misérables. First time since high-school."

The best book ever written!!

[Charlotte]

The old Les Mis split....a fantastic heart breaking story, but for me it is surrounded by too much bumff...was equally thrilled and bored of it, depending on the chapter. I found it very hard work..cannot say I would ever read it again. Don't think my husband would allow it after my complaints the first time ;)

[Sam]

Just reading Four Warned if anyone wants a copy drop me a line and I will send it to you as part of World Book Night. Its a collection of short stories and really worth a read.

[Joy]

I'm now re-reading A Suitable Boy.

[Paul]

that is a book and a half Joy!

[Joy]

I think it's brilliant! If you've read Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh I would say it is similar in style - a huge cast of characters and lots of detail - that sweeps me along.

[Toyah]

I'm a third through Dodger by Terry Pratchett already, and I've only been reading it two days! Such a great book :)

[[deleted user]]

Joy - did you like Sea of Poppies? I have it on my shelf - was a gift...

[Joy]

Yes, Jessica, I loved it. It took me a few chapters to get into it as lots of groups of characters in different situations are introduced very rapidly, so for a while holding them all in my mind was tricky. However the stories gradually become interwoven and there is an amazing sense of time and place. I found it totally absorbing. The only negative is that the ending is not a completion of the story. I've read the next book in the series, but actually didn't like it so much because while it has some of the same characters it doesn't carry straight on and yet more new characters are introduced. I haven't read part 3 so don't know if it all resolves in the end - but I'll probably get round to it later this year.

[Danielle]

Reading Losing Nelson by Barry Unsworth

[Jo]

Listening to How Did All This Happen? by John Bishop as my dog walking companion

[Debbie]

Just starting Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Probably the funniest book I've ever read....so far.

[Paul]

Brilliant book Debbie. Terry Pratchett is one of my favourite authors.

Just started The Sea Change, which is one for the magic square, and my genre to avoid... She is a local author, and has done events at my local bookshop.

I have 7 to finish by the 8th May and return to the library! Time to step it up

[Jason]

Gonna give Dan brown's inferno a go, might as well seeing as I read the first 3.

[Jan]

Carol wrote: "Jan wrote: "Reading Les Misérables. First time since high-school."

The best book ever written!!"

Carol: It is a truly great one. Glad you reminded me about it!

[Jan]

Charlotte wrote: "The old Les Mis split....a fantastic heart breaking story, but for me it is surrounded by too much bumff...was equally thrilled and bored of it, depending on the chapter. I found it very hard work...."

Fair enough. As I've said before (and many others before and after me) "De gustibus non est disputandum."

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "that is a book and a half Joy!"

Humm. You guys got me curious. Joy, will you write a review. Paul, have you done so?

[Paul]

I haven't read it yet Jan. One day I will

[Paul]

Jason wrote: "Gonna give Dan brown's inferno a go, might as well seeing as I read the first 3."

The last Dan Brown I read was Digital Fortress. Thought it was very poor, both in prose and plot. Vowed never to read another.

[Joy]

Jan wrote: "Paul wrote: "that is a book and a half Joy!"

Humm. You guys got me curious. Joy, will you write a review. Paul, have you done so?"

Yes OK but I think I'll finish my re-read first so it's fresh in my mind. (I'm about a third of the way through - can't put it down!)

[Joy]

Debbie wrote: "Just starting Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Probably the funniest book I've ever read....so far."

This is one of my favourites too & I re-read it every few years. I think Gaiman and Pratchett make a great team, with Terry Pratchett's humour just being sharpened by Neil Gaiman's darker side.

[Charlotte]

Paul wrote: "Jason wrote: "Gonna give Dan brown's inferno a go, might as well seeing as I read the first 3."

The last Dan Brown I read was Digital Fortress. Thought it was very poor, ..."

I read Inferno a fortnight ago...some good moments, but got a bit silly at times, and he his writing is too formulaic now. I'm hoping for something brand new from him, steering away from Robert Langdon

I have just started Life After Life by Kate Atkinson...looks a really interesting premise and am enjoying it so far.

[Jackie]

I have that book to read by Kate Atkinson, Charlotte. I really like her writing.

I'm reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.

[Cathy]

Jackie wrote: "I have that book to read by Kate Atkinson, Charlotte. I really like her writing.

I'm reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain."

Jackie, I loved The Paris Wife - I thought it was such a sensitive portrait of a marriage that wasn't going to work out. Are you enjoying it?

I also have Life after Life on my list - will fit it into one of the squares for my challenge at some point.

Currently reading Americanah. Wonderful, and thought-provoking.

[Jason]

Charlotte wrote: I read Inferno a fortnight ago...some good moments, but got a bit silly at times, and he his writing is too formulaic now. I'm hoping for something brand new from him, steering away from Robert Langdon
i>

First thoughts on reading the opening scenes, he has written this book ready to be made into a movie.

[Jackie]

Hi Cathy !

Have only just started it so can't tell yet looks good though lol.

[Lisa]

I haven't read Les Mis but hated the musical and am steering away from the film because of that. Would I still like the book?

I thought Inferno was something new - an actual reimagining of Dante, for some reason. I didn't realise Dan Brown had just trotted out another Robert Langdon story. Still, another easy pay cheque for Tom Hanks, I guess ;-)

I also have Life After Life on my list. I am reading Americanah, although not far into it yet. A bit intimidated by its size. I am a wuss (and behind on my challenges).

[Debbie]

Avoided the film but loved Les Mis. It's. a bit hefty but well worth a read.

[Joy]

Charlotte - Hope you're enjoying Life After Life. I read it last year and really liked it. Quite different to her other books, but equally compelling.

[Paul]

Started Dominion today. It is an alternative post war future. Good so far, but does seem surreal in some ways

[Charlotte]

Life after life seems to be on a few reading lists here. I had read Case Histories a couple of years ago and enjoyed the grittier stories, but there is a gentle calm that surrounds these. That feeling is also present in this one, but I am even more captured by the story...though it can feel fairly grim...really feeling for the girl.

Jason, totally agree about the filmic vibe from the start. I still enjoyed the book but think Dan Brown is past his best, well, until he moves on to something new.

[Danielle]

Paul wrote: "Started Dominion today. It is an alternative post war future. Good so far, but does seem surreal in some ways"

Absolutely loved Dominion

[Lisa]

Lynne: I feel the same about classics at the moment. I think when life is calmer I might be able to return to them, but I need something more immediate at present.

LOVE Neil Gaiman from the two I've read. Have lots of his on my Kindle just waiting to jump into.

[Lisa]

Dominion is another big one, isn't it? Not that that intimidates you, Paul!

[Debbie]

I can't put Good Omens down. Ihave never laughed out loud so much, evento the point of tears at times. Aziraphale and Crowley are 2 of my favourite characters ever. Fantastic, hilarious read. Everything else on hold!

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Dominion is another big one, isn't it? Not that that intimidates you, Paul!"

It is a fairly substantial book of 570 odd pages!

[Claire]

I've just started The Visitors by Sally Beauman. I'm not far in but it's a great start, I feel like I'm in Egypt already and loving it

[Jason]

Somebody lent me a copy of jack Kerouac's the subterranean today so looks like Inferno is going on hold.

[Cathy]

Debbie wrote: "I can't put Good Omens down. Ihave never laughed out loud so much, evento the point of tears at times. Aziraphale and Crowley are 2 of my favourite characters ever. Fantastic, hilarious read. Every..."

That's a great recommendation, Debbie! I could do with a funny read so I've added it to my TBR list, for when Anna et al all get too much.

[Jackie]

Currently reading Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup.

[Charlotte]

Just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Susskind....have heard so much about this book over the years so excited to finally get started on it.

[Jason]

Charlotte wrote: "Just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Susskind....have heard so much about this book over the years so excited to finally get started on it."

Have you seen the movie? Movie was fantastic so I am hoping the book will be even better, got it on my to read list.

[Danielle]

Jason wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Susskind....have heard so much about this book over the years so excited to finally get started on it."

Have y..."

I didn't like the movie so much but I love the book.

[Sam]

Have just started reading France or Prison by David Slater. Only read the first couple of pages but looks like it is going to be a good read.

[Paul]

Now reading Four Fields by Tim Dee. So far it has been a wonderfully evocative eulogy to his part of the fens.

[Charlotte]

Jason wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Susskind....have heard so much about this book over the years so excited to finally get started on it."

Have y..."

Not seen the movie, more the buzz from the book that got me interested. Read about 50 pages, and man, its dark already! Think its going to be a good'un.

[Debbie]

Just started Ulverton by Adam Thorpe. V good so far.