What are you reading in 2017?

[Jo]

A new thread for what you've started to read, and don't forget to come and tell us what you think of it when you've finished too at :

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Pat]

Thank you

[Paul]

Most of the way through Counting Sheep: A Celebration of the Pastoral Heritage of Britain. Should finish it today

[JoJo]

Started Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself a couple of days ago......enjoying some chapters so far and others I'm a bit lost on..

Also read the first couple of chapters of I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. Hoping it will get more into the nitty gritty soon...reading a bit too generalist at the moment but only a couple of chapters in so far.

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading Orhan Pamuk "A Strangeness in My Mind" and Neil Gaiman "Smoke and Mirrors". Also reading "Hurrah for Gin" which is not at all highbrow but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Paul]

I haven't read Smoke and Mirrors yet. Just started The Disappearance of Émile Zola: Love, Literature and the Dreyfus Case. Interesting so far

[Joy]

I'm reading Sister, essentially a murder mystery.

[Lisa]

Hurrah for Gin is great. She speaks to my level of parenting (and love of the Mother's Ruin)

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Hurrah for Gin is great. She speaks to my level of parenting (and love of the Mother's Ruin)"

Ha ha! More tonic Lisa?

[[deleted user]]

I have a rather strong love for Mother's Ruin also.

[[deleted user]]

I think you'd enjoy Smoke and Mirrors Paul. They're really clever short stories.

[Paul]

We have this within walking distance :

http://theginhousewimborne.co.uk

I have a copy. Unread. Aiming to read this this year, when I have cleared some of my backlog

[Pat]

I noticed there is a gin house in Abergavenny, when we last visited.

[Jo]

Even a Gin Hotel

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/hom...

[Jo]

I am reading The Muse by Jessie Burton and I LOVE it so far.

I am listening to Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan which is certainly compelling listening. Hoping for a good ending rather than a fizzle out which some psychological thrillers can do when the author can't work out how to bring it to an end!

[Paul]

Jo wrote: "Even a Gin Hotel

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/hom..."

Definitely be up for staying there!

[Wendy]

Lisa wrote: "Hurrah for Gin is great. She speaks to my level of parenting (and love of the Mother's Ruin)"

Couldn't agree more!

[Katheryn]

About to start my first Wilbur Smith. Am starting with his most recent, Pharaoh since I was lucky enough to win it in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Pat]

Hope it's good Katherine. I read one and hated it, but when I read the reviews it was the only one everyone hated. Well done for winning it.

[Paul]

After the last Wilbur Smith I read, I vowed to never read another!

This week I am reading the ones I haven't from this shortlist:

http://www.edwardstanfordawards.com/w...

Dare to Do: Taking on the planet by bike and boat
Walking The Himalayas
Cycling the Earth: A Life-changing Race Around the World

[Katheryn]

Oh dear! I'm not particularly impressed so far, but it's good enough to keep reading. Even if I hate it, at least I'll have tried one!

[Pat]

I said the same Paul then discovered that this very nasty book was exception to rule. Nastiest book I've read ever.

[Pat]

It was Vicious Circle btw so at least you arent reading that one.

[Toyah]

Currently reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, and about a quarter through The Black Album by Hanif Kureishi which I'm aiming to finish today. Both for my book group. I also need to get around to picking up Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar at some point.

[Pat]

Loved the bell jar. Many people hate it.

[Toyah]

I'm enjoying it too, I'm about halfway but other things keep suiting my moods better

[Wendy]

Just beginning The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I have been threatening to read some Murakami for ages so hopefully it will live up to expectations:)

[Joy]

Toyah wrote: "Currently reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, and about a quarter through The Black Album by Hanif Kureishi which I'm aiming to finish today. Both for my book group. I also need to get around to..."

A Suitable Boy is one of my favourite books - I've read it twice. Hope you enjoy it!

[Joy]

I"m reading The Glass Palace.

[Lisa]

Twice? It is so huge! Impressive, Joy!

[Jo]

I am reading (early as it was ready!) our February Fiction Choice, Unravelling Oliver.

I am listening to Truly Madly Guilty which I suspect is overlong as we are going round in circles with much repetitive padding, however, I will see it through (have it on fast playback....)

[Nima]

I'm currently reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and The Rosie Project

[Paul]

Have got a few to get through this week, including, Crossing the Congo: Over Land and Water in a Hard Place, Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads, Love of Country: A Hebridean Journey and the last for my Book Hunter Challenge, Web Of Deceit: Britain's Real Foreign Policy

[Toyah]

Thanks Joy. I made it a third through a few years ago back but gave up. Really liking it this time.

[Paul]

Just started Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads yesterday. My first Paul Theroux and it is very good so far.

[Paul]

Reading most of the Stanford Dolman shortlist this week, so my next four are:
White Sands: Experiences from the Outside World by Geoff Dyer
The Hills of Wales by Jim Perrin
Station to Station: Searching for stories on the Great Western line by James Attlee
Squirrel Pie (and other stories): Adventures in Food Across the Globe by Elisabeth Luard

[Paul]

Halfway through Cider With Rosie at the moment, and really enjoying the glimpse back to a harder simpler life.

[Lisa]

Read that one at school, not a good time of life to read something so old-fashioned and bucolic! Would appreciate it more now, I expect.

[Wendy]

Just started The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver was going to wait and see if this was the March fiction read but I have someone waiting in line for it! Found it a bit slow initially but it seems to be picking up now.

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Read that one at school, not a good time of life to read something so old-fashioned and bucolic! Would appreciate it more now, I expect."

I can imagine reading it at that age would put you off it for life. I really enjoyed it Lisa. He is very lryical and it is a snapshot of a hard but uncomplicated life

[Paul]

Halfway through the The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet at the moment. Quite enjoyable so far

[Paul]

Just starting
A Tale of Trees: The Battle to Save Britain's Ancient Woodland
Kapp To Cape: Never Look Back: Race to the End of the Earth
The Wild Other: A Memoir
Caraval

[Jo]

I am about to start Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent and am listening to Sirens by Joseph Knox

[Lisa]

I finished Unravelling Oliver on Monday and have now started Life After Life, which I am loving so far.

[Pamela]

Jo wrote: "I am about to start Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent "

I have just got this from the library so will be reading it soon too.

[Lisa]

Pamela wrote: "Jo wrote: "I am about to start Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent "

I have just got this from the library so will be reading it soon too."

I have it on the Kindle from when it was 99p but wanted something with a different mood! Look forward to hearing your thoughts, both of you.

[Jo]

Pamela, mine is also a library copy so I have 2.5 weeks to read it, but hopefully will be quicker than that as we are on holiday next week. Interested to know what you think too.

[Joy]

Lisa wrote: "I finished Unravelling Oliver on Monday and have now started Life After Life, which I am loving so far."

I loved Life After Life and I'm a fan of Kate Atkinson's work in general.

[Shay]

I am reading The Color Purple and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

[Rebecca]

I just finished Mr Penumbra's 24 hour bookstore, I enjoyed it. I would be interested in hearing what you think Shay.