Currently reading anything by a British writer? Showing 701-750 of 1,160

[Werner]

My reading continues to be slowed down by my miserable case of flu, which keeps coming back every time I think I've shaken it. :-) But I have managed, over the weekend, to start reading the e-book edition of Joni Dee's debut espionage thriller, And The Wolf Shall Dwell. This is a review copy; I didn't really know what to expect from it, but I was very pleasantly surprised! I'm thoroughly captivated already, though only a few chapters in. As a London resident, Joni has a British connection (though I believe he's actually an Israeli), and the book is set in the U.K.

[Rosemarie]

After having seen the movies many times, I am reading Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, my first James Bond book.

[Linda]

E.M Forster. Surprisingly wonderful! It's a book I can read again and again and get something new each time.

[Rosemarie]

Which book did you read, Linda? The last Forster book was Maurice, a very pleasant surprise. He is a wonderful writer.

[Linda]

Rosemarie, Howard’s End. I love the symbolism and how it sets you up for the next events. I love how the female characters were the nobler one, not typical for a male author of that time to depict. I love the socialeconomic observations that are so pertinent today. Just everything! I think I can actually relate to Margaret and that’s very refreshing. Do you have any book suggestions of similar books?

[Rosemarie]

Have you read any books by Somerset Maugham? He wrote novels and short stories, as well as plays and non-fiction. In my opinion, his writing style is one of the best of the British authors, along with Forster.
Arnold Bennett is good too, especially The Old Wives' Tale and Clayhanger.

[Linda]

Rosemarie wrote: "Have you read any books by Somerset Maugham? He wrote novels and short stories, as well as plays and non-fiction. In my opinion, his writing style is one of the best of the British authors, along w..."

Thanks! I will look into that!

[Carol]

Linda wrote: "E.M Forster. Surprisingly wonderful! It's a book I can read again and again and get something new each time."

Oh yes, I read Maurice a long time ago and I recall it being just fantastic. I have to get out E M Forster again. Somerset Maugham also has written some hidden gems.

[Alicia]

Rosemarie wrote: "Have you read any books by Somerset Maugham? He wrote novels and short stories, as well as plays and non-fiction. In my opinion, his writing style is one of the best of the British authors, along w..."

Of Human Bondage, but it was an awfully long time ago. Shall put him back on the TBR list.

[Sarah]

I’ve read a few of Maugham’s books, and you all are quite right, he has a wonderful writing style. Even though he writes some rather serious stories, which normally wouldn’t be my inclination, the descriptions and style are so well done that I am willing to give anything he’s written a go. I have yet to read Of Human Bondage, as I am sort of saving it for last. His more obscure books seem quite interesting to me. He is definitely one of my favorite writers. He can draw you into a tale and keep you firmly put even after it ends. I believe my introduction to him was Moon and Six Pence.

[Rosemarie]

We studied The Razor's Edge in my last year of high school. This books contains one of Maugham's most sympathetic characters--and one of the nastiest. (In all of literature, imo)

[Sarah]

Actually it might have been the Razor’s Edge that started me off with Maugham. I’d seen a clip of Bill Murray in the roll and someone told me I would like the adventuresome character so I read the book. I loved it! You are right about the best and worst characters!

[Carol]

Liza of Lambeth is one of his first books, and well worth reading. You can see how he improved over time. But you see his early deep interest in human nature.

[Sarah]

Whoops! It should be role instead of roll. Bill Murray wasn’t wrapped in pastry. Ha! I haven’t had my tea yet today. That’s the story I’m sticking with.

[Werner]

Sarah wrote: "Whoops! It should be role instead of roll. Bill Murray wasn’t wrapped in pastry. Ha! I haven’t had my tea yet today. That’s the story I’m sticking with."

Sarah, just so you know, you can edit a comment after you've posted it. You just need to click the little "edit" link below the comment, on the far right side of the comment (as you face the screen), next to the "reply" and "delete" links. Hope that helps!

[Rosemarie]

You can't edit using the app, only via the internet. I speak from experience, since it took me weeks until some one figured out my problem for me.

[Rosina]

I have just started re-reading Barrow's Boys: The Original Extreme Adventurers: A Stirring Story of Daring Fortitude and Outright Lunacy by Fergus Fleming.

I have to confess that having persuaded myself to start A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement I gave in after several pages having been attacked by swarms of commas. I am sure they are not at random, and eventually, after several attempts I can usually put the sense into the sentence. But it leaves one with a feeling of being on a choppy sea. I will go back, but when I feel better able to adjust my reading style to Powell's writing style.

[Sarah]

I've just finished reading Rys Bowen (Evan Help Us and in Farleigh Field) and discovered Martha Grime's Richard Jury Mysteries. Having finished The Man with a Load of Mischief I've picked up the next in the series The Old Fox Deceiv'd. British Mysteries are a weakness that must have started with Agatha Christie when I was a kid. While Bowen is good escapist reading, I am enjoying Grime's way with words, her descriptions and characters are rich!

[Sarah]

Rosina, how are you getting on with the Barrow Boys? Have you given up with sea sickness due to the roiling ocean of commas?
I see you want to read “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan Bradley. I have read the series and have the latest book that just came out which I am saving for a particular treat. I highly recommend it and you may fall in love with the Flavia DeLuce as I have. She is precocious beyond compare, but brilliant and very endearing. The descriptions of the old manor house where she lives, the people and the village where she lives will have you wanting to go there, or it least it had that effect on myself.

[Rosina]

Sarah wrote: "Rosina, how are you getting on with the Barrow Boys? Have you given up with sea sickness due to the roiling ocean of commas?
I see you want to read “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan..."

I am slowly reading Barrow's Boys - they are wandering about the Sahara at the moment, so no sea-sickness, or frost-bite, nor am I driven to eat my boots. I tend to read 'paper' in the bath, so it's slower than either Kindle or Audio - but I think exploration and hardship can be best savoured in a sea of bubbles!

I've just got a Flavia de Luce as part of Audible's 2-for-1 offer - it's lined up to be read, so I will let you know. At the moment I'm re-enjoying An Instance of the Fingerpost, which will take a few days as an audio-book. I do have the paperback, for reference.

[Rosemarie]

I am reading Adam's Breed by Radclyffe Hall. I read The Well of Loneliness years ago. So far, Adam's Breed has been a much lighter read, set among an Italian community in London.

[Rosemarie]

I just finished Adam's Breed and I loved it.

[Rosemarie]

I have started reading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. Dorrit maybe small but the book is a hefty read at 800+ pages.

[Alicia]

Slowly working through the final pages of Sayers' Gaudy Night because I can read and savour while writing.

[Rosemarie]

That is probably my favourite Dorothy Sayers's novel.

[Melanie]

Jeffrey Archer's 'Mightier than the Sword'
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

It's very entertaining and packed full of intrigue, crime. espionage, politics and so on. Can't wait to read the next chapter.

[Sarah]

Just started Beau Geste by Perceval Wren. Surprisingly intriguing writing so far. I picked it because it was a classic and I am trying to get classics under my built so I understand references to them but some are hard to appreciate. This one seems like it was designed to keep any adventure/mystery reader interested no matter the decade. Not my usual type of novel but like it so far.

[Sarah]

Melanie, have you read all the books in the series?

[Rosemarie]

I am two thirds of the way through Little Dorrit.

[Sarah]

Rosemarie, so you’ve got through -/+600 pages? That’s quite the feat! It must be a fascinating read!

[Rosemarie]

It starts out slowly but the second book is much faster paced. I actually started reading it in mid-April. I am enjoying it so far. The title character is a sweet little creature.

[Melanie]

Sarah wrote: "Melanie, have you read all the books in the series?"

No I haven't Sarah but I've read several of his other books so knew it would be a good bet. This one works as a standalone but I look forward to the others too!

Sarah wrote: "Just started Beau Geste by Perceval Wren. Surprisingly intriguing writing so far. I picked it because it was a classic and I am trying to get classics under my built so I understand references to t..."

[Karen M]

Finally realized I haven't posted here this year. Actually I'm guilty of this in several groups, anyway, I'm reading a new to me author Sophie Hannah, Keep Her Safe. It took about 100 pages for me to decide maybe this really is a suspense novel and not only fiction.

[Rosemarie]

I have started reading Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake and hopefully the other two this year.
I just finished Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell and enjoyed it more than [book:North and South|156538.

[Werner]

Here's the link to North and South you tried to post, Rosemarie (not sure why it didn't take the first time!).

[Rosemarie]

Thanks. The ways of goodreads are mysterious sometimes.

[Karen M]

I have been indulging my love of cozy mysteries with Pushing up Daisies by M.C. Beaton and The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith. I read one too many very suspenseful and dark books in a row so I'm on a kind of mind cleansing.

[Sarah]

Karen,
Beaton is really good for lightening up the mood after heavy reads. I just picked up a Hamish MacBeth story because I needed something easy and light after a bit of a stressful day. I also really enjoy Martha Grimes’ Richard Jury Mysteries for that as well.

I recently read British author/journalist Johann Hari’s nonfiction book Lost Connections which I really found very insightful and eye opening. There were a few flaws but essentially a brilliant read though requiring a bit of thought so a read like Beaton or Grimes is perfect afterwards.

[Rosemarie]

I am reading Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake. I am over halfway through this weird and wonderful book.

[David]

Maugham's Theatre I liked very much.

[Rosemarie]

I like that one, David. But then, I like pretty well everything by Maugham!

[Werner]

Since the beginning of July, I've been reading The Mysteries of Udolpho, by leading 18th-century British author Ann Radcliffe (it's a 672-page book) as a common read in another group. I was sure I had posted about this one here when I started to read it, but apparently I didn't!

[Werner]

Finally, I'm joining in our group's August common read of Lost Horizon, by James Hilton. None of the libraries around here have it, so I'd originally expected I'd need to borrow it by interlibrary loan; but I was recently able to buy a thrift-store copy (yay!). There's not a lot of time left in August; but I expect this one to be a very quick read, so I'm confident of finishing before next month nonetheless.

[Chris]

I'd seen the film many years ago, so grabbed a copy. However, I ended up disappointed with the book. It's a quick read, but it left me flat. I don't know whether I'd built it up in my mind from what I remembered from the film, but although it had good world building and character creation, there was a great lack of action, and far to much telling.

[Rosemarie]

I was disappointed in the ending, but I did enjoy the rest of it, especially the events leading up to the arrival and early days in Shangri La.

[Carol]

I saw the movie as a child, and it made a big impression. To read the book now as an older adult I understand better what it was really about!!! I decided to rent the movie and watch it again. I thought the changes made for the movie were excellent. The whole experience of reading the book, watching the movie again, was enjoyable.

[Werner]

Several people have commented about Lost Horizon, which is great. It would also be helpful to copy and paste your comments onto the Lost Horizon thread, at this link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... . (That makes it easier for persons following that discussion to read all of the comments together.) Thanks!

[Carol]

Sorry, I have never been able to exactly understand how the Goodreads site works.

[Werner]

No apology needed, Carol! I've been on the site for 10 years, but I learned to navigate it by trial and error --and I'm still learning things. :-)

[Rosemarie]

I finished reading Titus Groan and will be starting Gormenghast soon.