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[[deleted user]]

I'm not getting much time to read lately, so after what seems like ages I've finally finished Coffee, Tea, the Gypsy & Me, not bad - a bit meh!

Not sure what to read next. Might go for one of the group reads like Watching Swifts.

:0)

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have finished Bared to You - Sylvia Day and also read Selling My Soul: A Short Story - Rae Northlight. Now I am trying to get into The Bride Stripped Bare - Nikki Gemmell.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Gave up on The Bride Stripped Bare - Nikki Gemmell. But has found a delicious book and it's The Way You Look Tonight - Claire Matthews.

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Diane Chamberlain just a few minutes ago. It's a brilliant read! It took me a couple of chapters to get into this novel but once I did I was hooked! Every time you think you've guessed the big secret, it moves to another level and you realise what you think you've guessed is only a tiny piece of the puzzle. I couldn't put it down!

Next I plan to read by John Steinbeck.

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished The Hare and the Gallows Tree really enjoyed it!
Have started another book but currently struggling and trying to work out is it me or the book.Will give it another go tonight .

[Fiona (Titch)]

This morning I finished The Way You Look Tonight - Claire Matthews, which was a good short story Chick Lit. Now I have finally decided to read Design on a Crime - Ginny Aiken.

I have decided to do an A-Z of Authors over the next 12 months, plus add other books into the mix. Meaning reading at least 2 letters a month if possible.

[[deleted user]]

I've recently finished the first book in M C Beaton's School for Manners series and really enjoyed it. Plenty of humour in it.

Refining Felicity

I've just bought Karen Lowe's new book with my amazon reading challenge voucher, so intend to read that next! A Patchwork of Poison

:0)

[Pat ()]

Just finished Karen's . It is a lovely gentle murder mystrey which I enjoyed thoroughly!

[Jonathan]

Just finished Timeline - reviewed on my blog, and just started The Rats - I'm totally new to this author.

[Philip (sarah)]

Hope you sleep after reading The Rats Jonathan,one of the scariest books I've ever read!
I gave up on my last book and started A Patchwork of Poison halfway through and loving it so much I am reading Quilts-A Beautiful History, alongside it.

[Karen]

Thank you so much, Pat and Sarah. And will have to have a look at that Quilts book, Sarah, it sounds lovely.
Have at last finished The Bones of Avalon which was ok but I never really 'got into' it as I do with the Shardlake books. But I've got one of his Merrily Watkins series to try. I did start reading Hothouse flower The Orchid House: A Novel but too sad so I've stopped reading it. Can't cope with that on top of everything else at the moment. So I've now started Night Train to Lisbon: A Novel - so far so good.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I had to give up on one of the books i was reviewing, but really enjoyed the second, Mean, a novella that was a short but intriguing read. Now trying to finish Cold Hit by LInda Fairstein

[Gary]

I've just finished Traveller of the Century by Andrés Neuman – one of the most satisfying novels I've read in a good while. Full of ideas but also beautifully written and entertaining.

Now on with Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. Usually enjoy McEwan but while this one is entertaining, with reasonably engaging characters, I am finding it a little undemanding. I'd expected to be challenged before starting it but, alas, feels very … "light"? We shall see!

[R.J.]

Here's a beautiful dab from saucy little gem of a read .. this is about a woman gazing at the skin on a sleeping man's elbow:

'There you could witness the cellular architecture of the human body in all its intricacy.'

The read in question is a collect of flash fiction called 52FF And, no, the title is not referring to Lady silverback's bra size. The author wrote a 1000 word flash fiction for each week of the year.

More anon when I've finished it.

[Pat ()]

Now finished Death In The Winter Garden
It's been in my TBR pile Don't know why I hadn't read it before I so enjoyed the first book of Fern Green. Very enjoyable read. Full of plant lore and murder mystery. Great Stuff.

[Marc]

R.J. wrote: "Here's a beautiful dab from saucy little gem of a read .. this is about a woman gazing at the skin on a sleeping man's elbow:

'There you could witness the cellular architecture of the human body ..."

thank you! :-)

52FF

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished A Patchwork of PoisonLoved it!
The Beautiful History Book is written by Zaro Weil I bought it in a 2nd hand bookstore some time ago Karen hoping for inspiration!

[Karen]

So glad you enjoyed Winter Garden, Pat.
And thanks Sarah, glad you enjoyed the story.
I've nabbed the Quilt history book secondhand from Amazon, looking forward to that.

Afraid I gave up at 20% into Night Train to Lisbon. Just too slow/dull/introspective - reminded me of 'Steppenwolf' a bit. Anyway hve now got 20% into Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia - it's well written, has a great tone, and just what I need to cheer me up.

[Philip (sarah)]

Did you manage to get the one with the padded textile cover? It is ever so pretty and so lovely to hold. Some books, a Kindle just can't replace(much as I love mine):@)

[Kath]

I read Driving over Lemons several years ago. I enjoyed it very much and I didn't even know the area.

[Karen]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Did you manage to get the one with the padded textile cover? It is ever so pretty and so lovely to hold. Some books, a Kindle just can't replace(much as I love mine):@)"
Don't think it has, Sarah. That cover did sound lovely tho. I love craft books (& gardening) - much better than a kindle version.

I love the Lemons book so far, Ignite - really feel like you're there in the heat and dust. Never been to Spain either.

[Aoibhínn]

Yesterday I finished reading by John Steinbeck. It's an extremely short but nevertheless fantastic novel. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The ending is so incredibly moving that I cried while reading it. I truly can't recommend this novel enough. John Steinbeck is an excellent author (and one of my favourite writers)!

Today I've started reading by Jay Asher.

[Pat ()]

Just finished by Jenny Shaw Neat collection of short.
Also finished Which I enjoyed

[Philip (sarah)]

Started and finished No, It's Us Too!
a collection of embarrassing incidents.I was disappointed with this.
Then read Fifty Shades of Blue-The Trilogy by Michele Brenton.
Now reading Book Lovers by Linda M Priestley aka(Gruchy) and enjoying it.Sorry no link as it hasn't been added yet.

[Marc]

just started GR author's Watching Swifts

Cracking opening, defo my kind of read

[Andrew]

I've just finished and just started this morning. It's a reread, but my French was desperately poor when I first encountered the story of Candide, Cunegonde and Pangloss.

Voltaire's French is simply a joy to read. That probably sounds pretentious if you don't read French, but, you know, learn.

[Jud]

I'm not learning French but I will be learning Spanish. If I master that maybe I'll move on the French

[Gary]

Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an ending that seemed contrived. Disappointing, but I'd still recommend—if only because it prompted memories (actually fond ones) of the fuel crisis in the early 1970s

And hot on the heels of this, have just started on Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie. "A memoir in the third person," I thought, "surely not!"—but it actually works rather well. Allows Rushdie the necessary distance, perhaps. A moving and suitably unsettling beginning.

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished Book Lovers and yet again was impressed with Linda's writing.A multi layered story set in a bookshop(with cake)!
Started Children of the Resolutionand so far it's looking more than promising!
I never cease to be amazed by the talented authors we have among us in this forum.

[Gary]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Started Children of the Resolutionand so far it's looking more than promisi..."

Oh, that's good news :-) All excited, now.

[Marc]

Gary wrote: "Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an ending that seemed contrived. Disappoi..."

think I've given up with McEwan now. "Solar" really was the end for me

[Gary]

Marc wrote: "Gary wrote: "Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an ending that seemed contri..."

Funnily enough, I quite enjoyed Solar. Probably more than I enjoyed this one—but, yes, I can definitely understand your position. It's starting to feel somehow … mechanical. Novels as automata! Or perhaps not :-)

[Jud]

I finished The Fifth Elephant wish was good but not one of my favs from the discworld series, now onto The Truth

[Marc]

Gary wrote: "Marc wrote: "Gary wrote: "Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an ending that ..."

Though I was ambivalent about "The Cement Garden" and of course one hopes a writer does develop & change through their career, look at his last few books and see how far they've moved away from what he used to write. He's become a lot more of a bourgeois writer and has little edge these days. That's not to say he's necessarily a bad writer, 2/3 of "Atonement" was very fine indeed.

[Karen]

Gary wrote: "Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an ending that seemed contrived. Disappoi..."

They're serialising 'Joseph Anton' on Radio 4 this week. Must admit I did find it odd at first having an autobiog in the third person, but it does 'read' very well once you get over that.

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished Children of the Resolutionand didn't realise this was based on the author's own experience until the end when I checked out his author profile!
A 5* from me.I so enjoyed it I am ready to start another by the same author. Broken Angel which doesn't appear to have been added to his GR list.

[Kath]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Finished Children of the Resolutionand didn't realise this was based on the author's own experience until the end when I checked out his author profile!
A 5* from me.I so enjoyed it I am ready to s..."

This looks worth investigating then Sarah - I usually like your recommendations. It'll have to wait in the queue though - I'm stuck in the middle of a couple of books while I get some proof reading done - first things first!

[Gary]

Marc wrote: "Gary wrote: "Marc wrote: "Gary wrote: "Have just finished Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. As with so much of McEwan's work, I enjoyed it and, even admired sections, but I was left feeling let down by an..."

Re: Atonement—couldn't agree more. The ending disappointed massively.

[Gary]

Karen wrote: "They're serialising 'Joseph Anton' on Radio 4 this week. Must admit I did find it odd at first having an autobiog in the third person, but it does 'read' very well once you get over that."

I'm really surprised by how natural it feels. I thought it might feel too novelistic written this way, but still very aware that this is Rushdie telling Rushdie's story.

[Philip (sarah)]

I am sure you will find Gary's book very interesting Ignite.
BTW Gary There is a programme on BBC1 this evening(10.45pm) about Salman Rushdie's years in hiding!

[Gary]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "I am sure you will find Gary's book very interesting Ignite.
BTW Gary There is a programme on BBC1 this evening(10.45pm) about Salman Rushdie's years in hiding!"

Oh, thanks, Sarah! I'd spotted that earlier and meant to set it to record—but it had completely slipped my mind!

[Pat ()]

Just finished Enjoyable mystery solving cats.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I'VE finally finished Cold Hit, didn't enjoy it and skimmed the end. Now reading Dangerous Lady by Martina Cole, not sure if i have read it or not but interesting so far

[Simon (Highwayman)]

Just finished Ash. It was tripe. It only cost 20p. Poor plot line, was it entertaining? Yes, but to explain some of the plot failures in would have you add spoilers. I probably won't bother with the other two.

Might try The Illuminatus

[Patti (baconater)]

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "Just finished Ash. It was tripe. It only cost 20p. Poor plot line, was it entertaining? Yes, but to explain some of the plot failures in would have you add spoilers. I probably won't bother with ..."

Wow!

Simon just admited that he's READ A BOOK!!

*falls over*

[Fiona (Titch)]

Last night I finished Design on a Crime - Ginny Aiken and now I thinking of reading Hostile Witness - Rebecca Forster.

[Tim]

Finished:


Started:

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Just finished Karen Aminadra's "Charlotte - Pride and Prejudice Continues" - highly recommended if you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice!

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished Broken Angel by G.W.Murning. A short read which left me thinking!
Then read In Dreams of Gold by Jaq D Hawkins a pirate tale with cannibal mermaids.
Started and finished The Magician's Washing Machine

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler earlier today. It's just an young adult romance but it's very entertaining and funny. I loved all the 1990's nostalgia!

Next I'm going to start reading a Stephanie Plum book: by Janet Evanovich.