little chickadee Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I've had some really good book recommendations from the forum and wondered what people are reading at the moment/ have read recently. So - What are you reading at the moment and is it any good? I'm in light and fluffy mode at the moment after a run of fairly depressing books, so I've just started "Going Dutch" by Katie Fforde. I've read a couple of her books and am pretty sure I won't be mentally taxed during the experience I did try "Empress Orchid" by Anchee Min this afternoon as it looked really interesting and I love books about China, but unfortuately I have to use Audio books due to ill health, and the narrator was not someone I could listen to Doesnt' happen too often, but sometimes I have to send things straight back to the library after a couple of minutes listening. (often authors reading their own books!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I'm reading Notes From Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin. Not fiction, but rather wonderful: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Walnut-Tree-Roger-Deakin/dp/0241144205 Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I''m reading Larkrise To Candleford by Flora Thompson, started it ages ago after watching the wonderful series on the BBC, am taking my time with it as it's not at all like the tv version, not much narrative, more of a descriptive historical account of village life in the 1880s. But very interesting never-the-less, can't wait for the christmas special the beeb are doing! I'm reading Notes From Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin. Not fiction, but rather wonderful: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Walnut-Tree-Roger-Deakin/dp/0241144205 Anna x Must remember to put this on my christmas list, recently finished Wildwood which was simply lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 'Empress Orchid' is really good I love books about China too, & can recommend a few more if you like I am reading 'Corner Shop' by ,Roopa Farooki which is a super read.I am really enjoying it.....its a tale of newly wealthy Indian families living in London, & how they cope with their pasts & relationships. Its beautifully written. I have a nice little pile on my bedside to plough through too If anyone is on Facebook, I really recommend joining the Book Shelf page on there,where you can organise & review your reads, as well as seeing what your friends are reading. I keep up with a fair few of my forum friends on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - I've not long finished it it was fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - I've not long finished it it was fantastic. I love this book I also love Katie Fforde so easy to read makes you warm and fuzzy inside Im reading "before I die" at the moment, cant remember who its by, but its about a 16 year old girl who has cancer , she is a bit of an angry child - but I can see why. my favourite book has got to be River God by Wilbur Smith , Ive read it about 3 times (its quite a big book) Harry Potter is a great series - Ive read that a few times too I love reading (can you tell ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cammy73 Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I'm reading "Dear Fatty" Dawn French's autobiography and its very good...... sharon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Chickpea, have you read Waterlog by Roger Deakin as well? He swims round Britain (not mile by mile - just in some really interesting places). He was an incredible man. It's so sad he only wrote three books. They are so life-affirming. I love his work. Wild Swims by Kate Rew is in a similar vein, but I haven't read that yet - it's on my list. I've also recently read Moominvalley in November because Tove Jansson writes wonderfully subtle children's books. They say so little so well. There is a huge amount said in her silences and her characters are wonderful.Who doesn't love Moomins?! And my all-time favourite read-every-year book - The Timetraveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. An impeccably told, quirky story and you don't have to suspend your disbelief over how time travel is possible for a second. It's not a time travel geek book, it's a love story. Laugh aloud, cry aloud - it's the most incredible book. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I am re-reading Twenty Something by Iain Hollingshead, it seems like a shallow type of book from the description but is a very funny beautifully written book about a young man's change in direction in life - lots of humour but when things go wrong you can feel the character's heartache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 A chickychickychick-ENN! wrote And my all-time favourite read-every-year book - The Timetraveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. That's my all time favourite book too, I've read it about 5 times! And often just pick it up and lucky dip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 i am re reading the 'Twilight Saga' ready for the movie! i am sooo excited! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I am currently reading "Small Island" By Andrea Levy. I'm half way through and it has been easy and enjoyable reading. I like books that give me an insight into a different culture or a period in time and this does both. It follows the characters and how their lives intertwine before, during and after the 2nd World War. Gilbert and Hortense are Jamaican and Queenie is British. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 (edited) Someone else has just suggested Time Traveller's Wife so I am ordering that from Amazon. It is good that a few Omleteers agree with it. I am looking forward to reading it now. I have just read a series of books by Lian Hearn. The setting is a fictional (fantasy) 16th Century "Japanese" island. They are all about The Otori Clan and are completely and totally absorbing. You have to read them in a strange order. The first one is, "Across the Nightingale Floor." There are then two more and then you read the prequel, "Heaven's Net is Wide." It would spoil things to read the prequel first. Sorry - rabbiting on a bit but I really do recommend these books. Edited November 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 A wonderful book. I couldn't put it down. You do have to keep your wits about you though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 nora roberts books at present - they are fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Im a crime/thriller girl BUT will read anything. The last 2 books ive read were: Boy in the striped Pyjamas - such an amazing book, couldn't put it down. A well known story from a very different angle. The other daughter - a friend gave me this and it was really good - i usually spot the twists quite early but this one kept me guessing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 A chickychickychick-ENN! wrote And my all-time favourite read-every-year book - The Timetraveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. That's my all time favourite book too, I've read it about 5 times! And often just pick it up and lucky dip! Oh,me too. Fantastic book, but DO NOT read after a glass or two of wine - you will get all lost! Other top books that I have read of late would be (not including the obvious Harry Potter/Artemis Fowl, No 1 Ladies Detective Agency!) 'This book will save your life' by AM Homes.....fantastic read about a very normal American man whose rigid life starts to dissolve around him.Really darkly funny,& should be made into a movie. 'No time for Goodbye' by Lindwood Barclay................A real page turner,& just fantastic. 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant.....................The religious aspect almost put me off reading this,but I am so glad it didn't.A fantastic book, like 'Memoirs of a Geisha' but set in Biblical times. I have read it over & over again. 'The life & times of the Thunderbolt kid' by Bill Bryson............I love his books,& this is a real corker.Laugh out loud,sensitive & sweet,I would recommend it to anyone. There are loads more,but my head isn't working! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I read the boy in the striped pyjamas, there's a film out to but it might be too sad for me Reminded me of Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, that was very moving, i'd reccomend it but it's also very sad. I'm reading My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durell, it's very funny. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm being very good and reading the November Omlet Book Group book "Lollipop Shoes" by Joanne Harris. I won't give the game away pending the Book Group discussion, but I am enjoying it very much as I also loved "Chocolat". It's not light and fluffy though. Usually I'm a Fantasy fan, so very much looking forward to starting my latest Stephen Donaldson "Thomas Covenant" book, which I'm saving for Christmas reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 'This book will save your life' by AM Homes.....fantastic read about a very normal American man whose rigid life starts to dissolve around him.Really darkly funny,& should be made into a movie. Oh yes it was really good wasn't it? Kind of surreal Californian humdrum. It reminded me of a more realistic, less hysterical Larry David-type affair. The older I get the more I prefer books which are about the 'humdrum' - I used to read tons of heavy, heavy books (I did literature at uni) but I just don't have the patience for the self-indulgence of 'proper' novels anymore. I like stories! And it was such a good story, but was still a bit 'thinky' with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Oo Yes! The Time Traveller's Wife is great. The Memory Keepers Daughter is good too, and The Twins. I think they were all Richard & Judy reads (Don't let that put you off!) You could look the reviews up on their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I would never let that put me off Redhotchick - R&J reads are often brilliant. In fact,that is where I found 'This book will save your life' I loved 'The memory keepers daughter' too, as well as many more of their choices. I hope everyone contributing is part of the Omlet book group. PM me if not & I will add you to the very long list if you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistachio Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant.....................The religious aspect almost put me off reading this,but I am so glad it didn't.A fantastic book, like 'Memoirs of a Geisha' but set in Biblical times. I have read it over & over again. in total agreement with cinnamon on this one being fantastic - I've bought copies from second hand shops just so i can press it into my friends hands So many people have mentioned the Timetraveller's Daughter/wife or whatever it's called - I'll just have to read it. I've just read The African Queen C.S Forester (of Bogart & Hepburn film fame) but my faves are Milan Kundera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Dostoevsky but I also read the Harry potter series as they came out and the Twilight series that my daughter raved about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenp Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 My all time fav is Charlotte's Web ( at 35 it still makes me happy inside). Also love The Lord of the Rings, must dig it out as it has become my annual crimbo read!!! Anything by Bernard Cornwall, Phillipa Gregory too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm reading a biography of Julie Walters.......and I will be buying her autobiography after Christmas..............I like both sides of the story ....and I'm reading a book on sheep and lambing.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
