What book (s) are you reading now ?

Just bought Endless Forms by Seirian Sumner after listening to her on the infinite monkey cage.

Halfway through “One More Croissant for the Road” by Felicity Cloake. She’s apparently a foodie writer for the Guardian and a cyclist. It’s about a tour round France to check the birthplace of famous dishes.

Quite nicely written, if a bit middle class, combining cycling and food.

I’ve previously read the follow up “Red Sauce Brown Sauce” which is about a tour round Britain investigating local breakfast traditions. Which was better than it sounds.

On recommendation from this forum I’m now on Children Of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 1 really enjoying reading about Portia(s) in particular at the moment

@Alex

The Lovecraft files’ on BBC Sounds

I can only find the Lovecraft Investigations – is that it, or can you share a link? Have a long journey ahead.

Robin Knox Johnson – his book about being the first person to sail non-stop around the world solo. Tremendous. A little bit of sailing jargon to deal with (I’m not a sailor!) but not too much. Well worth a read. He went and did the same thing again in his late 60s. What a fella – the best of British!

Just finished The Trees by Percival Everett. Really intriguing and amusing but with a genuinely hard hitting message. Highly recommend giving it a go.

If anyone is a fan of horror and horror/comedy I’ve been working my way through the novels of Stephen Graham Jones and Grady Hendrix.

About two-thirds into East of Eden now. Sam has died and the story seems to have pivoted to Cal and Aron – I am not sure how this is going to pan out but I have enjoyed it thoroughly so far and I am looking forward to completing it shortly.

@jimmy – sorry yes that’s the series. Starts off as a ‘cold case mystery pod’ and ends up… well I won’t spoilt it but we loved it!

Currently reading Ten minutes and thirty eight seconds in this strange world by Elif Shafak
Only just started it so I’ll let you know what I think when I finish it. Certainly very vivid and takes me far away from everyday life so that’s good.

@gordimhor. …it’s a belter. I think she’s a great writer.

@johndoh I read all the Steinbecks when I was in my 20s. It’s probably time to do them again. The Angry Raisins is a tough read though.

Just finished the second part of book four of Brandon Sandersons Rhythm of War. It’s been a very good series so far. Not sure what my next one will be though

Anyway,interim book being read.

@redthunder love this area (orchards, salmon nets and little hillocks) so will find a copy of this.

Finished East of Eden yesterday. I liked it a lot, but it didn’t beat Grapes of Wrath for either the core story nor the way he wrapped it up perfectly on the last page (it did have that great last sentence, but it just didn’t hit the spot in the same way for me). It just felt like there were too many characters appearing at just the right time to help the story arc, likewise too many convenient events clicking into place just right. However, it did succeed in creating some fantastically-created characters (Kate, Cal, Lee and Abra especially).

For a bit of light relief, I have just started ‘This is Going to Hurt’ by Adam Kay. Given the gargantuan text size, and overall length of book, I think I’ll have read it in about 3 hours.

Irvine Welsh “The Blade Artist”. Haven’t read him for a while, man, he’s good at building tension. There’s such an underlying threat in the words that sometimes the adrenaline is too high to get to sleep after reading it! Brilliant

Fiesta-The sun also rises, Hemingway. Really enjoyed it all, and I then travelled to the part of Spain it’s set in and enjoyed it all again. He absolutely nails the description of the scenery and ambience. I reckon he’ll go on to great things

Also been dipping into Battalion again, fabulous writing and incredibly sobering. It probably answered any questions about how or if I would have survived the second world war as a typical bloke in the ranks.

I’ve been reading some comfort trash stuff so I thought, I’ll read something a bit trickier, looked through old stuff I’d not touched in ages and found the Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi. Spot on, I thought, I loved that. Started into it. No idea what’s happening. Lots of words I don’t understand. Who is this character? I feel like I’m missing every second page or maybe having a stroke or something. Got a few chapters in, gave up, thinking “I loved this before, I must have become stupid”

Oh, nope, I’d accidentally started on the third book in the series. So now I’m almost at the end of the actual Quantum Thief, and loving it, even if it’s staying just barely on the right side of comprehensible.

The Joy Luck Club, because it was sitting there on the kindle. Surprisingly good, a series of vignettes so far (escaping the red army; learning to play chess; the mad Italian family next door) that I think will pull together.

My 10 yr old daughter really wants to read IT (the Stephen King one). Initially because she was told she couldn’t but then because she read a few pages and found the writing style engaging.

She’s losing interest in reading over the last year or two so I’m a bit torn. Whilst not wanting to expose her to several terror-ridden sleepiness nights I also think that reading should be a bit rebellious and it’s a fairly healthy place to find new exposures from.

“It” is like mot a step or two too far, but does anyone have any recommendations for something a tad more suitable but in a similar vein? (Or any thoughts on just letting her crack on?!?)

Depends on the child – Stephen King stuff is generally more mentally scary than gory and explicit. I was reading his stuff aged about 12 IIRC. I have two 14 yr old girls – one would be terrified, the other might quite like it. We also foster a 13 yr old – he’d love it (and has seen the films, along with many other similar films from a very early age).

I guess that you have to let her try but be prepared for sleepless nights.

It’s not the gory stuff I’m worried about – she found that and read some aloud in the library in front of the librarian. Out of context it’s quite cartoonish so not a problem. It’s the mental / psychological stuff that’s more of a concern.

“It” is one of the Stephen Kings I’ve not read – a quick google now makes me think this isn’t the one to start with. Aside from it being about attracting and attacking children, there are also some pretty graphic rape / child sex scenes.

Maybe some of the other ones though. Suddenly Pet Semetery seems like a (relatively) safe bet.

mashr
Full Member
On recommendation from this forum I’m now on Children Of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 1 really enjoying reading about Portia(s) in particular at the moment

I read that a few weeks ago, also on a recommendation from here. Really enjoyed it, it’s an interesting take on alternatives to humans being the dominant species.

After that I read the last book in The Expanse series, the whole series is excellent.

Then I went in a different direction and read The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer. If you’re not a fan of Bob already, it might not suit you, the humour is very understated and often wildly surreal. It’s a story of gritty South London crime drama, but less gritty and more melancholy. More squirrel action than you’d expect. Recommended if you’re after a light-hearted easy read.

I’m now reading Seveneves by Neal Stephenson, also from a recommendation on this thread. Early days but enjoying it so far.

Re “It” I’d skip ahead to whatever chapter it is that has the underage group sex scene in the sewer, read it yourself and see how you feel, and then make a call based on that. People react to it pretty differently

Just finished the Cicero trilogy by Robert Harris, didn’t realise that the Roman Empire was fighting each other as well as invading all and sundry.

Just started Funeral in Berlin, first Deighton book I’ve read in years, really enjoying it.

“It” is like mot a step or two too far, but does anyone have any recommendations for something a tad more suitable but in a similar vein?

Coincidence, but my son (at uni) just decided he wants to start reading again (I think the phone screen was preferred for a while 🤨), so I got him a Stephen King – Different Seasons, great stories. He really liked it.

Children of Time (Adrian Tchaikovsky) was wonderful, it’s one I have bought several times to send to friends. Intelligent sci-fi that gets you thinking and keeps coming back to you. He’s a worryingly prolific author – I’ve tried some of his other books, but none has hit me like this one (recommendations?).

I enjoyed The Satsuma Complex (Bob Mortimer) as lightweight holiday entertainment, he writes beautifully but it might help that my internal voice talks with his accent anyway. I wasn’t aching for more, though.

Two recent highlights:

Rome: A History in Seven Sackings (Matthew Kneale) which made me realise how utterly ignorant I am of European history. I got there via Robert Harris’ Cicero trilogy. As well as being good to read, these both opened up new worlds of political and historical understanding for me – a bit like I’d gone to a posh school. Honestly, Brexit, SNP, Trump and Johnson and Kanye and Kardashian… they’re all in there.

Surface Detail (Iain M. Banks) is as brilliant as he always is. (OK, was. Sadly.) Sends your brain in many directions, and I’m sure a lot of it went over my head, but magical all the way.

Has nobody mentioned “When we cease to understand the world” (Benjamin Labatut)? It’s a raspberry ripple of physics/maths history/biography mixed with imagination, fabrication, creativity and inaccuracy. Not selling it, am I? It’s the only book I have ever read where, after Chapter 1 (and a lie down) I had to read Chapter 1 again just to try to understand whether I had actually read that. Remarkable.

I’m currently reading Road of Bones (Fergal Keane) about the 1944 battle of Kohima, largely because I cycle past the Imphal barracks each morning I am aware of my ignorance. Horrible, and mad, so far.

there are also some pretty graphic rape / child sex scenes.

I don’t recall that bit so, yeah, perhaps avoid.

Without remembering the detail of them (ie, if they include sex/rape stuff), these are my favourite SK books: Pet Cemetary, Misery, Cujo (and of course, IT).

Ceephay Queen, Book 8 of Joel Shepherds Spiral wars,  sci-fi epic that keeps me coming back. Who doesn’t like being manipulated by a ex-galaxy ruling AI Queen.

Stalingrad by Anton Beevor.

Before that Code by Charles Petzold.

I’ve just read the first book for a couple of years, don’t have the concentration these days. It’s Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, a story of deprivation, drugs but also human kindness. Set in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, 546 pages of small print – can you tell that I’m proud to have finished it? A good book for diverting your mind from the world.

Just finished the Cicero trilogy by Robert Harris, didn’t realise that the Roman Empire was fighting each other as well as invading all and sundry.

You’re in for a treat, then, if you carry on down that path because there are tons of great books that deal with Roman in-fighting. The obvious place to continue would be I Claudius.

Without the awareness that the Romans spent a  lot of time fighting each other, very little Roman history can make sense. Even Gladiator, the film, is based on that premise, but classically, ‘Beware the Ides of March’, ‘Et tu, Brute’, Cleopatra in a carpet, Nero fiddling while Rome burned, just off the top of my head…. Fascinating stuff. They were mad as a big box of frogs.

My 10 yr old daughter really wants to read IT

From memory the “sex scene” isn’t really titillating or voyeuristic it’s sort of mechanical, but whether your 10 year old understands the reasoning behind the scene is more IMO difficult to asses, and I think had the book been written now, it wouldn’t be written the way it is. The book is not really for kids although everyone zeros in on those pages conveniently forgetting that a child has their arm torn off in pretty much the opening pages, there’s some pretty abusive adult relationships, there’s several pretty graphic murder scenes, and monster who offers a child oral sex…

I don’t think the book’s for 10 year olds really…

Just getting to the end of A short history of Europe by Simon Jenkins. Mostly as a way to get a concise summary of, er, European history. I think it’s been done pretty well and has been an enjoyable read. Getting lined up is Defence of the realm but that’s a bit of a beast (may take it on holiday) so will fill in with some lighter reading novels before (and alongside) it.

Finished ‘This is Going to Hurt’ yesterday – I quite enjoyed it for some light relief, but I can’t help but think that some of the stories were bit ’embellished’ shall I say? It read a bit like Adrian Mole for pace (not a surprise really, being a diary). However, he is very clearly very passionate about the NHS and it is clear that the system is very, very broken – and things have only got much worse since he experienced it for himself too.

So, back on to my usual subject now (the two World Wars) and re-reading ‘Bomber Boys’ by Patrick Bishop.

@Northwind The Quantum Thief trilogy was a great read but you’re right some of the ideas in it boggled my poor mind.

Currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and it is really, really good.

When that’s done I’ve got two waiting for me at home, both by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

One Hundred Years of Solitude

and possibly over-reaching here in my ongoing attempts to learn Spanish, the Spanish language version of Love in the Time of Cholera

Never heard of him but was suggested as an influence on Louis de Bernierres, who is my favourite author to date.

Never heard of him but was suggested as an influence on Louis de Bernierres, who is my favourite author to date.

I love LdB, and met him years ago when he did a Dylan Thomas thing at a local theatre. I presented him with a slightly mouldy, limited issue copy of Captain Corelli to sign, and he was very tolerant of my muddled fanboy gushing! 😀

I really like LdeB but really struggle with GGM. Found his writing to be turgid.

Started into it. No idea what’s happening. Lots of words I don’t understand. Who is this character? I feel like I’m missing every second page or maybe having a stroke or something. Got a few chapters in, gave up, thinking “I loved this before, I must have become stupid”

Oh, nope, I’d accidentally started on the third book in the series. So now I’m almost at the end of the actual Quantum Thief, and loving it, even if it’s staying just barely on the right side of comprehensible.

Yeah, well, s’all quantum, innit.

Having read the first of Ben Aaronovitch’s ‘Rivers of London’ series many yonks ago, enjoyed it but never followed through with the next one, I thought I ought to start over, and bought the whole series as ebooks, and read them all right through. Absolutely love them, nice dry sense of humour, and well set in the various locations. Interesting way the manic is integrated into the everyday world.

Now I’m re-reading a book I bought when it was released in 1994, and which is set in 2031; ‘Heavy Weather’ by Bruce Stirling. I haven’t read it in years, but it’s description of society and climate collapse is scarily prescient and we’re staring right down the barrel of the situation he described as being in eight years time, 29 years ago. Things aren’t very fluffy.