Thursday, 9 February 2012

What are you reading at the moment?

I am in two Book Groups,one a little more serious than the other.These are what we are reading at the moment.Pure by Andrew Miller was suggested for my lighter Book group.It is a book I would never have picked myself but I am finding it really interesting.It is set in Paris in 1785 in and around a cemetery,a cemetery that has to be cleared!It won the 2011 COSTA Book of the Year and has had good reviews.
In my other Book Group this month we are reading John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.I used to be a great Steinbeck fan and it is now on the school curriculum.I am looking forward to revisiting it after umteen years and just hope it provokes a good discussion as I suggested it!!There are 8 in our group and we all choose a book.Coming up in the next few months are
A.S.Byatt The Children's Book
Nemesis .Philip Roth
Stranger's Child .Alan Hollinghurst
Death at Pemberley. P.D.James
Before I go to sleep. S.J.Watson
Gillepsie(and me) Jane Harris.
Have any of you read these?Some a bit heavier than others methinks!
Have you any recommendations?
Would love to hear.Barbarax
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8 comments:

  1. Kathy9 February 2012 at 12:40

    I read The Children's Book a few years ago. I really enjoyed it, and couldn't put it down. We sort of have a book club going in the staff room at the moment, with a group of us swapping books or recommending Kindle downloads. There's also a fad for cake baking, with recipe swapping and even tasting going on. Very welcome it is too, after a lesson with the lower set maths group!!!
    I'm re-reading Birdsong at the moment .... I'd love to have more time to tackle my list of must reads!
    xxx

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  2. elsy9 February 2012 at 13:00

    just ordered pure so was interested to hear that you enjoying it.....just read the luminous life of lily Aphrodite....loved it.....set in the early part of last century in germany...very atmospheric....

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  3. June9 February 2012 at 13:56

    Read "Of Mice and Men" when at school and didn't fully appreciate this wonderful book. Read many P. D. James over the years but none of the others on your list! My favourite author is Graham Greene - Brighton Rock and Travels with my Aunt being some of my favourites!
    June

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  4. Paul10 February 2012 at 00:37

    Strange co-incidence that you should mention the clearance of the overflowing cemeteries and the creation of the Catacombs Ossary in Paris in 1785. I was watching the Paris episode of Dan Snow's 'Filthy Cities' on BBC Knowledge last night and there was a section on it. It was a significant event in the development of hygiene and health in the city.

    I haven't read any of the books in your list, read some Philip Roth when I was a student because Portnoy's Complaint was big at the time. Also read quite a few P.D James a long time ago when Roy Marsden was playing Adam Dalgiesh in the TV series.

    A couple of books that I've read in the last couple of years that might be worth discussing in a book club are

    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer a light amusing read with serious undertones might be suitable for your lighter club

    Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel, a big long book but a great read and fascinating, raises some issues as well

    I've just remembered The Book Thief-Markus Zusak, very unusual - sure there would be lots of potential discussion topics

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  5. Rosie10 February 2012 at 05:08

    I've read 'Posession' by A S Byatt but not the one you have mentioned. I always enjoy P D James as she writes so well - haven't read the Pemberley one yet though. I see someone has mentioned in your comments 'The guernsey literary and potato peel pie society' - I really enjoyed that. My favourite book is JL Carr's 'A Month in the Country' which would be nice for a book group. My last read was Elly Griffith's 'A Roomfull of Bones' - her fourth novel featuring Ruth Galloway forensic archaeologist.:)

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  6. Jess10 February 2012 at 07:39

    I don't have any recommendations I'm afraid, I'm more a dip-in, dip-out kind of reader but I think it's a great idea to join a blookclub! Have fun!
    Jess x

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  7. Sarah Knits10 February 2012 at 08:24

    I am reading the Jo Nesbo series (starts with The Redbreast) I am up to 'The Redeemer' but I love some of the suggestions from above! I have just downloaded the sample of 'Pure' onto my kindle so will see how I get on. What a great debate this has turned into! Thank you. Sx

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  8. The undomesticated scientist6 March 2012 at 01:12

    i looked at pure in the shop the other day, is it any good?

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