This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

Wyldwood wrote: »

I loved A Man Called Ove. If you remember the Victor Meldrew character in One Foot in the Grave, then Ove is similar.

Haven't read the David Nicholls book, not a fan of his work.

New Home wrote: »

I haven't seen the film, but the book is excellent! Highly, highly recommended. Not to be read on public transport if you're afraid of embarrassing yourself by laughing or crying in public.

Thanks very much for recommending this book. I have had it for ages but for some reason I kept putting off reading it. In the end it was a lovely read.

It felt like I was reading my Dad’s life story - my father is one of grumpiest b@stards you could ever meet. He has always struggled to show affection or emotion but he is exceptionally kind and generous underneath. He is the type of man who would drive you anywhere (he is obsessed with his cars like Ove) or fix anything but he is incapable of doing the whole tea and sympathy thing.

I’ve ordered this book for my mother as I don’t want to part with my copy. Like Ove’s wife Sonia my mother is a woman who loves words who fell in love with a man who preferred numbers and technical, non flowery things. Despite this, they’ve been besotted with each other for almost 50 years.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

The serial killer isn’t on trial, he’s on the jury.

I’m about a quarter way through and I’m loving this book - it’s a gripping read so far!

miamee wrote: »

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie. I've never read any Agatha Christy but always loved Poirot on TV as a kid. Really enjoying it so far.

All her books are very good. All highly recommended if you like mysteries

Freedom by Jonathon Franzen

An excellent read, though the chapters are bit too long to be digested in manageable chunks for me. He goes off a little on his cat-hating/bird-loving hobby horse a bit though.

I'm reading Trainwreck, a really interesting book by Sady Doyle about female celebrities such as Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Marilyn Monroe, Billie Holiday and lots more who have had very public meltdowns, and the contributory societal factors. I'd really recommend it, it's so insightful and really eye-opening.

In fact this may be the first piece of self-proclaimed feminist literature that I've actually enjoyed - that says a lot! By which I mean, while it's coming from a feminist standpoint, it's not preachy or man-hatey and doesn't beat you over the head with any particular agenda.

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Callan57 wrote: »

The Second Sleep by Robert Harris

Would be interested to hear what you think of it, I enjoy Robert Harris but have read very mixed reviews.

Frankenstein. Excellent read.

Recently finished The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, what a page turner !
Now reading Entry Island by Peter May

The White Feather wrote: »

I found the first 3 are great but they really get poorer as they go on.Each one is not as good as the last one. The prequels by his son range from good to terrible but are in no way in the first 3 dunes series league. I felt his son was just keeping the money coming in by writing more and more novels. The ones based on his fathers (Frank Herbert) notes were fairly good but the ones he made up on his own were terrible.

Thanks for the advice on the sons books. I will steer clear of them so. I of course still have the last 2 books in the original series to go but totally agree with you so far. The first 3 books really good stuff. The fourth one decent but nothing like the first 3 at all. I will crack out book 5 next month and see how that goes.

Midnight in Chernobyl By Adam Higginbotham. It's a long read and at times tedious if you're not of a scientific background but worth persevering with.

It's the account of the nuclear plant from planning stage right through to the court case of those held responsible for the explosion by the authorities. It's a shocking, disturbing read but also a very enlightening account of the disaster.

Now on to something a bit lighter Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.

Happy Christmas to all fellow readers and thanks for all the recommendations through the year.

Finished The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo. An exciting crime thriller that was an enjoyable read.

finished over Christmas: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan