The Mock Turtle

I thought perhaps a fresh thread for a fresh decade. What are you starting 2020 with?

I am on Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh, which I am enjoying immensely.

I’m reading Conviction by Denise Mina right now. I’m gripped already.

I really liked that, Pip.

I'm on Top Marks for Murder (YA crime).

I love Denise Mina, she's such a nice person too.

I have two on the go

If Chins Could Talk - Bruce Campbell, hilarious so far I'm a massive Bruce and B-Movie fan.
Wych Elm - Tana French, I'm still trying to work my way through it as it's not grabbing me at all.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

The Witness for the Prosecution & Other Stories - Agatha Christie

I’m really into short stories at the moment.

I’ve been trying to read a bit more these days as I’ve let it slip.

I’ve just finished The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable (okay-ish) and am now (re-reading) Exit Music by Ian Rankin.

I’ve got a big list and I can’t remember any of it, but I’ve just finished The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, and it was amazing! I’ve just started another of hers, Commonwealth.

I love Ann Patchett - the Magician’s Assistant is excellent.

I’m reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - I’m really enjoying it so far.

I'm trying to read more - use my phone less.

I've just finished An American Marriage which I enjoyed, although it was slightly depressing to read, not much hope or happiness.

On my list:
The Testaments by Margaret Attwood (a gift but I think I might need something positive first)
Vox (recommended by a friend but not great reviews on Amazon and again, a bit depressing).

I need something positive to read - I'm so terrible at choosing books, it takes me ages.

I’ve got Vox downloaded onto my kindle, Coo. I’ve been bracing myself to read it for about three months and I still don’t feel ready; I’m going to need positive things to read this year.

I thought the first half of Vox was enjoyable enough, but the second half got a bit silly. It's a quick, easy read though.

I'm reading One Little Mistake. A psychological thriller centred around a woman leaving her baby alone for a moment, with consequences (revealed in first page so not a spoiler I hope). It feels a bit predictable so I'm hoping for some big twists.

I'm reading Three Wishes by Lianne Moriarty.

I’ve just finished Conviction, read in two sittings. It was pretty good, I’d like to see it done on TV.

I've just finished Vox, it's sort of similar to Handmaid's Tale. It was really good but also freaked me out.

Not sure if it's the reason I can't sleep but I've had to get up and watch The Great Festive Bake Off.

Duophonic wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2020 9:40 pm Wych Elm - Tana French, I'm still trying to work my way through it as it's not grabbing me at all.

Keep going with this - it is slow, but it's worth it and got me into Tana French.

Lily, why did you give The Coffin Path 2 stars? I am intrigued, I thought it was minimum a solid 4.

I finished the (solidly 4 star) Coffin Path on NY Day. Gothicky moors, ghosts, the Devil, the civil war. Excellent on historical detail (syas me, who isn't great on it). It did go on a bit, but I thought that just added to the general slow turn of seasons reveal. Then I polished of Susan Hill's The Beacon in one day, which was a good bit of story telling where I ended up fascinated by all the characters. I'm reading her Man in the Painting now, which is less gripping, but I got it out of Liverpool Library as an ebook last night so it was terribly accessible. I'm trying to wean myself off giving Jeff Bezos money, so will do library reading more often, though thewir eBook selection is a bit hit and miss.

I need to work out how to do the library ebook thing. A lot of what I read is from the 99p selection but I could do with borrowing more.

The only annoying thing about the ebook loan thing is I need to read them on my tablet, not my Kindle, and I'm less keen on the lighting on my tablet. #FirstWorldProblems.

I read a lot of free books from Amazon (or I take out paper books from the library - I don't like reading books on my tablet).

I am currently reading The Beekeeper of New York by Summer Luqman. I'm enjoying it so far (just over 50% of the way through).

Bat Macdui wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:01 am Lily, why did you give The Coffin Path 2 stars? I am intrigued, I thought it was minimum a solid 4.

It was so long ago I can't remember, but I felt really cross and disappointed with it. I will try and give it another go if you feel I have done it a disservice.I wasn't aware there was a new Susan Hill - I will check it out. She has yet, beside Dolly, done anything (IMO) to equal The Woman in Black and I get cross and disappointed with her too.