Reading Heart Liberals

[Elya]

I enjoyed The Mercies, Lily. It’s pretty brutal though in places - and clear parallels with the current witch hunts!

I just read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which was pretty good - although a lot of gaming chat.

I have Julie Bindel “Feminism for Women” next to my bed but need to work up to it…

[Bat Macdui]

The boys on TMO went mad for Vernon God Little back in the day, which put me off the whole thing. :))

It’s awful. I don’t know if I can even be arsed going to discuss how awful the one and only ‘Act’ I’ve read is. I can imagine its appeal to a teenage boy and not much more.

:lol: I am pleased that my decision of c.2002 was the right one then.

I have read Stephen King's Holly, which was exactly what you would expect from Stephen King. So, if you enjoy slow storytelling with a bit of ick in it, excellent. If not, don't bother. I do like the character though, and am going to reread the Bill Hodges trilogy because she's in them and I have no brain at the moment. I will add in the most recent John Banville to the mix, as that my reservation on that just came through.

And men up there notwithstanding, I think I read majority women these days. By preference. I can happily say I wouldn't bother with another Ian McEwan ever again as well, so solidarity sal.

I think I might request the collected writings and essay of Hilary Mantel for Christmas, that would be a nice one to have on an actual shelf.

[lazzbo]

I'm on The Mercies by Kiran someone or other. Early days but it's good so far, about a 17th century fishing community where all the men have been drowned.

I started reading that in summer but decided it needed to be enjoyed in winter! I shall get it off the shelf again come November, I reckon. :)

I'm reading the fourth Harry Potter as I work my way through the entire collection again. I've forgotten SO much of what happens, although I suppose that's understandable, given that it came out 23 years ago.

I just finished Beryl: In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete, one of the first non-fiction books I've managed since lockdown - my sister got it for me for my birthday. Despite not being a cycling aficionado, it's SO good and interesting - she's clearly the greatest British athlete we've ever had and I'd never heard of her. I really recommend it.

[Chicky]

I finished the new Richard Osman, it was very good (and also very sad).

[sally maclennane]

I finished the new Val McDermid book last night, it was a bit convoluted as there was a novel within the book, both of which were crime stories so keeping track of it all was tricky at times.

It was good though, and set in the early stages of lockdown which was strange as I'd already forgotten some of the restrictions.

[wendy james]

I read the first Rizzoli and Isles, which doesn’t actually feature Isles and was rubbish.

I spent yesterday reading The Skeleton Key, which I enjoyed. I’m currently on an Anne Cleeves Shetland one, though I feel a Vera would be more appropriate. I’ve upped my challenge one last time, and may have over stretched myself this time!

[Bat Macdui]

I'm always wary of upping my challenge, in case it's a direct invitation to losing my reading mojo, I hate it when that happens. :))

I have finished Lock Up, which was alright. I have given it a very poor score on Godreads because I finished it in a strop about men having rich interior lives and women being two dimensional sex kittens. It's very well written, but God, I am bored with tortured men and their sex kittens. I am going to read some gardening books next. I also picked up Northerners by Brian Groom at the library, so I will start that at some point.

I would like a conversational, memoir-y type book about people starting a garden or allotment from scratch, if anyone has any recommendations. :))

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’m not going to up my goal if I meet it early this year, I prefer to smash it and be a little more ambitious the next year.

[wendy james]

I have a post-op week coming up in Nov so think it’s my only foreseeable chance to aim for it. I doubt I’d repeat it in future so am going to give it a go!

[Pippedydeadeye]

I can only really get a high one if we have a pool holiday and we didn’t this year. :cry:

[Turtle Bean]

I reread a Georgette Heyer but now need to start on Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi for book club.

[Duophonic]

I've just finished -

Love Will Tear Us Apart CK McDonnell - I love these easy reads
If It Bleeds - Stephen King - really boring I only picked it up to read the standalone Holly Gibney story
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire Slaying - Grady Hendrix - again absolutely love these they're so much fun and not too gory if horror isn't really your thing.
The Cleaner - Mark Dawson - another formulaic thriller that was an audible freebie about a government hitman who decides he's had enough. I wouldn't bother with the others in the series.
The Jigsaw Murders - Jeremy Craddock - this is non-fiction about the Dr Buck Ruxton murders in the 30s and how Scottish investigators propelled forensics to what we see today.

Currently reading the new Richard Osman and Holly by Stephen King

I don't know if you all know but due to changes in Spotify, their premium accounts now get 15 hours of free audiobook listening per month. The month is your renewal period. It applies to any book in their catalogue and you get an email when your time is up with the option to purchase additional hrs.

[Little My]

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire Slaying - Grady Hendrix - again absolutely love these they're so much fun and not too gory if horror isn't really your thing.

I'm going to have to reread this soon.

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’ve had that on my list for years.

[Pawpads]

I don't know if you all know but due to changes in Spotify, their premium accounts now get 15 hours of free audiobook listening per month. The month is your renewal period. It applies to any book in their catalogue and you get an email when your time is up with the option to purchase additional hrs.

I did not know this. Thanks for the PSA, Duo.

[Marth]

I didn't know either. Many thanks

[Pawpads]

I'm going on holiday in a few days and have just been going through my Goodreads and this threads recommendations to fill my Kindle.
I've added a few of the later Stephanie Plum's that I never got round to reading as well as the Gone series by Michael Grant and I've been saving the latest Thursday Murder Club.

[Chicky]

The Armour of Light - Ken Follett (part of the Kingsbridge series). I gave it 4*, it was very good but not as good as some of the rest of the series.

[Estrella]

I’m reading Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. It’s very good.

[Bat Macdui]

I meant to pick Homegoing up at some point, let me know how you get on with it, Beanio. I liked her other one, about the mice. Well, about the opioid crisis and being first gen immigrants and all that, but mostly about the mice. :))