Reading Portent by James Herbert at the moment.
I am currently a few hundred pages into Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables and enjoying it immensely. It is a free ebook from Gutenberg Project and have no idea who did the translation.
If you have seen the stage musical or even the pathetic film then this is the book to read to find out the ‘real’ story. Some of Hugo’s observations are relevant to society today.
A really good read - long; over 1300 pages
Amazon have it free too.
Thanks I’ll look for it. I’m reading “The Help” by Katherine Stockett. It’s about America, deep South in the 1960’s
The Burning shore, by Wilbur Smith (2nd time of reading)
Centaine falls for a WW1 Pilot in the middle of war torn France.
Very good book excellent read and the first part of a trilogy by this famous author.
Just finished Our Lady of Darkness by Peter Tremayne
Will next read The Mark of a Murderer by Susannah Gregory
I have just read ‘The Returns’ by M. K. Clinton, it is a daft book about talking dogs and a guardian angel; it made me laugh out loud, just the thing if you are not feeling too good. So if you like the occasional daft read, this is the one.
I am now reading ‘At Drake’s Command’ by David Wesley Hill. Drake being Sir Francis, so far so good.
Is the returns a real book or just on kindle ? I thought it sounded fun looked on ama\on but only on kindle which is a shame
DARKOUT by Glenn Specht
Yes, it was a Kindle book, if you are on facebook, M. K. Clinton has a page showing pictures of The Returns characters, and characters is a good description.
You can use a free program like Calibre to convert to any format but you need to remove the DRM protection first (plenty of programs will do that for you).
Reading Mike Gayle’s The Stag and Hen Weekend. It’s a back to front book: you read one then turn over to start the other.
On the Stags now, but not as interesting as the Hens, in my view. Still, must perservere…
With the noise upstairs and things going on at the moment, I find it hard to settle with a book. Just wish life could be uncomplicated and happier!
Reading John Grisham’s Abduction, who knew Grish writes books for children. I had no idea however, I have the mind of a child so I am quite enjoying the fun.
Am currently reading, First Shift by Hugh Howey, having recently finished his Wool.
I have ‘And The Mountains Echoed’ by Khaled Hosseini sitting on the bookshelf, waiting to be read. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’, so I hope this new one will be just as good.
I recently finished Jodi Picault’s ‘The Storyteller’ and, as usual, she tells a good tale. I’ve read most of her books and one of the outstanding ones (for me) was ‘Nineteen Minutes’ - based on some of the dreadful shootings at American high schools. She often uses her novels to focus on current issues and this one didn’t disappoint.
I also have a liking for Joanne Harris’s writing and have recently read 'Peaches for M le Cure. She mixes fiction and fantasy so well and I can lose myself in her stories.
Gwyn
I loved Peaches for M le C … you must read Blackberry wine as well a loverly story … Have you read the chocolate trilogy ?
Im reading the second of Yann Martel books Beatrice and virgil, after the book and film of Life of pi was so good I though id give his next book a try … only just started and its looking good so far
I’m reading The Mayor of Casterbridge - again. I also have the BBC series downloaded which is ready and waiting once I finish the book. Alan Bates played the principal character Henchard and he did a marvellous job if I remember rightly.
I tend to draw a lot of comparisons with Henchard as he sold his wife and child off (if you haven’t read the book) and lived to regret it. I also booted the ‘love of my life’ into touch a long time ago with also long lasting repercussions.
A marvellous read in my opinion with so many unforeseen twists. A real masterpiece.
I too have read many of Jodi Picault’s books and love her storytelling at the moment I am reading Lone Wolf, she really has the knack of storytelling without losing the sight of fact and emotions.
Once again this site demonstrates how diverse we humans are. I have tried, and failed miserably to finish any of Ms Picault’s books, just cannot ‘get into’ them, ever. Currently I am reading both Shift (mentioned earlier) and a Deaver book ‘Edge’ which is one of those wonderful books which seem to immediately grab you and suck you in. Last night was looking at my collection of Armistead Mauphin books, and those of Lillian Beckwith debating with myself whether to dip into them again.
Just finished John Boyne’s tale about Crippen. Now halfway through his book about the Romanovs. I’ve already read a book on Crippen but Boyne’s I found quite riveting, it covers his childhood, first marriage, his personality and frustrations with his career, and a large section on their life aboard the Montrose on the way to Canada to try and start a new life. It’s a great read.