The Book Vipers discussion

Just starting to re-read Oryx and Crake. I loved this book and need a refresher before tackling the other 2 books from the MaddAdam trilogy

Just starting to read A Commonplace Killing for the magic square challenge. Am about 50 pages in and enjoying it so far, I think it is going to be a quick read, but not sure its going to be really special. Fingers crossed though.

Taken a while to get to it, but I am now reading Wait: The Art and Science of Delay. Good so far, and has lots of reference to other books that I have read in the past.

Jackie wrote: "Debbie - I finished Oscar Wao this morning. I'm really glad I stuck with it as it was bit of a slow burner for me and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I was going to. I gave it 3 s..."

Glad you liked it in the end.

I just started A Burnable Book - medieval literary mystery. A stolen book of prophesy regarding England's kings is at the center of the mystery. Good so far.

The wolves of Willoughby Chase..... childhood favourite. Also making a start on The Time-Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England

Debbie wrote: "The wolves of Willoughby Chase..... childhood favourite. Also making a start on The Time-Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England"

Debbie, it was one of my childhood faves too and now my daughter is working her way through the whole series - 12 books I think! I reread TWOWC earlier this year and if I ever get the time I will read some more. I had no idea there were so many - I only came across a couple when I was little.

I finished The Time Travellers Guide a few days ago and am now reading Harvest, which seems to be set in roughly the same time period so lots of details about rural life, crime and punishment etc resonate. Found Harvest quite disorientating at first as it is not clear when or where it is set, but a third of the way through now and I'm enjoying it more the more I read.

Harvest is my next read too, Cathy. Glad you're enjoying it - there does seem to be some good feedback about it on MN and reviews are generally positive. I'm never sure quite what to expect with a Booker nominated novel!

I just started Dialogue with an Atheist yester day !

Elizabeth wrote: "Harvest is my next read too, Cathy. Glad you're enjoying it - there does seem to be some good feedback about it on MN and reviews are generally positive. I'm never sure quite what to expect with a ..."
I really enjoyed Harvest, thought the writing was excellent. Looking forward to the MN chat with Jim Crace.

Cathy wrote: "Debbie wrote: "The wolves of Willoughby Chase..... childhood favourite. Also making a start on The Time-Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England"

Debbie, it was one of my childhood faves too and n..."
Ha ha, great minds and all that!! I had no idea there were so many to the series, like you I read a few in my childhood. Joan Aiken is the best.
I also have Harvest to start. :)

Elizabeth, Debbie, Gail - I was lucky to get a copy of Harvest in the Mumsnet giveaway and I'm so glad I did, because I don't think I would have read it otherwise. Currently about half way through and completely hooked. Looking forward to the webchat too!

I bought mine in the Christmas Amazon sale just in case I didn't get one from MN. Must get on with it, otherwise I won't get it finished in time for the MN chat!

I normally steer clear of Booker nominated novels but loved Harvest and TransAtlantic. Both well written.

Me too Cathy' I always think of them as just for the literati, not for readers

I shall be starting Harvest later today.

Yeah. I hope to start that this week

We can compare notes on this one, next weekend perhaps?

50 pages into The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England. Very good so far

Just finished with Oryx and Crake, so moving on to a completely different type of thing in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. This is my avoided genre square on the challenge. I expect it will be a quick read!

I'm ploughing through Middlemarch, it's been a slow one for me but parts of it I am REALLY enjoying.
Also reading The Group for my book group. It's not been as immediate as I would have expected, but there was a section on the care of newborns, and breastfeeding attitudes in the 1930s that was really interesting (I know, it doesn't sound it, but having done it relatively recently I found the different attitudes fascinating)

Middlemarch has some really great parts. It took me awhile to get through it, but it was worth the effort.

Thanks Sandy, I'll keep going!

Just started 'My Dear, I Wanted to tell you' by Louisa Young. Looking forward to it....

Also reading the Rivers of London, great supernatural crime thriller. Very funny in parts too

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Started Oryx and Crake yesterday, and so far enjoying it more than I expected.

I can't remember who recommended Michael Frayn's Skios to me but ever much thanks. It is a delightful piece of farcical fluff. Almost finished and I can't believe all the twists and turns. Love his lampooning of the scientific method and pretentiousness. Hilarious!

It was as me. It's great isn't it. I devoured that in one sitting. Sidesplitting!! Glad you've enjoyed it. :)

I'm reading The Closed Circle by Jonathan Coe now. It's the sequel to The Rotters Club.

Just started animal farm. I have never read it and fancy reading it with my school reading club. So far I'm loving it and how it get political views across using the animals

I'm currently listening to Lady Audley's Secret as well as reading Harvest.

Lady Audley's secret has been a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect from this Victorian novel, but have found it completely engrossing.

I think I've worked out what the secret is, but am enjoying Robert Audley's investigations as to who she is and what happened. It's one for Wilkie Collins fans.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon certainly knew how to write a good novel. Incredibly good page-turner.

I am currently reading The Art of the Personal Essay edited by Phillip Lopate.

Started The Good Father last night. Suspect already that I may not be able to put it down!

Just finished A Drink Before the War and starting The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home.

The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home. isn't bad. His first is better though

Debbie wrote: "It was as me. It's great isn't it. I devoured that in one sitting. Sidesplitting!! Glad you've enjoyed it. :)"

Thank you, Debbie: for recommending it and for reminding me it was you.
Now reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Some of the things that come out of the kids I'm finding hilarious; didn't get that the first time I read it. Definitely 5 stars! While I do love mockingbirds and the way they sing, they'll also dive bomb you, your dog, you're cat, hawks, owls, mirrors, etc. if you get anywhere around their nest.

100 pages or so into The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. Very good so far. I can hear his distinct voice as i read it. And I am making a mental note of associates that fit...

We could all do that Paul. There are uses in society for these people though....Engleby, although a novel, is great for this.

Pat wrote: "We could all do that Paul. There are uses in society for these people though....Engleby, although a novel, is great for this."

Did you like Engleby, Pat? My Dad read it recently, didn't like it, and passed on to me, saying it was more my kind of thing.

Now wondering quite what he meant by that comment :D :D

Just finished The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty.
I liked this book, though I didn't love it. By the moment the letter was opened I already knew what was written in it. This didn't really bother me (I read many reviews complaining about the book being predictable) since I don't think this is a mystery. Mystery is just one of many condiments. So that was fine with me.
I liked the fact that I stopped many times to think what I would have done in the characters situation (this is one of the things that defines a good book to me), though I would never have solved things in the way characters did.
I'm still not sure what I think about the epilogue... Sometimes I think it was unnecessary. Sometimes I think it was a good addition.
It could have been a 4 stars (maybe, I don't know for sure) if I didn't have so many issues about the way she presented the catholic community where the story takes place...
But her writing was funny, fresh and enjoyable enough to want to try another novel by this author. Perhaps today I'm too positive(?)

Reading The Dream of the Celt at the moment. A novelization of the life of Anglo-Irish diplomat Sir Roger Casement. I find it very interesting. And the novel embodies my favourite genres: historical novel and journalistic chronocle; so I'm going to take this one for the magic square (favourite genre)

1984 George Orwell

Loved Engleby may be not quite what I mean It was an excellent book and it certainly made me think. I thought it excellent as, although you knew who dun nit you still wanted to read on.

have been reading Dark Eden. Very surreal book about a closed community on some remote planet that have suffered from generations of inbreeding.

Am getting stuck into The Big Sleep, it's ace!

I just started

Can you post the link Robert, rather than the cover. People using the app get a blue square.

Just startedThe Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin, not just because the Russia/Ukraine issue is so important right now, but it's been on my shelf for a while and now seemed like a good time to read it. As with any book of this type, one needs to approach with an open mind as to the author's agenda....

I started reading The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves by Stephen Grosz yesterday. So far quite interesting, no great revelations, some common sense. Will see how it goes.