Friday reads

    I saw just now on Twitter that Bethanne Patrick, the instigator of Friday Reads, is reading Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles which is, as you'll know if you pop in here regularly, one of my top favourite books this year; I hope she is finding it as superb as I did.

    As I mentioned in my last post, earlier in the week I was in the sort of mood in which, despite the embarrassment of riches here, no book felt quite right. It was then that I picked up Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and now eighty pages in I'm enjoying it very much indeed. But having settled on one book for now, temptation has arrived with every post since as I have at hand the Booker-winning The Sense of an Ending and P.D. James's new Austenian detective novel Death Comes to Pemberley (out very soon), not to mention a fair few other very interesting-looking books which you can see in the sidebar there on the right, and on its way to me, a parcel with some great books to be read over the next fortnight - more on them as and when. Despite my 'off day', I consider myself extremely privileged to have so much of such quality to read.

    What are you reading (or listening to - see Mandie's comment) this bright and breezy Friday?

Comments

[B R Wombat]

I'm in the middle of The Secret History as I couldn't abide the sample I read of Ella Minnow Pea, so I thought I'd steal a march on next month's book. I must say I'm greatly enjoying it and can remember almost nothing from when I first read it nearly 20 years ago.

[Dark Puss]

Tintin in the New World by Frederic Tuten. I'm enjoying it a lot but you'd have to be familiar with the Herge canon to really appreciate it fully.

[Victorianlibrarian.wordpress.com]

I'm reading Peter Ackroyd's Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem, which I started because of all the British Museum Reading Room mentions.

When you finish Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, I recommend Clarke's The Ladies of Grace Adieu, a book of short stories set in the same world as the novel. Although you may want a break first, after such a long book!

[Mandie]

Mine are Friday listens. This week I'm enjoying Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Light of the Moon by Elizabeth Buchan

[Barbara]

After finishing Claire Tomalin's Dickens, I'm reading David Copperfield. Again.

[m]

Still embedded in the French Revolution (A Place of Greater Safety) but I'm flagging. I'd swear this book grows longer overnight but I can't bottle out after 700 pages. Must say I'm looking forward to something shorter and sweeter.

[Susan in TX]

I'm looking forward to Death Comes to Pemberley - that is one I wouldn't be able to resist. :) I just finished Stephanie Barron's Jane and the Canterbury Tale and found it quite entertaining. Today I am reading The Yellow Admiral by Patrick O'Brian as a break from the mystery themed reading I've been doing this month. Happy weekend to all!

[Georgina]

I'm just finishing The Kashmir Shawl and can only bear to leave it behind because I'm enjoying reading a chapter (month) a day of Wild hares and hummingbirds by Stephen Moss. Wonderfully evocative writing and beautifully illustrated by Harry Brockway.

[Sandy]

I am at the beginning of Hilary Mantel's 'Every Day is Mother's Day' which is an unusual read so far. It's too early to say much, except that this author can turn her hand to very varied writing styles.

I'm also well submerged in 'php for the Absolute Beginner' to help me with my website & forum. The plot lacks something but it is but helpful!

Now I will sharpen my quill for tomorrow...

[Anji]

I have just finished Ella Minnow Pea and I am currently reading The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou. this book was part of the Canada Reads selections for 2011. I did not know that when I picked it up at the library.

[Ruthiella]

I am still finishing up Ella Minnow Pea for tomorrow. I am also currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.

[Barbara MacLeod]

I have just finished reading Peter Jefferson's And Now the Shipping Forecast. This is the man who presented the Shipping Forecast for 40 (!!) years. Snug in my bed at night I still wait for Sailing By and try not to fall asleep before Malin - Hebrides !

I have just started The Secret History for November. It is proving a good choice for reading in the evening as it is now getting dark so much earlier.

[Claire]

Put everything to one side Cornflower and read The Sense Of An Ending now! I read it in two sittings and will read it again soon. So pleased it and Julian Barnes won the big prize. At the moment it's My Father's Fortune by the author Michael Frayne. A beautifully well written, warm memoir of his father.

[michel]

Just finished Allegra Goodman's The Cookbook Collector which I loved. Am now starting Amitiv Gosh's River of Smoke and am also reading Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard about the death of President James Garfield at the hands of his doctors after being shot by a mad assassin. Hard to put down.