What are you reading?

I have that! Isn't it lovely! I listen to it every Christmas. What a voice!

If you read Human Traces, let me know what you think. I've always really liked Sebastian Faulks, but this one didn't do it for me.

I'm reading Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster.

Yes, Dylan Thomas' reading voice is fantastic.  I was surprised he didn't sound more Welsh?

It may be a while before I get to Human Traces, and it's pretty long for a two-pages-fall-asleep reader like me, but I'll get back to you after I've read it.

Coincidentally I just read Where Angels Fear to Tread a couple months ago (hardback with purple picture on the jacket front?).  Please tell me what you think of it.

Coincidentally I just read Where Angels Fear to Tread a couple months ago (hardback with purple picture on the jacket front?).  Please tell me what you think of it.

Mine was an old paperback I picked up at a charity book stall. I really liked it! I've heard people rave about it, but I wouldn't say it was one of the best I'd ever read. Still, the whole class/culture thing was fascinating and well written. Part of the problem was that I just didn't much like any of the characters - which was the point, I know. A good read, though. What did you think?

I'm now reading The Oxford Book of English Detective Stories. Perfect for dipping in and out of on cosy winter nights.

Just finished The God of Small Things as well as Shopgirl. The former was luvley and the latter was *eh*.

Just finished The God of Small Things

Oooh, it was good!

Just finished Pillars of the Earth!  Sigh, soooooooo amazing!  And then in one day I read a book called The Book Thief, which was also amazing!  A very moving book that creeps up on you a bit.

As Meat Loves Salt - very strange

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.  I'm about halfway through and so far I love it...as I do most of his books 

Mine was an old paperback I picked up at a charity book stall. I really liked it! I've heard people rave about it, but I wouldn't say it was one of the best I'd ever read. Still, the whole class/culture thing was fascinating and well written. Part of the problem was that I just didn't much like any of the characters - which was the point, I know. A good read, though. What did you think?

I thought pretty much the same as you.  It was a quick interesting read and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't fabulous.  Not one of his better works if you ask me.  I had trouble caring about the characters.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.  I'm about halfway through and so far I love it...as I do most of his books 

His obsession with bears in that book cracked me up.  And the friend really makes the story.   

Just sat down for two days and read "His Dark Materials".  Have to read it again, I thought it was interesting, but really couldn't care if anyone died. Except for the bear.

Just finished Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, not bad, kept me interested after the first few chapters which were a bit tough to get through.

I'm reading Eon by Greg Bear. It was a present and not something I'd normally read but I'm actually loving it!

I just got four more books as presents from two different people!

Vladimir Nabakov speak, memory
Robert Alexander The Kitchen Boy : A Novel of the Last Tsar
Gervase Phinn The Other Side of the Dale
and not from Courtney, but can you believe it The God of Small Things

This Christmas has been a bonanza!  What to read first?!

Just finished "Troublesome Young Men" by Lynne Olson, about the Tory MP rebellion during and before the Phoney War that lead to Winston Churchill's ascendancy as PM. Really fascinating, well written and sourced with a lot of detail. (I'm a fan of history books though).

It's not at all complimentary to Neville Chamberlain, and I feel bad because I know so little about him. She picked a great cast though, Vita Sackville-West makes an appearance, and Violet Bonham-Carter, who seems like the most amazing woman. I'm dying to read a biography about her now except it seems no one's written one!

I also fell more than a bit in love with Ronald Cartland (first MP to be killed during WWII, defending evacuees to Dunkirk in 1940), the tragic young hero of the story. There's a picture in the middle of him and combined with what detail she puts in. It's impossible not to.

Moving on to Evelyn Waugh's "Men At Arms" now... having received some context from this book.

Getting ready to start Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I know nothing about the book, but my book club in the US was reading it this month so I thought I'd give it a go.