What are you reading?

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Small Island by Andrea Levy

I really enjoyed that, but couldn't read it all in one go.  I had to put it down and pick it up quite a few times to finish it.

Small Island by Andrea Levy

I really liked that! Did you see it on BBC this year? Or was it last year?

I really enjoyed that, but couldn't read it all in one go.  I had to put it down and pick it up quite a few times to finish it.

Hmmm...because it was slow or it was emotionally hard to take?

I really liked that! Did you see it on BBC this year? Or was it last year?

I never heard of it actually. I was just perusing the used book section at our bookshop and came across it! 

Hmmm...because it was slow or it was emotionally hard to take?

It was just a tough read for me and I can't put my finger on why.  It felt slow to me, but I don't know that anyone else would think that.  I will admit it was hard for me to read about the 'outsider-ness.'

It was just a tough read for me and I can't put my finger on why.  It felt slow to me, but I don't know that anyone else would think that.  I will admit it was hard for me to read about the 'outsider-ness.'

Interesting...

In the Woods by Tana French. I'm struggling to put it down! I'd recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, it's one of the best mysteries I've read in a while.

I just read Muriel Spark's Aiding and Abetting and have now started on The Priory by Dorothy Whipple, one of my very favourite "comfort authors".

In the Woods by Tana French. I'm struggling to put it down! I'd recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, it's one of the best mysteries I've read in a while.

Just got to the end of this, and the ending was so "real-life" that now I feel utterly depressed.  Wonder what to read next? Will head over to my stack of books and find something...

What did you think of "Perks..."? I tried to get into it, but felt nothing for
the character and it's gone off to the charity shop.

I thought the guy had no idea how to write about teenagers even though he wasn't too out of his teens when he wrote it.  Not awful, but it felt weird.  Also, he <3s Salinger, obviously.  It was like reading fan fiction a bit.

I thought the guy had no idea how to write about teenagers even though he wasn't too out of his teens when he wrote it.  Not awful, but it felt weird.  Also, he <3s Salinger, obviously.  It was like reading fan fiction a bit.

I read 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' when I was in my teens and I liked it enough then... I don't think I would now, though!

I thought the guy had no idea how to write about teenagers even though he wasn't too out of his teens when he wrote it.  Not awful, but it felt weird.  Also, he <3s Salinger, obviously.  It was like reading fan fiction a bit.

THIS! This is how I felt as I was reading it. Glad I sent it to the charity shop. Hopefully someone else will be able to enjoy it. Would rather stick with Salinger!

I read 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' when I was in my teens and I liked it enough then... I don't think I would now, though!

Indeed.

It was just a tough read for me and I can't put my finger on why.  It felt slow to me, but I don't know that anyone else would think that.  I will admit it was hard for me to read about the 'outsider-ness.'

I'm also reading Small Island which I had never heard of but got on loan from my mother-in-law.  I am almost halfway through it, and am enjoying it, but I do know what you mean about it being a heavy read.  I particularly liked the descriptions about the way the colonies relate to the Mother Country, and how they are taught about the minutia of British geography and weather when Brits of their time didn't always know much outside of their hometown.  It makes you wonder how it is for modern immigrants from Jamaica, and has me reaching back to remember Zadie Smith's White Teeth.

Just finished Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson and am starting The Group by Mary McCarthy.

Finally finished Pegasus, by Robin McKinley. Slow going, partly because I barely had time to read, and partly because it's a very descriptive book, so you don't just want to not-quite-skim (which is what I usually do).

Glad I didn't give too much credit to the negative Amazon reviews - partly thanks to Jennie's review here - because I loved it. It does end as a cliffhanger, but the sequel be out eventually.