Inspired by a comment left by Scamp.

What are you reading these days?

I am juggling Terry Pratchett's Night Watch with a reprint of a 1930s murder mystery replete with poor vicars having multiple servants and tennis parties but surprisingly decent (book borrowed from the hotel library) and slowly working my way through Aristotle. On the shelf next to the bed is a John Grisham I haven't read yet and I've still to finish a biography on Abraham Lincoln (excellent reading but requires dedication).

For news I've got the Spectactor.

In general, what books do you prefer to read? Fiction, non fiction? Literary, mystery, romances, comedy? History, politics?

Just this morning I started 29 Seconds by T.M. Logan (Thriller) after finishing a book by Tony Parsons last week (Die Last, Crime/Thriller).

I'm also going through The GCHQ Puzzle Book - slowly though.

I currently have 3 books on the shelf to read: The Midnight Line (Lee Child), End Game (David Baldacci) and Believe Me (Eddie Izzard).

I tend to gravitate towards thrillers/crime and comedy and the odd autobiography.

Authors I've read so far this year inc. David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Simon Kernick, Tony Parsons and Stephen Leather.

Non fiction books on the bedside table inc a couple of New Scientist books and a book called 'I used to Know That'.

Love Tony Parsons! Currently reading "Stay With Me" (Ayobami Adebayo) and just finished "Only Child" by Rhiannon Navin (utterly lovely). Also reading a book by Lauren Southern (can't put the title here) which makes me mad and sad in varying degrees. I don't agree with most of her politics but it is good to be challenged - she makes me think.

I am reading a biography of Major Frank Thomson by Peter Conradi.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Englis.../dp/1408830922

I am working through Jon Ronson's (an anxioys,investigative journo with a gift for the deadpan) books.

Started with 'The Psychopath Test, which was funny and fascinating.

Then, 'Men who stare at Goat's, which is incredible. It's about america's dabbling in psychic warfare.

Last week's was about public shame. Again laugh out loud but thought provoking.

All light reads but real page turners.

I Am Pilgrim is along those lines and very good if you haven't already.

Scamp = Inspirational

I'm reading my usual easy reading spy fiction - Exile by James Swallow.

Lord Jim by James Conrad

And will be reading his other books as well. he mentions my old school in a couple of his books.
Hailed as one of the great authors in the English language, but strangely could hardly speak it when he arrived there!!

I'll read 6 books in a month and then not read anything for 6 months. working my way through the Jack Reacher novels at the moment, rather similar, but entertaining enough. I bought some Dickens and Defoe novels with a view of trying to start reading them again, I remember reading them as a kid at my grans and enjoying them and assuming the kids will one day too. they've sat on the shelf untouched for over a year sadly.

Koran, what else do you need.

Remember the movie to that with George Clooney. Quite good I though.

Absolute go-to series of books that. I love these sorts of things and whilst not particularly challenging or difficult to read, they're very enjoyable.

I was reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang (no, definitely not a cook book), which got generally good reviews but, frankly, I found uncomfortable, so gave up on it.

Am I alone in doing that? Despite critical acclaim (or not), I'll ditch a novel (or any other book) if it doesn't inspire me, sometimes after a few pages, sometimes near the end. I gave up on Crime and Punishment with less than a chapter to go, it just got too dense.

do people STILL read books
i haven't read a book in donkey's years

There are plenty of films where the books are much, much better.

You missed the big plot twist revelation in the last chapter

Oh wait no, it was just more misery