What are You reading right now

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 00:18

Just finished Dear Francesca and Dear Olivia by Mary Contini ( Valvona and Crolla) that I got for Christmas. Some nice recipes in the first and rather moving in the second reliving the lives of Italian immigrants in and around Edinburgh before and after WW2.

Glancing at Mrs Fixit Everyday DIY by Paula Lamb.

Trying out An even briefer history of time by Stephen Hawkins. Goes with a Bang!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 04 Jan 2007, 20:33

SoupDragon wrote:Just finished Dear Francesca and Dear Olivia by Mary Contini ( Valvona and Crolla) that I got for Christmas. Some nice recipes in the first and rather moving in the second reliving the lives of Italian immigrants in and around Edinburgh before and after WW2.

I loved Dear Francesca and good to know that Dear Olivia is worth reading.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 05 Jan 2007, 10:46

Yes, read them one after the other. No recipies in Dear Olivia though but it continues the family story down another line and touches on the internment of Italians in WW2

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Jan 2007, 11:46

That's interesting SoupDragon. Like Sandra I've read 'Dear Francesca' but wasn't aware of the sequel.

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 10 Jan 2007, 13:01

Almost finished reading " Street Kid" , a biographic story by Judy Westwater .
Makes me appreciate how lucky I have been to have a loving, caring family!

STREET KID: One Childâ€™s Desperate Fight for Survival

Judy Westwater
After a childhood lived in terror, in 1994 Judy was presented with an Unsung Heroes Award for her charity work with street children in South Africa. Her moving story came to light after Judy was interviewed by John Peel on BBCâ€™s â€˜Home Truthsâ€™. â€˜Street Kidâ€™ is the inspirational and heartwrenching story of her early years.

At age two, in postwar Manchester, Judy was snatched from her mother and sisters by her psychotic father â€“ a spiritualist preacher. He kept her in his backyard, leaving her to scavenge from bins to beat off starvation. At four, she was sent to an inhumanely strict catholic orphanage, before being put back in her fatherâ€™s cruel care. For the next three years she was treated as a virtual slave.

After being taken by her father to South Africa, Judy ran away to join the circus where she found her first taste of freedom and friendship â€“ before her father tracked her down. Weeks later Judy was alone again and living on the streets, too terrified to turn to her circus friends. For 9 months 12-year-old Judy made her home in a shed behind a bottle store before collapsing in a shop doorway from near-starvation.

Finally, aged 17, Judy managed to pay her way back to England to find her mother and sisters. But her return to Manchester cruelly shattered any dreams of a happy reunion.

Determined that her childhood experiences should in some way give meaning to her life, Judy has worked tirelessly to help children in need back in South Africa in the very place she had been treated to such abuse herself. She has opened 7 centres to date.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 31 Jan 2007, 20:13

I'm nearing the end of 'The Devil Wears Prada' by Lauren Weisbergerng It's not my usual sort of book but to my surprise I'm reallt enjoying it. I'm enjoying it so much I've pr-ordered the dvd (I've never seen the movie). I hope it lives up to the book. It's even making laugh out loud as I read.

Synopsis
A sharp, witty and hugely entertaining debut novel, The Devil Wears Prada is The Nanny Diaries set in the world of high fashion. Welcome to the dollouse, baby! When Andrea first sets foot in the plush Manhattan offices of Runway she knows nothing. She's never heard of the world's most fashionable magazine, or its feared and fawned-over editor, Miranda Priestly. But she's going to be Miranda's assistant, a job millions of girls would die for. A year later, she knows altogether too much: That it's a sacking offence to wear anything lower than a four inch heel to work. But that there's always a fresh pair of Manolos for you in the accessories cupboard. That Miranda believes Hermes scarves are disposable, and you must keep a life-time supply on hand at all times. That eight stone is fat. That you can charge cars, manicures, anything at all to the Runway account, but you must never, ever, leave your desk, or let Miranda's coffee get cold. And that at 3 a.m. on a Sunday, when your boyfriend's dumping you because you're always at work, and your best friend's just been arrested, if Miranda phones, you jump. Most of all, Andrea knows that Miranda is a monster who makes Cruella de Ville look like a fluffy bunny. But also that this is her big break, and it's going to be worth it in the end. Isn't it?

thumper · Post by **thumper** » 31 Jan 2007, 20:27

arachnid, i am also in the middle of street kid what a good read.i would recomend The step Child by Donna Ford.....

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 31 Jan 2007, 23:17

Black Mamba wrote:I'm nearing the end of 'The Devil Wears Prada' by Lauren Weisbergerng It's not my usual sort of book but to my surprise I'm reallt enjoying it. I'm enjoying it so much I've pr-ordered the dvd (I've never seen the movie). I hope it lives up to the book. It's even making laugh out loud as I read.

I've not seen the film but my hairdresser saw it 3 times - and loved it.

and he's male

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 02 Feb 2007, 19:40

thumper wrote:arachnid, i am also in the middle of street kid what a good read.i would recomend The step Child by Donna Ford.....

It didn't take me lomg to read that book, could hardly put it down!!!
Will get the " step child" sometime soon, when I'm next at the shops!!!

Currently reading " White" by Rosie Thomas. Took me a wee while to get into but now enjoying the book!!

White:-
Mount Everest towers over the group of Sam Mcgrath, Finch Buchanan and Al Hood, silent and beautiful. And the passionate relationship between Finch, Al and Sam - two men driven by their own demons, and a woman with a dream of her own - begins to play itself out, with tragic consequences.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 02 Feb 2007, 22:51

I've started on Raymond E Feist's latest trilogy, Conclave of Shadows. Haven't read one of his yet that matched my first reading of Magician, but this one's pretty promising so far...

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 05 Feb 2007, 16:58

Anita Shreve books bought them off ebay

magbagpuss · Post by **magbagpuss** » 07 Feb 2007, 21:01

JUST FINISHING Lynda LaPlante's "Bella Mafia"great

book , well written with a twist

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 Feb 2007, 17:08

I'm between books at the moment.
Decided to have a clear out yesterday and was looking through shelves and up and down ladders. Of the hundreds of books in this house I got 12 to go to charity shop. ( and still couldn't find one to read)
Then Baby Dragon wanted to keep 3, then I went mad on Amazon and ordered 6 and my mum let me borrow 3 Phillip Pullman, so I'll be starting the His Dark Materials trilogy tonight

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 08 Feb 2007, 20:28

SoupDragon wrote:I'll be starting the His Dark Materials trilogy tonight

Seems they're well on the way to completing the film adaptation of the first book The Golden Compass. Interested in seeing if they keep the same storyline throughout, especially the ending of the trilogy....

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 08 Feb 2007, 20:47

Looking forward to listening to the BBC radio dramatisation of 'His Dark Materials', all seven and a half hours of it!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 11 Feb 2007, 01:28

Just about to start "The Girls" by Lori Lansens. Its a "Richard & Judy" read most of which I have enjoyed.

"In 29 years Rose Darlen has never spent a moment apart from her twin sister Ruby. She has never gone for a solitary walk or had a private conversation. Yet, in all that time, she has never once looked into Ruby's eyes. Joined at the head the girls attempt to lead a normal life, but can't help being extraordinary. Now almost 30 Rose and Ruby are on the verge of becoming the oldest living craniopagus twins in history but they are remarkable for a lot more than their unusual sisterly bond".

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 14 Feb 2007, 11:28

Just finished reading 'Lisey's Story' I'm not sure whether I liked it or not!!
It was a bit weird and it took me a while to get into it, although once I did get into the story I wanted to keep reading on. I don't think it was one of S.K's better books, but it was intriguing.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 04 Mar 2007, 16:11

'Fat' by Rob Grant - a satire on the Diet industry. Only about 50 pages in so far, and so far so good, very funny.

Next up is 'Book of Dave' by Will Self. Nice of someone to write a book about me

, PoP will need to buy a copy too.

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 04 Mar 2007, 17:50

Passing for Normal--- Tourette's OCD and growing up crazy by Amy Wilensky
A must read for everybody,K has this and lets you all understand how Amy feels about her ticks and what it can feel like.My eyes have been opened about this horrable condition,and what k is going through.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 19 Mar 2007, 22:31

Harbor - Lorraine Adams

Portobello Press, no less!

Its a tale of a series of Algerian men who reach the eastern seaboard of the USA by a variety of means (stowaways etc)

each is escaping from some dread personal experience or set of external forces. The story centres on Aziz, who has the most horrific immediate past - it's written as a thriller, so you get to find things out bit by bit over a 4 yr period. It's not my favourite style, but I found it utterly absorbing.

As with many complicated books it loses its way a bit at the end - and it's not for the squeamish. For my part I found it an unusually personal take on the plight of Algeria, and also the random connections that can seem so 'meant' when 'the authorities' are looking at things.

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 19 Mar 2007, 22:59

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Sister in law gave me it to read as I had nothing to read.

Think it'll take me a while to read it, it's a thick book!!
But I WILL read it!!!!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 19 Mar 2007, 23:30

An Interpretation of Murder by somebody

. Takes a wee while to get into because it's quite a bit to do with Freud but it's not a bad page turner.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 20 Mar 2007, 14:40

I was reading that as well! Got a bit bored though and started on Samurai William by Giles Milton, its the story of the sailor stranded in Japan who insipered "Shogun"
I recently read the Phillip Pullman Dark Materials trilogy, some interesting ideas in there, can see how he was influenced by Milton , Blake and the like. also read Blue shoes and happiness by Alexander McCall Smith , a gentle wander through Botswana with Mma Ramotswe

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 20 Mar 2007, 15:01

Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine.

Found this description of a community battle about development very...um...interesting...

In their testimony, representatives of both sides speak for the public good and characterise the other side as its enemy. Both accuse the other side of selfishness. [...]

On lawns in town, meanwhile, Take Back Hardwick signs are springing up. Sandy Howard, their producer, has also made up Take Back Hardwick bumper stickers, covered her car with them, and parked the car on main street. She has paid for a series of Take Back Hardwick ads in the Gazette, accusing the zoning board (without substantiation) of bias and foot-dragging.

Not sure if it's comforting or depressing to know our great Portobello community is experiencing the same divisions over the same sorts of dilemmas as communities in Vermont.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 27 Mar 2007, 23:03

Geek Love, Katherine Dunn

a Big Read suggestion from a long while back.

proposed by a deviant.

I've got to about 40% through.

I've got over the initial yuk/horror feelings.

I can read the characters as 'real' as any others in a work of fiction.

But I'm struggling to care about any of them. I've started to dip in and out of the book to see whether it develops into anything other than a collection of slightly weird tales, and to find the bit that reveals why three generations of the same nuthouse family are living anonomously from each other in the same rooming house.

Once I've worked that bit out, I'm outta here, boy!

ps - did something happen to the forum appearance...

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 28 Mar 2007, 07:22

mr magnolia wrote: did something happen to the forum appearance...

Nope, no change.

I think the clocks going forward has confused you, Mr M.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 28 Mar 2007, 09:27

Poppy, you're up early

Nelson Hatstand · Post by **Nelson Hatstand** » 28 Mar 2007, 13:57

mr magnolia wrote:
proposed by a deviant.

hee hee

mr magnolia wrote:
But I'm struggling to care about any of them. I've started to dip in and out of the book to see whether it develops into anything other than a collection of slightly weird tales, and to find the bit that reveals why three generations of the same nuthouse family are living anonomously from each other in the same rooming house.

Once I've worked that bit out, I'm outta here, boy!

I became rather fond of them I must say. Although I didn't like Arturo. But it's still quite a way to go before you get to why they're living as they are, so if you like I'll tell you the ending.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 10 Apr 2007, 11:11

Just finished Michael Chrighton's State of Fear.
It was okay but I wouldn't rave about it. There was a lot of technical stuff about global warming. There was a few exciting bits, but I didn't feel it was as good as some of his other books.

I've just started Stephen Kings 'IT'

I'm on page 247 of 912 (big book)
It's shaping up pretty well. I'm enjoying it already.

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 10 Apr 2007, 16:45

Still reading Bleak House!!! Knew it would take me ages!!!

But I'm getting there, now over half way through!!!

tribade · Post by **tribade** » 12 Apr 2007, 18:41

Just finished Notes on a Scandal, now on Seven years in Tibet.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 24 Apr 2007, 11:11

Started reading Gillian Galbraith's 'Blood in the water' It's set in Edinburgh. It's an Alice Rice mystery (A.L is a cop).
There's just been a scene set here in sunny Kinross.
I'm 100 pages in and there's been three murders so far.
I'm quite enjoying it. I wonder if she'll get to Porty?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Apr 2007, 13:01

Had time to catch up on some reading over my Easter hols:

Stuart; a life backwards - Alexander Masters

Biography of a homeless man.More enjoyable than I had anticipated. Has warm humour to it while at the same time pulling no punches.

Gentelemen and Players - Joanne Harris

Those of you who like 'whodunits' will enjoy this, though I did guess the ending and lost interest as I finished it.

The Testament of Gideon Mack - James Robertson

Enjoyable. Local minister meets the devil or does he? Again lots of humorous touches

Vince and Joy - Lisa Jewel

It was given away free with a magazine. Need I say any more?

Restless William Boyd

Tells the story of Eva a spy during the Second World War as read in instalments by her daughter during the 1970's and the political background of that era. Was OK, but I'm a fan of Boyd and reckon this isn't his best.

kipling · Post by **kipling** » 24 Apr 2007, 17:17

The Damned Utd – David Peace
A novel written in the first person, - that person being Brian Clough. On the surface, it details Cloughie’s 44 days in charge at Leeds United in 1974. But it’s about paranoia, obsession, alcohol and ego as much as football. So original that it’s difficult to describe – In Cold Blood meets Match of the Day, maybe? Well worth a read.

Pies and Prejudice – Stuart Maconie
A disc jockey from Wigan takes an affectionate Bill Bryson-style ramble around the cities and towns of northern England. Very funny, and full of surprising nuggets of information. I used to think Maconie was a bit of a knacker, having only ever seen him on all those Channel 4 “Hundred Best…” programmes. This book, and his excellent radio documentary on The Smiths (you can listen to part one on the BBC Radio 2 website) have altered my opinion.

Nelson Hatstand · Post by **Nelson Hatstand** » 26 Apr 2007, 16:41

kipling wrote:The Damned Utd – David Peace
A novel written in the first person, - that person being Brian Clough. On the surface, it details Cloughie’s 44 days in charge at Leeds United in 1974. But it’s about paranoia, obsession, alcohol and ego as much as football. So original that it’s difficult to describe – In Cold Blood meets Match of the Day, maybe? Well worth a read.

I'm halfway through The Damned Utd at the moment. It's very good indeed, I must say.

Also just read Remainder by Tom McCarthy. w-e-i-r-d and brilliant. Go and buy it now.