What BOOK are you reading right now?

Yes, that's right, shepaints. I first read it a long, long time ago & didn't realize it was a famous novel about the process of menopause.
So I recently read it again, to get things straight!
I'm a great fan of Lessing, particularly her African stories & novels, the Martha Quest series & my all-time favourite novel, The Golden Notebook,

Paul Scott's India novels are excellent, too. The Raj Quartet almost ruined my wrists (a lot of pages!) but I couldn't put it down. Fascinating reading!

Ms Olga - did you finish the poisonwood bible? Did you like it?

I read through Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Of Love and Other Demons in an evening. It was very nice.

I just started The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.

(still haven't picked Cold Mountain up again)

Hi littlek

Yes, & I liked it very much, tthough I thought the last 3rd of the book could have done with a good edit. I've been unsuccessful in finding a used copy of Prodigal Summer, though I keep looking.

How much do you think it'd cost to ship you one? Have you tried an online seller like amazon?

yes, msolga, I have read all of the ones you
mention by Doris Lessing. However I find
her rather relentlessly depressing.

msolga, I loved all of Paul Scott's novels.

Re your comment on Poisonwood Bible. I had the same reaction. In fact, I was three-quarters of the way through the book when I put it down for good.

Funny, I had a hard time getting INTO the Poisonwood Bible. I don't recall it dragging at the end..... or do I.....?

just finished reading : "sixty million frenchman can't be wrong". from the review "... jean-benoit nadeau and julie barlow have puplished a tome dedicated to the difficult yet timely task of trying to explain what makes the french, well, the french". i think anyone trying to understand, as an example, the french worry about muslim schoolgirls wearing a headscarf, would gain a better understanding of the french point of view (but might still not agree with it). ... i'm about half-way through studs terkel's : "coming of age. the story of our century by those who lived it". i have to admit that i am a great fan of his writings; just love reading his interviews ! ... and i have just started a book by fergus linnane : " london's underworld - three centuries of vice and crime". sure makes my skin get goosebumbs reading it. have started to look over my shoulder when walking down the streets of our fair city (it's the penententiary capital of canada). we have six federal penetentiaries within about a 20 mile radius of the city; the BIG HOUSE sits practically in the downtown area, right next to the OLYMPIC SAILING SITE. the number seven prison - it was the only women's pen in canada was recently shut down - it was was feature in a CBC documentary about two or three years ago, called simply "P4W". hbg

Me, too. His works are compelling. I have not read this one. Want to.



Sounds great. I will look for it.

kara : try to get your local librarian to order "sixty million frenchmen can't be wrong". you may not agree with the french way of doing things after having read it, but i think you'll at least understand why they are so different from north-americans. (i usually get my books from the public library or buy them second-hand; i would go broke buying all the books mrs. h and i carry home from the library every week). hbg

That's a very nice thought, littlek. Thanks. But I'm sure I'll come across a pre-loved copy soon. In the meantime, there are so many other good books to read!

Kara

Another paul Scott fan! Wonderful stuff, indeed!

Speaking of novels about India, did you ever read Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy? What a pleasure that was!

You're not alone in that assessment, shepaints. Almost everyone I've lent her novels to felt the same! I guess I read them at a time that I was really concerned with many of the issues she was exploring. They had a huge impact on me.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

I'd listened to it as a radio drama - finally reading it. My rhythm is different than the radio drama's was. I'm liking the book better as a result.

I loved that book. The movie was a disaster.

I haven't read the book but the movie made me feel wretched. Not a cheerful moment!

I've just finished a novel called Candelo, by a young Australian writer called Georgia Blain. Not bad at all!

Now I'm wondering what to read next ... Any suggestions?

hmmmmm

well, life isn't always cheerful. Of course, I can't bear to read books by Anne Tyler cuz I think they're too horrifically depressing. Horrific and horrid.

msolga, ya shoulda read the book first. The book was a winna.

ehBeth, she's writ a few that were worth a read: Saint Maybe, The Accidental Tourist, well...what else. I don't find her depressing. More... realistic. Maybe that is depressing, eh?