What are you reading

[Poacher]

I have a question for any regular posters in this thread.

I’m out of the loop regarding UK contemporary/mainstream fiction as it’s now over 20 years since I was last in a UK bookstore (or read any newspaper book reviews).

I have a decent collection of titles by the likes of Ian McEwan, William Boyd, Seb Faulks, Kate Atkinson, Susan Hill, Iain Banks, Zadie Smith and Nicola Barker – but I’m sure there must be some ‘new’ novelists that have been published in the last 20 years.

Can anyone please point me in the direction of some writers that have recently emerged that are worth checking out?

Thanks in advance from a very rainy Brittany

Any of Geraldine Brooks' historical novels, some set in a single year or two, others spanning centuries:
Year of Wonders, about the plague year of 1666 told from the point of view of Rev Mompesson's imagined housekeeper in Eyam,
March, about the absent father of Little Women, away providing medical services in the American Civil War,
People of the Book, tracking an illustrated Jewish book from the 15th century to the present day.
Horse, which I've just started reading. flitting between 1850 Kentucky, 1954 New York and present day (2019) Washington.

I've yet to find charity shop copies of Caleb's Crossing and The Secret Chord and may have to resort to the bay.
She's not a prolific author, but every book is meticulously researched and beautifully written.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Wednesday 20th

Revisiting this
A few pages over a pot of tea, before starting work

 

[mistyoptic]

Wednesday 20th

Revisiting this
A few pages over a pot of tea, before starting work
View attachment 808803

Love Tiffany Aching!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Love Tiffany Aching!

You could start a 'Cast The DiscWorld' thread?

Like this; https://www.lspace.org/fandom/afp/ultimate-discworld-casting-page.html

 

[Ian H]

I seem to have lost my appetite for fiction. Currently reading Tariq Ali's Churchill, His Life, His Crimes. Next up is Patricia Lockwood's autobiographical Priest Daddy.

 

[stephec]

Dave Draper's Brother Iron, Sister Steel is a similarly good read.

I've almost finished this, the way it's written is like he's talking to you personally in a very enthusiastic way.

 

[stephec]

I'm going to see what all the fuss was about.

 

[Profpointy]

I'm going to see what all the fuss was about.
View attachment 808866

Sadly a rather disapointing book. I triumphantly got mine in a market stall in Australia at the time it was banned in the UK. It is basically the ramblings of an embittered and paranoid old man, a crazy man even ... or is it?.

 

[bluenotebob]

She's not a prolific author, but every book is meticulously researched and beautifully written.

Thanks very much @Poacher – it looks like her books are definitely worth looking for. I’ll let you know how I get on.

I envy you the possibility of hunting through charity bookshops. Along with car-boot sales, it’s a great way of finding books cheaply – and also ‘sideways shopping’ (coming across a book/author that you don’t know but which looks worth reading – at a sensible price).

I was once asked what I missed about the UK – and all I could offer as a reply was Bangladeshi take-aways and second-hand bookshops. Gosh, I miss them ...

 

[Moon bunny]

Trust Me by Zoshia Wand. Interesting because I know the author and see parts of people I know in the characters.

 

[stephec]

Sadly a rather disapointing book. I triumphantly got mine in a market stall in Australia at the time it was banned in the UK. It is basically the ramblings of an embittered and paranoid old man, a crazy man even ... or is it?.

I'll be honest, you're not selling it to me. 😂

 

[SpokeyDokey]

City in Ruins by Don Winslow.

Part 3 of a trilogy that is akin to The Godfather but not as complex - sort of Godfather-lite.

Entertaining, nonetheless.

8/10

 

[Webbo2]

Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy
I think this my forth reading of this and I still learn something every time.
Maybe I should read more slowly.

 

[Reynard]

Thanks very much @Poacher – it looks like her books are definitely worth looking for. I’ll let you know how I get on.

I envy you the possibility of hunting through charity bookshops. Along with car-boot sales, it’s a great way of finding books cheaply – and also ‘sideways shopping’ (coming across a book/author that you don’t know but which looks worth reading – at a sensible price).

I was once asked what I missed about the UK – and all I could offer as a reply was Bangladeshi take-aways and second-hand bookshops. Gosh, I miss them ...

I love book exchanges even more, as they're free! Much more pot luck, however.

 

[dicko]

Fredrick Forsyth Fist of God. A really great story based on fact.