I am reading a book bought from a car boot sale for 50p. It's called Birders (Tales of a Tribe) by Mark Cocker & it's about his experiences as a bird watcher/twitcher. If you are into birds its a very good read.

I noticed this thread hasn't been updated for a long time, so I thought I'd just bring it back to the top. Lately I've been off on my occasional Agatha Christie kick (every other few years I re-read about 30 or so of her books in a row). In between times I've been reading books about the Civil War (not admitting which country), the royal family (not admitting which PLANET), political cartoons, religion, and (just finished it today), a book called "Murder for Christmas"--a collection of short stories. Many were by the famous mystery writers over the years, but the book ranged very widely, and snuck in stories by Woody Allen, Thomas Hardy, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Charles Dickens. But enough about me, what are all of YOU lovely and talented people reading these days?

I have finished Terry Pratchett's latest I Shall Wear Midnight. I love the Tiffany books, but didn't feel it was as scary as the previous ones in the Tiffany series. Having said that I enjoyed reading it.

I just finished Terry Brook's "Genesis of Shanarra" trilogy. So I suppose it's time to switch back to nonfiction for my next book, but I don't have any book in mind at the moment.

Actually I just bought the new book written by Tony Blair, A journey, and it seems quite good. I am also planning to buy the book written by Laura Bush, Spoken from the Heart, and I now look at the Bush family in an entirely different way. He almost seems human instead of just a warmonger. What do you know! Lulu Wang is quite good too. In the near future I've got a lot of reading to do, that's for sure.

Interesting Kevin. I think it would be interesting to read about Peter Sellars. He was a clever and complex man.

Jo x

And after reading too much fiction (which 'tis a MYSTERY to me.........) I'm now embarking on some biographies or auto-biographies. First Carol Burnett and then one of Groucho Marx's sons about Groucho and then Andy Kaufman and now Peter Sellers.........so far.......

Just started reading "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel. It is about Henry VIII's court. It won the Booker prize this year. We have chosen it for our Book Club Summer read.

Jo x

I am reaquainting myself with the Anne McCaffrey Dragon books. Her stories about life on the planet Pern. I want to live there!
I recently read The Time Travelers Wife, but the film, which I watched on DVD last Monday, is, I think, better . The book jumps about a lot, as does the film, but visually it is easier to understand it.

It does sound good -also the mysteries you suggest, Kevin.

Jo x

Sounds a good book Karen, must try and get it to read

The almost moon is another good read by alice sebold

Divorcee Helen Knightly, an artist's model, spontaneously murders her mother, a lifelong agoraphobic now suffering from severe dementia, by suffocating her with a towel. Over the next twenty-four hours, as Helen tries desperately to conceal her crime, and in doing so ropes her ex-husband into the conspiracy, she recalls her childhood and subsequent relationship with her mother.

give it a go, I am sure you will love it

I'm still reading the Margaret Maron mysteries. She writes a couple of different series, but the ones I'm reading have as their detective a female judge in North Carolina (Deborah Knott). VERY Southern atmosphere besides the murder mysteries themselves, so anyone who likes Southern writers might want to give it a try. There are about 15 books so far in the Deborah Knott series and I've read about 12 so far. So pretty soon I'll be looking around for something else, so if anybody has any ideas I'd love to hear them.

Well I finished "100 Days" which really gave an insight into journalists way of life in Iraq at the begining of the war. Now we are reading !Angelology" by Kate Mosse which is rather a strange mystery.

Like Doreen I would love to know what "The Almost Moon" is like as I really enjoyed "The Lovely Bones" - which was better than the film I think. Carol, I think I may try and get the Stendhal book as you have rated it so highly.

In my book club we will be reading "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel over July and August which won the Booker prize and is about Henry VIII's court. She writes well so I am looking forward to that.

This is a really good idea for a thread, Kevin and your recommendation of Margaret Moon is interesting. I haven't read her but perhaps I ought to.
What is "Jewels of the Sun" about, David? It sounds a brilliant title.

Jo x

The other day I retrieved about 30 (which is NOT an exaggeration, lol) of my old "Mad Magazine" paperback collections, and re-read them, which I haven't done in many years. (It took me a couple days to wade through them all.) And I discovered the Margaret Maron series of mystery novels a few days ago, and have started reading them (in kind of a "sideways" order.......) I like some mysteries (I can ALWAYS re-read Agatha Christie, and the Brother Cadfael books, and a few others) but dislike most (even my Jock Justice character, which is BASED on the hard-boiled school, is a parody of the kind of mysteries I NEVER read). But it's always fun to find a new series of books to follow, even if it's only new to YOU........

I just finished reading The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal which is a fabulous book.

I read his book, The Red and the Black, years ago and just loved it!

I know Dean Koonz books and INora roberts is a popular author over here as well

I love Dean Koonz books but for a change of pace I'm reading "Jewels of the Sun" by Nora Roberts.
~David Fox

I read the book The Lovely Bones and also saw the film. What is the new book like Karen

The Almost Moon Is it worth reading?

I read James Herbert books
but at the moment I am reading an Alice Sebold book
(her that wrote lovely bones) the title is
THE ALMOST MOON

Sorry, Kevin, I haven't heard of the books you have or are reading either. I would like to say I think it's good you do read books, so many people don't now. My OH & my grown up children never read books, a few of my friends do, but they are all female.

I like Sci-Fi Fantasy, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey & Todd, her son. I always buy the latest by these three authors & read them avidly. Terry Pratchett's latest book Nation, was very different to any others he has written, but I liked it.
A new Todd McCaffrey will be out soon, Dragongirl, he has taken over Anne's Dragon books saga & added a bit more to them.
I also like girly novels, by Jill Mansell, Judy Astley, Louise Bagshawe, Chris Manby etc.
Joyce Strangers books about animals, in fact most books about birds/ animals. Fact or fiction.

Sorry Kevin haven't heard of your books. shows my ignorance I guess LOL The Mark Tweain book sounds a good one.
I am in a book club and we are just planning to read 100 days which is about life in Iraq.
Jo x

Right Kevin Never heard of any of the books or authors. Well I am a women and from England so obviously would not read same type of books as you.

I read saga, Books from war years and 20 century books. Are they interesting enough for you LOL

I'm curious what people are reading lately. Books in my VERY recent past: "Lighting Out for the Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain", "Ambrose Bierce: Alone in Bad Company" (both by Roy Morris, Junior); "Dangerously Funny: "The Uncensored Story of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" by David Bianculli; "Last Words" by George Carlin. (Anybody notice a TREND here, lol.) I'd love to hear what all the other Poetic readers have in their current Skies.