Books #15 Reading Chats!

[ordinaryjelly]

As it’s International Women’s Day, who are some of your favourite female authors/books you love by women? My favourite authors include Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy, Holly Bourne, Shirley Jackson, Diana Wynne Jones, and J.K. Rowling. My favourite book is We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

Fab question.

Mine are

Kristin Hannah

Virginia Woolf

Jane Austen

Doris Lessing

Agathe Christie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi

Enid Blyton

So quite an eclectic mix.

 

[mindlessness]

I don't think I explained it very well in my excitement to share

But it's the normal cafe where you can get get food, soft drinks etc but they also do cocktails and happy hour (3 hours of it!) 4 nights a week.

I like to go out and I like cocktails but I don't like noisy, over crowded bars anymore so this is perfect - flicking through books, with an espresso martini, and home at a reasonable hour.

That's such a lovely set up! (Also I can't be the only one thinking it'd be an excellent first date spot too, not too loud, surrounded by books ...)

 

[or JusRollWithIt]

I finished My Name is Lucy Barton and started the next in the series, Anything is Possible. I’m enjoying the character development of those people mentioned in the first book, and how their lives intersected and continue to now that some time has passed. Some of it is heartbreaking but then, it feels so real. Like, that’s life, good, bad, beautiful, painful. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I’m enjoying Elizabeth Strout’s writing.

 

[SaintLeo]

Another Daisy Jones lover here! I did read it quite soon after it came out so it probably didn’t have as much hype to live up to then as it does now. I did love the Fleetwood Mac-iness of it though so think that would have suckered me in regardless.

 

[marjan]

Ohh didn't realise there was a new thread already! I'm still halfway through Betty haha and it's only my second book of this year somehow I'm too busy in my head to find the time to read haha butI'm sure it'll come back to me

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Im 80% through Betty so nearly done! Then I can start this months book.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Going back to the comments about re-reading/listening to books, what books (if any) do you re-read? And how often?

Every year without fail I reread The Remains of the Day and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I have a feeling dear Sebastian and This is How We Are Human might make the cut this year.

This is How We Are Human is on Kindle Unlimited I noticed! For anyone who would like to read it.

 

[Just here to say]

Guys I'm going mad and started My Year of Rest And Relaxation even though I'm in the middle of 6 other books (incl. one audio, 2 kindle). Someone come and slap me into place

I really need to finish one of them this weekend or I will feel very bad and disappointed in myself!

 

[OH.FFS]

Finished ‘so lucky’ today. I really enjoyed it. 4.5/5.

I’m not doing very well with my A-Z challenge. I keep picking the same letter over. Will complete Betty this week too.

Below is my A-Z so far. 14 books read. Will be 15 by Friday. Yet, in the A-Z I’ve actually only read 11. Going to make a rule that I have to read a letter not done next. Might even go through alphabetically, except when it’s a book club reading that can double up in my A-Z.

 

[PollyPage]

Has anyone read any other Frieda Mcfadden books, I finished the housemaid and the housemaid's secret in a day (each) and would like to try another but not sure which one

 

[Elle]

Guys, I'm just going to say it. I don't like Pride and Prejudice. Phew, it feels good to say that.

I'm just over halfway through and I really should abandon it but I can't bring myself to. My thinking is I have to finish it now I've got this far. But I kinda hate it?

Has definitely put me off reading more classics. Do people actually enjoy them or just pretend to in order to seem particularly literate and well read???

 

[make-mine-whiskey]

I have had a really crap reading month. I feel so demotivated.

Ditto! I read 3 books in Feb!

The housemaid is our bookclub read for March!

Book Club #2

Hi everyone. Thought Id make a new thread since we are almost at the end of the other one. Link to previous thread below. https://tattle.life/threads/book-club-january-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by-gabrielle-zevin.27039/ Time to start nominating for our book club pick for February...

tattle.life

Pop in and give us your thoughts on there, but remember to put them behind a spoiler

IS IT?! I keep seeing it in here and saw it was on KU so downloaded it, now I know my next read, thank you!

 

[ordinaryjelly]

Can’t read this as this was the book revealing Hannah gales nip slip in her Instagram story

I still have no idea what that was about. #censored

 

[Mamacita]

Have been to the library for the first time in forever today! Also bought a couple of books in Waterstones - Lessons In Chemistry and Mothers Boy, and picked up Girl A in a charity shop. I'm so bad I have so many books to read on my kindle but I just can't stop getting more!

I'm reading Lessons in Chemistry now. Heard mixed opinions about it so we'll have to see how I get on!

However I've got a bad cold and struggling to read so annoying, Im off sick from work so have loads of time to read but it's a struggle

 

[Katykatykaty]

For someone who reads a lot, I really don’t have any favourite book quotes which is bad when you think about it

I can never remember any either. I’m not one to add post it notes to books or write down quotes, I just read the story on move on. I wish I had a better memory or even the thoughts to actively remember quotes but I never do.

 

[twilightgarden]

I enjoyed (not sure that’s the right word) both Shuggie and Young Mungo but YM was very hard reading at times. The camping scenes were awful but somehow you’re still so absorbed and drawn into the story. Both fantastic books and would definitely read more by Douglas Stuart. IIRC I listened to the audiobook of Shuggie and read it too, for YM I read it. The narrator was great so highly recommend the audiobook if anyone is thinking of listening to it.

I don’t have any plans for the weekend so I’m having a chilled one and going to spend the time reading, I can’t wait

 

[LaBlonde]

I love Jane Eyre. I read a lot of the Bronte sisters' work while at uni. I actually wrote my dissertation on love in Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

But this is the first Austen I've tried. You're so spot on about people visiting other people's houses. I can't keep up. They're all just travelling to and fro to visit one another . There have been some funny and witty one liners but other than that it's going to each others houses!

What would you recommend?

brace yourself elle because i love classics and we’re about to get into my zone

firstly, avoid charles dickens. people will tell you to read him based on reputation alone. he got paid by the word and his characters are caricatures.

if you like the brontes, then i would strongly recommend wilkie collins. in particular no name, armadale and the moonstone. he writes great, and very gothic, mysteries.

also, anthony trollope. does what dickens is rumoured to do but much more fun and readable. the whole palliser chronicles are great but start with can you forgive her? and see what you think.

middlemarch is wonderful (imo) but a little dense to start with, try some other george elliot first. the mill on the floss and wives and daughters will give you a feel.

i find elizabeth gaskell hit and miss but north and south is a wonderful romantic read.

the age of innocence by edith wharton is one of the GREATEST books of all time. a masterpiece.

i am away from my actual bookshelf so will check for more later but hopefully that’s okay to start with!

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

So glad Trespasses is on it. I adored it bought it in hardback but gave it to my MIL to read after I was done.

 

[Libbylulu]

I recently visited South Africa and felt I needed to read more on apartheid. I finished a lovely book from a child’s perspective ‘Hum if you don’t know the words’ which I highly recommend

 

[boopthatnose]

I'm a bit slow on the uptake with this one, I know - but I've just had the loveliest Sunday evening with a hot water bottle (absolutely freezing here) a cup of tea, far too many chocolates and a copy of Small Things Like These, which I really enjoyed and thought was beautifully written and quietly thought provoking. I hadn't realised it was set in the weeks running up to Christmas or I'd probably have picked it up over the festive season but really liked it nonetheless and it's got me out of this months reading slump where I've not been motivated to pick up a book so far.

I've ordered Foster to see how it compares.