What are you reading?

downshifter · 19 March 2017 at 11:44AM

I've decided to have a blitz of my physical books, some of which go back to my teenage years (Dostoevsky's blackest works anyone?) and re-reading them to help make my decisions I realise that many no longer speak to me any more as a 66 yr old separated woman.

Those that I am so far keeping are the Austens, Brontes (all the sisters' works), George Eliot and Eliz Gaskell. After reading these I feel as though I have had a satisfying, healthy and energising meal - and stuff to think about!! Other classics, however, which are on the way out are Dickens (ridiculous characters!) and Hardy is teetering on the edge at the moment. Fay Weldon, who I adored in my 30s, will also go apart from her autobiog. I used to love the academic lives of David Lodge and Malcolm Bradbury but not any more, they seem pretentious now. Others are awaiting their fate.

Of the more modern ones, I read a Kate Atkinson but felt I was wasting my time, didn't empathise with the characters at all; Girl on a Train washed over me as did The Miniaturist etc, and I get annoyed with sloppy writing and especially editing. Most of the more modern books leave me with a 'so what?...' feeling. I think at my age I feel I have seen it all, or read it all, before which obviously isn't true and a very jaded view of things! I was watching a vlog by a reader enthusing about a recent book, but although the ideas were new to her, they were old hat to me at 66.

So what are you reading? What would you recommend for me to start filling up my bookcase again? I can read passing fancies from the library or kindle cheapies but would love to build up a selection of 'keepers' again. I'm thinking of turning my attention to autobiogs or other non-fiction a bit more. I would also like to get into more modern novelists but haven't so far found any I want to read more than one book by.

Any thoughts? Thanks

DS

Katiehound · 19 March 2017 at 3:02PM

Have you tried Victoria Hislop? Her novels are really atmospheric, thought provoking and capture the history of the place- and a good story.
The ones I can think of are:
The Island- leper colony on Spinalonga,
The Sunrise - about the division of Cyprus & invasion of Famagusta
The Return- Spanish civil war.

Before you fill your shelves I'd be borrowing from the library or stocking up from a charity shop! We have one that sells 3 books for £1 so easy to pass on if you are not keen at that price.

For a story teller I would recommend Robert Goddard but I think his early novels are the best. They are quite involved with several threads interwoven , real page turners and always many twists to the tale....... sometimes you have to read a few chapters before being gripped!

Farway · 19 March 2017 at 3:30PM

downshifter wrote: »

. I'm thinking of turning my attention to autobiogs or other non-fiction a bit more.
Any thoughts? Thanks

DS

I mainly read auto or biogs these days, plus compilations that can browsed for a few minutes / hour or so

Shoul add I am male, so my choice my not be for you, not so much touchy feely in the lies of Clarkson's compilations for instance, but it makes me chuckle

For a biog, try Parky's one, or Alan Johnson's, both are honest IMO and not glossy puff "look at how good I am" books that has writer in the good bits but ignore their history about the bad bits

PS tried any science fiction? Not fantasy, but the older stuff by say Isaac Asimov or Clarke?

Arthurian · 19 March 2017 at 3:31PM

I just finished Victoria Hislop's "The Thread" about the history of Thessaloniki through the tale of a young immigrant girl. Very good.

I also laughed out loud many times reading a book probably written for younger women, a chick lit by Sophie Kinsella called "Can You Keep A Secret?" You might learn nothing from it, but you'll raise a smile!

I also read Julian Fellowes' latest "Belgravia" - OK if you're a Downton Abbey addict, but I found his "Past Imperfect" (debs in the sixties) and "Snobs" (middle class woman marries into the aristocracy) much better.

pollypenny · 19 March 2017 at 4:30PM

I've replaced my classic books with kindle versions as I couldn't really see the print.

If it came to a choice between Jane Austen and Dickens, he'd win every time, as would Elizabeth Gaskell.

Of modern authors, David Lodge is one I treasure. Both his catholic strand and academic strand are so witty. Kate Atkinson and Helen Dunmore are great, too.

I hate Victoria Hislop, and all her ilk, with the formulaic woman of a certain age finding a family artefact and tracing its origin, the story of an ancestor and finding herself at the same time.

Sterlingtimes · 19 March 2017 at 6:59PM

Having spent a life reading non-fiction. Now I am slowly working through classic novels with reference to The Telegraph top 100 list:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/100-novels-everyone-should-read/

I have managed most of the top thirty. I gave up on two: Tristram Shandy and In Search of Lost Time. It will take a few years for me to complete the list.

[Deleted User] · 19 March 2017 at 9:20PM

I'm reading "war with Russia" by general Sherriff a recently retired NATO general, fascinating.

EdSwippet · 20 March 2017 at 12:17AM

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Having spent a life reading non-fiction. Now I am slowly working through classic novels with reference to The Telegraph top 100 list ...

You probably already know this, but just in case... a lot of the books on this list are now out of copyright. This means you can pick them up in ebook format from sites such as Project Gutenberg, Manybooks, and Feedbooks, and all completely free of charge.

The FBreader ebook reader in particular integrates well with the latter two sources, and works smoothly on phones and tablets. Some of these books are also available in the Kindle app, but Kindle is somewhat locked into the Amazon ecosystem, so the range of free classic books there tends to be limited.

EdSwippet · 20 March 2017 at 12:30AM

downshifter wrote: »

Most of the more modern books leave me with a 'so what?...' feeling. I think at my age I feel I have seen it all, or read it all, before ...

David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas stands out in my mind as a book that is constructed in a way I'd never seen before. It took me three goes before I could fully embark on it, but once started the effort was more than rewarded.

I also have a soft spot for Iain Banks' Walking on Glass (though Banks purists apparently consider that he later did a better job with the same dynamic in The Bridge).

missile · 20 March 2017 at 6:39AM

Keepers .... why? will you read them again?

bugslet · 20 March 2017 at 9:39AM

Just finishing Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari - read most of it last year then put it down and only recently picked it up again. Most of it fascinating.

Next on the list is the Complacent Class Tyler Cowan.

Prior to Sapiens was Happy by Derren Brown, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Rarely read biographies, but Clarissa Dickson Wrights was brilliant.

One I have recommended many times before and ( so far) not had anyone say they hadn't enjoyed it is Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms by Gerard Russell. It's about the Middle Easts vanishing ancient religions and it's a book I'll keep and re-read.

Sorry I'm not much of a fiction reader!

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