The Bookworm's Thread 2016

mumps

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'm exactly the same.

Apart from thrillers I find most modern novels full of first world problems and angst - they always seem to me to have been written specifically to be discussed in book groups where people discuss whether or not they like the characters (as in would like them socially if they were real). I don't think mine is the only book group that discusses books in the same way they discuss characters in a soap.

February's book is Mansfield Park, which I love, but I have a feeling that the discussion will be more Mansfield Street than Mansfield Park.:(

Rant over.

Those modern novels sound like the ones where I realise I couldn't care less and stop reading.

Goldiegirl

pollypenny wrote: »

What I really find formulaic are those many books with a 30 something heroine, who finds herself after finding a relic from her family. They're usually told by two narrators, our heroine and her ancestor whose life was traumatic. Victoria Hislop and Rosie Thomas are culprits.

I don't mind those books sometimes - I call them timeslip books, as the two stories move back and forward in time.

The books I don't like are the ones normally set in the East End of London, or Liverpool, and feature a young heroine living a poverty stricken life at any time for the late 19th century to WW2. These books normally feature a picture on the cover of a young woman in a pinny with terraced houses in the background.

mumps

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I don't mind those books sometimes - I call them timeslip books, as the two stories move back and forward in time.

The books I don't like are the ones normally set in the East End of London, or Liverpool, and feature a young heroine living a poverty stricken life at any time for the late 19th century to WW2. These books normally feature a picture on the cover of a young woman in a pinny with terraced houses in the background.

I always think they are Catherine Cookson rip offs.

savingpennies

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Ooh, check you out! Will one be going to Hay-on-Wye this year?

It's the first event of this kind I have been to and would love to go to the festival at Hay-on-Wye. I spotted a festival at Keswick last year but wasn't able to go because of work. As I am about to retire soon I hope to go to one or two events at Keswick this year.

AliBee16

I'll be interested to see everyone's recommendations on this thread. I have already downloaded The Wolves of London to my kindle. I am doing an Eng Lit degree so it it is quite obvious I love books, and all genres except Chick Lit. In between reading Moliere's Tartuffe and Hamlet for my course I have enjoyed The Handmaids's Tale by Margaret Attwood, though it shows it's 70's feminist vibe and Child 44 which is a near perfect crime novel, in the last month or so. I started The Bone Clocks but gave up because I needed more explanation of the fantasy sequences to keep up my interest. Might try again though

VfM4meplse

Goldiegirl wrote: »

The books I don't like are the ones normally set in the East End of London, or Liverpool, and feature a young heroine living a poverty stricken life at any time for the late 19th century to WW2. These books normally feature a picture on the cover of a young woman in a pinny with terraced houses in the background.

Have you read "Small Island" by Andrea Levy? It might change your mind. There is some pre-and WW2 plot, but a lot is post war.

savingpennies

AliBee16 wrote: »

I'll be interested to see everyone's recommendations on this thread. I have already downloaded The Wolves of London to my kindle. I am doing an Eng Lit degree so it it is quite obvious I love books, and all genres except Chick Lit. In between reading Moliere's Tartuffe and Hamlet for my course I have enjoyed The Handmaids's Tale by Margaret Attwood, though it shows it's 70's feminist vibe and Child 44 which is a near perfect crime novel, in the last month or so. I started The Bone Clocks but gave up because I needed more explanation of the fantasy sequences to keep up my interest. Might try again though

I loved The Handmaid's Tale, I taught it to a group of 6th formers a few years ago. When you look at the news now regarding ISIS, it's not so much science fiction, especially when you see how the young women are passed amongst the men.

nanamags

Hi what a great thread. I'm an avid reader my Mum used to say that I would read brown paper if I could. I have been running my local library book club for nearly 12 years when the library stopped evening opening we decided to have our monthly meeting in a local resturant. The library provides the books. Too be honest it is more of a social group now and we spend maybe 10 minutes talking about books. I am reading the 12th book in the Merrily Watkins Mysteries series of books by Phil Rickman. I love them different to a lot of crime books. I can also recommend the PC Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronvitch again a different crime novel and I can't wait for the lastest one which is not due until July 2016.

Giddynmg

JackieO wrote: »

I would love to go there for the festival, I visited it a couple of years ago when on holiday with my friend ,who like me, is a great bookworm 28 shops all selling books I was in heaven.
One odd little book that I have read that's always stuck in my mind was
'Five People you meet in Heaven' by Mitch Albom. Caterina who posts on here, bought it for me when we were in Blackpool several years ago at an MSE 'meet' and almost everyone in my family has read it.
Its a great read and I can highly recommend it

I read that Mitch Albom book and have read all the others since, currently reading his latest. I too have introduced many others to him now.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Can I join plse?

I used to always have 3 books on the go - one a light page turner fiction (for example My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picult) - one fiction that I would have to think about (for example a Ruth Rendell or Rebus or Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Awesome book Fantasy Novel - could not put it down!!) - one 'learning' book - either my course material or something relevant to it (so Hawkins' Theory during my Chemistry Degree or Mavarick (a biography about runing a company by praising and valuing employees) during my Business Degree) but I seem to have got older and more addled and cant do that these days!!

So now have one book at a time on the go - 7 years ago I had a truely horrible year - wont bother you with the details but the repercussions are still with me but are now better dealt with but I almost stopped reading! I really kick started again with Name of the Wind (given to me by my son last year) and then read a forgettable pulp novel!

Best book of 2015 non- fiction was 'What the F**k is Normal' by the comedienne Francesca Martinez - a real insight into the life of someone born with what society terms a disability! So funny as well - look her up on U Tube folks!!!

Now reading 'Flying Under Bridges' by Sandi Totsvig - really well written - relates to how many of feel about supermarkets (honest) definitely will finish it! :beer:

I have a list of 'Books I have read' with a small review written in a pretty book that someone gave me so that I dont have to keep copies of all the books I have read but can easily recall them if I want! In the back is a list of 'Books I want to read' compiled from reccomendations/reviews! Think your contributions will go there!
Thanks :A
Nite - off to read another chapter