I forgot to say, there is about the same basic level of sex & violence in "Lie Down With Lions"

I just glossed over that part!

Currently reading (For the Term of) His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke, an Australian classic which has never been out of print. It's about an innocent man in England who was pronounced guilty of murder and transported to Australia. About 2/5 through and the many adventures and coincidences remind me of The Count of Monte Cristo. (Available free in numerous formats from Project Gutenberg.)

A recent forced turn out of the bookshelves due to the decorators coming has unearthed some forgotten treasures. Tucked away on a top shelf I found "Up The Garden Path" by Beverley Nicholls and I am happily immersed in it. Long out of print I would think it is the story of how he bought a house just because it had a long neglected garden and how he brought the garden back. A delightful piece of writing that is quite old fashioned in a lot of ways but a complete joy to gardners.

Oh Gosh, Beverley Nichols! I had quite forgotten him. A really prolific writer with an interesting life. He was PR to Nellie Melba for a start! I really must find a biography. Thanks for reminding me. My gran adored him, he wrote a weekly piece in Women's Own.
"He's lovely dear, one of those 'hermafrites' but I love his books!"

I just finished reading David Baldacci's, "The Sixth Man". His books usually deal with politics, spies, espionage, and figures of power. "The Sixth Man" has it all and is written so well that you'll swear that all of it is true or could be.

Thanks for the recommendation, postal! I'll try to get my hands on that when I'm back home in a couple of weeks.

It seems like ages since I read a book. I've been so busy with full-time work and other things, that I haven't found the time to read, except for magazines and newspapers, which are usually read whilst eating my lunch at work.

I remember the days (pre-children) when I would start a book, couldn't put it down, and would spend the entire weekend reading it, to the exclusion of everything else including housework.

Well, obviously such an appalling situation needs to be rectified, so last night I started reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" which was recommended to me by the lady who runs our local second-hand book shop. I'm only on Chapter 2 but so far it is absorbing.

Carole, do not buy the other two in the series! I have them here waiting for your visit! (if you like that one, that is!)

"Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem. Lionel - the protagonist with Tourette's Syndrome - is an enormously sympathetic character, and I'm loving the seedy, shady Brooklyn he's ticcing his way through.

I borrowed my Mother's old Kindle (she got the 'Fire') and proceeded to download a few free books from Amazon.

The first book I read was "The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War, 1861-1865" by Leander Stillwell. I found it very interesting as it was written more as a memoir to his son, than a book for publishing. It was written in 1917 (according to the Library of Congress) so is a true look back from an honest, intelligent and detailed author.

The second book was "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself" by Harriet Ann Jacobs. Look like it was written in 1861, so she was careful to leave out information about how she escaped the slavery of the south and the methods (and characters) that helped her along the way. It's very well written account and, again, I really relish in first person accounts such as this. It wasn't easy to read at some points but she doesn't delve into the detail of the horrors she experienced, but does touch on many. I would expect that a mother would have a deeper understanding of her story and struggle.

Currently reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I'd never read it, so figured it was about time and fit in with the theme of the other two books mentioned. Only about a quarter of the way into it, but it's been good so far. I do not like authors that write in the "slang" (for lack of a better term, maybe broken southern English is a better way to put it) of the time. It makes it much more difficult to read and understand what is being said than if it was whole, plain words. Perhaps that's needed to engross the reader in the subject and put them "in the time" being talked about, but I find it distracting more often than not.

Especially since Ms Stowe was no Mark Twain, and didn't really have a finely-tuned ear.

"Shantaram" Gregory David Roberts.
Oh wow!
I am so enjoying this. What a terrific style. He writes about Bombay and you KNOW he has been there and he takes you back there too. It is autobiographical, he is an escaped criminal and he arrives in Bombay and begins to have the feeling I had, but he stays. You must love him , and especially the people he meets. A terrific find.

Following on from my last comment, this is a very long book and I am flagging a bit after my initial enthusiasm. I cannot help feeling it is all a bit exagerrated. That one man has done so much is a bit of a tall order for me. However, I still say the descriptions of Bombay life are second to none, and it is worth reading for that, especially if you have been there.

Anyone else a fan of Scandinavian crime novels? I've just finished the latest - and last - of the Wallander series by Henning Mankell who has a way of capturing the clear Swedish light as well as the thought processes of a middle-aged provincial policeman. The books take a bit of getting into as they have a rhythm of their own but they are very well-written and with good characterisation. I've been reading them since the first was published in English in the late 1990s, and now that Mankell has said there will be no more I shall have to find some other dour Swede to depress me.

I used to read Per Whaloo and Maj Sjöwall's "Martin Beck" series. They are a bit dated now (Whaloo died in 1975) but still have that Scandinavian flavour.

I do have a fondness for Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole novels.

Just finished A J Jacobs' "The Year of Living Biblically" which was pretty good, though not quite as good as I'd hoped. The author spends a year trying to follow every rule in the Bible. He's a secular Jew, and the book is most interesting, and most moving, when his task puts him in touch with his heritage. All in all it's a little superficial and I found myself wanting more detail and more depth on some subjects, but still an enjoyable read. I'd think anyone with very strict fundamentalist beliefs might find it a bit flippant, but I'd guess any run-of-the-mill Christian, Jew, or agnostic would find it interesting and maybe thought provoking.

I've also been rereading a lot of Susan Isaacs. Her books are really beach reads - fun and easy - but I've always really liked her style.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach. I really enjoyed it, but it has put me off seeing the film as it seems nothing like it. I would watch anything with that cast though, so I am sort of torn. I then went to the library and ordered a few more by the same author. She is, I think, a clever and very original writer, and I have been enjoying them.I am just getting into "The Stand-in" about an actress who seems to live the lives of the actresses she stands in for. Looks promising.

Just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night, Mark Hadden. It's been sitting in my to read pile for ages. Love the way he really gets into the mind of an autistic child, I found the whole book compelling, couldn't put it down.

Ren33, I totally agree. I read Moggach's novel a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it; the characters are beautifully drawn, and in such a light and gentle way, with lots of humour thrown in.

I read the Haddon novel several years ago and also found it compelling, Christinap. In fact I think I'll dig it out and re read it!

I'm reading "The King's Speech" by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi. Logue scripted the popular biopic of how his grandfather Lionel Logue helped Albert, Duke of York, conquer the latter's debilitating stammer so he could ascend the British throne when his older brother Edward abdicated.

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John Grisham’s “The Rainmaker.” (I bought it on audio from my local community library in a book sale. Still on tape one of four, but so far it’s very good.

The last book I read (in Braille) was “Firestorm” by David Klass. It’s the first in his “Caretaker Trilogy,” and I actually read it twice. It’s an environmental thriller, and I highly recommend it to those who are interested in that kind of thing. Well written, to say the least.

I am still reading Deborah Moggach books Wow this one is great (The Stand-in) It has so much tension I was on the edge of my seat (well bed!) She is such a clever writer I don't know what is coming next.

“Anyone else a fan of Scandinavian crime novels?” I never even heard of him until the library sent me “Before the Frost.” I found I couldn’t put it down once I started listening—I just had to know what happened next. Kind of surprised myself with that one.

“Just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night, Mark Hadden.” Tried listening to that a few years ago, but for whatever reason couldn’t get into it. Maybe one of these days I’ll try again.

Just finished 'Katherine' by Anya Seton. I love it 35 years ago and I loved it again second time around.

A Wanted Man by Lee Child, his latest book.

Now excuse me, I need to get back to it.

Trunk Music (A Harry Bosch mystery) by Michael Connelly. Do love my mysteries

Love that one! In fact, great series. I haven't read them all as I was late getting started, but reading them in order.

Reading "Minding Frankie" Maeve Binchy's last novel. Seems to be very standard Binchy, so far, but maybe a little rushed. I think I might re read some of her earlier stuff, where she wasn't so determined to cram a cast of thousands in.