Coming up to the holiday season I was wondering what everybody is reading?
For myself I have got two books on the go; one fiction and the other non-fiction
Fiction: Howards End by by E. M. Forster, and
Non-fiction: Six Not-So Easy Pieces (Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry and Space-Time) by Richard Feynman
Very funny:
Bit of light pre canapé reading ( for an Oxford Don) haha 😂
Hi MichaelJH, gosh they sound very high brow to me! I am afraid I am much more low brow but I guess it is all about what we enjoy. I am currently reading a novel by Ruth Jones of Gavin and Stacey fame and also a book on Queen Elizabeth by Giles Brandreth, Take care, Judi
Is the Giles Brandreth book good? I have dropped a few hints to hubby that I would like a copy
Hello nursenancy53, it’s a really good and kind and interesting portrait of the late queen. Giles Brandreth writes in a really good style, I think he is a genuinely nice guy which helps! It’s only my opinion but I would recommend it. Take care, Judi
Thanks Judi, will drop a few more hints
Same here Michael, I always have two books on the go,
One tends to allow me to disappear into a blanketed world of imagination , while the other normally tends answers a few earth based problems both physical { changing a plug } to mental { what am I really doing here? ]
So at the moment I have struck lucky { a lot of poor reads to get here ] and will miss both when I have finished them.
Fiction :- The Brief History Of The Dead , by Kevin Brockmeier
Non. :- Breaking The Age Code, by Becca Levy
Howards End is an interesting choice, more of a Room With A View fan myself, but like all his work.
EM Forster own personal life is fascinating and you can see by his own problems how his stories were formed.
Well, there are two books permanently by my bedside I dig into when I get the urge to read something. Like you one is fiction and one non-fiction. The fiction is "Three Men in a Boat", I just open it randomly and read a bit. I know what's coming but it always entertains me. Although it's fiction, for me it's from life; the entertainment is about laughing at yourself. The other book is Stephen Hawkins' "A Brief History of Time". I'm not so successful with this one; it's been beside my bed for years and I'm still on the first chapter. I keep going back to the beginning and read a few paragraphs until a headache sets in.
I like a good murder detective book, so I'm going through the series of Angela Marsons at the moment.My other book is a rather large hardback book called The Battle for Monte Cassino, Then and Now by Jeffrey Plowman and Perry Rowe. My father was in WW2 and I like studying the Italian campaign which he took part in. (Don't all yawn at once will yer)😉.
Lily
No Yawn's from me.
Great choice, got quite a number of the After the Battle series, so I know how good these are, but not this one (It on my to purchase list).
On my Christmas wishlist I have asked for a second hand book called Footprints on Monte Cassino by Jerry Kubica.
trying not to 🥱
My father bequeathed me a pair of brass binoculars. Very nice. Then when in Truieste and visiting the museum I came across a section on Italian troops in the Alps during the war. The Commander was carrying an identical set of binoculars to mine but quite how such an item found its way to my father who was unable to join the army, I don't know.
I am reading a oeter james called Picture you dead
I'm reading Peter James Wednesday's child - love a good detective story
I'm reading Peter James's The KIlling Room - I'm another detective story lover 
Ooh I'd like to know if you'd recommend it when you've finished. I couldn't find a suitable book. Instead I'm watching the Cardiovascular Physiology course (17 videos) on YouTube by Ninja Nerd. I'm on #8.
I am rereading "The Constant Gardener" is a 2001 by John le Carré. Personally like James Bond the book is far better than the film.
My bedside browsing is "British Cars of the Sixties". Lots of memories and you could tell them apart then.
Good topic as usual @MichaelJH. See you Sunday!
Excellent. Thanks for the link. Duly downloaded.
Hi Michael good post I love to know what people are reading.
At the moment I’m reading a daft MC Beaton Agatha Raisin and the other is one I bought 11 years ago at a book signing, Behind the black door by Sarah Brown wife of Gordon. Taken me a while to get to that one but it’s interesting.
I love the agatha raisin audiobooks read by Penelope Kieth. I frequently fall asleep to them with a daft smile on my face! However, my current audiobook is 'Mid Winter Murder' by Agatha Christie - lots of Christmasy short stories. I will move onto 'A Chrismas Carol' 2 or 3 days before Xmas day to get myself in the mood.
I like factual or more complex audio books as well but tend to listen to them during the day when Im doing things, not when Im trying to drift off.
You should set up a virtual book club
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, wet myself but have a tablet for that !
A fellow scientist a subject close to my ❤️🩹 Biology was my subject followed by Physics after your Einstein book 📚 I would suggest Charles Darwin Origin of the Species
can you give us the author, there seems to be a few on Amazon. Thanks
I have found out I 'benefit or suffer (dependent on your point of view) from Tsundoku and currently have in excess of over 100 books awaiting to be read!
Everything from fiction crime/historical to railway line history to the study of the mediterranean between 1936 and 1945.
I have a few too, many on my Kindle app.
Aren’t you lot clever, give me a good crime novel, or aTerry Pratchett one, by the time I get time to read I just need something easy. See you tomorrow Michael, what time does it start?🎉🥂
The Diaries of Chips Channon😸
Hi, I am a fan of Sebastian Faulks and have read a number of his books including Bird Song, Snow Country and a Week in December which are all quite brilliant. Currently into A Fools Alphabet, but hoping Santa will bring the latest Robert Harris novel! Enjoy!
Just read the Real Peaky Blinders hard going but interesting. Obviously the TV series was a lot of fiction.Also just finished No Plan B Jack Reacher book.
None on the go now. Just back from Lakes very cold but lovely views with the snow.
I'm reading Hello World by Hannah Fry and the Miriam Margolyes autobiography 🙂
A good question from you as usual and it takes me back nearly 60 years to my school days. We did Howard's End for A level and I hated it. Hated it even more when we were made to read the rest of Forster's books. I'm reading a"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson and "Oblivion" by Arnaldur Indridason a great Iclandic crime writer.
The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne
A couple of chapters in on Peter Mays Runaway. The one I keep is The Rubayat of Omar Khyam. There's a new Michael Connolly on my Christmas list 😊
Runaway is really good. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I did.
show off!!🤭 I’m reading Gervais Phinn -The Virgin Mary’s got nits! - recollections of a primary school inspector in the Dales-brilliant!! Happy Christmas!!
Hi MichaelJH and all the ❤️
I’m a Kate Mosse fan. Just finished The Burning Chambers which was very easy to escape with when you have the worst cold/flu since lockdown. Bed for a week now and still no energy. (All together now Awwwwww!) Recommended. Set in Carcassonne and Toulouse in 1562.
Non Fiction - Birds by Jim Moir. I love the birds in the garden and this hits the spot. His paintings are so lovely. Each bird come with an interesting fact. The Hobby for example - Peter Adolph, a keen ornithologist wanted to patent a new game and call it The Hobby. Patent office refuse so he called it Subbuteo after the bird. Falco Subbuteo - Hobby!
Hope you all keep well and warm in this freezing cold weather.
Maisie ❤️
Hi,at the moment I am reading They disappeared by Joy Ellis. I have enjoyed a lot of her books, I like a good crime thriller and psychological thrillers
I'm currently reading the hideaway. A romance. Very descriptive. A fairly short read but enjoyable. On amazon.
I’m reading a John Grisham novel right now. I love a legal thriller and he is such a good author. Your post reminded me that I read ‘Surley you’re joking Mr Feynman’ many moons ago whilst I was doing my dissertation on Chaos Theory. A book well worth reading. He was a real character, someone I would have liked to meet! So clever but such fun.
Well, what a varied selection you're all reading. I don't do highbrow, I like a good story, preferably a thriller, that takes me out of myself. My all-time favourite book is Others by James Herbert, I read it every year religiously. At the moment I'm going through the crime series DCI Robert Kett by Alex Smith. Can recommend. Another one I can read every few years is Papillon by Henri Charrierre. The film doesn't do it justice. Happy reading y'all.
I’m reading the Richard Osman novels. Very funny in parts, but also sad. Well written, and a new one out next year.
Have read the first 2 and have had the 3rd out from the library for some time not got round to reading yet. Love his characters, just so true to life. Have also got Richard Coles book 'A Murder before Evensong' waiting to be read, plus our librarian keeps plying me with various new authors, it's no wonder that the housework never gets done😊😡
Hello Michael. Brilliant post as always.
Just finished reading The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson and a Man called Ove by Frederick Backman again!!
I'm half way through Animal Farm and am looking at the Richard Osman books on my bookshelf so I guess I'll be reading those again!!!
All the very best
Jan xx
Loved, The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
animal farm came true ( this year )
Love a good murder mystery but at the moment I'm reading my granddaughter's copy of Spaceboy by David Walliams, his kid's books ate very much in the style of Roald Dahl and she always lends me her latest one.
As I've been feeling a bit nostalgic I thought I'd try The Plague, by Albert Camus. For non-fiction I tend to read Ebay, especially in the middle of the night. I was lusting after a Moog Matriarch synthesiser last night, which led me on an ambient trip through Youtube.
1. Simon Gandolfi - Old men can't wait, (true account/story of a septuagenarian's ten month ride on a 125 honda from the tip of south america to new york) including him getting run down by 3 trucks, leg in plaster - as he describes it as "not a first good day!"
@the age of 73 it's amazing what can be done this guy's had 2 minor heart attacks, is overweight (his words not mine) and a bad back. And a very understanding wife. The book gives an insight into the adventure and also cultural differences and perceptions some may have of various parts of south america.
His previous book (Old man on a bike) was a printed a few years before and was detailing his downward journey but using a different route/countries.
2. Porterhouse Blues by Tom Sharpe (audio tape cassette book spoken by David Jason who starred in the TV adaptation of same).
I tend to have 1 written book and 1 audible book on the go at the same time, switch to audible when my eyes get tired.
I discovered Wattpad which is a platform for mostly amateur writers and has full length books and short stories on a plethora of subjects and its mostly free to read although some stories can be paid for. You can also write your own stories on the platform, which I am trying to do also. I thoroughly recommend it.
I’ve got one too read non fiction : Entangled life by Merlin sheldrake and just because of been stressed and used never to really read much I’m on book two of Lee child’s REACHER series … and I have to say when the worries get me at 1am these books have been bloody amazing !
Currently reading Prudence and Jane by Barbara Pym. There was an article in the New Yorker about the author and it sounded kind of interesting so I thought I would try one of her books. On deck is Slough House by Mick Herron (I really like the TV show so I thought I would try the book).
Outlander love it
which woman? Agatha or Sarah? 😄
just read ‘Daughter Detox’ interesting read. Now on to lighter reading, Ladies midnight swimming club.
I'm reading the daily mail & the express as I'm working towards my medical degree 😳🤣🤣
😬😬😬
BP bottom reading
Blood pressure reading all over the place. 
Benefits
Read any good books about heart failure/heart disease?
Ejection fraction reading
