One Book … a Meme

Published on by Margaret

Simon at Stuck in a Book posted this meme on Friday and I thought I’d join in as I did the last time he ran it. It’s all about the books you’re currently reading, have just read and want to read next.

Do have a go yourself, if you like – and if you do, let me know in the comments so I can come over and have a look!

1.) The book I’m currently reading. I’m reading two:

Gillespie and I by Jane Harris.This has been sitting in a pile by my bed for a few months now and I’ve been wanting to read it ever since I got it, but other books have got in the way. I decided this morning that the time to read it is now and I’ve just read the Preface and the first two chapters. It looks as though I’m going to enjoy it very much.

The other book I’m reading is:

Faulks on Fiction by Sebastian Faulks.I’ve been reading this a chapter at a time and have just finished the one on Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy. It’s a companion book to the TV series on the history of the novel – which I didn’t get round to watching. It tracks the development of the novel through looking at heroes, lovers, snobs and villains. Interesting.

2.) The last book I finished: 

They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie. I finished this yesterday and my review will come later. Wonderful descriptions of Baghdad, based no doubt on Agatha Christie’s own experience. With an international plot to get the world’s two major powers at war this is a fast moving book with intriguing characters – no Miss Marple or Poirot – but a most resourceful shorthand typist,Victoria Jones.

3.) The next book I want to read:

King Solomon’s Carpet by Barbara Vine – one from my to-be-read books. Another dark, tense psychological thriller by Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine.

4.) The last book I bought:

Westwood by Stella Gibbons. This is the next book at my local book group meeting at the end of November. It should make a nice change to read a ‘comic and wistful tale of love and longing‘ as The Times describes it on the back cover.

5.) The last book I was given: 

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff – a review copy, sent to me by the publishers. This has two plots running parallel – set between the present day and wartime Germany.

11 thoughts on “One Book … a Meme”

  1. Thanks for playing! I have read *one* of yours – Westwood, which was very good, although not remotely like Cold Comfort Farm. I’ve also been vaguely meaning to read Faulks on Fiction – I watched a couple of the tv series, and wasn’t hugely impressed by the way he tried to prove huge arcs in literature with three or four examples… perhaps the book is more thorough?

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    1. Well, as I didn’t see the series, Simon, it’s hard to judge, but the book is more about the characters than about the development of the novel, although he does touch on that aspect in the introductions to each section.

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  2. I have Gillespie and I to read as well, it needs though to make it from my shelf to by my bed.

    I must look at the Faulks on Fiction book. I watched the programme and like Simon says there were only a few examples.

    I have also taken part in this meme it is great fun.

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  8. I´m looking forward to your review of King Solomon´s Carpet. That is one of those books I know I will have to reread. I suppose I´ll have to come up with some rereading meme before or later to give me a chance to revisit old gems from the shelves.

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