Hello book fans. Just thought I would check in firstly to thank those who have commented so far on May’s book club choice ‘I am Pilgrim,’ and to ask those of you who may have started it or may be contemplating it, to get your skates on!
What do you think so far? Enjoying it? I have now finished it, but I am not going to put up my review until the last week of May as promised, so if you haven’t read it yet, you best get going! It’s not a short read!
If you have finished it, what else are you reading? I am going to put up June’s book club choice on the Monthly Book Club page later today. If you wish to get started it is called ‘H is for Hawk’ by Helen Macdonald, and I have to admit this is a very personal choice. You will see why when you read the summary. You have plenty of time to read it, as I won’t be reviewing it until the end of June.
So, what I want to know is, what else is everyone reading? I have a pile of books so high by my bed, it is becoming ridiculous. Among them are; ‘The King’s Curse’ by Philippa Gregory, ‘The Last Empress’ by Anchee Min (the sequel to Empress Orchid which I absolutely adored) ‘The Sense of Style, The Thinking Person’s guide to writing in the 21st Century’ by Steven Pinker (non-fiction, started….brilliant so far) and ‘The Signature of All Things’ by Elizabeth Gilbert. I feel utterly overwhelmed just looking at them all. Any tips for which ones I should get on with immediately?! Anyone read any of them? Care to comment?
Earlier this year I had a meeting with the people who published my dad’s life story that I wrote with him, Hachette Books Ireland. As I was leaving they said, ‘oh would you like some books?’ and proceeded to fill two enormous bags with the latest bestsellers. I can’t even look at them, as I break out into a sweat at all the books I have yet to read! So if you need any books, you know where to come. At least I won’t have to buy a book for at least the next year (maybe two!)
Anyway what are you reading? Please do tell. I am also having a strange urge presently to read classic novels. I think it was going to see ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ that did it. I was reminded of what an amazing story teller Hardy was, and I want to dive back into Tess and all his other great stories. Oh well, I will just have to take it one book at a time and learn how to speed read!
The Book Club Cafe 
Hi Liesl. Welcome to the Book Club Cafe! Delighted you have joined us and I hope we will be able to give you as many good recommendations as you have just given us! I am thrilled with your suggestions and have book marked them all for future reads. I may even suggest one of them for a future monthly book club choice. Thank you so very much.
It seems you are a prolific reader, so you are definitely in the right place. I have looked at your site and how you find time to read on top of all your other interests is mind boggling to me!
I can’t promise we can give you anything that will blow your mind like your previous best read, but at least you can have a look and consider your options. I haven’t read it yet, but ‘H is for Hawk’ is our June book club read and it does come highly recommended. I am going to throw in a few more that I have been told are well worth a read; Sarah Bannon and her new book ‘Weightless.’ If you like crime thrillers then ‘I am Pilgrim’ was a roller coaster ride. I would also recommend Kate Atkinson’s new book ‘A God in Ruins’ simply because I think anything she does is brilliant, and I can’t wait to read that one. There are also all the books I mention in the blog post above. Look forward to hearing how you get on and thanks for your recommendations.
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Hi there, I’m new to your blog and will have to check out your June selection to see if I can read along with you. I have personally been reading in fits and starts ever since last summer. I read some of the greatest books, and then fell into a bit of a dark place of feeling like nothing else could compare to the greatness is just read.
I started with The Serpent of Venice, by Christopher Moore – then read Fool by him as well. It turns out he is my guilty pleasure. He writes beautifully, and also cusses like a sailor, which I don’t, but found it deliciously naughty.
Then I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, and cried when I was finished and had to return it to the library. The librarian said I could keep it and read it again, but that wasn’t the point. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted it to keep going forever. So beautiful and spunky, quirky, full of books and book love, and life. One if the best books I’ve ever read.
Then I happened upon The All Soul’s Trilogy. I didn’t know it was a trilogy at first. When I was 3/4 through the first book, I went scurrying to find anything else she had written and found out my story wasn’t ending for another two books. I don’t remember ever being so overjoyed by news of s book! This trilogy has spoiled me for a while. No sweeping story can hold my attention, no romantic character is anywhere as noble or stunning – I finished it, sat for a few days in awe, and then started it all over again.
Since then, I have been reading books on parenting, poetry, anything but a novel. I want to be carried away with a great story. I don’t know how to move past this last great read!
But summer is coming. I need to find something that will capture me.
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