I don't know if there's another thread like this, I tried to find one but no luck. Seems simple enough.

So what are you currently reading?

I'm reading through World War Z by Max Brooks for a second time. Absolutely brilliant. Just ordered two more copies for my brother and my dad. Once I'm done I'm probably going to continue Carol Berg's Rai-kirah trilogy. I'm stopped on part 2 a week ago.

I've just finished reading The Deportees - a collection of short stories by Roddy Doyle. Made me chuckle right the way through.

The next one I'm going to read is called Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. Have no idea what its going to be like, but I liked the cover of the book and its small enough to fit in my handbag going to work

Just finished The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, a novel about a man who rises from poverty in rural India through questionable means--really enjoyed it. I'm starting James Elroy's Because the Night, a 1984 crime fiction novel set in southern California.

Just finished White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. It's this years Booker Prize winner.

It's about the darker side of India and although it's written in a humourous style, the subject matter and message are deadly serious. It's a little hard to get into and some aspects of the novel don't work but generally it's entertaining.

I'm surprised it won the Booker though. It's far more accessible that recent winners (a good thing) but it's shallow and the characterisation is poor. It's all rather forgettable.

This thread should be merged with this one.

Current read: almost finished "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"

hotel behind bars... this guy goes into various jails around the world by his own free will to get a better understanding of life in the various prison systems...

Sherlock Holmes
What a delightful read !!!

I bought
The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Am down to the last 150 pages of "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts. Exceedingly good!

Queuing up for Christmas reading is "Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud" by Peter Watson. Saw it in Orell Füssli in Zurich and though that the title was intriguing....

Great book. Really enjoyed it. The Zombie Survival Guide is a decent toilet book.

with young children haven't the time to read like I use to so I'm into quick reads.. really like the historian writer C J Sansom and have just started his last book *Revelation* in the series.. the stories are rich in history and are based in Tudor England - brilliant!

Martin Luther's Large Catechism.

Haven't read Zombie Survival Guide yet. World War Z may be a bit lowbrow to be considered great litterature, but I think it's deserving of the praise. I just love how it sells the idea of a worldwide apocalypse so thoroughly and believably. Brooks really knows his stuff, and shows how each culture would react without resorting to stereotypes. Being Russian, I read about their hypothetical response to the crisis, and instead of being offended, I was just left nodding my head and saying, "Yeah, that sounds like something we'd do."

Made several long-haul flights recently, so able to tackle three VERY long sci-fi novels: Matter, by Iain M. Banks, and Ilium and Olympos by Dan Simmons.

Love both authors, but was a bit underwhelmed by their latest. Matter is a Culture novel, and as such, brings you deeper into this universe. I am happy to learn more about The Culture, but this story is not up to par, and the ending, without giving anything away, is too abrupt. Especially after almost 1000 pages.

I was greatly anticipating Ilium and Olympos. Ilium was an interesting introduction, but the conclusion in Olympos did not tie together the many threads of the story. While I do not regret reading them both, I was not satisfied. Definitely not as good as the Hyperion/Endymion novels. At least subpar Simmons is better than most of what is out there.

fduvall

There is a difference between a great book and great literature. This is the former.

Been trying to get into Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" but have been struggling to finish the first few chapters. Hope it gets better.

Keep on it. I didn't think it was a masterpiece or anything, but I enjoyed McCarthy's simple-but-rich style. He manages to make a simple post-apocalyptic surivival story into something that seems much deeper. I really should give Blood Meridian a read to see what all the fuss is about.

God Delusion by Dawkins, Demon haunted world by Carl Sagan and Shantaram by some Aussie bloke.

Brida- 'Paulo Coelho'

I read currently "notes from undergrond" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It's definitely worth the time!!

The author of the diary and the diary itself are, of course, imaginary. Nevertheless it is clear that such persons as the writer of these notes not only may, but positively must, exist in our society, when we consider the circumstances in the midst of which our society is formed. I have tried to expose to the view of the public more distinctly than is commonly done, one of the characters of the recent past. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living. In this fragment, entitled "Underground," this person introduces himself and his views, and, as it were, tries to explain the causes owing to which he has made his appearance and was bound to make his appearance in our midst. In the second fragment there are added the actual notes of this person concerning certain events in his life. –Author's Note.

I have had "World without End" by Ken Follett sitting by my bed for months , It is a follow on from the wonderful "The Pillars of the Earth" and I have just started it so hopefully will finish it in the next few weeks - it is sooooooooo long.....

Have just finished "Chatwin" by Nicholas Shakespeare, the no-holds barred, no stone unturned biography of my favorite writer. A brilliant book, but I think that after reading it I like Bruce Chatwin less, due to knowing him much better.
How far should greatness excuse bad behaviour (e.g. seducing Jasper Conran whilst happily married)?

Have just started "God is not great" by Christopher Hitchin. Looks like being even better than Dawkin's "The God Delusion".