Currently reading?

[Poisoned_Apathy]

I love 19th century literature as well, not just English, but French, Spanish and German too

Although my favourite writter, Thomas Mann, is from 20th century. And I like Yukio Mishima, and the french existentialists - Camus, Sartre etc Oh! And Herman Hesse!! LOL

[godisinthesilences]

i must make some time to read some Sartre...

[The Analog Kid]

Just finished reading Cloud Atlas - not the potential Nobel prize winner wome claim it to be but I would still encourage all here to check it out!

[Sylvie]

the wind up bird chronicle by haruki murakami. amazing, not so sure about the end though. kafka on the shore is great as well.

[Astronaut]

Denis Diderot - "Jacques le Fataliste et son Maitre" funny and filthy at the same time ...

[heartofdavid]

Last book read:"The Smile of a Ghost" by Phil Rickman. Part of a bonkers series about a female Anglican exorcist who goes round accidentally solving murders. I love it!

I like Phil Rickman a lot. Haven't read any in that series though. I like how he uses folk-lore, myth, and music in his writing - also often very rich in historic detail. Have "The Man in the Moss" lined up to read after I finish the book I'm currently reading.

Which is Jonathan Kellerman's "A Cold Heart" - psychological thriller, one of the better ones in his Alex Delaware series. Kellerman tends to be unnecessarily wordy (repetitive, could use a good edit) but his plots and characters are always strong and complex.

[Melaszka]

I like Phil Rickman a lot. Haven't read any in that series though. I like how he uses folk-lore, myth, and music in his writing - also often very rich in historic detail.

Yes, that's true - he really knows his stuff where paganism and tradition is concerned and he deals with quite big issues. And the music, too - the exorcist is dating a Nick Drake-obsessed folk-rock musician and "The Smile of a Ghost" featured an ageing 80s Goth singer as a central character.

Which is Jonathan Kellerman's "A Cold Heart" - psychological thriller, one of the better ones in his Alex Delaware series. Kellerman tends to be unnecessarily wordy (repetitive, could use a good edit) but his plots and characters are always strong and complex.

I've never read any Kellerman, but I might look out for him now, as I'm a sucker for a good thriller.

Can you recommend any good Polish writers? I've read a couple of books by Izabela Sowa recently that I enjoyed.

[heartofdavid]

Can you recommend any good Polish writers? I've read a couple of books by Izabela Sowa recently that I enjoyed.

I've read very few Polish writers I'm afraid. I like Joseph Conrad, just about anything I've read by him. Henryk Sienkiewicz's "Quo Vadis" is good (I love the old film with Deborah Kerr) but it depends on the translation. He wrote an excellent young adult novel called "In Desert and Wildnerness." I like a few of Jerzy Kosinski's books, "Being There" and "Painted Bird" (my favorite of his).

[Melaszka]

Love and Peace with Melody Paradise by Martin Millar

I love this guy's books. They're like a 1990s counter-culture version of P.G. Wodehouse. Like Nick Hornby, but without the smug middle England morality.

[Antinous]

I am currently reading again the fantastic "Memoirs of Adrian", by Marguerite Yourcenar, at the same time as "How to Understand Greek Art" by Flavio Conti, it might be helpful

[heartofdavid]

I'm in nerd-mode and reading a lot of manga lately, Saint-Marie and Satisfaction Guaranteed.

[sisterlondon]

I just finished Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

[godisinthesilences]

I just finished Heal your Life - louise hay.

[godisinthesilences]

Today I just finished How to get the perfect body through the Chakras - don't recall author now. Really good book...

[Poisoned_Apathy]

Right now I'm reading 'Love & Poison' the Suede's authorised biography, by David Barnett. I'm enjoying it a lot, specially knowing a lot of details from the early days