What fiction or autobiographies are people here currently reading?

“I haven’t read any novels by Terry Pratchett yet, but I really enjoyed the Good Omens adaptation. The casting was fantastic — David Tennant and Michael Sheen really brought the characters to life. The Long Earth sounds intriguing though, so I might have to add it to my list of must-reads!”

“Honestly, I hadn’t heard of Jack Vance before, but I did a bit of research since I love sci-fi, and he sounds exactly like my kind of author! His world-building and the way he mixes clever, morally gray characters with imaginative settings really appeal to me. Definitely going to check out some of his work!”

"Ah, Wilt; such a brilliant comic novel. I read the book and watched the 1984 TV adaptation (not a series), and Griff Rhys Jones is excellent as Sergeant Flint. The mix of farce and those gardening moments still makes me laugh. I also enjoy audiobooks and sometimes read and listen to the same book at the same time. Thanks for the reminder; I might reread it between editing."

Hi Alice,

I’m really sorry you went through such a difficult time with your mum. Dementia can be incredibly hard to navigate, especially when it reaches that stage. It sounds like you did everything you could with the support you had.

You mentioned reading poetry. I haven’t explored it as much as I’d like, aside from some Wordsworth and Keats, and even a slightly tongue-in-cheek nod to Pam Ayres, but I’d really be interested to hear what draws you to the poetry or fiction you enjoy most.

I do tend to return to certain novels, mostly sci-fi. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Do you have a comfort read you go back to?

As for my own writing, it’s still in editing, and I haven’t approached a publisher yet. I’m considering author-friendly houses like BenBella, and if that doesn’t work out, self-publishing is always an option. My book explores themes of identity, personal freedom, and complex relationships, with a focus on emotional intimacy and character-driven storytelling. I’ve had encouraging feedback from beta readers about the emotional depth and natural dialogue.

I’m autistic, and I’ve been told it shapes how I observe and build realistic characters, almost like noticing layers in interaction and behaviour that others might not immediately pick up on.

One beta reader described it as: “A fearless exploration of identity and human relationships, blending emotional depth with sharp wit and natural dialogue.”

Coming back to poetry, I do have a soft spot for Kipling’s “If”, I once heard a powerful reading by Michael Caine, and also Yeats’ “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.” What about you?

Hi again

Ive just read your profile and there are some things we share, some not. So I was diagnosed late, aged 64, but Im female, married to a woman I met in an animal sanctuary, we have not long ago had our first anniversary.

I cared for my mum following early retirement from a large city local authority, Id ended up in finance but had started there as a library assistant. I moved in with her when she was still relatively well and we had a lovely couple of years, later though it became extremely hard, she had Alzheimer’s mixed with vascular dementia. As time progressed and I slowly lost her she became unpredictable and very hard to manage. Fortunately I had a good CPN who had previously worked in dementia care, plus social services were quick to help when they could see I was physically and mentally broken. The I put her in residential care was among the worst of my life. Mum owned her house so had to pay for all care costs, we had up a lasting power of attorney prior so I was able to manage her money without interference from the office of the public guardian (I think thats what the body is called). 

On a lighter note I see you enjoy science fiction, me too. In the 70s I was devouring the cheap paperbacks by Asimov, Pohl, Simak, Van Vogt, E E Doc Smith etc. Eventually I re-read the entire Asimov future history in its correct order. Of more recent scifi authors I was most impressed by Iain M Banks. Now though Im concentrating on the interwar poets, novelists, economists, essayists, artists etc, trying understand in depth the road to WW2 through the lens of culture and the arts in their broadest sense. 

Who is publishing your book and you tell us anything about it? 

Its cooler today and Im very grateful for that

Alice

At the moment Im reading a lot of Ezra Pound + H.D. and Wyndham Lewis, though this is mostly poetry plus a few books of essays. The last fiction I read, first week of May, was All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West. Like you the early and mid 20C fascinates me 

I just finished book 5 in the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. Also currently reading Mort by Pratchett on my kindle. 

I have Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, on the bedside table ready to go, and at some point I will get the latest Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky, as I really enjoyed the other 3. (Though it only got released last month hardback so is still pretty pricey and I have lots of other things to read first). 

I also am reading an autobiography, Love needs no words, an autobiography from a dad with two profoundly autistic non-verbal boys, as I read some of his blog posts and it was uplifting how compassionate and caring he seemed. Another I got at christmas but haven't read yet is Wings Across the Atlantic, a year in the life of two birders. Don't know if that really counts as autobiographical or not!

There is another thread were people are doing mini book reviews of what they read if you are interested in doing that too? But I also like just listing stuff, such as the above!
RE: A book club - with a difference.

At the moment I am re-reading 'Araminta Station' by Jack Vance. Vance was a science fiction author who started writing in the 1950s. The science in his fiction is mostly comparative anthropology. He also wrote fantasy (the way magic works and some of the spells themselves were adopted by the founders of Dungeons and Dragons) and thrillers. I am also rereading the Medieval Icelandic 'Saga of Grettir the Strong' (in translation). I'm about one third the way trough 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' by Robert Tressell, but am making heavy going of it and am continuously skipping to less depressing reads.

I'm currently reading Good Omens: The Official (& Ineffable) Graphic Novel, which is based on the book by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman (but no the TV series) and illustrated by Colleen Doran. Once I've finished that, I'll be returning to another Terry Pratchett book (co-written with Stephen Baxter) The Long Earth, which was a Christmas present from my sister.