Best reads - Club Together Book Club?

The author is Hendrik Groen. It's his diary

Ta. I thought it might be a bit like Adrian Moles diary, written as a novel. Will check it out.

Just finished Ken Clarke's autobiography "Kind of Blue". As he has been around for a while it covers quite a slice of post war politics. He is a very big jazz fan and all the chapters are named after favourite songs! He comes across as a very laid back character, perhaps the only way to survive in politics? 

David

I'm halfway through Salman Rushdie's latest novel "The Golden House". I enjoy his books - they're always very challenging and tell a riveting story.

But I reckon that bloke must have a brain the size of a London bus! He uses such complicated language and obscure references and sentences that turn into complete paragraphs! Good stuff, but not an easy read! 

Just finished "The Verdict" by Nick Stone - an amazing legal thriller ( murder/ courtroom) and unusually set in Britain.  A fabulous  read.

I think they call him a writer’s writer! I enjoyed Midnights Children but not many of his other books. I sometimes think it’s a choice between being entertained and being educated. I think it was William Boyd who recently said that there are only about half a dozen literary writers in the UK today. I tend to agree with that and often find myself drifting to the US and foreign (translated) authors.

My list would start with Rushdie, Boyd, McEwan, Mantel, Amis but I am sure there are quite a few others so I think 6 is maybe a bit mean. 

I had a book for Christmas from my sister, the same one that I'm reading at the moment "A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived" So now I have two copies.. I mentioned it on here earlier. Anyone else with a new book, hopefully one they haven't read before?

I don't often read biographies, especially those "celebrity life stories".

But for Christmas I treated myself to "Reckless Daughter", a portrait of the Canadian singer Joni Mitchell. I've loved her music ever since the first time I heard the album "Blue" back in the early 70's. Although she is known for laying her soul bare in her songs, she's always been a very private person and this new biography has given a fascinating insight, particularly into her early years and climb to stardom. 

It's a brilliant read for any of her fans. 

(Also got Robert Harris' latest - Munich - on hold!)

I've just read his "Conclave" whilst on the cruise. Interesting and sympathetic insight into papal elections.

Following the recommendation by tda I've just read Catherine Bailey's Black Diamonds, an extraordinary tale of family feuds, forbidden love, civil unrest and the downfall of a mining dynasty. A fascinating insight into the story behind the closure of one of England's greatest houses, Wentworth Woodhouse.