Here are some of my fave books - tell me what to read next....

[lilolilmanchester]

I read a very wide range of books from crap to classics.

My fave books include:
"Shadow of the Wind" Carols Ruiz Safon
"Secret History" Donna Tart
"Noble House" James Clavell
"Atonement" Ian McEwan ("Chesil Beach" OK; "Enduring Love" a bit dark
"Charlotte Gray" Sebastian Faulks (but found Engleby a bit dark)
"Prince of Tides" Pat Conroy

Classics:
anything by DH Lawrence/Thomas Hardy.
Never really got in to Austen or the Brontes

Like Anita Shreve, Anne Tyler, John Grisham, Ben Elton, Tony Parsons, some Nick Hornby. Also loved Bridget Jones and the Shopaholic books. And good old family sagas such as Iris Gower.

So, fairly wide ranging! Any thoughts???

[FlyingMonkey]

If you like Anita Shreve and Anne Tyler, then you would probably like Rose Tremain. Try Music & Silence first, it's brill.

Would also suggest The Thirteeth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

Re: Classics - what about Henry James or Edith Wharton?

[piscesmoon]

Yu could try Patrick Gale-start with Notes from an Exhibition.

[lilolilmanchester]

Thanks FlyingMonkey, will investigate.Any particular James/Wharton you'd recommend?

[lilolilmanchester]

thanks Pisces

[SixtyFootDoll]

Isabelle Allende

Time Travellers Wife

[lilolilmanchester]

(actually, it would be v.helpful if you could let me know which of the authors/books I've listed are like the books you are recommending to help me choose things to suit the mood of the moment... thanks)

[cookielove]

if you like shopaholic try other ones from her such as do you remember? and undomestic goddess

[FlyingMonkey]

Wharton - The House of Mirth or The Age of Innocence
James - The Portrait of a Lady or The Turn of the Screw

[lilolilmanchester]

thanks SixtyFootDoll, can't believe this has got so many responses so quickly!

[rempy]

Rose Tremain, or even better, Carole Shields. Unless is fab.

[FlyingMonkey]

Forgot to say, Family Saga + Classic(ish) = The Forsythe Saga. I haven't read it (or them, as actually several books) but I've heard good things. Anyone else read it?

[lilolilmanchester]

Have read Undomestic Goddess, didn't like it as much as the Shopaholics - oh, but loved "Can you keep a secret"

[cookielove]

dorothy koomson - my best friends girl is nothing like kinsella but i think a good read

[gallery]

I have read 2 of yours- donna tart and sebastian faulks- this is not light evening reading
Some of my faves which might meet this category
Miss smillias feeling for snow
william treveor books
muriel spark
(i am looking at my bookshelf for inspiration)

I read more easy fiction these days but enjoyed the prose of the writers above
another author who really caused me to stop and re read his pages was William Golding Fire down below, rites of passage, close quarters. His language is excellent
Also cormac mac carthey, all the pretty horses, I had to re read page 1 several times as so beautifully written- also great plot

[CarmelitaMiggs]

The Hidden by Tobias Hill really reminded me of The Secret History

[mrsruffallo]

Oooh gallery, I love Miss Smillas Feeling For Snow. One of my favourites.
I suggest Daphne De Maurier, OP. Great big atmospheric stories, lots of romance and Cornish landscape.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Another vote for Notes from an exhibition-Patrick Gale.
Slumdog Millionaire (or Q&A as it was originally called) fab story and SOOOO much better than the film which was highly over-rated IMHO.
To Be Someone - Louise Voss
Anything by Mike Gayle- funny but thoughtful too.

[Lulubee]

Def another vote for Notes from an Exhibition - was one of the best books I read last year. Also 'When we were bad' by Charlotte Mendelson which is a very insightful/funny book about a dysfunctional family and their Rabbi mother. Sounds weird but vv good.

[Lulubee]

I loved 'Shadow of the Wind' by the way - didn't want it to end!

[lilolilmanchester]

sooo many suggestions, will investigate over the weekend. A friend has passed on the Poisonwood Bible, and the Book Thief. Haven't started either - not sure I like the look of them Has anyone read them please? Are they anything like other books I have read? (Lulubee, Shadow of the Wind was my fave book this year!!)

[lilolilmanchester]

oops, forgot to say thanks... "Thanks all"

[catinthehat2]

Range a bit wider and try some science fiction?

Classics eg Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

or

Stuff on which movies were based eg most of Philip K Dick ( I recommend Flow my Tears the Policeman Said)

Loads out there.

[Lou2222]

A prayer for Owen Meanie - John Irwin. Is the best book in the world ..I read a lot and only have an A level in English, degree in Archeology But it is the best book out of hundreds I have read.........

[lilolilmanchester]

Science Fiction really isn't my "thing" but can't help thinking I should give it a go...
am going to have to try Owen Meanie with that write up Lou!

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

Lou2222 - I just went on Amazon and read the reviews for Owen Meany, which all rave. I am just worried that I will not actually understand the book, as it sounds very deep/heavy and I have rather lost my critical/analytical reading skills these days, I read for fun rather than study. Will I 'get' the book?