If I tell you what books I've enjoyed this year can you recommend more for me please?

[shiningcadence]

Hi all,
Off on holiday in 2 weeks and looking for a load of books to take away. I get a lot of recommendations from here I have to admit - by lurking rather than posting - but nothing's really captured my interest of late. So, if I tell you what I've enjoyed this year so far could anyone recommend me some books in a similar vein please?

So, for hols I don't want anything too hard going. For this reason young adult might be a good option. In this genre I've loved the Hunger Games trilogy, the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races also by Maggie Stiefvater and the Gone series by Michael Grant.

I like an interesting, engaging, first person narrator (but not essential), I've enjoyed the Perks of being a Wallflower, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and Mark Haddon's other one - can't think of the name.

I like humour - Bridget Jones diary and the sequel.

I've enjoyed a couple of Nicolas Sparks - The Last Song was my favourite, but some I find a little clichéd.

I'm open to 'classics' as long as they're not hard going - I loved I capture the Castle, Catcher in the Rye and Wuthering Heights - though the last probably a bit 'dark' for a holiday read (I want something quite light but still with meaning and emotion if that makes sense).

Recently I've also loved reading The Help, The 100 year old man and The Radleys by Matt Haig.

I love Kazuo Ishiguro and Khaled Hosseini.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

TIA

[shiningcadence]

Also really enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook recently.

[shiningcadence]

Also, are any of you members of goodreads and if so would you recommend it? Thought it might be a good way to find books I'd like based on what I have liked in the past.

[tillyfernackerpants]

Other YA books I liked are the Pittacus Lore books (starts with I Am Number 4), the Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman and the City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende (there are others in this series too). I haven't read them but also heard good things about Marjorie Blackman and Christopher Paolini.

Have you read the True Blood books by Charlaine Harris? The earlier ones are better but easy to read and enjoyable.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd was quite liked by our book group, and I enjoyed Zorro (again Isabel Allende).

Have you tried the Literature map? You put in the name of an author you like and then others come up around it that are similar.

I'm not on Goodreads, but would be interested in hearing if it's good!

[spex11]

I find Nick Hornby is good for holiday reading High Fidelity and About a Boy probably my favourites. I'm not sure about Goodreads I've looked at it but find that as the membership is overwhelmingly American I find myself on a different wavelength to many of the reviewers. Could be just me though! Depending on where you're going on holiday Tripfiction is good for finding books set in a particular place.
www.tripfiction.com/

[DuchessofMalfi]

I am on Goodreads. I belong to a group on there called The Book Vipers which was initially formed from some of the mumsnet book readers on here. It is a very good way to get new book recommendations. Anyone who would like to join us on there is more than welcome.

As for book recommendations, I read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion recently. It's an ideal holiday read, an engaging and funny narrator with some laugh out loud situations. Well worth a read

[shiningcadence]

Thank you all.
tilly we must have very similar tastes because I have read all the books you mentioned apart from the Isabel Allende ones - will have a look at those. I haven't seen the Literature Map - sounds great, thanks.

spex Thank you for that, will look for those Nick Hornby ones.

Duchess The Rosie Project sounds like it'd be right up my street, wil have a look, thanks. And I'd love to join the good reads group, thank you. I'll sign up later.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I have just finished Diary of an Imaginary Friend and was surprisingly gripped.

Also the one about Lemon Drizzle Cake.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.

[Bookwolf32]

Alexander mcall smith. Any of his series are good holiday reads as they are light and amusing. Particularly enjoyed Corduroy mansions.
Alice Hoffman is quite emotional without being too dark.

[ninjanurse]

I have enjoyed several of the books you mentioned. I would recommend in particular The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman.

[valiumredhead]

The language of flowers if a great read,I agree!

The Poisonwood Bible
The Girl on the Landing
The Guilty One
The Wicked Girls

Sorry, can't remember authors now I have a kindle

[CoteDAzur]

OP - It sounds like you like Bestsellers. Maybe look at the current list of Bestsellers for inspiration?

[MerlinFromCamelot]

Valium,

Like the sound of the girl on the landing.

Thanks

[HarderToKidnap]

The time travellers wife by Audrey nifenegger fits the bill if you haven't caught it already.

I'm reading swamplandia! at the moment, it's what you're looking for I think.

[BetsyJPierce]

Hmmmm. If you like Aimee Bender then perhaps you'd like Geek Love? Or Sue Miller? (She's my American go-to summer read - brilliant story teller.)

[BetsyJPierce]

Can't wait to find Swamplandia, Harder!

[shiningcadence]

Thanks all, got a nice selection to order now, these are perfect suggestions for me :)

hardertokidnap I love the Time Traveler's Wife. Her second book wasn't so good I thought, it's called 'Her Fearful Symmetry'. Interesting story but poor ending.

[mignonette]

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansen
The Leftovers by Tom Perotta
Mad Girls by Michael Lee West
A Good Year For Plums by Bailey White
Lace by Shirley Conran (nice big sex and shopping blockbuster)
Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
Major Pettigrews Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Pigs in Heaven / The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

All good holiday reads and not demanding.

[mignonette]

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansen
The Leftovers by Tom Perotta
Mad Girls by Michael Lee West
A Good Year For Plums by Bailey White
Lace by Shirley Conran (nice big sex and shopping blockbuster)
Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
Major Pettigrews Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Pigs in Heaven / The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

All good holiday reads and not demanding.

[shiningcadence]

Thank you mignonette. I've read a Lori Lansen one called 'The Girls' and found it very moving and enjoyable so will definitely order that one. Will have a look at the others too.

[mignonette]

There is another Lori Lansen called Rush Home Road that I love too. I am an American literature lover and all of Michael Lee West's books are great. 'Mad Girls' is the first of a trilogy. Also consider Pat Conroy, 'The Mermaids Chair' by Sue Monk Kidd, 'Dreaming Southern' by Linda Bruckheimer and 'The Flying Troutmans' by Miriam Toews. I have a Pinterest board called Bookworm here and also have boards on food writing and travel writing. Loads more good books on there.

[shiningcadence]

Ah thank you, I will have a look at your board. I enjoyed The Mermaid Chair and will have a look at the rest.

[highlandcoo]

Yy to The Light Between Oceans - read following a recommendation on here and loved it. Beautiful evocation of life on a remote lighthouse and an absorbing, emotionally involving story.

If you like Khaled Hosseini then definitely try A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman. Story of two girls brought up in the same family; one the rich daughter and one a servant/companion to her. As they grow older their lives become very different.

The Observations by Jane Harris is interesting and intriguing, told in the voice of Betsy, a servant girl with a quirky sense of humour. Really enjoyable.

[kikidee]

Mignonette your Pinterest board is very inspiring, i love American novels too. You have several things on there that I've already read and lots more that takes my fancy, thank you.

[TWavre]

Haven't read all the replies do sorry if this has already been mentioned!
If you liked the hunger games I can recommend Enders Game & all the sequels.
Would also recommend When God Was a Rabbit.