Kate Atkinson - first and last but nothing inbetween!

[MCSpammer]

I read Behind the Scenes not long after it came out, really enjoyed it but never read any more of her books until earlier this year when I read Life after Life which I LOVED.

Based on this would I like her other books? I don't go in for detective books usually and it seems that most of her books are along these lines.

What about her other books? Looking for something to take on holiday.

[whitepuddingsupper]

Emotionally Weird and Human Croquet are both good reads and not detective ones. I enjoyed the detective ones but not as much as Behind the Scenes and these two.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

If you liked those ones, I think you would really enjoy Human Croquet in particular - and the short stories, too (It's not the end of the world, I think they're called?)

[MCSpammer]

Confession. I am a total wuss and cannot do anything vaguely scarey though do like weird ... the synopsis for Human Croquet mentions ghosts so not sure I could handle that in the muddle of the English countryside in a dark (and probably) rainy night. Short stories look good though.

[MCSpammer]

Bloody auto correct!!!

Middle not muddle

On not in

[riverboat1]

I loved Life After Life, and many years ago had quite enjoyed Behind the Scenes.

I HATED Emotionally Weird, it was a book without a plot, tons of characters, rambling confusing stories within rambling confusing stories... I think if I'd liked the sense of humour I'd have enjoyed it more, that's what others seem to have loved about it - it's meant to be a funny university romp. But I just didn't find it that funny so I was left with nothing to enjoy...

[MCSpammer]

Not sure I would enjoy anything described as a 'romp'

[winkywinkola]

I've not read her latest but all the others were really poor compared to the shining brilliance of Behind The Scenes.

[riverboat1]

MCSpammer - you might not want to take my word for what the book was supposed to me, that was my best guess but I got so little out of it my interpretation might be completely wrong!

[Flangeshrub]

Behind the scenes was brilliant. The detective ones were all okay, pretty readable. I found life after life abysmal - complete and utter boring twaddle. I'm not sure how I feel about her now

[MCSpammer]

Just ordered The Camomile Lawn by Mary Weasley after all that! Really unsure about the other Kate Atkinson ones so don't want to risk as a holiday read. Will definitely give the shirt stories a go at some point though.

[Lovelydiscusfish]

I really love the Jackson Brodie series - and they are nothing like other detective stories/police procedurals I have read, so may interest readers who don't usually like this type of novel.

[clary]

I love Kate Atkinson, I agree like Behind the Scenes and loved Life After Life but the Jackson Brodie books are also very good.

Emotionally Weird and Human Croquet I enjoyed but I think they may be a bit more out there than some of her others.

[MCSpammer]

Interesting to know re the Brodie series, maybe I will see if the library has.

[XiCi]

It was many years ago that I read the Camomile Lawn but remember it being a really good read. Having just been bored completely witless by Life after Life I imagine it's far better than anything KA has to offer.

[jennymac]

I've read all the Jackson Brodie books and Life after Life and am just now in the middle of Behind the Scenes. I have to say that I have enjoyed all her books so I say go for it!

[HopeClearwater]

Give Case Histories a go. It's really good.

[olivespickledonions]

Yes, I read Case Histories on holiday and loved it - I would never normally go for detective fiction but I really enjoyed it.