Recommend me some books please...

[lunavix]

I haven't sat down and read in ages, I really need to. So I'd like about 10 books, I'll buy in bulk off amazon, and force myself to read them! Would like a mix of genres.

I don't really like pure romantic drivel, except for very easy reading quirkiness (mike gayle for example.) Really detest everything else, rather embarrassed, but I like his for some reason!

Books have to draw me in, I have to feel like I'm there. The sort where you pick it up, and you just CANNOT put it down again.

Oh and I'm also a harry potter addict but who isn't!!!

[WigWamBam]

Some of my favourite books are

A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irvine
In A Dry Season - Peter Robinson
Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
Luke Rhinehart - The Dice Man
Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
Sucking Sherbet Lemons - Michael Carson
The Comforts of Madness - Paul Sayer
How Far Can You Go - David Lodge

[stleger]

Case Histories Kate Atkinson

[Marina]

Books that have recently dragged me right in like that have been:

The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber
Niagara Falls All Over Again - Elizabeth McCracken
Carter Beats the Devil - Glen David Gold

also love Helen Simpson's short stories:

Two Bare Legs in a Bed
Hey Yeah Right Get a Life

[anorak]

Love anything by Helen Dunmore and can't put them down.

Just finished the Shipping News by Annie Proulx which was excellent and unusual.

Agree about Helen Simpson.

[Lizzylou]

I am in the middle of The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and it is fab...really different and quirky and v well written...

[lou33]

definitely the dice man, and a million litle pieces , by james frey

[beep]

this is one of my favourite books the crow eaters

[RoseBerry]

Crimson Petal and White was really good, what a fantastic read. It does suck you in.

The Shadow of the Wind was very good.

[chonky]

Another vote for The Time Traveller's Wife..
I've just finished Small Island by Andrea Levy - excellent!

[spykid]

Snap rose berry, 2 of my fave reads!
Also reccomend TT Wife.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters , and Tiger Child by Torey Hayden

[pleaserewind]

i loved 'honour thy father' by lesley glaister

[lunavix]

Ooh I like the dice man! Never got round to reading the sequel was it any good?

I didn't like the handmaids tale...

[WigWamBam]

The sequel to The Dice Man was pretty good, as was Adventures of Wim by the same author.

[Katemum]

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

[weesaidie]

I'd like to join in with certain other posters and give my vote to -

Katemum - Angels and Demons
Kama - Memoirs of a Geisha (one of my absolute favourites)
WWB - A Prayer for Owen Meany

[Oliviab]

Well I have to recommend Scuba Dancing by Nicola Slade because she's my mum. It's a lighthearted romantic comedy with some quite touching bits - ideal to read after something very heavy and miserable.

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

[Gem13]

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry gets my vote every time. It's excellent.

Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. Written originally for the San Fran Chronicle so you keep reading one more 1/2 page and then another...

I love Anne Tyler too (although I thought the last one - Amateur Marriage was really disappointing).

Just finished Time Travellers Wife and Small Island and am now on Case Histories. All good. I love it when you have a run of good ones.

Marina - haven't heard of your first 3!

[moondog]

'Don't lets go to the dogs tonight'
Alexandra ????
Recent,about author's 70s childhood in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Unputdownable.

[lunavix]

kama, the first bit that put me off was the topic, we studied it in like year 10 at school... thought it was a terse subject at that age tbh!

Never really got into it, re-read it a few years ago, and still didn't really enjoy it.

[Janh]

kama, try The Edible Woman - it turns a bit weird at the end but there is some v v funny stuff before that. Atwood is a brilliant writer.

lunavix, have you tried Gervase Phinn? It's a lot like James Herriot only about primary schools; easy reading but thoughtful and some very funny anecdotes about children.