Just finished a couple of fabulous books... next?

[wonderingwondering]

Wolf Hall, then The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood's latest). Which prompted me to re-read Oryx & Crake.

I just lost myself in them and found myself turning them over in my mind in between reading stints.

Now reading DH Lawrence's Sons & Lovers which I'm enjoying but it's not grabbed me in the same way.

Would love some suggestions for my long-haul flight later this week....

[5Foot5]

I have just read Victoria Hislop's "The Island" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had to stay up late one night to finish it because I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended.

[JaxTellersOldLady]

I have read The Island too, I am desperate to go to Crete now and visit those places. My friend went last year and stayed in Elounda and visited Spiralonga... maybe in the summer hols.

Just finished "One Day" by DAvid Nichols and it was a good read. Takes the reader through 2 peoples views and life via University, crappy jobs, travel and living back in the UK, how their friendship changes. I enjoyed it, was well written.

[wonderingwondering]

Thanks. I've read the Island - I enjoyed it, but it wasn't really gripping in the way the books I've just read were.

Will look at the Nichols book.

[Wheelybug]

I keep recommending this but no one seems to take any notice - moloka'i. Funnily enough, its about the same subject as The Island but so much better.

Its about a leper colony on Moloka'i and is really gripping, sad, funny, fascinating, shocking. In fact, when I finished it I was so interested in teh whole leper colony subject i read the Island which was not a patch on Moloka'i.

It is one of the best books I've ever read - we read it for bookclub and it was pretty unanimously given the huge thumbs up.

[wonderingwondering]

Thanks. I shall give that a go, not seen it before.

[MrsDickens]

Have you read any Carol Shields, OP? I really enjoy her writing. Alice Munro's short stories? Lorrie Moore?

[wonderingwondering]

Thanks Mrs Dickens, they all look promising - not read any and very pleased to have a few new names to look out for.

I get overwhelmed in book shops! I need a little focus to buy the first couple, then a few 'lucky dips'.

[MrsDickens]

Was just thinking along the lines of Canadian/American women writers....also maybe Meg Wolitzer? I really enjoyed her novel 'The Position - about a family in which the parents, years before, wrote a 'Joy of Sex'-type (illustrated) book. It's really about how the children are affected by it as they grow up and live their lives. Very witty and funny in a quiet kind of way.

[hocuspontas]

What about The Gargoyle by Andrew Davison? Gripping in a weird way. I've just finished it and while I don't necessarily agree with all the rave reviews it got, it was unputdownable.

My new book is Smiley's People. Not grabbing me but I'm only on chapter 2 so time yet!

[iloveasylumseekers]

I just finished The Year of The Flood too. It's great isn't it?

I agree with Carol Shields - The Stone Diaries is wonderful and my favourite.

I'm always recommending William Boyd's Any Human Heart which is an all time favourite.

Or you could try Jill Paton Walsh's Knowledge of Angels, which is historical/theological allegory - very clever, very moving - and not dissimilar in some ways to the Atwoods.

[littleomar]

i really liked chalcot crescent by fay weldon - in some ways the theme is similar to the margaret atwoods you've mentioned but more endearing/less scary.

[wonderingwondering]

Lovely, thank you. IloveAS - have you read Oryx & Crake too? It overlaps with The Year of the Flood, not a sequel or prequel but both free-standing but intertwined. Great read.

Yes, I would like some Atwood-esque writing, I've read all of hers (several times) and now I have a little more free time I'd like to pick up some new writers that are a little more challenging/thought-provoking than some of the books I've read lately, that I get through in one sitting!

[iloveasylumseekers]

I have, three times, but ages ago. Trying to decide whether to read it again in the light of YotF. Or get started on something else, in a different vein.

[wonderingwondering]

tsc - I will try one or two of yours, I need an easy read or two for the real 'dead hours' on the flight or for the wee hours awake with jet lag! But I'd also like a couple of slightly weightier options too.

I love these threads, they open my eyes to so many wonderful books and writers that I haven't yet discovered. I'll be printing this thread and mooching in my local book shop tomorrow

[deepdarkwood]

If you like Atkins (I lurrrved Oryx & Crake) have you read much Angela Carter - Nights at the Circus is my favourite.

I'd also hugely recommend Poisonwood Bible, or any other Barbara Kingsolver if you want gripping & immersed.

And another vote for Alice Munro.

I haven't tackled WOlf Hall yet - is it fab?

[wonderingwondering]

IloveAS, I really enjoyed O&C when reading it straight after YoftF - rattled through it a lot quicker than when I've read it before.

I didn't realise they were linked, and read O&C ages ago, but started getting flashbacks when 'pigoons' were mentioned...!

But then I didn't realise the American Wife was about Barbara Bush until I got to the last few pages [lives in a literary bubble]

[wonderingwondering]

Thanks deepdarkwood. I can see something of a large spend coming on! I do love to buy in bulk though and have my own mini-library.

Wolf Hall is one of the best books I've ever read

[iloveasylumseekers]

I agree re Poisonwood Bible - fantastic.

WW - it was the rakunks that reminded me...

[iloveasylumseekers]

Oh I've got one - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - I adored it.

[iloveasylumseekers]

yes to Small Island. Great book.

[jkklpu]

I read Rose Tremain's Music and Silence almost straight after Wolf Hall (which I'd LOVED). Really liked it, too, and it was v interesting reading another book about a renaissance court (Danish, in this case) which was so incredibly different (the novel). The only other thing I'd read by Rose Tremain was about a Polish immigrant to London a coupe of years ago - The Road Home? It was great, too, very moving.