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Original poster

I am desperate and need you all to help me please!

239 replies

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 30/04/2011 15:39

I have got one and a half history books left and then I am, once again, bookless. I have been to three different libraries in the last ten days and have failed to find even a single book that I fancied or hadn't read before.

I have some Nectar points to spend, so I could have a bit of an Amazon splurge - but what shall I get?

  1. Favourite writers are Jane Austen and Stephen King
  2. I like v well written fantasy (ie Tolkein) or v well written historical who-dunnit stuff (eg Doyle or Sansom) or quirky history books
  3. I am a snob and get very twitchy about shoddy writing but can't stand overly self conscious crap (step forward Ian McEwan)
  4. I am very, very fussy
  5. I read very, very quickly so the bigger the book, the better

Please help!

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Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 23/05/2011 17:01

Yes, Elkie - I was being lazy by calling it the 'sequel' because I couldn't be bothered to type the title out! There was enough overlap to see how they conencted but I thought the characters and their situations in YOTF were far more interesting than in O&C and it was easier to connect with them.

Thanks for the list Mamameugh

'Wolf Hall', Hilary Mantel - read it; okay but her writing style annoyed me somewhat
'Roots', Alex Haley - read it as a teenager but can't remember much of it
'Gone with the Wind', Margaret Mitchell - hated this and gave up after about 70 pages
'The Mayor of Casterbridge', Hardy - read 'em all - appreciated him far more as a teen than I do now
'The Famished Road', Ben Okrey - not read this and will look into it
'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Nora Neale Hurston - couldn't get on with this; it felt too 'worthy'
'The Mill on the Floss', George Elliot - can't stand her
'Anna Karenin', Tolstoy - must read this
'The Fingersmith', Sarah Waters - hated it
'The Dressmaker', Beryl Bainbridge - never read any of hers: convince me why I should?!

An interesting range there though, so thank you.

Have started the Giles Milton but struggling to get into it - I think the history is maybe too recent for me!

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elkiedee · 23/05/2011 16:39

I assume you're referring to The Year of the Flood as the "sequel" to Oryx and Crake. I liked it better but I think that's because I prefer stories with more than one character to interact with each other, and I understood them to be related rather than a linear series, actually both stories take place at the same time. YOTF made me want to read O&C actually

mamameugh · 23/05/2011 16:29

Just read some of the reviews for 'The Kelly Gang' definitely going onto my 'to read' list - sorry I haven't read all the thread, but thanks to whoever it was who first recommended.

mamameugh · 23/05/2011 12:49

I love reading beautiful writing. Some of my favourites below, a real mixed bag I know!!

'Wolf Hall', Hilary Mantel
'Roots', Alex Haley
'Gone with the Wind', Margaret Mitchell
'The Mayor of Casterbridge', Hardy
'The Famished Road', Ben Okrey
'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Nora Neale Hurston
'The Mill on the Floss', George Elliot
'Anna Karenin', Tolstoy
'The Fingersmith', Sarah Waters
'The Dressmaker', Beryl Bainbridge

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 21/05/2011 22:13

Minesarioja Have finished The Kelly Gang and really enjoyed it - thank you for the rec as I would never have chosen it without this thread. :)

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Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 21/05/2011 13:59

The sequel to O&C is much, much better than O&C - you must read it!

Of Human Bondage always reminds me of Educating Rita - 'it sounds filthy, doesn't it?!' :)

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fluffernutter · 21/05/2011 12:48

I've been in the same book club for 10 years - our all time favourite and a good chunky one is 'Of Human Bondage' Somerset Maugham. And you've probably read it but Margaret Atwood 'The Oryx and the Crake' (I've not read the sequel but apparently also good). I'll get our bk club list out and see what else got thumbs up!

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 18/05/2011 17:12

Happy birthday! I hope you had a lovely day, despite the appalling lack of book tokens.

I'm reading The True History Of The Kelly Gang (Peter Carey) and liking it a lot. Next up is Smyrna by Giles Milton.

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Jux · 18/05/2011 12:14

Grin at David Robertson!

'Twas my birthday a few days ago and I usually get tons and tons of booktokens, so I had the list I'd compiled from this thread all ready to spend in Exeter.

Not one book token. NOT ONE!!!!!

(However, I did get an iPad so that's OK, really!) Grin

What are you reading now, Colonel? I've picked up some thing dh got from a charity shop as I'm out of new books to read.

(Mind you, I've downloaded loads of free stuff on the iPad; not the same though.)

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 17/05/2011 18:53

I've read it and it's superb - if you know anything else like it, please shout! :)

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generalhaig · 17/05/2011 00:09

sorry - haven't read the whole thread so don't know if this has already been suggested but have you tried This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson?

fabulously well-written historical fiction (imo)

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 16/05/2011 22:23

Have read about 40 pages of the Kelly Gang too - he has v quickly created a strong and v credible narrative voice and I'm impressed so far.

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Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 16/05/2011 22:22

Haven't read any Asimov since I was a teenager, so that might be worth a re-look. Will look into 'Ash' too.

Dean Koontz - have read a few but see him as vastly inferior to King, I'm afraid. He's a bit too preachy for my liking, although I quite liked the first couple I read but then they all got rather samey and boring: he's a clunkier writer than King, too, I think.

Thank you all. This is the thread of my dreams! :)

Finished the Marcel Theroux - I rate it. Thank you to whoever rec'd it - the thread is too long for me to remember who, sorry.

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CelebratedMonkey · 16/05/2011 21:59

Great thread.

I'll suggest Ash: A Secret History, by Mary Gentle.

It's huge - was split into four volumes in the US. Historical fantasy.

CoteDAzur · 16/05/2011 21:36

Nightfall is a great story. One of the most original sci-fi premises ever.

I'd still recommend Dune before any other sci-fi book.

AngryFeet · 16/05/2011 21:18

www.amazon.co.uk/Nightfall-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0330320963/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1305576964&sr=8-8

This is a great book. Also if you like Stephen king have you tried Dean koontz?

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 16/05/2011 21:06

Thank you Leo - they both sound interesting.

Excellent idea, gail - why didn't I think of that?!

Am v impressed by the Marcel Theroux so far - should finish it tonight and will then start the Carey.

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CoteDAzur · 16/05/2011 21:06

Colonel - Have you read Drood by Dan Simmons? If one of your favorite books is about Darwin and his best friend, you might like a book about Charles Dickens and his best friend Wilkie Collins. It is a painstakingly researched and masterfully crafted mystery based on the known facts of these men's lives.

Leo35 · 16/05/2011 20:22

Hello Colonel, just dropping by to suggest The Sugar Barons by Matthew Parker. History straight no chaser. Recommended in the "i" today. I am going to request it at the library.

Ditto for Imogen Robertson Anatomy of Murder (recommendation source and library reserve!). This one is number two in a historical crime series. As it's only number two I am going to reserve the first and start from the beginning.

HTH. Great thread, have got loads of recommendations. Sounds like you have actually got your hands on some books now!

gailforce1 · 16/05/2011 13:44

I keep a small notebook in my handbag and when I read a review of a book I think I might enjoy I jot down title and author. I then have it handy when I am in the library though I usually have to go on-line to reserve books.

Colonel - please come back and share your thoughts on the Peter Carey book as it is on my list.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 14/05/2011 16:15

I need to go through and copy and paste everything I haven't read into a word document then take it to the library with me.

I spent ten minutes this morning looking for David Robertson in the library and then remembered when I got home that his name is Robertson Davis and is written on a piece of paper that is still on my flipping desk! Arghhhh.

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Jux · 14/05/2011 16:07

It's really worth keeping this thread on, isn't it. So many suggestions. Birthday coming up. Book tokens in abundance (I hope).

Far North looks interesting too. And the Milton.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 14/05/2011 13:46

Thanks.

Have read Cold Comfort Farm.

Just got back from the library with:

Marcel Theroux - far North (just started this and really like the first few pages) here
Peter Carey - True History Of The Kelly Gang
Giles Milton - Paradise Lost here

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warthog · 14/05/2011 09:51

yes you do have to read them in the right order.

start off with the warden.

Batteryhuman · 14/05/2011 09:46

I have just reread Cold Comfort Farm for the first time since my teens and laughed out loud.

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