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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!

OP posts:
JeffVadar · 02/05/2011 16:11

I was going to recommend Rupert Thomson too, one of my favorite writers. I would start with one of his novels though - he's just got a new one out, but it's a memoir.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 02/05/2011 15:50

Good God, no to Jodie Picoult!

Have read The Beloved (not really into it) and a lot of Margaret Atwood, including The Handmaid's Tale (recently really enjoyed After The Flood).
Read Batavia's Graveyard.
Read Heart Shaped Box but not Hill's other one and didn't know until on here the other day that he was King's son.
Wolf Hall really annoyed me, though I liked the way she made Cromwell so compelling.

Looked at 'Alone In Berlin' today in Waterstones but it was a tenner (A TENNER!). Also, it looks as if chunks of it are in the present tense and that drives me insane (step forward bloody Wolf Hall again). I may try and order it from the library as it was v slender and would only last me about two or three hours if I liked it.

OP posts:
Becaroooo · 02/05/2011 10:49

Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel (loved it)
Jerusalem - S Sebag Montifiore (I found it a bit dry though)
I have really enjoyed reading the Zen novels by M Dibdin

Agree with you ++++ re Ian McEwan....

Am reading a lot of books on tudor history atm

KurriKurri · 02/05/2011 10:39

Have you read Paul Theroux's travel books? Great Railway Bazaar (Asia), The Old Patagonian Express (South America), and Riding the Iron Rooster (China) Mosquito Coast by him is also very good (it's a novel)

Also V.S. Naipaul, - I really like his earlier stuff, - Suffrage of Elvira, Mystic Masseur and esp. A House for Mr. Biswas.

Also Paul Theroux's account of his friendship and then falling out with Naipaul, 'Sir Vidia's Shadow' is a very fascinating read. By all accounts Naipaul was a pretty unpleasant man. (I still recommend his early novels though Grin)

sonearsofar · 02/05/2011 10:37

I'm assuming (from what you've read) that you've read Beloved and The Handmaids Tale?

If I was feeling mischevious, I'd recommend Jodie Picault, one of the most overrated novelists around at the moment (almost as bad as Phillippa Gregory IMO)

aStarInStrangeways · 02/05/2011 10:21

If you like Stephen King, try Joe Hill (King's son). I got two of his books out of the library recently and read them both in a day each. Really, really excellent horror/dark fantasy/just stories and unputdownable.

History: Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash is great, a rollicking true tale of murder and general grimness on the high seas.

If you like Bryson, you might like Tim Moore's travel books - very funny and interesting.

Second the rec of George R R Martin's 'Ice & Fire' books, fantastically well written - great characters and plotting, lots of sex and violence, a good development from trad fighting fantasy style into something a bit weirder and darker. They are also enormous so should keep you going for a few days.

I like C J Cherryh's sci fi and fantasy - The Chronicles of Morgaine is excellent.

Have you read any Rupert Thomson?

DandyGilver · 02/05/2011 10:04

Phil Rickman - Waterstones has The Wine of Angels on special offer (£2.99) at the moment. Mystery with paranormal slant.

I love all his novels.

The Bones of Avalon is historical as well.

sparkle12mar08 · 02/05/2011 10:01

Couple of other suggestions from me:

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - v good
Time Travellers Guide to the 14th Century - rather liked this.

There's a series of straight historical reference books by the OUP called 'Short Oxford History of the British Isles' which I've quite enjoyed. They're individual paper back volumes covering roughly a century each, entitled The Sixteenth Century, The Seventeenth Centurey etc. The 19th Century volume is brilliantly pulled together by the editor Colin Matthew. It's a great read, very accessible. The other are good too, if somewhat dry. The series editor is Paul Langford.

sparkle12mar08 · 02/05/2011 09:55

Yes, it was. I found it improved greatly with a second and third reading, probably because it wasn't typical discworld and I need to pay proper attention to it. I found some of the sections where he cleans up the island (the allusion to the baby's body in the tree) and where she puts her brother's body in their mother's coffin in the dream sequence incredibly affecting to read.

Captain Carrot - I so would! Mind you, the world weary confidence of Vimes is rather attractive too. I love the way TP has managed to grow that chracter from an alcoholic wastrel into a smart, powerful, influential man. Very well done over the series I think.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 02/05/2011 09:52

I like the witch ones far less than some of the others. I like the Vimes ones and I loved the Golem one. And Death is the best character ever!

OP posts:
sparkle12mar08 · 02/05/2011 09:50

What did you think of the Witches ones? I love Pratchett and he's my go to author when I need the comfort of a familiar book.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 02/05/2011 09:50

Was 'Nation' the one on an island with the boy and girl? I must admit I was a bit disappointed by it.

We need more Captain Carrot, say I! :) I fancy him a bit...

OP posts:
Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 02/05/2011 09:49

Yep - read nearly all of TP's stuff. Loved some and hated some. My favourites are 'Reaper Man' and the Sam Vines ones.

OP posts:
sparkle12mar08 · 02/05/2011 09:48

If you've read Gaiman, have you tried Terry Pratchett? They co wrote Good Omens, for a taster of TP's work. There's 30 odd bopoks in the Discworld series now so should keep you going for a month or so! I would particularly recommend Nation too, although it's in his 'written for younger readers' category it's some of his most powerful writing ever I feel.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 02/05/2011 09:33

Read all of Neil Gaiman's except his graphic novels - like 'American Gods' and 'Anansi Boys' a lot.
Read and loved 'This Thing Of Darkness' and have recommended it to everybody but only persuaded one other person to read it, sadly.
Just couldn't get on at all with Jonathon Strange etc - found it v v boring and then gave up.
Will look at the others - thank you.

I think I've confused people by mentioning history though - most historical fiction I can't stand, especially anything that might be deemed 'family saga.' I need a bit of mystery in it too, hence the CJ Sansom. Can't be doing with most of the Philippa Gregory-esque heaving bodice stuff.

OP posts:
sonearsofar · 02/05/2011 09:05

a big yes to Lehmann

stickylittlefingers · 02/05/2011 00:06

second Alone in Berlin...

Have you read any Anya Seton? I was addicted a bit as a teenager! Katherine, for example, is about Katherine Swynford (who married John of Gaunt). If you like medieval, I really enjoyed Alfred Duggan's "God and my Right" about Thomas a Becket and Henry.

If you want a really really big book - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (esp if you also like Neil Gaiman. The latter's Neverwhere changed my experience of the London Underground!)

Also, if you like more recent history, Rosamund Lehmann's novels are readable and thought provoking re life for intelligent girls at the turn of the last century.

Also second Willa Cather - one of my all time fav authors. If you want well written, you can't go wrong with Willa!!

bethelbeth · 01/05/2011 23:52

NEIL GAIMAN!!!!!

Fabulous fantasy writer.... I recommend Anansi Boys and American Gods (it's all steeped in legends and Pan, Odin and Anansi himself make appearances)

I read Neverwhere- was so hooked that I got his entire back catalogue read within 4-5months. Great fun reading.

ChateauRouge · 01/05/2011 23:48

Have you read Harry Thompson's "This Thing of Darkness"?

sepsisandAKI · 01/05/2011 23:06

Doh Rohinton

sepsisandAKI · 01/05/2011 23:05

A Fine Balance by Rohintron Mistry. One of the best books I have read. Infact it was over 8 years since I last read it. Think it's about time to read it again!

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

I liked The Five People You Meet In heaven and didn't like The Nineteenth Wife. Will google The Sparrow, thanks CR.

OP posts:
HattiFattner · 01/05/2011 22:59

two recent good reads....

The 19th Wife - David-Ebershoff

five people you meet in heaven - mitch albom

ChateauRouge · 01/05/2011 22:50

Mary Doria Russell - The Sparrow.

Original poster
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 01/05/2011 22:39

Tried and failed with it.

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