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Original poster

Another what the heck can I read next thread please

55 replies

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/10/2011 15:42

Am once more bookless - and am horrible when I haven't got anything to read. Dp is going to go on a library mission for me tomorrow - what can I ask him to get?

Likes -
*History books
*Novels with v well researched historical detail that aren't stupid - think Sansom rather than Philippa Gregory
*Stephen King but have read everything

  • Post apocalyptic stuff, if it's good - but have read most of the ones that are generally recommended on here
  • books about historical exploration etc
  • things that are well-written without the writer's being up themselves (so no Ian Mckewan)
  • classics

Hates -

  • no chick lit
  • nothing claiming to be a literary masterpiece - none of yer Sebastian Faulkes etc
  • nothing that has appeared on a Richard and Judy type list
  • no Kate Atkinson
  • no Scandinavian crime fiction

Please, please help. :)

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Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/10/2011 17:44
  • This Thing Of Darkness - read it; loved it
  • Gone - read it
  • Life And Death In Shanghai - don't know this one but I hated Wild Swans and gave up on it half way through

Not read the Helen Dunmores. Will look out for them but really didn't like what I have read of her, sorry.

Thanks ever so much though. Keep em coming! Anything like This Thing Of Darkness would be perfect.

OP posts:
pollywollydoodle · 13/10/2011 21:48

i've recently read/reread these

.this thing of darkness by harry thompson...story of the beagle and all who sailed in her (darwin, fitzroy etc)
gone (i forget the author) a teen book, a good romp, suddenly everyone over 15 disappears leaving the under 15s adjusting and in charge
.life and death in shanghai by nien cheng (an old one) a wild swans type autobiography but well written
.have you read the siege and the betrayal by helen dunmore...idifferent style to her other novels...set during then 15 years or so after the siege of leningrad

Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/10/2011 19:03

Thanks all.

Marys - I haven't read any of those except Wells and The Ragged Trous....

Minsmum - I've looked at the Wally Lamb after it's been recommend on here a couple of times but have dismissed it as looking schmaltzy. Am I wrong? I also HATE Spandeau Ballet and that awful song comes into my head whenever I read the title.

OP posts:
2marys · 11/10/2011 22:58

if you like wilkie collins what about (though you've probably read them)

grub street - Gissing

the nebuly coat - J meade faulkner (as in Moonfleet)

erewhon, the way of all flesh - Butler

HG wells - available in every second hand bookshop everywhere for small amounts

father and son - Gosse

the ragged trousered philanthropists

Tomalin's book on Dickens' mistress Ellen Ternan - I thought pretty good

MollyMurphy · 11/10/2011 22:16

Oh thats a shame OP...well do give the HBO show a chance if you are remotely interested - by the end of episode 3 I was completely hooked. That doesn't help you with a good book though does it Wink

minsmum · 11/10/2011 21:58

This may not be your thing at all so apologies in advance but have you tried I know this much is True - Wally Lamb

Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2011 21:44

Molly - I read the first one in the series, as a friend lent it to me - but didn't like it enough to read the next one! I didn't see any of the TV programme.

Carrots - I remain an Ebay virgin but I could look on ABE books.

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 11/10/2011 20:53

Have you scoured ebay for it? You might strike it lucky, although postage must sting on ebay for a book.

MollyMurphy · 11/10/2011 20:45

I'm about to start the "Game of Thrones" series after having it recommended to me by a number of people - one of whom had it recommended by a book shop owner. That and I just finished watching the first season and it was awesome - so I figure the books must be even better (which is hard to imagine because I will reiterate....awesome).

Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2011 20:40

Pirs? I meant OURS. Oops!

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Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2011 20:39

Yes, pirs do the book boxes. But they don't seem to be able to track down Earth Abides! Will ask again before splurging on Amazon.

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Carrotsandcelery · 11/10/2011 20:29

Can the library not order in for you from another branch? Ours bends over backwards to get you what you ask for. They also have big boxes of "Book Group" books eg 12 copies of the same novel that can be booked out by a book group - such a fab idea!

Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2011 19:02

Death Of Grass is another one I keep promising to try and then forgetting about. Adds to list.

OP posts:
Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2011 19:01

The Stand is the best post-apocalyptic book ever! :)

Thanks for all of these. I've read a lot of them already -the ones that stand out are:

Meg Rosoff - have read most of hers and 'How I lLive Now' is far and away the best but I don't rate her v highly generally

Kevin - hated it, I'm afraid

Room - I liked the first half and didn't like the 2nd half at all

Owen Meaney - would have been amazing as a short story but I didn't like it overall as a novel

John Connolley - oh dear - I think I am the ony person in the world who didn't like 'The Book Of Lost Things' - I was expecting to love it and it just didn't grab me

Lots of googling for me to do now! I have been trying to get hold of Earth Abides for ages but the library doesn't have it. I may have to do an Amazon order (sits on bank card...) :)

OP posts:
whereismywine · 11/10/2011 11:38

Have you read How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff I think it's actually a teen book but we read it at our book group and none of us realised! I loved it.

maybeyoushoulddrive · 10/10/2011 20:39

Have you read Death of Grass by John Christopher? Good post-apocalyptical novel IMO

Carrotsandcelery · 10/10/2011 20:22

Yes sorry Remus but thank you Matronalia for the info. I am a bit Sad as I loved his "Various" trilogy. I ordered "The Stand" a couple of months ago from Amazon but it has never turned up Hmm I will give the others a google and see how depressed I can get myself Grin

Matronalia · 10/10/2011 19:58

I was really disappointed carrots, I was expecting a fab post-apoc but once they were on the island it all sort of went a bit silly. Shame really, it had so much promise.
I just googled A Prayer for Owen Meany and well done for even attempting it, life really is too short for that imo.
There are lots of other POst-apoc that you might like carrots, if you got into the start of X Isle. The Postman, Alas Babylon, Earth Abides, Brother in the land, Children of the Dust,The Stand, Last Light, Cell, Plague Year, World War Z, Zombie Apocalypse etc, all of those I enjoyed more than X Isle.
Will stop hijacking now.

KatharineClifton · 10/10/2011 18:59

Thank you Remus, it is over today :)

Carrotsandcelery · 10/10/2011 18:27

Oh no Matron! It has taken me ages to settle on this book - I have started several other things and haven't been able to stick to them (A Prayer for Owen Meany for example...)

Matronalia · 10/10/2011 18:11

The beginning of X Isle is very good I thought too Carrots but I was less impressed with the rest, it turned into a YA action story instead. I enjoyed it, but I spent a lot of time predicting the plot and playing spot the cliche.

What about Hungry Ghosts. China's Secret Famine by Jasper Becker

Carrotsandcelery · 10/10/2011 16:57

When I went to be last night I realised that what I am reading now might be appealing to you. It is called X Isle - by Steve Augarde again. I don't know if it will be good as I have only just started it but it is good so far. It is a Post Apocalyptic one so it might be just what you are looking for.

HeadlessLamAAARRRGHHHH · 10/10/2011 08:24

John Connolly. Start with Every Dead Thing and go from there. The Charlie Parker series are psychological thrillers with gore, humour and really good characters.
Also, his novel "The book of lost things" is a cracking read about how an older brother feels about his sibling.

Shanghaidiva · 10/10/2011 01:32

Room - Emma Donoghue
Anything by Jonathan Coe
Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese - this is excellent!
We need to talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver
Sister - Rosamund Lupton
Sophie Hannah
Anything by David Lodge
Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis - first read this over 25 years ago and it still makes me laugh

MillyR · 09/10/2011 23:50

Have you read the Mary Renault books about Ancient Greece? Many people like her ones about about Alexander the Great (Fire From Heaven, The Persian Boy and Funeral Games) but I prefer The Last of The Wine.