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My turn to choose our next book group book - suggestions please!

31 replies

brandnewnickname · 04/08/2012 20:14

Not sure what to choose for our next book group. Would obviously like to pick something I shall enjoy myself! I tend to prefer stuff set second half of twentieth century or later and am not generally keen on "fantasy" type books. Am currently really enjoying "Frankie and Stankie" by Barbara Trapido. Other books that I have really enjoyed were "Notes on a Scandal", "The Help" and "We need to talk about Kevin". So trying to analyse from those what kind of books I like, I suppose I would say books with a dry sense of humour and characters who are not cliches and which have something to say about the wider society in which they are set. All suggestions welcome!

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tiggersreturn · 20/08/2012 23:09

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer. Brilliant.

Sunnydelight · 20/08/2012 07:45

Ah, too late. I've just chosen "The woman who dived into the heart of the world" by Sabina Berman for our bookclub.

HiHowAreYou · 12/08/2012 19:15

Black Swan Green is great!

brandnewnickname · 09/08/2012 23:57

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. After lots of googling and a browse in Waterstones, have now chosen Black Swan Green. Have the Lionel Shriver book to read myself, but as we've already done a couple of Lionel Shrivers, thought I'd better not choose it for book group as we try to vary the author.

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mimbleandlittlemy · 09/08/2012 12:01

Gillespie and I - it's the only book ever that our book club has continued to talk about 3 meetings on!

ElizabethX · 06/08/2012 18:41

The Horizontal Instrument by Christopher Wilkins. A rumination on time, god, and clock making.

KurriotsOfFire · 06/08/2012 15:49

We did Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry at my bookclub recently - everyone seemed to enjoy it.

nononotmyname · 06/08/2012 14:30

Lionel Shrivers latest ? "So much for that"(?) fiction with theme about healthcare provision.

drxerox · 06/08/2012 07:31

Under the Skin by Michael Faber
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
Dark Matter by ? Paver

Windsock · 05/08/2012 20:20

Op read the Mumsnet book of the month for night waking.
That'll give you a flavor

JiltedJohnsJulie · 05/08/2012 19:42

Breakfast at Tiffanys.

GnocchiNineDoors · 05/08/2012 19:08

The death and life of charlie st cloud

dolly1987 · 05/08/2012 19:03

running with scissors
5 people you meet in heaven

Allalonenow · 05/08/2012 18:57

As you enjoyed "Room" what about Donoghue's latest, "The Sealed
Letter" ? As a bonus it's available for Kindle at less than £3.

BikeRaceRunningRaceNoSkiing · 05/08/2012 18:09

Me Before You could raise some interesting discussion points, but is no great work literature.

How about " The Uncommon Reader" - Alan Bennet - short and sweet.

Brices · 05/08/2012 18:04

Sense of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Fabulous read recommended here, so glad I look at mumsnet

NormanTheForeman · 05/08/2012 18:00

"The Way I Found Her" by Rose Tremain

brandnewnickname · 05/08/2012 17:57

Thank you. We've already done "Room", which I did really like.

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Windsock · 05/08/2012 17:41

Night waking the mn Book. You'll all
Row like loons

Allalonenow · 05/08/2012 17:18

"Room" by Emma Donoghue or "Notes from an Exhibition" by Patrick Gale could lead to some interesting points for discussion.

brandnewnickname · 05/08/2012 13:46

Thank you for all the recommendations! Have had a look at all of them.

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theyarebetter · 05/08/2012 10:09

Middlesex?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 05/08/2012 09:59

I loved Rules of Civility too but know it doesn't really fit in with your criteria. Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna is another good one does cover most of the 20th Century.

The book that has probably given us the longest and most lively discussion is The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

How about Me Before You by Jojo Moyes?

ameliameerkat · 05/08/2012 09:51

I was going to recommend David Mitchell too! I loved Cloud Atlas and I'm currently enjoying Ghostwritten.

brandnewnickname · 04/08/2012 21:39

Thank you. We have already done Water for Elephants which I thought was a decent holiday read but wasn't personally one of my favourites. Will google Any Human Heart.

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