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Original poster

This Saturday I will go alone to a bookshop and buy three books. Tell me what to buy.

104 replies

Pruners · 04/07/2007 20:33

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FlamingTomatoes · 04/07/2007 21:05

I like marian Keyes

Also enjoyed book Of Lost THings

Bink · 04/07/2007 21:04

Black Swan Green just doesn't show you what David Mitchell can do. It's OK, but I think a bit of a publisher's list filler - as it let's put it out, it'll keep him in the public eye - as opposed to the real genius of his first two books. Cloud Atlas is pretty good too, but possibly suffers a bit from having too obvious a Big Ambition

Kathy6", I might have known you'd know already about books I'm interested in ...!

luckylady74 · 04/07/2007 21:01

definate john irving - i loved 'a prayer for owen meaney' or 'the cider house rules' the best.
that Faber book was superb and soo rude!

Kathyis6incheshigh · 04/07/2007 21:00

Have you read Charlotte Mendelson's Oxford one - Daughters of Jerusalem?

Original poster
Pruners · 04/07/2007 21:00

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Cappuccino · 04/07/2007 20:57

Kate Pullinger

foxinsocks · 04/07/2007 20:56

Pruni - his new book (Coe's) is coming out in September this year - The Rain Before It Falls.

Wheelybug · 04/07/2007 20:55

I meant his books - I thought this was a literature thread (sniffs in contemptuous manner).

TBH, I remember a similar thread about the love of Mr Coe and am sure someone posted some photos and I have to say you can have him

policywonk · 04/07/2007 20:54

hoxton- yes, it was very creepy. But memorable!

foxinsocks · 04/07/2007 20:54

ahem

I think you'll find that while you and marina had grabbed chair and deputy of the J Coe fan club, yours truly was annointed Greatest Fan.

Original poster
Pruners · 04/07/2007 20:52

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Wheelybug · 04/07/2007 20:50

I like kate atkinson and love Jonathan Coe.

A Phillipa Gregory ? Very readable but historical element makes them interesting - there are 2 different sorts - 1 is about tudor court and the other about something else (not sure what though).

John Irving ?

hoxtonchick · 04/07/2007 20:50

under the skin = too weird for me...

foxinsocks · 04/07/2007 20:49

when you switch to wanting non-fiction, let me know as I've read a few crackers recently.

policywonk · 04/07/2007 20:49

Crimson Petal really is stonking. I've read Under the Skin by him, and have to say it was entirely different (I quite liked it, but nowhere near as much). I think he's one of those authors who can jump around a lot in terms of subject matter and style.

Also, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood? Another historical novel (based on a real story).

hoxtonchick · 04/07/2007 20:48

when we were bad is excellent, i'd really recommend it (though possibly 50 pages too long).

katherine bucknell is also an author i've discovere recently. elegantly written novels about messed up relationships.

Mercy · 04/07/2007 20:48

How about 'The Ballad of Peckham Rye' by Muriel Spark?

OK it's light but it's good - I love her stuff

Cappuccino · 04/07/2007 20:47

Sarah Hall

Califrau · 04/07/2007 20:47

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jeremyvile · 04/07/2007 20:46

Life of Pi
UM
UM
UM
You've already rules out my fail-safes...
Life of Pi
and
um
Conversations with God (as a thread earlier reminded me of its fabness).

Original poster
Pruners · 04/07/2007 20:46

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Bink · 04/07/2007 20:44

Joshua Ferris, Then We Came To The End (if you can find it. Books Etc. said "eh? That's not on our inventory" - despite its being Sunday Times's best book of the best books of the year)

I want to read Charlotte Mendelson's When We Were Bad - sounds like it has Jack Rosenthal vibes

One of David Mitchell's earlier books - maybe Number 9 Dream. Not the current one (Black Swan Green).

Original poster
Pruners · 04/07/2007 20:44

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policywonk · 04/07/2007 20:40

Victorian, sorry.

Have no idea what a Vistorian prostitute might get up to.

HelenLoveJoyOfSpringfield · 04/07/2007 20:40

Have you read any Cecelia Aherne books?

"A place called here" isn't a tear jerker.

How about any Marian Keyes???

Watermelon is funny and poignant at the same time iirc.