Holiday reading recommendations - no chick lit

I'm enjoying John Lanchester's book about his family, which is called (I think) Family Romance. As it's a memoir, & one by a jolly clever chap, it's a much slower & more thoughtful burn than a novel would be - so more bang for your buck, in reading terms.

In that same vein, Primo Levi's Periodic Table (which starts with a memoir of his forebears) or Stephen Fry's Moab is my Wash Pot, or other clever non-fiction with incidental amusing bits might just be altogether a better option than a big fat saga.

(And not We Need To Talk About Kevin, which I got as a BOGOF with the Lanchester book. Tosh.)

The Shadow of the Wind is great (also a big fan of a Thousand Splendid Suns). I'm assuming you've already read The Kiterunner ?

I have just finished the Island by Victoria Hislop. It is about leprosy and based in Crete ( I read the Wonders Years before this also fantastic ). However it was gripping moving but not depressing.

I agree with all you say, IpanemaGirl. To be fair, he does say on his website that he inculded everything in the book, even his less-than-flattering moments, so I suppose we should salute his honesty! I'm interested in knowing more and will probably try to get some of the books in his bibliography.

Sorry again OP, just going to respond to suedonimabout Blood River.

I just finished it too! It did slightly fizzle and I don't like the author very much. He also accepted all those miners' hospitality and then didn't really properly thank them because obviously they were beneath him morally (?) The way he talked about the gormless one who lost his yellow fever certificate - I mean that could easily have been the authorities. I know the miners are obviously dubious as hell but don't go and live with them, accept all their help and sneer at them afterwards because yous down with the poor Congolese (um but not really eh mate?)!!!
And what about when that young boy was being beaten up and he just said, well I didn't do anything to help, obviously! Extraordinary! Not that I would have had the courage to help but a bit shameless!

Having said all that, the book was a real education and I'm really curious to read much more about Africa so I'll hand that to the slightly sneery snooty hypochondriac!

John Irving - Prayer for Owen Meany, Cider House Rules or Widow for One Year are good ones to start with.

Suite Francaise
Restless by William Boyd
and having seen the recommendation for John O'Farrell, I would recommend his near namesake JG Farrell - Singapore Grip, Troubles, Siege of Krishnapur - all great reads.
Do not, under any circumstances read Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (or her latest book) - poorly written rubbish.

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Ok, they do work but load v-e-r-y slowly for me!

Blood River Not all the links seem to work, though.

Ipanemagirl, I finished Blood River last night. It is an amazing insight into the Congo, where I noted on the BBC yesterday there is still so much fighting going on.

I rather thought the book fizzled out a bit toward the end, hitching a helicopter ride and driving in a jeep to Boma. I think because he juxtaposed his experience with Stanley's I felt TB also should be doing the trip on foot, hacking his way through jungle, fighting off giant snakes and carniverous lions etc!

IKWYM about the 'adventurer' bit. There was a whiff of 'I am doing this for YOU!' self-sacrifice about the book when in fact he's done it for no one but himself.

I thought the photos very poor! It does say there are pics in his website so, African internet allowing, I'm going to have a peek.

Year of Wonders is sad but inspirational in many ways - i couldn't put it down and i am an early to bed kind of bird. I agree on the Red Tent too - amazing book, liked Alias Grace as well, heop you have a good holiday

Any of the following:

"The war of Don Emmanuel's nether parts" by Louis de Berniere. Brilliantly written, gentle send-up of magical realism novels.

"England, their England" Archie MacDonnell. Written about 80 years ago. Affectionate send up of the british. still laugh-out-loud funny today. (And a very tiny book so you have room for another as well)

"Freakonomics" for some non-fiction fun

Suedonim, one more thiing. I loved it when his ego was hurt by that French UN or ICRC woman referring to him as "An Adventurer" he hated that so much didn't he! Very funny!

And also I think it sucks a little that he tells us all about these noble motorcyclists who take him with them at great personal risk and then in the photos he doesn't name check them. Just "Author en route" sort of thing. That sucks imo!

Suedonim, I'm so surprised that I can't put it down, I normally find that kind of book unreadable but I think he writes so well, he's in proper peril most of the time, it is fascinating history that I knew almost nothing of and it presents a bit of African history that is graspable. Brilliant combination!
I cannot believe how awful life must be for the Congolese, what a terrible history of abuse the whole country has suffered from outside and inside!

(Sorry to OP, I'm feeling a little impassioned about this book!)

Ipanemagirl, I'm reading 'Blood River', too. It makes Nigeria seem the height of sophistication. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and yes he does whinge, but not half as much I would in the same circs. The plight of the Congolese is so though.

Have you read any Robert Harris or William Boyd? Both good and easy to read imo.

I'm really loving 'Blood River' about the journalist Tim Butcher's trip following Stanley's footsteps down the River Congo.

I'm really enjoying it, he's a bit of a moaner but that's part of the pleasure, watching him suffer!

What about The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Its actually about Dracula. It manages to be educational, totally scary, apsolutely gripping and very very readable all at the same time - with some romance chucked in too. In short, the sort of book I wish I could write myself! I couldn't put it down, and was pretty scared (don't normally do scarey books, but just loved this). Really enjoyed it, and couldn't recommend it enough - I think we have similar taste in books from your comments, so I@m sure you'd love it.

Have you read The Source by James A. Michener BugBearisBugBear? I loved it and it's also another part historical/biblical and fictional novel about a place in Isreal through the ages.
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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winifred Watson! Such a lovely book!

Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Very good and unputadownable

Out of Africa, Isaak Dinesen (or Karen Blixen, rather). Gripping, beautiful, poetic, insighful, and broken down into relatively small bites. Perfect!

I'd go with anything by Jonathan Coe, another fan here.

Enjoyed Suite Francais,although I know some found it quite hard to get into...reckon it's worth perserving with...

For a light read that I know will keep me smiling, I'll usually re-read one of the Tales of the City series.Good for easy, lazy reading with a large bottle glass of wine (or three)