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Original poster

can someone recommend me a book?

36 replies

Stargazing · 28/06/2008 23:07

used to read voraciously, but had 2 children in 16 months and have no time/ energy/ concentration for ages ... am fed up with trying to convince myself that Closer is the modern day Pride & prejudice ... can someone recommend a book that they've enjoyed?

If it helps, I love classics, and some of my favourite modern novels are: The Kite Runner, True History of the Kelly Gang, A fine Balance, Possession, The Lovely Bones, The Famished Road, My Life as a Fake...

would really appreciate some help! thanks

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Bundle · 30/06/2008 14:27

lol!

muffinmum · 30/06/2008 13:59

bundle, i got kalooki nights in dec on recommendation from waterstones guy at airport.cant believe now i thought i wd be able to read anything at all going on 8hr flight with 20 mth old. dh managed to read whole of newspaper tho!i am going to put k nights in the bathroom cos i will read anything on the loo so put hard to get into books in there!

Bundle · 30/06/2008 13:07

have just started the new sebastian faulks, engleby -- good so far

Bundle · 30/06/2008 13:06

got kalooki nights out of library ages ago. couldn't get into it

northernrefugee39 · 30/06/2008 13:06

Muffin- What's Kalooki Nights like? I've been meaning to get it?

maidamess · 30/06/2008 13:05

I didn't like Interpretation of murder! But at the moment I am reading Small Island by Andrea Levy and its really really good, well written and a great story so far.

northernrefugee39 · 30/06/2008 13:04

googgly - I read The Interpretation of Murder last Summer in a holiday house, as it was all I had left- it was really good wasn't it? Gripping story.

whispywhisp · 30/06/2008 11:25

The Outcast by Sadie Jones

Original poster
Stargazing · 30/06/2008 09:15

thank you all for your sugestions, I have made a list and am feeling confident that I will soon be able to consider myself the literary type again! going to start with 1000 splendid suns and take it from there

thx ladies

OP posts:
muffinmum · 30/06/2008 01:06

you sound like you like same sort of books as me...

...i've just finished notes on an exhibition and it was really good, really really good.also loved 2 caravans and reading mister pip at mo.
my all time fave is keri hulmes the bone people, life changing book,totally amazing.

books next to my bed are:we need to talk about kevin, 1000 splendid suns,the coroners lunch,suite francais,kalooki nights and aint misbehavin (dog training and behaviour book!) long list as have been on mumsnet a lot last 2 wks and DD has ear infection .
i keep being tempted to join a book club but dunno not managed it yet!

mybabysinthegarden · 30/06/2008 00:48

Another Jonathan Coe fan here, I think House of Sleep is a good one of his to start with.

I read Lionel Shriver's Post-Birthday World recently; really long but I couldn't put it down. Others of hers I've read, We Need to Talk about Kevin and Double Fault really good too; she's one of those authors where I keep reading a little description or aside and thinking, 'oh that's so true.'

I loved On Green Dolphin Street right up to the end and then...gah! Won't say more as I'd still recommend it for vivid 1960s personal/political turmoil-- haven't liked any other Faulkes I've read though.

The People's Act of Love by James Meek is a weird one but fascinating read and one that stayed with me iyswim.

Excited to see a new Siri Husvedt; I, well, loved What I Loved.

Not sure if mysteries are quite what you're after but the Kate Atkinson ones (Case Histories, One Good Turn and new one due this summer) are full of lush detail and vivid characterization (and funny too!)

A couple slightly older ones I seem to keep recommending, in case you've missed them, are Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex and Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal.

Oops, didn't mean to be quite so exhaustive, just saw a few that I'd liked on the thread and thought I'd post to keep it in threads I'm on to pick up some more recommendations!

TheMagnificent7 · 30/06/2008 00:20

I've got 'My French Whore' on my shelf to read soon.

Tried any Kazuo Ishiguro ? He wrote Remains of the Day. His last novel, 'Never Let Me Go' is fantastic

The Final Confession of Mabel Stark by Robert Hough - The story of the great American female Tiger trainer. It's gripping.

MissMountshaft · 29/06/2008 23:42

I really enjoyed 'My French Whore' by Gene Wilder. It's really funny and touching.

Posey · 29/06/2008 21:50

All Jonathan Coe's books. I've loved every single one but they are all very different.
Recently read The Danny Scheinmann one, Random Acts of Heroic Love, and really enjoyed that.
Will ponder some more...

googgly · 29/06/2008 21:11

I just finished The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld. Could NOT put it down. Had to send dh out with dcs.

drowninginlaundry · 29/06/2008 21:11

I just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini) it was amazing, I cried when I got to the end.

northernrefugee39 · 29/06/2008 21:03

I think Elizabeth Jane howard is very underrated- isn't Confusion hers? Great read.

christiana · 29/06/2008 19:08

Message withdrawn

northernrefugee39 · 29/06/2008 19:02

Yes! Tho have a long list atm... reading Patrick Gale- tried him?

nkf · 29/06/2008 18:59

I've not read Johnathan Coe. Perhaps you could read and report back.

northernrefugee39 · 29/06/2008 18:58

Thanks nkf. I had the Emily Perkins on my list of to reads.
Bejing Coma sounds interesting
Yes, The Sorrows of an American is hustvedt's new on isn't it? Will wait for pb to come out.

Wheely I think I'm going to try Jonathan Coe, he keeps cropping up and sounds good.

herbietea · 29/06/2008 14:36

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wheelybug · 29/06/2008 14:32

I found the latest Jonathan Coe (Rain before it falls) and the latest Sebastian Faulks (Engleby) v. readable.

nkf · 29/06/2008 14:16

What sort of books do you like?

Recently I've read:

Novel About My Wife, Emily Perkins. Very good. Still in hardback though.
Beijing Coma. Totally superb. Also still in hardback.
The latest Lee Child. Can't remember the title. Usual fare.
The Great Gatsby. Never fails.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Again, never fails.

I am currently reading Suite Francaise which is sad and scary and also good.

Siri Hulvesdt has a new book out.

northernrefugee39 · 29/06/2008 13:53

Oh you've read everything... recommend some more good books - go on- please!

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