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Original poster

What MUST I read?

54 replies

Zebraa · 18/11/2008 22:29

Come on ladies, what are we reading then?

OP posts:
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VickyToria · 13/12/2008 17:53

Sweet Audrina by Virginia Andrews was good.

EarthwormFrittataBugEnchilada · 12/12/2008 23:53

I've been thinking about this and I have to say that in addition to my earlier suggestions, which were:

"Shikasta - Doris Lessing
American Pastoral - Philip Roth
Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
Still Life - AS Byatt
Any of Elizabeth Taylor's short stories.

and while we're at it, why not a little something by the sadly underappreciated master of American fiction

The Assistant - Bernard Malamud"

I would really recommend Ursula K LeGuin. I started reading her stuff when I was maybe 12 and over the years I've read pretty much most of her stuff. On reflection, I think of all the writers and all the books I've read (quite a lot), hers are the ones that have contributed most to my own imaginative inner life. I'd feel the lack of them had I not read them and my life is richer because of them.

Thomcat · 20/11/2008 17:17

I've just finished 'Across the Nightingale Floor' by Lian Hearne. BRILLIANT. I loved it. It's part of a trilogy so just quickly ordered the others and can't wait.

Before that I was reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' which was also great.

Am just about to start 'The Old MAn & The Sea' by Ernest Hemmingway while I wait for the rest of Lian Hearnes books to arrive. Oh and I also ordered a book called Apache.

nuttymum303 · 20/11/2008 17:06

I have read loads over the years. My kids are all at school and I have a wonderful husband who looks after the kids lol.

Original poster
Zebraa · 20/11/2008 14:39

Wowweeeeeeeee thank you all so much! I am seriously bored so I will jot some of these down and head to the library later!

Nuuty, how the heck did you get all those books read? I aspire to that he he!

OP posts:
Jajas · 20/11/2008 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LurkerOfTheUniverse · 20/11/2008 11:11

I third Saki, really funny

nuttymum303 · 20/11/2008 10:02

You what they say about ur genes lol. Well unfortunately for me, my dad is a Crime freak in the sense he likes Agatha Christie kind of books. I suppose I just took it up a notch & love heart racing kind of books.

Sorry ladies xx

remote · 19/11/2008 23:36

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

My cries of fantastic and gripping don't do it justice - it's the best book I've ever read!!!!!

BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 23:28

Fantasy is a wonderful thing!

Pillow · 19/11/2008 23:24

Me too! I truly believe that i could tame him into domesticity, though I could not take it if he got involved in near-death experiences on a weekly basis, and would be calling him on his (newly given by me) mobile all the time. "Are you alright?".

Maybe i should leave him alone...

BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 23:20

But in my fantasy world, Pillow, that one night would persuade him that I was The One!

thumbwitch · 19/11/2008 23:16

nuttymum303 must like books like that - she has read at least 4 Karin Slaughter books as well, books I gave up with after the first 2 because I couldn't stand the level of graphic abuse in them - it still stays in my mind now!

So if you don't like the sound of the one she described, steer clear of the Karin Slaughter stuff too.

wrinklytum · 19/11/2008 23:15

Rebus is my favourie detective though.I would like a chinwag in the Oxford bar discussing the Stones over a pint of heavy and a chaser.I hope IR does some more novels though perhaps with Siobhan as lead character.She is shaping up nicely to fill Rebuses boots

Pillow · 19/11/2008 23:10

BIWI, would you take a night with Reacher knowing he would take for the hills the next day?

BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 23:08
BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 23:07

Oh no, I bet he smells really good.

Pillow · 19/11/2008 23:07

Reacher doesnt smell or have morning breath like ordinary humans.

wrinklytum · 19/11/2008 22:57
Grin
BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 22:55

And the no pants

wrinklytum · 19/11/2008 22:55

I quite like Reacher.He is an anti-hero.I often wonder if he changes his travel toothbrush every 3 months,otherwise it must be getting a bit manky by now

BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 22:52

Yes, he's brilliant. I really feel like I've been to that part of the US having read his books.

More lighthearted crime fiction - enjoyable for totally different reasons - Lee Childs (10 or 11 titles now) and Janet Evanovitch and her Stephanie Plum books, which start with One for the Money.

wrinklytum · 19/11/2008 22:47

BIWI I love the Robicheaux books too,his descriptions of Louisiana and deep South are great,and good crime fiction too.

wrinklytum · 19/11/2008 22:45

Not fiction but I have just finished reading "Blood and Sand" by the BBC correspondent Frank Gardener who was shot in Riyadh by an Al Qaeda cell and paralysed from waist down.It was a truly fascinating book and gives an insight into aspects of the Moslem world.He studied Arabic at university and a lot of the book chronicles his love of all things Arabic,his travels around the Arab speaking world and so on.It also describes his long road to recovery with warmth poignancy and humour.Very interesting.

BecauseImWorthIt · 19/11/2008 22:43

James Lee Burke - his Dave Robicheaux series is just wonderful. Incredibly atmospheric writing and good stories too.