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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Recommend me some books please...

61 replies

lunavix · 21/06/2005 14:15

I haven't sat down and read in ages, I really need to. So I'd like about 10 books, I'll buy in bulk off amazon, and force myself to read them! Would like a mix of genres.

I don't really like pure romantic drivel, except for very easy reading quirkiness (mike gayle for example.) Really detest everything else, rather embarrassed, but I like his for some reason!

Books have to draw me in, I have to feel like I'm there. The sort where you pick it up, and you just CANNOT put it down again.

Oh and I'm also a harry potter addict but who isn't!!!

OP posts:
theshrimp · 23/06/2005 11:54

The Orchard on fire" by shena MacKay. It's about a 1950's childhood and is soooo beautifully written. It really reminded me of the way I thought when I was a child (although it wasn't in the 50's!)

Marina · 23/06/2005 10:27

Hi Gem, sorry about that - they are none of them super-recently published I suppose, but all available in paperback.
I love Armistead Maupin too, the Tales of the City series is just wonderful. And he seems like such a lovely person in RL too.
I got a giant stash of this year's Man Booker shortlist works from The Book People for about £14.99. It includes the Hollinghurst so especially looking forward to that one as bakedpotato and I seem to have lots of tastes in common

bakedpotato · 22/06/2005 12:37

Can I do a little rant about Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty? It's about a Tory family in the 80s. So gorgeously written -- it's one of those books that sucks you in completely. It's ages since I enjoyed a book this much

grumpyfrumpy · 22/06/2005 12:02

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moondog · 22/06/2005 10:14

Chonky,is that the one where she hangs out with the mercenary?
I was very intersted in her stuff as I was brought up and born in Zambia. My cousin(who was brought up in the same part of the world, has told me she went to school with her in Malawi!

I love her weird brutal style. Very raw.

chonky · 22/06/2005 08:30

Moondog, I think it's Alexandra Fuller?? I'm just about to start her new book 'Scribbling the Cat'.

jinglybits · 22/06/2005 00:40

ooh ooh read 'the alcamist' its my absolute favourite book...easy reading like a romantic, mysterious kids book but with underlying adult inspirations! lovely, lovely, lovely, makes me feel happy

kama · 22/06/2005 00:19

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Janh · 22/06/2005 00:19

That's ringing a faint bell, kama, but will have to rummage - my books and my brain cells are all over the place these days

kama · 22/06/2005 00:16

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Janh · 22/06/2005 00:08

As well as Small Island, Big Country by Bill Bryson is excellent (well Bill Bryson is excellent fullstop, he would be my dream desert island companion!)

Janh · 22/06/2005 00:05

kama, try The Edible Woman - it turns a bit weird at the end but there is some v v funny stuff before that. Atwood is a brilliant writer.

lunavix, have you tried Gervase Phinn? It's a lot like James Herriot only about primary schools; easy reading but thoughtful and some very funny anecdotes about children.

kama · 21/06/2005 23:59

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kama · 21/06/2005 23:58

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Original poster
lunavix · 21/06/2005 22:21

kama, the first bit that put me off was the topic, we studied it in like year 10 at school... thought it was a terse subject at that age tbh!

Never really got into it, re-read it a few years ago, and still didn't really enjoy it.

OP posts:
moondog · 21/06/2005 22:05

'Don't lets go to the dogs tonight'
Alexandra ????
Recent,about author's 70s childhood in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Unputdownable.

Gem13 · 21/06/2005 22:02

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry gets my vote every time. It's excellent.

Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. Written originally for the San Fran Chronicle so you keep reading one more 1/2 page and then another...

I love Anne Tyler too (although I thought the last one - Amateur Marriage was really disappointing).

Just finished Time Travellers Wife and Small Island and am now on Case Histories. All good. I love it when you have a run of good ones.

Marina - haven't heard of your first 3!

Orinoco · 21/06/2005 21:55

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Oliviab · 21/06/2005 21:37

Well I have to recommend Scuba Dancing by Nicola Slade because she's my mum. It's a lighthearted romantic comedy with some quite touching bits - ideal to read after something very heavy and miserable.

weesaidie · 21/06/2005 20:05

I'd like to join in with certain other posters and give my vote to -

Katemum - Angels and Demons
Kama - Memoirs of a Geisha (one of my absolute favourites)
WWB - A Prayer for Owen Meany

Katemum · 21/06/2005 19:44

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

WigWamBam · 21/06/2005 19:28

The sequel to The Dice Man was pretty good, as was Adventures of Wim by the same author.

kama · 21/06/2005 19:28

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Original poster
lunavix · 21/06/2005 19:18

Ooh I like the dice man! Never got round to reading the sequel was it any good?

I didn't like the handmaids tale...

OP posts:
pleaserewind · 21/06/2005 18:32

i loved 'honour thy father' by lesley glaister

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