To ask for book recommendations?

[NorthandSouth98374]

I'm dying to get into a good book so I'm looking for recommendations. My all time favourite is Gone With The Wind. I also love Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, Forever Amber, The Crimson Petal and the White...

Any recommendations?

John Steinbeck: The Grapes Of Wrath
Kate Atkinson: Life After Life
Margaret Atwood: Handmaid's Tale, or the Oryx and Crake Trilogy

I am currently reading Middlemarch by George Eliot- very good but slow going (900 pages)

Thank you! I liked the Margaret Atwood's books. Will have a look at Life and Life.

I've tried and failed with Middlemarch more times than I remember

I fancy a good book with a strong female character to see the dark nights in.

I prefer non fiction books my self, so I'm not sure I could recommend anything that would be up your street.

I'm rereading the Cormoran Strike series after seeing the BBC adaptation - they have me hooked even second time round!

Alternatively:

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - has a strong female lead!

The Thornbirds. That'll keep you going...

Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon

Am very much enjoying Johnny Marr's autobiography but I see you like a strong female protagonist, so maybe not...

Have you read 'how to be a heroine' by Samantha Ellis? Non-fiction but she talks about a lot of the books you like!

The Cormoran Strike series and the Thornbirds are both excellent recommendations, love them both!

I'll have a look at the Anne Bronte book, thank you. My aunt raves about the Outlander series, I'll put that on the list too.

Sorry, didn't see everyone's replies. That sounds interesting Pumper, I do enjoy analysis of the books I love. Thanks again everyone!

North and South by Eizabeth Gaskell
Wild Swans

Another vote for life after life, also A God in ruins by the same author is the best thing I've read all year

The Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larson:-
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl who played with fire
The Girl who kicked the hornets nest.

If you like Gone with the wind, you will LOVE Magdalen Vanstone in Wilkie Collins' No Name. She's a cracking female lead.

Sarah Waters does a good line in writing strong interesting females.

Can't beat Stella Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm and also Westwood by her is great too.

Why not ask this question in What we're reading - it's in the Books section of Mumsnet under topics. You'll get loads of brilliant suggestions there.

Oo just thought of Tracey Chevalier if you like historical fiction. Haven't read a duff book by her yet.

And YY to Life after Life and a God in Ruins.

Ooo, I didn't know there was a book section! I'll post there.

Loving all the recommendations! My list of things to read has grown dramatically in the last ten minutes!

I will 2nd Sarah Waters, gripping story lines and great female characters!

I've just read LaRose by Louise Erdrich which was excellent.

I second the Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Just terracing it again as a treat to myself.

Ooh so many! Love these sorts of threads OP :)

The Poisonwood Bible, I Capture the Castle, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Help, The Secret Life of Bees (I've only just started reading this but think it might be up your street), Madame Bovary, Le Lys Rouge (originally written in French, but you may be able to get hold of a translation under its English title The Red Lily), Like Water for Chocolate...

On a side-note, thanks for the other book recommendations on this thread :) I've never read Gone with the Wind, and think I'd enjoy it.

Ooh also maybe Jane Eyre? Sorry if that's a really obvious one...

Sharon Penman's "Here be Dragons" is excellent. Her other books are good too, but that is my favourite.

Michelle's pavers dark matter. Painted man series.

Someone beat me to Here Be Dragons!

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall (not historical but strong female protagonist)