a good easy read

[Tortington]

something you can have a good dump to, or something you can lose yourself in whilst your in the bath.

not a girlie one that you would take on holiday - i cant read anymore of them

something with some light social or political satire maybe - something that makes me think ever so slightly without making me reach for the dictionary.
or
something insanely funny

not too long - i like a quick read

not a biography - preferably make believe - so no micheal moore - ive done him so to speak.

does this book exist..........?

davros - agree about Kate Atkinson's novels but the short stories have more pace.

3girls, I read far too much.We had to buy another bookcase as we ahd run out of room. I like to keep books, as I generally read them again!!

We are all adicted to reading in our house. Dh is as much an addict as I am, but our tastes don't cross over much. So we have 6 'Adult' bookcases, double stacked and full to bursting (the big Ikea jobs), and each of the children has their own bookcase.

A couple of books I've enjoyed recently are:
1: Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
SYNOPSIS (from amazon)
His life was like his recurring nightmare: a train to nowhere. But an ordinary life has a way of taking an extraordinary turn. Add a girl whose ears are so exquisite that, when uncovered, they improve sex a thousand-fold, a runaway friend, a right-wing politico, an ovine-obsessed professor and a manic-depressive in a sheep outfit, implicate them in a hunt for a sheep, that may or may not be running the world, and eth upshot is another singular masterpiece from Japan's finest novelist.

2: The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith SYNOPSIS (from amazon)
Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J.L.B. Maketoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger . . . Delightfully different, THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY offers a captivating glimpse of an unusual world.

Both are quite a light read, but lots of interesting ideas get thrown about too.

JJ - just looked that book up on Amazon - a bargain at £75!!! (it seems there's a paperback being publiched in February though). On a tangent, can anyone recommend a Sci Fi author for someone who thinks Asimov's Foundations is one of the greatest works of literature of all time? (not me, but Foundations is on my list of books to read at some point! )

Another vote for the No.1 Ladies Detective agenct and the 3 books that follow. Also Brick Lane by Monica Ali - about the life of two Bangladdeshi women. Another vote for Life of Pi - excellent. What about Billy by Pamela Stephenson - thats good or Don't lets go to the dogs tonight by Alexander Fuller. Happy reading!

Willy Russell's The Wrong Boy is brilliant - hilarious/sad and unputdownable

Another vote for the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Quick, easy but vaguely thought provoking too.

5 in the series so a great book to get into as it'll set you up for a while.

You can feel the warmth of the African skies... needed on a day like today.

Have you read Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of a City'? Really easy to read and funny too. 6 in that series spanning the late 70s, early 80s in San Francisco.

spacemonkey - will russell's the wrong boy - yes!!!
read it

Custardo, I'm sure you'll love the number 1 ladies detective agency series too - they are fab for when you don't want anything that requires too much brainwork whist still being entertaining.

popsycal - I have to read Life of Pi for a new book group I recently joined. Got the book this weekend but not started it yet. Any good?

Last month's was A Sunday at the pool in Kigali. I didn't enjoy that at all. Set in the genocide and was far too gruesome for my liking. Not ideal for a relaxing read.

Another vote for the Bill Bryson books. I enjoyed those quite a bit.

Lucy123 - "A Night in the Lonesome October" is 75GBP? Argh! My v cheap (5USD) paperback is here in my hands-- willing to send it to you for free, if you'd like. It's fun and silly Zelazny. I guess that it's not very popular internationally. I liked it. You might like "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman, too. (I'm hoping for some recommendations back )

I've never read the Foundations books, but love Robot series. In that vein, I'd recommend Ringword (esp Ringworld Engineers) by Niven or, on a more social commentary vein, the Hyperion books by Dan Simmons.

Forgot to mention that I love the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Wish I could be more like her...

Thanks JJ, I'm touched!

However I have now realised that there is another normal price edition at the bottom of the screen (have a weird screen blindeness thing going on today).

Looks odd to say the least, but interesting enough to add to my christmas list! Perhaps I should add No 1 ladies det. agcy too.

Anything by Martina Cole - brilliantly easy to read. Also for satire, hugely funny are Tom Sharpes books.

JJ - any reviews which include the words 'more social commentary vein' must be hard to read and she wants sommat easy

I just read No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - really light, easy read. It's not long, it's interesting, talks about Botswana and the people, is funny and just really enjoyable - I think it fits exactly to what you're looking for at the moment custardo.

Thomcat, I'm just reading the No1 detective agency and its great - lovely to read just before sleep as light and funny.

Anything by Anne Tyler

I second Thomcat on the No1 Ladies' Detective Agency, absolutely brilliant, very enjoyable read, likeable characters, beautiful description of Botswana (and from what I understand from SA friends, very true)and there's a whole series of them!! I'm hooked!

Yeah I'm reading Tears of a Giraffe now. Perfect light reading.
Apart from No 1 Ladies Detective agency I recently rad Life of Pi - great book as well and next on my list is Hitchhikers guide to the Universe - my DP is making me read it!

Hughsie - i'm the same loved the Harry Potter books - so if it is sad then were sad together

I'll join the 'sad' club too as I really enjoyed the Harry Potter books too.

Have recently read Nip and Tuck by Kathy Lette - laughed out loud - am now reading Mad Cows. Has anybody read the Secret History? Fantastic - also Earth's children books (Clan of the CAve Bear etc) by Jean M. Auel - fantastic - couldn't put them down - and Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. Has anybody read Poisomwood Bible - have got it but not read it yet. As for those of you who have loads of books why not donate to local Oxfam bookshop - took three boxes down today - made me feel virtuous and I can now buy some new books!

Anything by Douglas Coupland, my favorite being "girlfriend in a coma" - it isn't political or satirical as your brief asks but it's bloody good read - I got really fed up of all the "chick lit" cr@p being published - just finished "hey nostradamus" by above - was good, thought provoking stuff
my "beach read" this year was "things my girlfiend and I have argued about" - is very funny and I finished it in about 3 days - leaving me plenty of time to supervise sandcastle building and swimming lessons
anyone else fancy a mumsnet reading group??