read any good books lately?

[Candy]

Hi everyone!
I was wondering what you are currently reading or have read recently and enjoyed? Having just read several by Joanne Harris (Chocolat and Blackberry Wine) and two history books by Giles Milton (Nathaniel's Nutmeg and Big Chief Elizabeth) I'm stuck for what to read next. Any suggestions much appreciated!

It's on my list, Sis, for the day I have some spare time.

BTW, this thread is very long and takes ages to load, shall we start a new one?

Fannie Flag.........hmmm sounds like some nasty ailment!

Cool site! I've been reading it for months but here's my first posting. "Atonement" is the best book I've read in ages but the trilogy from Pulman is really gripping too. Anyone read "A Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggars? I used to read baby books when I was pregnant but now ds is 27 months and it's lovely to read fiction again!

Sis - yes, I read 'Welcome to the world baby girl' and thoroughly enjoyed it too.

Anyone read 'Five Quarters of the Orange' by the Chocolat author - I'm about to start it for my Book Club, as well as 'White Teeth'.

Hi Lindy ,could you tell me more please about "welcome to the world babygirl"

Just finished Terry Wogan's biog. (JanZ I will post it to you if you want to read it!)
Did you know he and his wife's first child was a baby girl, Vanessa, who died just a few days old? They went on to have three healthy children but understandibly he says they have never got over the death of their daughter and are unable to talk about it.

Fannie Flagg also wrote fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-stop Cafe, which was wonderful.

Callie, sorry about the delay, hadn't looked at this thread recently. The book is set in USA & is about a woman from a small town who then moves to NY to work in the media, a bit about the contrast between different life styles & cultures - that's probably not a very good synopsis, but do try it anyway.

Lindy - Have you read it now : 'Five Quarters of the Orange' ? I am about to start it. I just read 'Like water for chocolate'.... also food centred !

No, haven't started it yet, let me know what you think.

has anyone read Will Self's "How the Dead Live"? i've just finished it - it's one of the best books i've read in ages. a very thought provoking take on motherhood i thought...

I agree with you there Bossykate. Best books I've ready recently would have to be the Phillip Pullman 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, Kevin Crossley-Holland's 'Arthur - The Seeing Stone' and Meera Syal's 'Life isn't all ha ha hee hee'. Has anyone read the comic-style book that one the Guardian fiction award last year, 'Jimmy Corrigan'? Would love to know if it's any good.

one??? won I think!

'The shipping news' was absolutely brilliant!

tony hawks - round ireland with a fridge - a nice comfy book... a good un for going to bed with as it's not too taxing and made me giggle now and again!

a couple of years ago i read harry potter to my class and loved it to bits then we started on chamber of secrets... i found the beginning hard to get into (didn't like Dobby!) and it was end of term so we never managed to finish it! but last month i picked it up and read and finished it and finsihed off the others too!

Fantastic!!! and scared me to death....now am eagerly awaiting the new one.. does anyone know when it's out?

Just finished 'Five Quarters' & enjoyed it, but found it a bit slow in places.

Anyone reading 'White Teeth' at the moment? Any thoughts?

pamina - i know.. i think playing tennis will be my next read!!! Thanks for the tip!

Lindy, I think we talked about White Teeth earlier on this (very long!) thread.

I'm reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, atm, and just loving it. It's set in an area similar to where we spent our summer last year so I recognise plenty.

My next read will be 'The Fox Boy' by Peter Walker. It's the true story of a Maori boy captured by the English in NZ in 1860 and educated as an 'English Gentleman'.

Otherwise, I'm not reading all that much, as I'm keeping a stack of books ready to take with me when we move.

SueDonim - thanks! Looking at those comments makes me realise that I'm not the only one who finds 'White Teeth' is a bit dreary!

BTW - if anyone is feeling sorry for themselves, try 'Blessings' by Mary Craig - it really puts life into perspective, just read it in a couple of hours this afternoon.

Just read Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle (who wrote a Year in Provence) and it made me want to go to France imediately and eat ripe cheese, drink soft red wine and sit watching stunning sunsets. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it is a light, easy, cheerful, escapist little read. Anyone read Jilly Cooper's new novel? (I know, trash, but I have a soft spot for her)

Just to add my nominations on 'the best things I have read in past 12 months' awards:

'The best a man can get' John O' Farrell, for the best (& funniest)description of a sleepness night and the desperation of childrearing I've seen.

'The Wildest Dream' Peter/Leni Gillman, a biography of George Mallory that haunts me and leads to endless debates on the theme 'climbers - hopeless romantics or selfish gits?'

'When we were Orphans' Kazuo Ishiguro. Slightly baffling but brilliant.

Of course outside the 12 month zone I'd have to recommend Pat Barkers 'Regeneration' Trilogy which is just awesome.

Can't make up my mind on the winner, though....

Suedonim, I'm amazed that you liked Prodigal Summer. I thought it was so dull and only finished reading it because it was a present from someone (I'd bought her The Poisonwood Bible just before that). IMO alternating between 3 stories didn't add anything to it at all. I've come to the conclusion that she's the kind of author that only has one good book in her.

I recently read "Dear Tom", Tom Courtenay's biography which includes lots of letters that his mother wrote to him when he was away at university. Maybe I should have posted that recommendation on the thread about "It's another boy". Also, I read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which was a great read, but very sad of course.

Maybe you're right, Rosy. I think I am so taken with Prodigal Summer because I can relate it to places and people I know. I find it impossible to look at it dispassionately! But my Reading Group also enjoyed it, and Barbara Kingsolver's other books, (Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees). I do think that Poisonwood Bible was her piece de resistance, though.