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!

I think Garp is better..never finished Shipping News, it was a tad slow

I have just finished Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman and am working my way through Helen Dunmores novels since picking up Zennor in the Darkness. I love her short story collection Icecream. Has anybody read 'a certain age' by Rebbecca Ray. I must be getting old because I found it terribly disturbing!

I've just finished Frank Skinner too, laughed a lot, although worried for him that after publishing this he would have trouble finding a girlfriend ever again!

Maggie O'Farrells 'After you'd gone' had me in tears, astoundingly good - I've leant my copy to several people who all loved it, although her second book 'My lover's lover' didn't really do anything for me.

Just started a Margaret Attwood from library ('Alias Grace' which looks promising, having finished 'Five Quarters of the Orange' (Joanne Harris) - enjoyed that one. Otherwise, strangely (think it's a pregnancy thing), I'm having a massive re-read of all my old children's fiction. All those Laura Ingalls Wilder ones, and lots of E.E Nesbit!

FrancesJ, you're not the only one. I've re-read all the Olga da Polga and My Little Sister books and I'm not even pregnant. I saw them all in The Book People catalogue and just had to have them for my kids (myself).

FrancesJ, I did this not whilst pregnant but whilst breastfeeding in the wee small hours. The rocking chair is ds's room was next to my bookcase with all my childrens books so hhad a lovely sleepy time pottering through much Enid Blyton, Laura's Summer Ballet, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. I'm almost looking forward to getting to do it again (no-one knows this way!).

Oh yes, I've bought old Enid Blyton books in second hand shops and sat and devoured them! I used to love Malory Towers and the Famous Five, although I was amazed at them and the poshness of the kids - I didn't notice it as a child I don't think. Interesting. I also started re-reading Little Women recently although I put it down half way through. What about What Katy Did? Did anyone else love those books?

Also I've just read Hey, Yeah Right, Get a Life by Helen Simpson which I really enjoyed: well written short stories, mostly about parenthood. Would recommend that too.

I'm just on mrs Pepperpot (ok so I bought for my 8 yr old holiday reading) and Artemis Fowl is really good if you like Harry Potter type books

WWW, I read Hey, Yeah Right, Get a Life by Helen Simpson and thought it was a load of ...

Wickedwaterwitch, I love all those books you mentioned, my fav was Malory Towers, used to read them over and over, also What Katy Did etc, what about The Children Of Cherry Tree Farm?

Are they still being published, would like to get them for dd, she's only 3 now, but loves stories, would be nice to start a collection..

I've just purchased Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books from Ebay . My very favourite book as a child was the Magic Faraway Tree and I can't wait to read it to my children.

I'd forgotten about What Katy Did - loved those books! Along with Mallory Towers, St Clares, Famous Five... My copies have gone astray after a couple of house moves though.

Ebay is pretty good for hunting down these sorts of books.

I also loved Malory Towers, Secret 7, Famous 5, I was a right bookworm as a kid. They would probably seem a bit dated for today's young trendies - not a mobile phone in sight!

Just started reading No Compromise, the life story of Keith Green. I knew he was killed in a plane crash, but I was very upset when I learned two of his children died with him.

my dd loves the faraway tree - and I have great fun reading it to her... can't wait til she's big enough for the secret garden. Also re-read Tom's Midnight garden and Carrie's War and crie dat the end of both!

Used to love all the Enid Blyton's as a kid. My Mum had the complete set of Malory Towers as a girl and kept them and I must have read them dozens of times. They're still on a shelf at "home" (Mum's house) but somehow I don't think DS will be all that bothered. Although if current form is anything to go like and he's anything like his Mummy he will read absolutely anything!

Also enjoyed What Katy Did, Little Women etc. Also had a series of books about an American nurse called Cherry Ames. Anyone else remember her?

I had my mum's copies of the cherry ames books but I've never seen them in book shops. I also loved the enid blyton books but DH won't have them in the house so our brood haven't heard/read the stories.

My cherry ames were my Mum's also.

WWW, I loved Hey Yeah, too. Have you read Four Bare Legs in a Bed? I think the woman's a genius.

Oh yes, I read Cherry Ames too and Mrs Pepperpot and loved them. I think ds would like the latter. I also loved The Mousewife by Rumer Goden. What a nostaglia fest this thread is!

Marina, I've got four bare legs in a bed somewhere, I think it was a freebie with a magazine, but I haven't read it yet. Tried a few years ago and couldn't finish it. Might give it another go now.

A few of the childrens books I've reread this year: A Stitch in Time by Penelope Lively, Moondial by Helen Cresswell, The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden and books I've read for the first time The Sleeping Sword by Michael Morpurgo and Boy by Roald Dhal...(not sure this is classed as a childrens book). It is wonderful to know that other adults love childrens books too. I am also glad that so many people here love books from the past too as I very often hear people say how wonderful childrens books are today compared to in the sixties and seventies and I am not sure I agree. Amongst the dross there is simply an awful lot of really good stuff out there!

I recently re-read a fab book called The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare (it won the Carnegie Medal in the sixties). Excellent account of the persecution of the Quakers in 17th century New England, but a romantic read for an impressionable teen. And, last pregnancy I worked my way right through Laura Ingalls Wilder AND all the Anne of Green Gables books...so I'll be dusting them off again soon.

Oh... Marina, Laura Ingalls Wilder now I haven't read those in years... I must finish unpacking my books (we moved six months ago!) Must get off Mumsnet too...I am very distracted today!!!!

I love all these books! I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who still reads childrens' books.

Anyone else read "The Little White Horse" by Elizabeth Goudge? This is a favourite of J.K.Rowling.