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!

Thomcat, if you love the Magus you must read the Wind up Bird Chronicles. Bit naughty recommending it as I haven't finished it yet but I'm sure you'd like it.

Thomcat - I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl too (by Philippa Gregory). I read it when I was overdue with dd though, which I'm not sure I'd recommend - too many descriptions of childbirth in Tudor times!

I'm reading the Mitford Sisters by Mary Lovell, a biography which I'm finding very interesting, also good for the history of the times (in a not too heavy manner!).

Thanks for the recommendation about 'The Other Boleyn Girl' sounds just my sort of read.

Don't want to knock people who are enjoying the Harry Potter books but does anyone else find themselves just not interested? I did try the first one (as part of our recommended book club reading) but just could not 'get it' - I'm obviously missing something, but am I the only one?

Yes, the Mitford Sisters is great isn't it.

I have just read a darling book called 'The Extra Man' by Jonathan Ames - about a young perhaps transvestite guy sharing an appartment with an older man who escorts rich old women. I found it charming.
I'm reading my big daughter 'The Little Princess' by Frances Hodgson Burnett which is also very good.I hadn't read it as a child. I adore reading the classic children's books to her - all the E. Nesbit and Orlando and Babar etc etc. Reading is my passion too so it's such a treat to turn on someone you love to great stories.

Sambo, isn't Murakami great, I would recommed reading his other books after you finsh Wind up bird.

I too really enjoyed the Mitford Girls.

WWW, it's a good thing you are over your pregnancy nausea - Anthony Bourdain is gggrrrrosss! But very funny, I loved Kitchen Confidential.
I knew there was a fab biography out there but could not remember who/what. So thanks for the Mitford sisters reminder, all!

I'm halfway through Holy Fools by Joanne Harris and, even though I'm too tired really to read, it is gripping enough to get me through a couple of chapters a night.

Great, well Wind Up man and the Mitford Sisters are both on my list, thanks very much girls. I feel lost without a good book.

Frenchgirl, I used to love Paul Auster for the first few books but after a while I found him rather depressing as all his books are about people screwing their lives up!

Keep thinking of new ones

The Reader by Bernard Schlink is one of the best books I've read, as is Perfume by Patrick Suskind (if a little odd, but truly an amazing book)

J M Coetzee is brilliant as well, esp Disgrace, The Life & Times of Michael K, in fact any of his.

Rupert Thompson is good, (Dreams of Leaving, The Five Gates of Hell, Air and Fire. The Insult is the best I think. Didn't like Soft so much but the Book of Revelation was better)

So is Joseph O'Connor, who I believe is Sinead's brother. The Salesman & Desperados are my favorites.

Sorry to keep listing books! Amazon usually has pretty good reviews.

Well, I've just finished My Lover's Lover by Maggie O'Farrell - absolute waste of time. Was expecting great things of this according to the blurb but just full of drippy, humourless, pretentious, self indulgent, characters. Tosh.

tinker, i agree. she is one of the granta top 20 young authors! slightly upmarket chick lit i thought - totally bungled the suspense/supernatural development...

I've jsut finished "The child that books built" by Francis Spufford. It's a briliant reminisence on all those favorite books you read as a kid, with some very intelligent analysis. And it's not too long!

Thanks so much for the recommendation of the 'Other Boleyn Girl' - I haven't been able to get onto Mumsnet for 5 days because of computer problems but got the book from the library and its helped with the withdrawl symptoms!

Have had real difficulty finishing books lately, so pleased to find exceptions to the rule lately (apart from HP!). "The lovely bones" by Alice Sebold and "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. They are very different - the first quite harrowing story of rape, death and life afterwards - beautifully written though not for fainthearted. The latter I bought in a WHS special for the train and raced through it - lady detective in Botswana - really readable and funny. Have recommended latter to husband, but the lovely bones is more of a woman's book IFKWIM.

Just finished Not the End of the World by Kate Atkinson, a collection of short stories about life, death and parenting. Each story is, in some way, connected to each other which makes it different and far more intersting than the usual short story collections. There are some very profound and moving bits about the experience of being a parent. Can recommend this.

I've just finished reading "The Rice Mother" by Rani Manicka which was a superb book. It was lengthy but very readable, beautifully written and was a story which spanned 3 generations. Definately a book that I will be loaning to others (but making sure I get back ), and would say it goes into my list of fav all time books

Also agreed with Tinker about Maggie Farrell's book. Have to say it was a disappointment as her 1st book "after You'd gone" was very enjoyable.

Just spent a week missing out on sleep and reading:

'The lovely bones' by Alice Sebold. Agree with florenceuk that it is harrowing, but so touching. DH kept asking me if it was terribly written or something as I kept wailing.

'The year of wonders' by Geraldine Brooks. Life in the Plague of 1665/1666. Makes you greatful we have penicillin.

And thanks to Thomcat I finally got round to reading 'The Other Boleyn Girl' after seeing it in the shop 3 months ago then forgetting. Really enjoyable.

Anyone read 'The Red Tent'? I was thinking of that next...

For anybody who hasn't read Back When we were Grownups by Anne Tyler yet, they have it at Sainsburys (wrapped in cellophane, in a big bin by the door at ours) for £2.99 instead of £6.99 - I paid £5.59 for it from Amazon....

Pie I've read the Red Tent (thanks to Jimjams). It is excellent. Just make sure you have lots of time to read it or, like me, you will be still reading till midnight eneb though you know the kids will be getting up at six! A terrific read.
I also enjoyed The Other Bolyen Girl.

If you haven't read it, try 'An Instance of the Fingerpost' by Iain Pears. A first rate hitorical thriller/who done it. One of the best boos I have ever read.

Must get The Other Boleyn Girl... Agree re An Instance of the Fingerpost, it's great. I'm reading Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel at the moment - that is really good, in the Latin American magical realist theme.

I've just finished 'Five Quarters of the Orange' by Joanne Harris. Loved it. I think it her best one actually, although I also loved 'Blackberry Wine'.

You girls who like Philippa Gregory, have you read the 'Wideacre' trilogy? Fan bloody tastic I lent them to my friends at work, and they all loved them. She lost her way a bit with the following books, but I loved 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. Also, try Diana Gabaldon's 'Cross Stich' books. I was hooked, and am still waiting for the 6th (and final) book to be published.

funny valentine by am jenkins - its a read in the bath book - i liked it
terry pratchet thief of time - never read a pratchet - i was truly amazed

I've just ordered Lovely Bones from Amazon (they have a 3 books for £12 offer), so I am looking forward to reading it after the reviews on here.

I've plucked up the courage now, and just started to read A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Its 1500 pages long, but have been assured by my best friend and her sister that its another corking read.