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've just finished 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' by Rebecca Wells, and feel as if I've lost a friend. It was such a wonderful exploration of family relationships, especially the mother/daughter one. Brilliant!

why dont you try a Barbara Erskin book? two good ones are Lady of Hay and Kingdom of Shadows.

Don't know if anyone has mentioned Diana Gabaldon yet. Brilliant series of books, starting with Cross stitch (that might be one word?)

I'm reading a cracking book atm, called the Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston. He's a Canadian author and the book is set in Newfoundland - kind of Annie Proulx-ish although his langauge isn't as haunting. I only began it last night but can't wait to go to bed to get on with it!

Mooma, there's another Rebecca Wells book about the Ya Yas. It's much darker but I loved it. it's called Little Altars Everywhere.

Camberwell Beauty by Jenny Eclair - very funny - sex a bit basic but a good laugh - well I thought so!

I'm going to Waterstones to get 3 for 2 (I want the book of Tom Courtenay's letters home which was serialised on Radio 4) and want some advice on some others. Suedonim & Cos were discussing Barbara Kingsolver before - have you read Prodigal Summer? I thought the Poisonwood Bible was fantastic, so I'd like to try another one by her. And what does anyone think of Emotionally Weird, or the Alain de Botton one, or The Best a Man Can Get or, any of the Chinese/Japanese ones that seem to be on the shelves nowadays? I loved Wild Swans, but are any of the others as good? Thanks in advance.

I've bought Prodigal Summer but haven't read it yet. It's one of the books on my reading group list. I enjoyed Emotionally Weird becuase I know the area it's set in and my friend knows the author. Not sure I would have persisted otherwise. I haven't read any other Chinese/Japanese books apart from Wild Swans, Memoirs of a Geisha and Amy Tan's books. The others of that genre I've looked at all seem a bit 'samey'.

Chairmum, Winnie, Scummymummy, I spent my Christmas hol nights reading the Lyra Silvertongue trilogy. What a fantastic writer Pullman is. I bored my husband rigid raving about it and was caught hiding in the loo to finish a chapter on Christmas Day at least three times.
Has anyone else read and laughed at The Gospel According to the Simpsons (Mark Pinsky)? Bloss, maybe?
Happy New Reading Year, everyone.
I have Poisonwood Bible and the new Elizabeth McCracken (Niagara Falls all over again; her first novel, The Giant's House, was brilliant too) lined up for future consumption.

SueDonim - thanks so much for recommending 'Little Altars Everywhere'. I've just finished it over Christmas, and really enjoyed it. It was fascinating to get all the other characters' perspectives on events.

Glad you enjoyed it, Mooma. I hope she writes something else, soon.

Marina, glad you enjoyed Pullman so much. I've just read the latest Marcia Muller, which I loved and comsumed in a very short space of time... have finally returned to Blind Assassin will let you know how it goes....

This is an anti-recommendation if you get my drift. Our son caught sight of a small picture of "The Hairy Toe" (Walker Books) on an ad inside the back cover of one of his own books. He wanted to see it, so we got it from the local library.
Beware parents of small children! This book is scary...we have been fine with "Not Now Bernard" and "Where the Wild Things are", so did not really stop to think if reading this was such a good idea. He has had nightmares every night since, waking up muttering, Not the hairy toe! and bursting into tears. It's going back to the Library this evening and we are sticking to Shirley Hughes for a few nights.
Anyone else's child developed an aversion to a picture book allegedly suitable for small children?

Yes! Jez Alboroughs Wheres the Bear? (the one where the boy has to hide in the picnic basket). His mummy runs away! This concept was entirely too much for our sensitive 2 year old and it has to be hidden away behind other books.

Also meant to say that I am currently reading the Northern Lights by Philip Pullman and will HAVE to go and buy the second one this afternoon as I am gripped!

Marina, so sorry but I had to laugh! What on earth does the hairy toe get up to? I suppose it could be frightening, I get the willies occasionally when dh's hairy piggies appear from under the sheets!

PS, I hope your son will be OK though.

This is a response to quite an old post, but also a recomendation: "The Best a Man Can Get" is by John O'Farrell, who also wrote "Things can only get better: 10 miserable years in the life of a labour supporter" and, whilst both are good, the former is (IMHO) very funny about parenthood/mid life crisis etc. Also "My life on a Plate" by India Knight made me laugh, although for complete escapism I've just re-read and loved Rivals by Jilly Cooper - written in the 80s and it shows - but engrossing nonetheless. Wouldn't admit it anywhere else, but I'm in love with Rupert Campbell-Black!

My DD was and still is (at age 5) petrified of a book about a worm, with holes in the pages for a cloth worm to wiggle. She's probably scarred for life by it.

Jodee, have you locked the doors and are you sitting comfortably? An old lady finds the hairy toe in her vegetable patch and (v stupidly and unhygienically IMO) brings it indoors and puts it on the bedside table. Late on a dark and stormy night, its owner breaks down the door and creeps up the stairs to get its toe back...yes, this is a children's picture book, not a treatment for Blair Witch 3.

Marina, that sounds horrific! Like that ghost story 'The Monkeys Paw' I remember reading when I was young and still gives me the willies.

Marina, that's awful, who wrote it - Stephen King?

jsmummy - what a coincidence! Just mentioned India Knight and 'My Life on a Plate' on the 'Who do we think we are' thread! I hated it Sorry.

Marina, I know the monkey paw story. I thought I was over it but I've got the creeps again and dh is away on business. It'll be a long time before I get to sleep tonight!