Books, what other authors would I enjoy? I like......

[RockingRosebud]

I am currently enjoying Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series.

Just read Betty Mahmoody's Not Without My Daughter.

Have read all by Lesley Pearse some better than others.

Tend to enjoy stories about families and set within the last 50 years or so. Can anyone suggest more authors for me please? TIA

Absolutely loved the first two of the Earth Children series, Lambchops. I'm buying the next two for my summer hols. Are they as good as the first?

Janh, Happy All The Time is probably one of my all time favorite novels! Also enjoyed Compromising Positions...did you know she wrote a "sequel" called Long Time No See?

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I'm in the middle of 'unless' by Carol Shields which I think fits your bill, RRB. So far, so good, nice and meaty.

Slightly less relevant: any of the 'Tales of the City' series by Armistead Maupin (sort of family, just not your conventional nuclear family) and another vote for 'I capture the castle' which I have just finished and is a real escapist read (although about 20 years too early for your favourite period)

Enjoy your holiday!

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I'm not sure if Rosamund Pilcher has been recommended, also Christine Marion Fraser and Bonnie Burford.

Rhiannon, I think all of Anne Tyler's books are about families, one way or another. The Accidental Tourist is lovely. She is great on relationships and motivation and often very very funny.

Joanna Trollope's are too - Other People's Children is her best IMHO.

Why does it have to be less than 50 years ago though?

If reading "Other People's Children", have tissues handy, it's a bit of a tearjerker.

Mmm, possibly not the best holiday reading, unless you enjoy a good blub!

I do miss reading more than 2 pages at a time but hey.. Anyway my favourites are Phil Rickman and Barbara Erskine for supernatural stuff.
Kathy Reichs, Reginald Hill for crime. Elizabeth george in small doses as find the whole Lynley?Helen thing annoying. they need a slap IMHO. The actual plots are good.

Cathy Kelly for nice light sagas that turn out all right (cant do depressing endings at the moment) also Marian Keyes, Penny Vincenzi (prefer the historical ones) and Jilly Cooper.
Barbara Trapido when feeling a bit more literary

not in the last 50 years but I think it's fantastic - Patrick Suskind "perfume". All about a boy born with a perfect sense of smell & what happens to him.

Cathb - couldn't agree more about the whole Lynley/Helen thing - really clumsy writing spoiling otherwise interesting plots.

Finbar

I am glad its not just me. The BBC changed that aspect a lot in the adaptations of the Inspector Lynley mysteries, though it was still a bit aggravating!

On the recommendations front, Donna leon's novels set in venice are fun too, though it does make me a bit nostalgic for when you could go to Venice and wander about without worrying about facilities for tinies, still when they are older we shall try out this legendary mediterranean child-friendliness !!