Gagging for a good read.

[bundlebelly]

Please recommend something interesting for me.
BUT I don't want anything full of misery, suffering, death, just too hormonal at the moment. However, I can't stand the chicklit, meaningless unbelieveable stuff either.

Please recommend something for me, there must be a middle way!

Someone leant me the Girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson and I'm finding that pretty enthralling at the moment- only good if you like mysteries/thrillers though (nothing gory or miserable I promise!- I don't like anything like that)..

Will keep thinking..

I've just finished 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracey Chevalier, - it's about woman fossil hunters in days before anyone understood evolution and what fossils were., Sounds a bit off beat I know, but it's a good story, I enjoyed it.

Do you like fantasy/sci fi stuff ?
Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind and Dan Simmons - Ilium are both, IMO, fantastic!

Funny stuff ?
How about some Nancy Mitford - The Pursuit of Love or John Kennedy Toole - A Confederacy of Dunces.

Or how about some Ray Bradbury - Dandelion Wine is just lovely!

God, I could go on for hours... but to stop me boring you, what sort of stuff do you generally go for ?!

Oooh, or Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber..read it quick before the BBC adaption gets aired, such a fantastic book (just a leetle bit explicit at times, but this IS the adult fiction section, isn't it ?!)

I've just finished The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah. A psychological thriller. Had me gripped from the start. One of thos books that you take with you so you can read it in the queue at the bank/on your tea break/on the bus/while the kids are playing on the swings

Whit by Iain Banks has had me gripped for a few days. Life in a cult in Scotland...

I have had The Other Half lives on the go for ages and wouldn't care if I didn't finish it. Am going to plough on but not fussed.

Recently read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the rest of the trilogy - bloody fab. The Help is in my 'to read' pile at the moment

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day - the intelligent woman's fluff!

I've just read and really enjoyed this

and this but they might both be too depressing for you atm.

i am reading gilead by marilynne robinson right now: it's just lovely. also recommend star of the sea - joseph o'connor. also recently read lean on pete by willy vlautin, but think it might be a bit bleak if you are feeling vulnerable...

Loved the Steig Larsson trilogy too - couldn't put them down and that's not my usual genre. Just finished Fingersmith (Sarah Waters) which is oldish, but great, and enjoyed The Little Stranger even more. The Night Watch is good too, both by SW. And I love all of Kate Atkinson's books.

Oh I loved The Help too another neglected family while I read it ...

I've just got about halfway through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and thought I should warn bundlebelly that it is a bit graphic and brutal in parts! just a warning!

The little friend & The Secret History by Donna Tartt are both also compulsive reads (well I think so).

Nineteen Minutes by Jodie Picault is a really good read.

Another Stieg Larsson fan here. I just finished reading the last in the trilogy last night (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) and all I can say is Wow!!

The first one is a bit slow to get going but when the story takes off it is really gripping. The second and third just get better and better.

I'm reading warm bodies which is rather fabulous

sorry just read your op but try it, it's good

anything by jeffrey deaver, karen rose or ja kerley x

What do you normally like? I have just finished Adventures on the High Teas by Stuart Maconie which rolled along despite being a NF title (Stuart goes in search of Middle England).

Crime fiction your thing? I really rate Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series. New one out this autumn - can't wait!

Lighter fiction Jojo Moyes can write a yarn (got new one in my To Read pile). I also like Laurie Graham (big back catalogue to go at there)

I have the Stieg Larsson triology lined up, also The Red Queen (Philippa Gregory), the new Paul O'Grady autobiography (loved the first one - made me laugh during dreadful marathon night BF sessions with DS2), and the Alexi Sayle Stalin Ate my homework. Getting into Mr Pip (Lloyd Jones) for my book group, too early to say if it's a Good Read yet. I dont' buy books, but reserve titles on the web catalogue at the local library. I borrow them as they come in - so lots of variety that way!

I am following the thread for some more recommendations also!

the dark materials series, you could read it to the kids and it would still be good, phillip pulman

Sorry just read the OP again. Don't go for the Philip Kerr's! The Bernie Gunther series is set in Nazi Germany, and Bernie is an ex-policeman turned PI. It can get quite grim. I've had to put the books down sometimes. Jojo Moyes or Laurie Graham might be a 'middle way'!!

Paul O'Grady autobiog v. funny. Hope you find something you like.

The Help, reading it at the moment, good read.

Anything by Lee Child usually guarantees me an incommunicado 24 hours.

I've just read Room by Emma Donoghue - very very good, and (despite subject matter) not misery lit at all.

The Help.

You will need no other book.

Agree with The Help. The Other Hand by Chris Cleaves is rather good too.