Three books!

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Thought I'd try this simple idea for a bookthread and see how it goes!

Please recommend three books that you've read recently (preferably ones that are not too populist or too well discussed!)

In return for this you can ask for advice on three other books which you are contemplating reading, and other mumsnetters will reply and tell you if they're any good (I hope )

Here goes... Three books I've read recently and enjoyed:

1. Learning to Swim by Clare Chambers - First read this ten years ago and it's even better than I remember, brilliantly written imo. I still miss Abigail even though I read it quite a few books ago!!

1. Jubilee by Eliza Graham - Good book for a royal wedding year I think... Very English and atmospheric and apparently written by a mumsnetter (makes me very jealous!)

1. Glasshopper by Isabel Ashdown - I haven't actually finished this yet, but so far I'm loving it. Lots of 80s nostalgia (in both a good and bad way!)

Three books I am considering and would like advice on if anyone out there has read them:

1. This perfect world by Suzanne Bugler
2. The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
3. Another Clare Chambers book. Have read both 'In a good light' and 'learning to swim' and loved them madly! Are any of her others as good?

Hope I get a few responses - thank you in advance!

woolyideas - an update on Glasshopper which I finished yesterday - a wonderful, wonderful book imo... read it next! I'm missing the characters already and want something just like it for my next book - Isobel Ashdown's new one comes out in June and I'll definitely be reading it.

I have read Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I finished it a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed it, lovely light and easy read, but I was engrossed. It is one of those heartwarming books.

Just finished The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood. I really like Atwood, but it took a while for me to get into this, but worth it in the end. There was a LOT of back story, and I was keen to get to what exactly was happening after the flood!

Have revisited the Sherlock Holmes stories. Love them. I like pretending I am as clever as he, and have figured it out too

comewhinewithme I have Under the Dome on my bookshelf waiting to read. Will give it a go soon.

Apologies for the delay in coming back to update on the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - I finished it a couple of days ago, but was ill in bed for a few days (on the plus side, I managed to get through 2.5 books in that time!). Like tummytickler, I found it a nice gentle read - and although there were darker undertones to the story, it was a real "feel-good" book.

I've also just read Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller (not quite as compelling as I was expecting from the reviews, but still an interesting read) and am now halfway through American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I'm struggling to get images of George Bush out of my head as I read it, but otherwise am thoroughly enjoying it!

FreddoBaggyMac thank you for the Glasshopper recommendation

Came onto this thread at the weekend looking for inspiration and ended up ordering Glasshopper from Amazon. It arrived yesterday and I've already read the first few chapters and I'm loving it so far

Thank you!

I just need to try not to read it too quickly!

Glad you like it bluejeans! It just gets better and better imo. Isn't Jake just lovely?!