I would like a recommendation please.

[Lonelymum]

Now don't dismiss me as an airhead, but I recently really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter books (against expectations!) and would like to read something similar. I am not talking children's books, or school stories, and preferably not fantasy books either although if you know one that really fits the bill, you could mention it. What appealed to me about HP was the mentor/protege relationship between Dumbledore and Harry, and the fight for good over evil.

Anything to recommend?

Eragon... Dunno who it is by, google it. but supposed to be fab and of the same genre, kinda,,, but better and more original

Eragon by Christopher Paolini? It has good reviews but doesn't seem to touch on the mentor/protege relationship I am interested in. I shall look out for it though, thanks.

Any others?

Message withdrawn

My Mum was in same position as you - thoroughly enjoyed Harry Potter - she read & then recommended me to try the Northern Lights/The Subtle Knife/The Amber Spyglass Trilogy by Philip Pullman. The boy is supposed to have an interesting relationship with a girl called Lyra, helping each other throughout the series. Only just got it so not read it yet myself but might be worth looking at the reviews to see if you fancy it?

I wouldn't recommend Eragon. It was written by a very young man and is really very juvenile in terms of style. The Philip Pullman books are MUCH better imho. Also, a series beginning with "Across The Nightingale Floor" by Leanne somebody - excellent - Japanese warrior saga with love story - really good. There's also a series beginning with a book called "Mortal Engines" can't remember the author but they are fantasy/futuristic - none of these are as funny as HP though but all are better written I believe.

I am investigating all your recommendations. Thank you very much.

Haven't read it but Jonathon Strange & Dr Norrell (or whatever it's called) is hailed to be Harry Potter esq, it's now out in paperback and I saw it in ASDA so can be bought cheaply.

I am reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt and so far can recommend it.

Saw Jonathan Strange and Mr Norris while i was out today. Didn't buy it, but I can't remember why not now!

Sorry, what does "hailed to be Harry Potter esq" mean?

if you haven't read, i think you'd like A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Sorry (believe it or not I've not been drinking tonight, yet ), I mean I've seen a review that described it as Harry Potter-ish (esque?), I don't think the review went as far as to say it was the next Harry Potter but there must be some sort of similarity (I haven't read Harry Potter or Jonathon Strange so can't comment).

Oh sorry MrsSpoon, I get you now! It has very mixed reviews I see, but it is described as HP for adults.

Laligo, yes, looking at the reviews, i can see why you suggested it. It is not too young though is it?

Miss Smilla's feeling for snow

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOONDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world's most BORING book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh God Moondog, the end of a beautiful friendship! How could you like that book? Get off and read How Green Is My Valley girl-o.

Oh!!
Not my usual material but I did quite enjoy it and it seemed to be vaguely on your theme.

I couldn't get past the endless descriptions. Was there a plot?

no i think Ursula K. Le Guin is definitely suitable for adults - i did first read wizard of earthsea when i was about 14 or something but i've reread it since.

OK thank you laligo. i have written it down and will have a look if i go shopping this week.

Reading the Amazon reviews, laligo, it would seem that the first three books are worth it, but not the fourth which seems to have been written a bit later on. Would you agree?

lol LM!
I think I just have a thing about Northern Lights,hence its appeal.
Oh God,Ursula!
My old boyfriend (pre Moondog one)-incredibly intense Physics PhD student was always trying to get me to read her.

Never did. Science fiction and fantasy sends me to sleep.

I always want to shout 'But it's all made up!!'

Urslua Le Guin is fantastic .... def worth a read...and the Pullman ....

Well I have spent my entire life resisting the ideaq of science fiction and fantasy - even when I was a child, I wouldn't read anything like Tolkein because it was what I considered to be about "fairies". Dh loves the stuff. Our book shelves have 2 kinds of books on them: his fantasy stuff and my literature!

But, I did like Harry Potter, much to my surprise. The magic element didn't seem to intrude into my consciousness, so it made me realise that if a book had great characterisation and a good old fashioned plot about good triumphing over evil, then maybe I wouldn't notice the "fairies".

Have to say though, I bought "This Thing of Darkness" yesterday (historical novel about Charles and Darwin and Captain FitzRoy of the Beagle) which is absolutely my sort of book and I am completely engrossed in that for now.

i'm not really a fantasy person either, i just love the one book which is called A Wizard of Earthsea - haven't read the whole set, so don't know about the fourth.

also liked pullman trilogy.

I'm not really into fantasy and horror (always want to shout 'It's all pretend!' as I read it) but I did enjoy the Narnia books as a kid. I'm dreading the imminent Disneyfication of it all.
There are bound to be bloody duvet sets eh lonelymum?

These days I'm into biographies-the wackier the better. Just finished a completely mad one about a strange sixties male academic. On his death they discovered that 'she' (Charlott Bach) was an Eastern European bloke!

I also love epic against the odds stuff-Shakleton,Scott that sort of thing and have a weak spot for true crime (of which I am rather ashamed-have you seen the covers of books like that-all black and gold?!)