I need something to read...suggestions please.

[hellymelly]

I really like Sarah Waters, Anne Tyler,Laurie Moore- women writers usually.Want something gripping,but not too relentlessly grim.

I am reading The Crimson Petal and the White and would recommend. (I didn't realise it was on TV until it is practically over and so haven't watched)it is by Michael Faber. Have you tried Jane Gardam or Patrick Gale?

You might enjoy The Observations by Jane Harris, about Bessy, who finds work as a maid to a mysterious and perplexing woman in a castle in southern Scotland. Dark, poignant and often very funny.

I like the same sort of authors. At the moment I am reading and enjoying 'The Behaviour of Moths' by Poppy Adams. One of my favourite recent books was 'The Road Home' by Rose Tremain, not the cheeriest book but I wouldn't describe it as relentlessly grim.

Also agree that if you like Sarah Waters you might like the Crimson Petal and the White.

I've been watching the Crimson Petal so may leave it a while before I read it. Just finished Tove Jansson "the true deceiver"-enjoyed that very much. I'll get the Observations ,haven't heard of her. I'm halfway through "the hare with the Amber eyes"which is interesting,but fancy more fiction at the moment. Also just finished the newer Kate Atkinson one "started early,took my dog".I never buy detective stories usually but I've enjoyed her Jackson Brodie books.Its great to have a few ideas,I'm in a book group but haven't loved anything we've read lately,and browsing on Amazon doesn't work very well. I like Persephone books,I have read quite a few of theirs.

Restoration by Rose Tremain, agree about the Observations

The Colour by Rose Tremain is good.

You might like Denise Mina's Garnet Hill trilogy. It is a detective story of sorts, but is very character driven, and the central character is a very interesting woman.

I've never read Rose Tremain,so its looks as though I should try something by her,will also go check out the Garnet Hill trilogy. I love it when you just wallow in a book and feel gutted when it ends,and I want a nice stack to look forward to!

I have just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It might just fall into the category of grim tho I'd describe it as harrowingly beautiful ( or maybe I just read that on the dust jacket). I can't stop thinking about it, moving and I am missing the characters now it's on my bookshelf v

I have just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It might just fall into the category of grim tho I'd describe it as harrowingly beautiful ( or maybe I just read that on the dust jacket). I can't stop thinking about it, moving and I am missing the characters now it's on my bookshelf v

Well by grim I mean "the road" type stuff,I can't read that kind of thing as I get too upset by it. Am still nauseous whenever I think of the gruesome deaths in "Wolf Hall".Brilliant book,but the horror...I can't get it out of my head.

have a look at The help by Kathryn Stockett (or something like that). It's the story of a group of black nannies in the south of the USA in the 1960's, and it is one of the best books I've read recently.

How about Room by Emma Donoguhe? Based on the Fritzl case in Austria, quite unsettling but very thought provoking.

As you like Sarah Walters I'm assuming you've read The Little Stranger, v atmospheric (and a bit scary!)

I loved the little Stranger,but "the night watch " is my favourite book of hers.I read really fast,but I tried to slow down as I was enjoying it so much.

I think "the room" would really freak me out too much.Real life stuff gives me nightmares ,hence the nausea at Wolf Hall.