I am desperate and need you all to help me please!

[ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie]

I have got one and a half history books left and then I am, once again, bookless. I have been to three different libraries in the last ten days and have failed to find even a single book that I fancied or hadn't read before.

I have some Nectar points to spend, so I could have a bit of an Amazon splurge - but what shall I get?

1. Favourite writers are Jane Austen and Stephen King
2. I like v well written fantasy (ie Tolkein) or v well written historical who-dunnit stuff (eg Doyle or Sansom) or quirky history books
3. I am a snob and get very twitchy about shoddy writing but can't stand overly self conscious crap (step forward Ian McEwan)
4. I am very, very fussy
5. I read very, very quickly so the bigger the book, the better

Please help!

Did you pursue Wild Swans? It's a book everyone else raves about and I didn't like it much, nor does my mum and she knows Jung Chang. She's just too whingy and self pitying.

I've read about a quarter of Wild Swans so far and have put it on hold for a while - the writing style is really annoying me not for being self-pitying but for being not v good and v simplistic and rather clunky. And it's astonishing how her mother AND grandmother just happened to each be the most beautiful girls in the neighbourhood etc.

Have started Alone In Berlin and liking it so far (am managing to ignore the annoyance of the lapses between past and present tense, sometimes within one sentence).

The River one sounds good and the Tree one - have forgotten the titles and it's too long a thread to scroll back up and check!

Thanks again everybody and don't stop! :)

Have not read the whole thread so apologies if duplicates others but for fun, but brilliantly well written historical fiction (or at least fiction set in an earlier era - all of these wear their Historical Novel credentials very lightly) what about English Passengers (Matthew Kneale?), Oscar and Lucinda (Peter Carey), or the wonderful Siege of Krishnapur - I kept waking DH up by laughing out loud - (and if you like that read the Singapore Grip and The Troubles, also by the brilliant JG Farrell).

How about jasper fforde?

Don't think anyone's mention Patrick O'Brian, sometimes described as Austen-sur-mer. Maritime historical novels, twenty books so plenty to chew on, starting with Master and Commander. Brilliantly done and ver' witty.

Completely different: Jasper Fforde's series about Thursday Next, an alternative-universe literary detective without equal, fear or boyfriend. I just can't imagine anyone not liking these books! First in series: The Eyre Affair.

Second Ephiny's suggestion of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Best read with snow outside and your feet up by a roaring fire. With a mirror over it...

Great minds, Cherrypi!

Just to back up the last two posters who suggested Jasper Fforde, I think his books are amazing and would recommend them. Currently in the middle of One of Our Thursdays Is Missing. Love it.

Shades of Grey was brilliant.

Have you read The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. It's a bit history and a bit fantasy. I loved it. Also, have you tried any Kate Mosse. Historical novels that switch between past and present and always make me want to move to France!

Have you read 'The Gap' series by Stephen Donaldson. It is a fantastic fantasy/sci fi series. I am not into fantasy at all and never have been but these books were great...somuch so that icouldnt wait for the paper backs to come out and had to buy the hard backs and this in the days when i was skint.

He also wrote another more tolkein like fantasy series called 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant' that were also excellent.

Ive just started Wild Swans...agree that i am not sucked into it as i expected to be from how other people rave about it.

link to the first of The Gap Series honestly worth a read

Oi Oi Oi people - I think you'll find I suggested Jasper Fforde 4 days ago! What is the world coming to?

I have read the first book of the Gap series (sci-fi, not fantasy). Please do explain what I have missed, because it was mostly about the detailed imprisonment, beating, and incessant rape of an enslaved woman.

I'm a big fan of good sci-fi, by the way, but this book was very weak.

Okay okay!

Jasper Fffffffffffffffffffffforde - can't be doing with him tbh; he irritates the hell out of me for being so self-consciously amused at himself. I like his speeding Miss Havisham but that is all. The rest of it Is Not My Cup Of Tea, as it were.

Kate Mosse - hated hated hated The Labyrinth and will never read another of hers. Soooooooooo over-written and pretending to be all clever when saying nowt.

The Gargoyle - I liked this

Jonathon Strange - tried and failed with this. Too long; too boring; too wordy; too much not saying of anything much whilst pretending to say a lot.

Liked Oscar And Lucinda.

Couldn't get on with Patrick O Brien, which surprised me as I love real life sea stories.

Thank you all again.

Realyy...TBH i cant remember the details, i read too fast and it was years ago, but the whole series was amazing...totally gripping.

Robertson Davies. Here and there are two more trilogies when you've finished with that one.

If you like historical novels have you tried Sharon Penman. my favourite is Here Be Dragons.
Also CJ Sansom is sheer delight try Revalation and Dark Fire.
Mustn't forget Colleen Mc Culloch whose novels on Ancient Rome I wish had been around when I did classics at school.
Can't resist recommending Rosemary Sutcliffe. Still have a treasured copy of Sword at Sunset from school days.
Hilary Mantels A Place of Greater Safety I rate as even better than Wolf Hall but I have a soft spot for the French Revolution.
Avalon, Katherine and Green Darkness by Anya Seton.
You must try the Susan Howatch novels Sins of the Father, The Rich are different and The Wheel of Fortune. The plots are based on historical 'families' . Wonderful and re-readable.

Hope this helps to fill a few hours. Try Amazon's second-hand books if difficult to get hold of.

Thanks for all of these.

LOVE Sansom - wish he'd write some more books v v quickly!

Please please please try Robertson Davies. He is my favourite author of all time along with Balzac. I would love to know what you think of him.

The lovely Mary Wesley. Re-reading Harnessing Peacocks at the moment and the Camomile Lawn is a hoot!
As she didn't publish her first novel until she was 70, there's still hope for the would be writer.

Thanks both. I keep meaning to look for Robertson Davis, Jux because I know you've mentioned him before - but his name keeps slipping out of my head. he is now written down on my 'going to the library' list.

Colonel what are you reading now? Did you finish Wild Swans? Thanks for the thread, I am using for my "to read" books!

I have given up going to the library to find books - seems that a huge number of "chick lit" has recently been invested in and has filled the shelves! I go on line and use the catalogue. It is easy to search either by author or book title and then order. Reservation fee 25p which I don't mind paying. However, I do find that I have a huge list of ordered books which all come in at the same time! I am amazed how many books you read - how do you find the time?

Hi Gail - I have an hour in the bath every evening which is my sacred 'me' time and that is when I do the bulk of my reading. I also read very quickly. I work full time and as a teacher I bring A LOT of work home but I see reading as essential and must admit that dp does the bulk of the housework. Also the girls are teenagers now and need less entertaining!

Wild Swans is still lying abandoned on the bedside table - it was really annoying me. I finished 'Alone In Berlin' which I did enjoy, despite the occasional clunkiness and the fact that the dialogue wasn't always credible. I'm now reading 'Lady Audley's Secret' which I am enjoying for the most part, although it rambles a bit in places!

i adore terry prattchets discworld novels.. tolkein esque fantasy crossed with great humour and storylines that are hard to see comming try the hogfarther or the wyrd sisters

I've read them all, JJ! :)