Kate Atkinson's Case Histories, wow, any similar recommendations?

[MrsSpoon]

I have almost finished Case Histories (going to see if I can sneak away and finish the last 50 pages this afternoon) and have found it amazingly good, one or two unexpected turns. My only complaint would be that there are an awful lot of characters to remember who they are and what role they play in the story.

Are her other books equally good? Are they similar, crime investigation? or Does anyone have any recommendations similar books?

Case Histories highly recommended!

Case Histories is wonderful, isn't it?

I really like the very first one she wrote - but then there were a couple that I just didn't 'get'.

I read The Rotters Club by Jonathon Coe after Case Histories, and enjoyed that too - same sense of lots of characters with unexpected connections - and a really interesting political / 1970's context.

We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver is really good and I've just read The ninth life of Louis Drax also excellent

That concerned me a bit Blu, I had a quick search on here and a few said that some of her other books were difficult/not so good. Wondering what ones to avoid and why, also the subject matter of the books that were good, in the mood for detective type stuff at the moment.

I've read The Ninth Life of Louis Drax and thoroughly enjoyed it, I do fancy giving We Need to Talk About Kevin a go.

Haven't read anything by Jonathan Coe, off to have a look on Amazon.

I liked "Emotionally Weird", but I haven't read any others by her. I've been meaning to read "Behind the sceens at the museum" for ages.

I like Kate Atkinson, but would say Case Histories is the best of hers I've read - she tends to ramble and be a bit fey IMO (dealing with ghosts, time warps, etc), and I think she or her editor should make the structure of her novels tighter. Have you tried Helen Dunmore? I feel that she is similar, writing beautifully but sometimes being a bit rambly and unstructured - the best of hers IMO is the one that won the Orange Prize, A Spell of Winter - and it has similarities to Case Histories.

At the risk of banging on interminably about Zoe Heller (I've admired her on other threads), I think her Notes on a Scandal is superbly written and structured, and has all the qualities of a good thriller.

Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall is another novel you might like.

I'll be interested to hear what other people suggest - I loved Case Histories too.

Thanks Fauve, have put some of Helen Dunmore's books on my Amazon list, hadn't heard of her before.

"dealing with ghosts, time warps", not usually my sort of thing so may avoid her other books.

I have read Notes on a Scandal and Astonishing Splashes of Colour and thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

More recommendations welcome.

'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' is superb!

Hated 'Emotionally Weird.'

Dying for her to bring out more stuff of 'Museum's' calibre.

moondog, is Behind the Scenes at the Museum, ghosts and timewarps? I did look on Amazon but couldn't see enough detail about the book to tell.

Yes.
Memory a bit hazy as it was about 8 years ago,but loved it so much,that I was buying new copies for nearest and dearest for quite a while.

Must have been good then, will put it on the list. Thanks.

If you haven't read Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, you would probably love that.

yes, Emotionally WEird was...weird. What did you like about it, Bran?

MrsSpoon - do you like Julie Myerson? It doesn't have the wild humour of Case Histories, But Somthing Might Happen is a good eerie mystery - if very hard in terms of brutal emotional content.

I love case histories tho 2 colleagues hated it and made me doubt my view...
I like KA's 1st one, behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the HWitbread.
The other 2 (human croquet and emotionally weird) are a bit more bizarre but I enmjoyed them.

sorry awful typing it's late

Clary - your colleagues are the first people I have come acriss who didn't like Csae histories!
Why didn't they like it?

Yeah...definitely read 'Behind the Scenes At a Museum". Am also a fan of J Coe so read anything you can by him... as a starter I would recommend "Rotters Club" or even "House of Sleep". Fab books!

Another vote for "Behind the Scenes".

It moves back and forth in time, showing you members of a family in different generations, but not time warps as such. She talks about ghosts but they don't actually do anything, more a metaphor for time I think.

The characters are excellent but there are a lot of them and you have to concentrate to keep track, so that sounds a bit similar to Case Histories (which I've not read).

The toxic family is so well described it really makes you cringe.

There are lots of subtle connections which you only notice the second (or third) time round so if you like it, it's worth getting a copy to keep.

Must go and read some more KA now!

Human Croquet is the one with ghosts and time warps rather than Behind the Scenes... I did like both those books, but I preferred Case Histories because it was more rooted in reality and the present, I suppose.

Her book of interconnecting short stories " Not the end of the World" is great - Atkinson that is.

Another vote for Behind the Scenes definitely being "best of the rest" where KA is concerned, but she is in my category of "buy everything published" for sure, a really original voice. I was less gripped by Emotionally Weird though...and feel Case Histories is a definite return to form.
I'd agree Jonathan Coe, especially the brilliant House of Sleep (Roobie! It's my fave too! What a beautiful, sad book), is a good place to go afterwards. He is as good as any woman writer
Also agree Notes on a Scandal was an unexpectedly meaty read (remembering Zoe's professional flake columns from years ago in the Indy) - have a lovely snapshot of dd, aged one, leafing through it on the beach!
I have a copy of Cloud Atlas looming reproachfully on my bookcase, and The Time Traveller's Wife. If I like JC and KA, will I like either of these, or is my lack of enthusiasm for good reason...

Marina..though 'Notes' was really overhyped and unoriginal-merely endorsed by all her luvvie mates.

'professional flake'-very good!

I had discounted Julie Myerson before as I thought her books sounded a bit soppy/weepy but didn't realise there was a mystery element, so have put that on my list too, thanks.

Like the look of The House of Sleep.

I have considered Fingersmith in the past and discounted it but I will look again.

Roll on pay day because I can feel a big Amazon order coming on!

Marina, I haven't read Cloud Atlas but from what I have heard it is a difficult read, I have read The Time Traveller's Wife and enjoyed it but wasn't blown away by it, I don't think it's anywhere near as good a book as Case Histories. However there are loads of MNetters who loved Time Traveller's Wife, think I am in the minority.