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Original poster

Need a big fat tome to read on holiday - any recommendations?

26 replies

twostraightlines · 10/07/2011 11:23

I like historical novels - loved Robert Harris Pompeii and Kate Mosse Labyrinth and need something gripping for this year.

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 10/07/2011 11:33

not historical, but I really love anything by Penny Vincenzzi for holiday reading. Windfall is set in the 1930's and is really good. They are not remotely high brow and a bit trashy, but they are nice and long and I have found most of them gripping. There are lots of reviews on Amazon.

mollschambers · 10/07/2011 11:37

I loved Labyrinth too. Will have a look at Pompeii.

Not historical but have you read The girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy? On the second book and enjoying.

Isabel Allende - Daughter of Fortune is good. Haven't read her others. On the to do list.

titferbrains · 10/07/2011 11:43

I think Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver is supposed to be good.

I know this much is true by Wally lamb had me gripped in the summer after my exams, years ago but I remember getting so lost in it

SEven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman was also interesting and another fattie.

RoxyRobin · 10/07/2011 11:54

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. 2009 M. Booker Prize-winner, but don't let that put you off. Insightful look at court of Henry VIII via character of Thomas Cromwell. As subtle and clever as TV's The Tudors is heavy-handed and silly. But then I love everything by Mantel.

ShirlOckholmes · 10/07/2011 12:09

If you like historical novels, have you tried 'Sea of Poppies' by Amitav Ghosh. It is the first part of a trilogy. The second part 'River of Smoke' was just recently published. Those two should keep you going.

Original poster
twostraightlines · 10/07/2011 18:47

Great! an excellent selection. Will investigate all those, thank you all.

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melezka · 10/07/2011 18:51

Have you read any of the Shardlake novels by C J Sansom? They are cracking.

donnie · 10/07/2011 18:52

have you read A suitable Boy by Vikram Seth? 1100 pages of fabulousness!!!!

KurriKurri · 10/07/2011 19:47

ken Follet - Pillars of The Earth, is really enjoyable and fat Smile

Original poster
twostraightlines · 10/07/2011 19:57

My dad loved the Shardlake novels and they are all still at mum's, waiting for me I just can't get them before the hols! They are definitely on my list for future reading, as are Ken Follet's books, Dad had lots of his too. A Suitable Boy is one I have read and is utter fab I agree.

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bargainhuntingbetty · 10/07/2011 19:59

how do u get time to read on holiday?? I bought a book at the beginning of my holiday last week and havent even looked at one page. What am I doing wrong?

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/07/2011 20:05

Yy to CJ Sansom.

This Thing Of Darkness is big and gripping and historical and well-researched AND well-written. Totally recommend it.

Lots of people like Ian Pears (sp?) for historical novels - An Incidence Of The Fingerpost and Stone's Fall. They are okay but over-written and too reliant on coincidence/clunky 'twists' imho.

Not historical but The Passage by Juston Cronin is good and pretty hefty.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/07/2011 20:06

JustIn - I seem to have lost the ability to type/spell today.

joshandjamie · 10/07/2011 20:15

Gone with the wind. Just finished it. 1700 pages. But I loved it and I learnt a lot too!

scarlettsmummy2 · 10/07/2011 21:18

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is excellent too, and also second the Wally Lamb suggestion!

tudorrose · 10/07/2011 21:22

Pillars of the Earth is fantastic. Couldn't put it down.

mollschambers · 10/07/2011 21:42

I struggled to get through The Poisonwood Bible.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is good.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/07/2011 22:04

I gave up on Poisonwood Bible and absolutely hated the one kate Morton I tried (forgotten the title though, sorry).

The Ken Follet one is suitably huge and quite enjoyable, although not terribly well-written. The villain is v one-dimensional. I preferred the sequel, which was a bit more subtle. He's good on strong female characters though.

Arianna Franklyn worth a look for historical novels with strong female characters - not tomes though.

TheWalrusAwakes · 10/07/2011 23:57

If you like very historical then The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel is good and fairly hefty length-wise but not hard-going at all. It's about early humans and is fantasically researched and well-written too. It's the first of a series of six I think.

iamabadger · 11/07/2011 00:01

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon are all big hefty ones, and there are six or seven now I think so if you like the first one you won't run out of things to read for a while!

sonearsofar · 11/07/2011 07:04

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

Also agree with A Suitable Boy and Gone with the Wind

DandyDan · 11/07/2011 07:28

The Sunne in Splendour - Sharon Penman (Wars of the Roses theme)

VivaLeBeaver · 11/07/2011 07:45

Game of thrones by rr George.

bagelmonkey · 11/07/2011 07:46

The same suggestion as titferbrains I know this much is true by Wally Lamb is a great book.

ShirlOckholmes · 11/07/2011 08:16

Woman in White and Gone with the Wind both fantastic, I agree.
The Lady Elizabeth and Jane Grey (?) by Alison Wier are also good for historical nevels (loosely based on their lives)