What books do I want for Christmas?

[brusselsbeansprout]

Not sure what to ask dh for.

Favourite novels are Birdsong, Time Travellers Wife, Secret History. I like historical novels, books on politics, journalism and WWI.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Do you like cookery books?

'fraid not, sorry!

The book people do a "booker prize" set. Quite cheap, lots of books.

Oh, and David Foster Wallace has a journalism collection out.

Oh, have you tried Jeffrey Eugenedes? Which isn't spelled that way? Virgin Suicides was good.

Thanks for those. Who are the book people?

How about Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris? Set in France during WW2 (okay wrong war but bear with me) and by a woman who discribes food so you can taste it as you read. Actually any book by Joanne Harris is a guarnteed good read.

The Book People are at www.thebookpeople.co.uk. Here is a link, if it works, to the booker prize books. £30 for six books, some are hardcovers I think.

have you read any sebastian faulks?

sorry, not enough sleep last night . i do know who wrote birdsong really.......

It's odd as I loved Birdsong but couldn't get on with Green Dolphin Street at all. Am waiting for the new one to come out in paperback. Have seen the hardback and it's a whopper!!!

And thanks NQC as that website is fab!

The Fatal Englishman by Seb. Faulks. Biography of 3 Englishmen - Kit Wood, Jeremy Woolfended and Richard Hillary.

bbs, if you're using them, get some of the kid's books packs, if they have some that are the right age for your kids. We always have a bunch of their books in a cupboard, so we're ready for birthday gifts etc etc.

green dolphin st got terrible reviews. charlotte grey & the girl at the lion d'or are both more in the birdsong mould (not as much sex though!).

I like Charlotte Grey. I like all the Sebastian Faulks I've read, actually, but I forget which ones I've read.

Have you tried Anne Tyler? I just introduced DD1 to her via The Accidental Tourist and she loves her.

Oh, yes, Anne Tyler is great. I think I have all her books.

Me too, NQC - well not all, because I keep coming across ones I never heard of, but lots. She is so tender and funny.

Mandasue Heller - the charmer

any book by Peter Moore

The new one by Alan Bennett and John Peel's autobiogragphy are two I'd like to read.