Wolf Hall? I need a long, involving, but not too heavy book

[Takver]

Going on a very long train journey at Easter (2 days!) and need a long and good book - suggestions welcome. It has to not be too heavy (to carry, rather than read IYSWIM). Mostly I read non-fiction so any suggestions for that also welcome, history/politics/economics my particular thing but open to ideas . . .

ps, don't suggest a kindle, I don't travel often & don't want another bit of electronic 'stuff'

if I was going to read a Hilary Mantel Big Book, I would swerve Wolf Hall and read A Place of Greater Safety

actually, thinking about it, on a train I probably wouldn't. I think I probly read it with my mouth wide open

where are you going? maybe you could tailor your reading to the place, iykwim

[book ponce emoticon]

Wolf Hall is fantastic. Rose Tremain's Music and Silence, set in 17th century Danish court, is also brilliant - I always associate them with one another as I read them back-to-back.

To Spain (Andalucia). That's a good idea, SHJ (and reminds me that I still have Paul Preston's book on the Spanish Civil War to read, though not very cheerful for holiday reading, perhaps before I go).

SHJ - A Place of Greater Safety looks fantastic - but why not a train book? (I'll also have some time on holiday to read, of course)

Place of Greater Safety ordered :)

Any other suggestions welcome though, always good to have an excuse for some new books!

Oh G*d, could not stand Wolf Hall! Nor could anyone in our book group.

Lottie, I think I probably will like it (and hopefully APoGS) - my mum agreed it would probably suit me and she's generally good on what I'll like (I am also going to read the first chapter or so & see what I think!)

What would you suggest, Lottie, in case I'm with you once I've had a look at it?

(I'm buying 2nd hand from abebooks, so happy to get more than one book to look at as I'll always read them in the future & they're v cheap)

What about "The Children's Book" - absolutely fab IMO.

OK, our bookgroup's top picks are:

Half of a yellow sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Small Island, Andrea Levy
The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver

Wolf hall is v. Good. I'd also suggest This thing of darkness by Harry Thompson which is about the voyage of the Beagle. It is fantastic.

I loved Wolf Hall. I was was most upset when it stopped.

I love Wolf Hall, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and on the non-fiction side I think Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond is unbeatable, Steven Jay Gould's Wonderful Life also excellent though not necessarily your area of interest.

Oh of course there's always A Game Of Thrones.

I loved Wolf Hall (and some others on this thread, though not JOnathan Strange) - but did have to grit my teeth to get through the first 50 pages or so. You also have to get used to the unusual style of narration. Worth it IMO.

Wolf Hall is phenomenally good.

I am currently reading the Faber Book of Reportage, from a recommendation on here. It is an excellent read and would be great for a train journey.

of two days' uninterrupted reading time!

I not long finished "That Woman" about the Duchess of Windsor which I found very interesting. And the Diamond Queen by Andrew Marr. I have also just got on my kindle the Jackie Kennedy account of her time in the White House....the memoirs have been put together by her daughter....though I can't remember what it is called....

LadyoftheLift - agree on The Lacuna too. Tried to get into it, and just couldn't. I don't usually fail to finish books (even Wolf Hall!).

Sarah Dunant
The trilogy set in Renaissance Italy. I absolutely loved the one about the nuns but can't remember the name.

DilysPrice I loved Guns Germs & Steel (and also Collapse), so anything along those lines would be great. Unfortunately though I think the S J Gould is something DH would give me to 'improve' me.

Wolf Hall is wonderful - the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn told from an entirely new perspective - and I defy any woman not to fall in love with Thomas Cromwell. The only downside to this book? It's not always obvious who is talking - there are an awful lot of Thomases in the book, and Cromwell is often referred to as He, but not every He is Thomas Cromwell.

Another long book I would recommend is The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.

Easy to read but very, very long - A Suitable Boy by Vikram seth (but not one to lug around whilst travelling)
Yes, Diamond's Guns Germs and Steel and Collapse are excellent, but only if you like non-fiction (which I do, but not everyone appreciates)

Perhaps you could take a look at 'Cutting for Stone' by Abraham Verghese. It is amazing! It stayed with me for such a long time after I read it and prompted me to contact the author, who is a medic in the US, as well as a writer. He is now a friend of mine on Facebook! It's simply beautiful!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0099443635

The book thief by Marcus Zusak, I loved it and found it very easy to read