Okay you lot - it's find Remus something to read time again

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I am reduced to re-reading 'The Stand' (again) because I am bookless (again).
I want either -

• a big fat Victorian or Victorian-esque mystery (NOT Sarah Waters though because I hate her, and not Wilkie Collins because I've read them)
• anything to do with polar exploration or other historical exploration, shipwrecks etc etc
• anything to do with the history of medicine
• a quirky history book with a v narrow focus (eg the last one I read was how the various kings and queens of England died, by a surgeon)
• something along the lines of Douglas Coupland or Chuck Palawhatshisname

- a really good teenage series along the lines of Patrick Ness

• erm anything that isn't chick lit or Ian McEwan or other pretentious literary fiction or misery set in Ireland or Jodie Piccoult or Marion Keyes or worthy female writers or anything of any of those ilks

Please help - I know I'm bloomin' awkward but I bet somebody can recommend something I'll love! :)

So far on my list = The Master An Margarita / Dune / Slaughterhouse Five but I need lots more.

Scuse typos - keyboard is dying.

What's your take on Dan Brown? Deception Point has some exploration in it.

Teen series -> not to state the obvious but have you given Hunger Games a go?

Hunger Games - yep - have read the first and am awaiting the other two
Dan Brown - ugh no, sorry!

Thank you for the reply though. 'The Hunger Games' on the right lines.

Along the lines of The Hunger Games, I can suggest two series'; Wither by Lauren DeStefano and Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Thank you - please tell me more! :)

How about The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet? Ticks the chunky, historical and medical boxes, I think.

Is that the, 'Cloud Atlas' guy? I failed totally with 'Cloud Atlas' - just could not get on with it at all.

What about Jonathan Strange? the Crimson petal and the white? Ship Fever? the Voyage of the Narwhal? the tenderness of wolves?; not quite Victorian but Pure is good.

Yy to Dune and the Master and Margerita. I didn't like Cloud Atlas much but 1000 autumns was fab ESP the midwife.

Oh and you could try quicksilver by Neal Stephenson set in The restoration but lots of medicine in that and Isaac Newton.

Sorry last one. Try the Sally Lockhart series by Philip Pullman. Teen books but really exciting, beautifully written and Victorian all together!

Read and loved the Sally Lockhearts. Hated 'The Tenderness of Wolves' (REALLY hated it, in fact); didn't get on with Jonathon Strange at all or 'The Crimson Petal' which I thought was over-written and boring tbh. I think I might have read the neal s one too but will need to look it up to jog my memory - if not, it sounds up my street.

Will look up the others - thank you.

Don't be sorry - keep 'em coming!

The Neal s one is part of the Baroque cycle. Occasionally heavy going but it did manage to teach me calculus...

I am reading the new Irvine Welsh book, Skagboys. A prequel to Trainspotting and Porno. I love it so far but its a bit rude/graphic/ disgusting and evil Definitely not for the fainthearted.

BTW this is to fit in your last category :)

Nope - have deffo not read anything involving calculus!

Nope to Trainspotting - I'm not faint hearted particularly but I did get a bit tired of it.

:)

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Savage Garden by Mark Mills
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

All historical fiction with a mystery element but not necessarily Victorian!

I love a good whodunnit and I am currently enjoying the Dissolution/Shardlake series by CJ Sansom.

I assume you've read The Suspicions of Mr Whicher? If not, do (Vict. mystery, factual but aiming for suspense/fiction appeal).

Period Piece by Gwen Raverat (history/narrow focus/Vict. and also just plain great).

Do you like biographies? Victoria Glendinning's biography of Trollope is bamsmackingly good.

Bad Medicine: Doctors Doing Harm since Hippocrates by David Wootton. Again you may have read this. Despite the title, it is not some swivel-eyed anti-modern medicine rant.

The Emperor of All Maladies (forgotten author). I haven't read this myself (well, a few pages), but it's supposed to be fantastic. History of cancer and its treatment, written by a doctor.

I assume you've also read The Worst Journey In The World?

I quite liked Stone's Fall by Iain Pears - big fat Victorian-set mystery. The other one that might fit is The Instance of the Fingerpost, by the same chap. The Meaning of Night was quite good too, but can't remember the author. It's a Wilkie Collins style thing. If you haven't read it, Lady Audley's Secret (Mrs Braddon?) is good fun.

Read and loved all the Shardlakes.

Thought, 'The Forgotten Garden' was appalling, sorry - and 'The Savage Garden' (but I only managed a couple of pages of that).

Read, 'Mr Whicher' and liked the first half but not the second half - lots of padding. Recently read, 'Mr Briggs' Hat' which I enjoyed more (similar sort of thing).

Loved, 'The Worst Journey In The World.'

Read both of Ian P's ones but didn't really like either of them - a bit contrived and deffo too long for their purpose.

Liked, 'Bad Medicine.'

'Lady Audley's Secret' annoyed me because of authorial intrusion, though the story itself was okay.

Will look up the other few, thank you. :)

Oh, actually I'm reading The Finkler Question. Not really in any of your categories but the last. Is funny. It seems to divide opinion though.

Anatomy of murder (and others) by Imogen Robertson?

Read first one for book club and did rather enjoy it.

"did rather enjoy it"

Brain not working tonight. What a naff sentence. I meant to say that I rather enjoyed it, didn't set my world on fire but was a good read nonetheless.

Ditto the phillip Pullman recommendation.

I hated that Thirteenth Tale by Setterfield. It annoyed me tbh.

The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris is my current literary lust.

Just about to post about the Shardlake series, but you've beaten me to it! Excellent books, highly recommend.
Also 'Room' by Emma Donoghue which is also a cracking read.