Suggestions for summer holiday reading

[bogwobbit]

The title says it all. I never know what to buy (or more likely borrow from the library) and usually end up getting some dross from WH Smith in the airport. I want to be more organised this year. Can anyone recommend good, escapist reads. I'll try (almost) anything but like things like Kate Atkinson, Maggie O'Farrell. TIA

Just Read 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett and loved it! I couldn't put it down. You get so involved with the characters that you just cant wait to get to the next section!!

Thanks Ammz. I've actually read it and loved it too. I know exactly what you mean about not being able to put it down.

The Observations by Jane Harris is excellent; one of my favourites.

Also Mysteries of Glass by Sue Gee, East of the Sun by Julia Gregson, and The Cazalet Chronicles (first one is called The Light Years) by Elizabeth Jane Howard. All easy to read but well-written.

Restless by William Boyd is a bit different; a novel about a woman spy in WW2.

Just read The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals by Wendy Jones. It is wonderful. I couldn't put it down and think it would be a lovely holiday read.

The bay at midnight by diane chamberlain?

Ive just finished "room" by emma Donoghue i thought it was great

I'm going away soon and I have The House By The Sea by Santa Montifiore on my Kindle waiting to be read. Hopefully it will be as good as it looks!

Was about to post this myself! Watching with interest

'Winter Sacrifice' if you like those dark Swedish detective stories, I do and this was really well written and atmospheric and a proper page turner. It's also set in a VERY cold place so you can feel smug if on a nice sunny holiday. I read 'The Room' and loved it too, but be warned, I literally sobbed at some parts. 'Before I Go To Sleep' by SJ Watson is another good page turner.

Thanks for all the suggestions :) Please keep them coming
I think a quick browse on the library website is now in order to see what they have available.

about halfway through The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf-cant put it down!!

Just read a P.D. James- A Certain Justice- not bad, and The Russia House by John le Carré, if you like that kind of thing.

Otherwise, Wild Heart: Natalie Clifford Barney and the Decadence of Literary Paris by Suzanne Rodriguez is brilliant. Even if you're not particularly interested in the topic. Likewise with Donald Sturrock's biography of Roald Dahl.

Anything by Chaim Potok

The Secret History by Donna Tartt, have you read that? seems like everyone has!

There's always Alexander McCall Smith. Aww he's so fab. No1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Frederick Taylor's book 'The Berlin Wall' is a history book, yes, but not dry at all. Completely readable and the pace is very fast, there are lots of little anecdotes and it's absolutely unputdownable.

Remains of the Day? Bit sobering for a holiday maybe.

Jalna series maybe, although that family are so horrible to each other most of the time! by Mazo de la Roche, I think.

Ever thought of getting into a kids series? I love them. Trebizon, Drina, Jennings especially. If you come across a stack in a charity shop- buy them and get stuck in. It's great to have a series on holiday.

I keep recommending The Children's Book (A.S. Byatt) to everyone. For a reason! It's so so well done, so well executed and just the kind of controlled ramble everyone likes, specially in an historical novel like this. And the cover is gorgeous too

Mame by Patrick Dennis is funny and goes by like a flash. Quirky woman with bemused orphaned nephew.

Zami is good too.

You can tell I'm not having a particularly dynamic Saturday! think I'll stop and slope off now...

Just read Song of Achilles-which has won the orange prize. dont be put off by the Greek Mythic setting and the fact it was written by a classic scholar-its an enjoyable read.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is my current favourite. Beautifully written and couldn't put it down.

If you like Maggie O'Farrell and Kate Atkinson and liked the Help (all of which I absolutely LOVE too) how about Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall? also anything by Marina Lewka (Short History of Tactors in Ukranian, Strawberry Fields)

Seconding the recommendation of The Night Circus.

Have you tried Home Truths by Sara Maitlaid? It's not a recent book but it is a very good one. It's about a woman named Clare who is injured in Zimbabwe in a mysterious accident that presumably kills her boyfriend, although his body is not found. She returns home to the care of her wealthy and eccentric family and the book tells both stories at once then, what happened in Zimbabwe and what happens in Scotland at the family holiday home in Skillen.

I can't really do the book justice but it is really very, very good.

Another older but from what I remember still very good book is Split Skirt by Agnes Rossi. It's about two very different women who meet in prison, where they have been ordered to spend the weekend as punishment for minor crimes. Rita is young, recently married to an already divorced man and caring for his two children. Mrs Tyler has been married for a long time but has been keeping a secret throughout her marriage. As they tell their stories they become, perhaps not friends exactly, but they realise they have much more in common than they may have first suspected.

I just read The Mood Ring by Cath Weeks - highly recommend it.
The characters are so beautifully written and the story moves at good pace with some unexpected twists and turns - great for the holidays.
Its based around her mum and her struggles with her toddler - but that's only the beginning......
You can only get it on kindle at Amazon at the moment - but I downloaded it onto my iphone (you can download the kinlde app for free to an ipad or iphone)