What to read after Hilary

[bawabod]

I am at a loss have just had 2 very self indulgent days reading Bringing Up The Bodies. What a fabulous follow up to Wolf Hall.
I can describe it as if I have been on the arm of Cromwell and entered the courts of Henry watched the political intrigues I have recieved insults from both Queen and King and the young men who surround her but I have kept my own counsel and the tides they changed I have ridden through the beautiful English countryside and have recieved the confidences of my king and his ruthless pursuit of happiness. It has now come to an end for the time being!! So what now?.
That feeling that comes over when you have read something so brilliant and that sinking feeling that it is now ended. I felt the same when I finished Lord Of the Rings or The C J Sansom series beginning with revelation. I have read Phillipa Gregory. What do you read after a brilliant book I know I have lots of jobs to do as my kids are totally aware of what I am like when I read and thank goodness they are at a very self sufficient age.So any ideas on what to read now to lift me out of the doldrums would be appreciated please

I've just read BUTB too and I agree that it was brilliant. I know what you mean about not wanting such an experience to come to an end. For me, I usually don't try to read something equally memorable immediately .. I might read a good crime novel and then return to a more literary book.

Last week, however, I followed BUTB with My Dear I wanted to tell you, set in WW1 .. a beautifully written love story (not chick-lit though, as I said in another post) but also dealing with the horrors of trench warfare and the brutal beginnings of reconstructive surgery in that era.

If you want something with an absorbing historical context maybe try Restoration by Rose Tremain? I'm looking forward to the sequel soon - it's been a long time coming!

Or Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth. The story of a slave ship. It made a huge impression on me the first time I read it; just about to re-read.

Ann Patchett is an amazing writer .. Bel Canto would be my favourite novel of hers but State of Wonder is also excellent. Very intelligent and the sort of books that stay with you for a long time.

The Observations by Jane Harris is an entertaining read; the narrative voice of a young Scottish servant girl is very cleverly done.

Of course the third part of HM's trilogy will be along in a couple of years :)

I've just read it too, I agree, utterly brilliant. I'm now reading Dickens, it was the only thing I thought would be rich enough to follow! George Eliot might do too.

Karen Maitland is brilliant, mystery and superstition set in medieval England, try Company of Liars or The Owl Killers.

Thankyou Highlandcoo a friend is also reading My dear I wanted to tell you I may well give that a try as sometimes as you say a different genre of book is a good way to move on, but yes we will be avidly awaiting the next HM novel. I will have to go on to the World Book Night web site and give BUTB the thumbs up

I have to admit i spent today trying catching up on the jobs I should have done the last couple of days. So I will look at Karen Maitland and I have to confess apart from Christmas Carol I am a complete heathen and have never ventured further into Dickens big big gaps in my knowledge but thankyou for the suggestions. Happy reading

No shame in that at all, I read Hard Times for A levels and put me right off Dickens.

I'm like you, when I start reading a book that I really enjoy everything else goes out the window including DH :o

A friend once said to me she always judged how good a book was going to be and if it was worth buying by reading page 69 !!! I must admit I have occasionally tried this, maybe why some good literature has passed me by.On the other hand I confess I wasted valuable time on shades of C...

Hilary Mantel has written other things you know! I've just finished A Change of Climate which is partly set in Africa and was a great read. Beyond Black is witty and dark.

If you like historical fiction, try Sharon Penman. 'The Sunne in Splendor' and 'Here be Dragons' are both particularly good.

Sorry to butt in, but anyone on this thread who has read Bring Up the Bodies and would like to put a question to Hilary Mantel, please scoot over here. Thanks.

Innocent Traitor, story of Lady Jane Grey, by Alison Weir.

The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett if you can find them.

Wolf Hall is going to be made into a BBC mini series .

'This Thing Of Darkness' - way, way better than Hilary M!

I loved Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, and recommend English Passengers by Matthew Kneale.

Thanyou guys I will now be busy looking up the the suggestions maybe a chance of a quick selfish read before the DC start back at school and back into the mayhem we go !!