I need inspiration so.....

[BebeBelge]

...if you were Supreme Ruler of the Universe, what book would you make everyone read, and why? even better if it is cheap on Kindle at the moment!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy because I'm feeling all emotional and it reads like a poem to me and makes me cry.

Then, because I am Supreme Ruler of the Universe I would make them also read The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy because it is beautifully written and transports me.

I would probably answer differently tomorrow

James Herbert's '48. Just because I would want to watch people on the underground afterwards.

Hmmm... interesting. I found The Road to be a bit too surreal for me, but I haven't heard of The God of Small Things. I will check it out. I am really out of touch with books, having had 3 children in 5 years, it takes me an average of 6 months to get through one!

BebeBelge Its about the Indian caste system and Partition, forbidden love and family ties.

Won the Booker or the Orange prize, good few years ago.

It's one of my comfort books

I am finally beginning to read more as well lately.

Purple Hibiscus is a Nigerian coming of age story. Young schoolgirl finds her feet whilst being domineered by a Bible thumping, violent father.

Enjoyed that.

This is great! i am going to spend the evening browsing on Amazon and checking all these out tonight once kids in bed. DC3 just started sleeping through the night this week hence the feeling I can stay up reading in bed instead of trying to cram in as much sleep as possible!

One of the books that I enjoyed most recently was Alan Spence's The Pure Land set in 19th century Japan. A fascinating, semi-true story.

For historical fiction Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky is great.
It's about WWII Occupied France and the flee from Paris as Nazi's invaded.

And The Visible World by Mark Slouka is a story of Czech partisans.

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels is lovely too, very atmospheric.

I will look up your Alan Spence

bump

How about My Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young. Set during WWI. I found it very moving, and v.interesting esp. about early plastic surgery work.

I think everyone should be made to read The Poisonwod Bible, The Corrections and The Shipping News but experience has told me that my irritation when people don't love them as much as I do outweighs the joy of making people do something!

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Read it for the first time age 14, have read it at least once every year since then. A heartbreakingly wonderful book that every one should read.