Kate Atkinson - first and last but nothing inbetween!

[MCSpammer]

I read Behind the Scenes not long after it came out, really enjoyed it but never read any more of her books until earlier this year when I read Life after Life which I LOVED.

Based on this would I like her other books? I don't go in for detective books usually and it seems that most of her books are along these lines.

What about her other books? Looking for something to take on holiday.

Emotionally Weird and Human Croquet are both good reads and not detective ones. I enjoyed the detective ones but not as much as Behind the Scenes and these two.

If you liked those ones, I think you would really enjoy Human Croquet in particular - and the short stories, too (It's not the end of the world, I think they're called?)

Confession. I am a total wuss and cannot do anything vaguely scarey though do like weird ... the synopsis for Human Croquet mentions ghosts so not sure I could handle that in the muddle of the English countryside in a dark (and probably) rainy night. Short stories look good though.

Bloody auto correct!!!

Middle not muddle

On not in

I loved Life After Life, and many years ago had quite enjoyed Behind the Scenes.

I HATED Emotionally Weird, it was a book without a plot, tons of characters, rambling confusing stories within rambling confusing stories... I think if I'd liked the sense of humour I'd have enjoyed it more, that's what others seem to have loved about it - it's meant to be a funny university romp. But I just didn't find it that funny so I was left with nothing to enjoy...

Not sure I would enjoy anything described as a 'romp'

I've not read her latest but all the others were really poor compared to the shining brilliance of Behind The Scenes.

MCSpammer - you might not want to take my word for what the book was supposed to me, that was my best guess but I got so little out of it my interpretation might be completely wrong!

Behind the scenes was brilliant. The detective ones were all okay, pretty readable. I found life after life abysmal - complete and utter boring twaddle. I'm not sure how I feel about her now

Just ordered The Camomile Lawn by Mary Weasley after all that! Really unsure about the other Kate Atkinson ones so don't want to risk as a holiday read. Will definitely give the shirt stories a go at some point though.

I really love the Jackson Brodie series - and they are nothing like other detective stories/police procedurals I have read, so may interest readers who don't usually like this type of novel.

I love Kate Atkinson, I agree like Behind the Scenes and loved Life After Life but the Jackson Brodie books are also very good.

Emotionally Weird and Human Croquet I enjoyed but I think they may be a bit more out there than some of her others.

Interesting to know re the Brodie series, maybe I will see if the library has.

It was many years ago that I read the Camomile Lawn but remember it being a really good read. Having just been bored completely witless by Life after Life I imagine it's far better than anything KA has to offer.

I've read all the Jackson Brodie books and Life after Life and am just now in the middle of Behind the Scenes. I have to say that I have enjoyed all her books so I say go for it!

Give Case Histories a go. It's really good.

Yes, I read Case Histories on holiday and loved it - I would never normally go for detective fiction but I really enjoyed it.