so what the frig am I meant to do now I've finished his dark materials trilogy? eh??? eh?????

[Heathcliffscathy]

sob.

read all three in a week. loved them.

now what?

not usually a sci-fi fantasy girl. love earthsea trilogy but not mad keen on harry potter.

like ian banks. like A L Kennedy. love a book called fugitive pieces (can't remember author). love rose tremain.

like broad, big themes. like good sex scenes. hate what I call nose picky stuff, and I class dh's favourite author in that category (peter carey).

PLEASE recommend me something....i'm bereft.

i'm going to keep bumping this until someone recommends me something. going through an airport tomorrow and want to buy something.

pleeeease.

Erm....I found The Last Secret of the Temple by Paul Sausmann (sp!) very good - more archaelogical mystery though but worth a read!!

thank you crook...i'm not sure archaeological mystery is my thing? do you think?

[really sobs loudly] i was going to bed early to read and everything [wails].

Garth Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy.

i love the theological stuff of his dark materials....the huge-ness of the concepts that he is discussing...that is what rocked my boat.

Ooooh!! I know....Labryinth by Kate Mosse....maybe more your thing - I really enjoyed it!

You can read the back of the books I've mentioned and see what you think....the Last Testament and The Righteous men by Sam Bourne are also brilliant....but they are along the religious mystery lines???

it is why my favourite book ever is the vintners luck....has angels, satan, god everyone in it. beautiful book.

Ever tried Douglas Coupland, sophable?

I totally agree re Peter Carey

Have you read Under the Skin by Michael Faber?

I'm with MamPyjama - if you like HDM you'll love Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy. Very dark with a great central concept. Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.

what about some John Wyndham?

Day of the triffids, teh kraken wakes etc

oooooo under the skin sounds great...and i loved crimson petal as you know...ta love....any more?

unquiet dad....loved girlfriend in a coma....BUT CANNOT REMEMBER IT AT ALL! recognise the cover on amazon, dh laughing as i made him read it (he loved it) have NO RECOLLECTION!

is vv diff to crimson petal but vg
I take it you mean Iain M Banks ie his sci fi stuff

am orf to bed now x

Life Class by Pat Barker. Partly set in 1914 London/Slade, partly in WWII Belgium.

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie (don't be put off by the R & J stickers, it's really not their typical lightweight fodder).

or how about some Sarah Waters?

or: Meaning of Night by Michael Cox
or: A Dark Clue by James Wilson

no no hate iain m banks....no i mean his other half ian banks (i know is same man) LOVE complicity for eg.

love pat barkers ghost road trilogy

You could try Margaret Atwood if you haven't already (Oryx and Crake is v good, and of course the Handmaids tale), or Angela Carter (not science but fantasy/ fairytale elements) The Bloody Chamber is a book of short storys/ novella using classic fairy tales as the inspiration and is a fantastic introduction to her. hth

Are there any Banksy novels (without M) you haven't read? I've read them all so can recommend.

handmaids tale read ages ago.....very good.

the sci-fi/fantasy thing is a red herring....don't usually like....but do like discussion of soul/meaning of life etc

Oh I love Iain Banks - The Wasp Factory was my favourite book for ages...

erm...think i sort of stop around whit. favourite is complicity by far (naughty book on so many levels....love it, they really should make a film if they haven't). didn't like wasp factory or canal dreams so much which dh loves. adore crow road.

Found "Song of Stone" immensely hard going, so don't even try it unless you are feeling very brave. "Dead Air" is OK - a bit like his older stuff.