Normally Readt Chick Lit but would like recommendations on other books I may like - am getting a bit bored now!

[notalone]

I studied English Literature at A level and although I loved the reading part I got really fed up with annotating every paragraph in every book. As a result I now tend to veer towards escapism books involving little concentration (a bit like watching Corrie every week I guess) I normally read the dreaded chick lit as it serves this purpose , but am now a bit bored and want to read something a bit meatier but not something where I have to scrutinise every chapter for a hidden meaning! My favourite authors at the moment are Jane Green, Adele Parkes, Lisa Jewell, Marian Keyes, Lesley Pearse and Martina Cole. I also love Tess by Thomas Hardy. Any suggestions for some good books to move onto?

Thanks!

PS - Sorry for the second posting by the way - other one was hidden under another thread and may become buried!

Lovely Bones by Anne Sebold is an excellent book

How about Angela Carter, Wise Children or Nights At The Circus?

How about Elizabeth Berg or Anne Tyler? They are both easy to read and feelgood books but a bit more well-written than your usual chicklit

you would probably enjoy some more Hardy as well

I'm like you, I devour chick lit and always have read trash despite supposedly having a higher than average reading age as a child! But I just finished Never Let Me Go by Kaziguo Ishiguro [sp?] It was brilliant! Intelligent and though provoking on many levels but very simply written and easy to read. It's more the sort of book that you don't really have to thing about when you are reading it, but you will think about it before you go to bed at night.

I enjoyed Melissa Bank's "the wonder spot", a better written, more ironic chick lit kind of book.

I enjoyed Melissa Bank's "the wonder spot", a better written, more ironic chick lit kind of book.

William Boyd is fantastic

Playing with the Moon.
www.worldbookday.com/spreadtheword/books/book-detail.asp?BookID=45

Oooh, try Clare Chambers - DD1 (25), DS1 (19) and I all think she's great; well written, appealing characters and funny.

Second Anne Tyler, and have a look at Mavis Cheek too

Diary of a Provincial Lady was written in the 30s, but is a hoot and a lot of it is pure MN, amazingly.

Some sequels are linked down the page, and so is Mrs Miniver, which similar-ish and very sweet but not quite so silly.

(There is also one there by EMD's daughter, which I was disappointed by so I don't recommend that)

I love Margaret Forster.
It is easy to read, but good stuff.
And alswys about women, well usually.

Anne Tyler is good.

Anita Shreve is very readable. I particularly loved Light on Snow but have read and enjoyed several others.

Not particularly meaty but not quite chick lit either, is The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. I've just finished it and really enjoyed it.

Never done links before, hope they work!

Oh, yes. Another vote for Margaret Forster here.

Another vote for Anne Tyler, and for Melissa Bank. I also love Barbara Trapido.

I love Anne Tyler, too and Peter Hoeg

I'd second Mavis Cheek.

Light and pretty fluffy but not chick lit that I've liked recently:

Ken Follett - Jackdaws, also I think he did Pillars of the Earth.

Minette Walters for psychological thrillers.

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey for an unusual form of whodunnit/history/biography.

Nearer to chick lit, but lovely - Hens Dancing by Rafaella Barker (especially lovely if you have a dd).

Or an easy classic - The Go Between by LP Hartley.

Thank you everyone - I now have a new reading list. The only trouble is I can't decide which one to read first!!

I'd also try Janet Evanovitch and Liz Evans - both very likable female characters and very funny as well.

Try Arundhati Roy- The god of small things.

I think Wilke Collins and Dumas are great for easy read classics.

Can I also recommend Jhumpa Lahiri's "the namesake"? I found the beginning really compelling (though I found the ending quite disappointing).