What is this year's 'Captain Corelli' s mandolin'?

[Moredarkchocolateplease]

By which I mean the one book that will be spotted on sun loungers across the hot spots of Europe, covered in suncream and remembered as 'the holiday where I read < insert book name here>

I'm going away at half term and I like to follow the crowd and read a big page turner on my hols 😁😚

A few months ago now but, on holiday last October, Richard Osman's latest had just come out in paperback and a lot of people were reading that

LIC was an easy read but more of a young adult type of book. The feminism was a bit forced and spoonfed to the reader.

I think Lessons in Chemistry has already had its moment. I agree that Demon Copperhead is a contender.

Oh God I loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin! I loved Piranesi too and Life of Pi. The Da Vinci Code was drivel, but quite entertaining. I remember a rather dim-witted Australian guy I knew in London read it and thought it was true and refused to let me convince him otherwise😂

I'm like @JaneyGee and always reading stuff from years ago, because my 'to read' shelf is actually an entire bookcase, and so I often want to discuss something from years ago that everyone else goes 'Oh yeah, I remember reading that' while vaguely searching their brain for some shred of a long-forgotten plot. I have books on my 'to read' shelf that have been there for 30 years. But yeah, I see 'Lessons in Chemistry' a lot. I'll probably read it in about 2045 😄

I gave up on Lessons in Chemistry about a quarter of the way in as I didn't think it was very well written.

I found the writing style very irritating @Greyandwhitecat

@RampantIvy Yes it wasn't very subtle was it?

This is so funny. I saw the thread title in active threads and immediately thought “Lessons in Chemistry” - which I have bought but not started. Might save it for my sun lounger now.

I've just started LiC, will stick with it but disappointed so far.

I do love to read summer blockbusters and am a sucker for NYT bestsellers etc! Just finished Lessons in Chemistry and was so disappointed - characters unbelievable and it just plodded along. I get that it has an interesting concept but just didn't capture my imagination.

I actually really enjoyed Fleishmann though it went downhill towards the end.

I have Pineapple Street and Demon Copperhead on my kindle waiting for the holidays along with quite a few others. I'll be interested to see what is the big hit!

I'm the OP.

I ended up taking:

The new Joanne Harris (the one about menopausal character) LOVED

The Westminster bonkbuster, can't remember the name and it was so dreadful I gave up halfway through and left in the hotel library.

Since I came home I've read the most recent Patrick Gale book which was marvellous.

Happy holidays all!

Hamnet or Lessons in Chemistry.

I thought the latter must be non fiction at first

Shrines Of Gaiety - Kate Atkinson. Couldn't put it down.

I would go for any of the recent Taylor Jenkins Reid books. I’ve just finished Carrie Soto is Back whilst wimbledon is on.

Glad you had a good holiday OP!

I have read Demon Copperhead and its a fantastic book but sad and bleak a lot of the time so I'm not sure I would have wanted to read it on a sunlounger.

I remember when the last couple of Harry Potters came out, and everyone was reading them everywhere. It felt very companionable!

Can you tell us the titles Op?

Yellowface is pretty good so far!

i loved pineapple street but i love anything with rich people and gorgeous houses !! Yes au am shallow
I really enjoyed the The bandit queens and think it would be especially good if you were away on a holiday without any men!!

@Gothambutnotahamster

Joanne Harris - Broken Light

Absolutely loved it. Superb.

Cleo Watson - Whips

The latter was a shoddy smooshing of Jilly Cooper. I couldn't work out which decade I was in. The Tory characters were written like 1990s scandal Tories, which was very irritating.

I loved Captain Corelli but i didn't see many people reading it while travelling. I know more people who gave up than finished it. The biggest holiday read i've ever seen was the Da Vinci code. over a couple of years. As previously said, it's difficult to gauge now with so many people using kindles

Enjoyed LIC,disappointed in Shrines of Gaiety.

Now reading Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club and really enjoying it

I'm reading Trespasses by Louise Kennedy at the mo. Next up is The Marriage Portrait I think.

Thank you!