If I told you what books I have read and enjoyed, could you recommend me my next read?

[Dragonbutter]

Just finished A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini and loved it.
Also loved The Kite Runner.

Other favourites include...
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Small Island by Andrea Levy (also like andrea levy's other stuff)
Brick Lane by Monica Ali

So, what else might I like?

Thanks

The Book Seller of Kabul...can't remember who it is by, will have a look.

here, it's by Asne Seierstad

the red tent - please read it.

Hmm, it's on my bookshelf already. The bookmark is about a third of the way through and has been for about 2 years.
Can't remember why I didn't finished it but maybe I should return to it.

The other half-read book on my shelf is Half of a Yellow Sun. I find if a book doesn't have me gripped from the beginning I don't finish it.

You could be on the right lines though.

Tell me about the red tent BBBee is it really good?

The bookseller of kabul is on my shelf, not the red tent.

oh dear - I am on the wrong lines if you don't like it.

dragon - it was a while ago i read it but it is about some sisters in biblical times - about their relationships and connections. It is enlgihting in terms of my understanding of life for women then adn is quite empowering and profocund about being a woman (but not in a 'girl power' way IYSWIM)

Sky Burial by Xiran. Amazing! Half a Yellow Sun was a good read.

How about Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd, The outcast by Sadie Jones or The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.

Actually, was thinking about The Outcast, have you read it?

will look on amazon at the others.

The God of Small Things

Yes. Thought it was great. Set in the aftermath of the 2nd world war. Reminiscent of on chesil beach but also the poisonwood bible because of the theme of the unsaid things in relationships or families causing utter devastation.

Definitely onto something there GloriaStits.
Y'see i like a good historical/geographical setting (so i learn something), but with some good characters and drama to keep me interested.

any other suggestions?

The pillars of the earth, by ken follet.

The best book i have read by far, and i re read every 4 years or so.

1st time i read it, i was dreaming about the characters!

others i recommend are,
Time travellors wife, audrey niffeneger
memoirs of a geisha,
the lovely bones,

Your favourites are similar to mine, so I think you'd like The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (sp) and Gift Of Rain by Tan Eng.

great. all good suggestions and i've just negotiated a trip to the bookshop this week while DH looks after the kids on his lunchbreak.
will look out for all those.
thanks everyone

If you've not been to the bookshop yet try looking for something by Rohinton Mistry - I loved "A fine balance" one of best books I can remember reading (and I loved the kite runner et al)

Another great read, but not fiction, is Stasiland by Anna Funde - all about east germany after reunification, historical, full of amazing facts and some heart breaking stories.

Ive read three of your books OP.

I also loved,

The Book Thief - Isaak Markus

and

The Island - Victoria Hislop

Oh hello, didn't know anyone was still here.
I'll have to remember this thread next time i'm looking for another book.
It might be some time however, as DH presented me with 4 books this morning. He didn't know I had started this thread but knew I'd just finished my book. He went to the bookshop and told the lady there what I like.

She came up with a few, he also mentioned The book thief being one of them but he had to narrow down his pile of 6 he says.

So, I've got
Midnight's children by Salman Rushdie
The Pirates Daughter by Margaret Cezair Thompson
East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
Girl meets boy by Ali Smith

and also The Outcast by Sadie Jones (that I bought myself the other day) but think it would be rude to start with the one i chose and not one of his IYKWIM.

It feels like a lot of new books at once! Am intrigued by them all but not sure which to read first.
Any of those you think i won't like?

Thank you lovely adult fiction mumsnetters.

second The Island - Victoria Hislop and her new book is brillant too.

ooh midnights children is fantastic. Don't get on with Ali Smith at all- think hugely overated but would be interested to hear what you think

I've never read any Ali Smith. Not sure why. Thankfully it's only a little one, so if it's bad at least it's not going to last long.

Have always been very disappointed with Zadie Smith.

Right, am going to start with midnight's children.

The Bookseller of Kabul.... Author is norwegian. Been in the press a lot. Interesting debates. She has of course made millions out of her books. She has not once donated a single penny nor given thanks to the bookseller that inspired her book and made her famous. Why should she? Her inspiration, Her writing, Her money.

Anyway.

The Cairo Trilogy

i loved all your listed ones and my fave book of all is the bone people by keri hulme, also loved mister pip recently,jealous of your book shop trip,mmmmm the smell of new books!