What can I read next please?

[janeite]

Have just read a fictionalised version of Scott's bid for the pole - fab;
'A Study In Scarlet' - good but I realised after a few pages that I'd already read it;
Terry Pratchett's 'Nation' - ok;
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn - didn't like it much;
The Gargoyle - quite liked this one.

I have just abandoned:
The Glass Book Of The Dream Eaters - over written and tedious;
Shakespeare's Wife by Germaine Greer - too much like very hard, not very satisfing work.

I have a Peter Carey waiting, something about Troy but can't remember what it's called and then I will be bookless again.

I am not a happy bunny when I am bookless!

Tia

I liked Captain Corelli except the silly Mussolini bits and the frustrating ending. Might try another of his.

I didn't like 'Carter'.

Any more please?

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - sad but amazing

seconder for "The Kite Runner" and also his second book which was equally (if not more) amazing "A thousand splendid suns"

Do you like humour? Tony Hawkes books are very amusing ("Round Ireland with a fridge" "playing the moldovans at tennis" "A piano in the pyrenese")

Read The Kite Runner - loved it. Read his other - hated it. Don't really do homour other than Bill Bryson but have read all of his.

My problem is I read too much I think!

I am reading this and it is excellent.

Set in 1940's, very readable but not at all chick lit.

i wanted to hate his books because he's so cocky but have read 2 ben elton satires recently and they are excellent.....the first casualty of war[policeman sent to paschendale to investigate a murder] and dead famous [murder in a big brother style house]

a good story is diane setterfield's thirteenth tale....completely swept me away

bel canto by anne pratchett.....tragicomedy about a group who take a bunch of narcissists hostage...again twisty and well written

Two books that I have enjoyed and re-read

The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding

'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak, bloody marvellous, one of the most beautiful stories I have read in years. There still seems to be an argument about whether it's for teenagers or for adults, but you can ignore that, especially if you've read 'Striped PJs'.

Read and loved 'The Book Thief'.
Didn't like the Ben Elton one I read but can't remember what it was called, something about traffic maybe?

Googling the others now.

Any more?

yy- last days of dogtown was good.
19th wife?
The story of Edgar Sawtelle?
The book of lost things?

Have you read any Magnus Mills? v good, dark humour, well, completely black really.

janeite - I would imagine the Ben Elton you have read is Gridlock, I think it was his 2nd and it put me off mightily because of what happened to the "hero" 1/3 of the way in!

Inconceivable by him is very funny though, unless you happen to have had trouble ttc in which case it might be a bit on the painful side. However, if you don't like humour it won't do.

Have you read teh Cellist of Sarajevo? I have been looking at it but haven't got it yet - it might be a good one but if you have read it I would be interested to know what you think.

I know you said adult fiction, but there's been a couple of teenage books mentioned - so, have you read Holes by Louis Sacher?

Thanks all.

Have read and loved 'Holes' (I read a lot of teen fiction and pretend it's work!);
Read and didn't much like 'The Book Of Lost Things';

The 19th Wife sounds a distinct possibility - has anybody read it?

I'd like something that is really gripping but doesn't make me think too much right now - something to use to switch off after marking (or at least starting to mark) the vast pile of coursework that is leering over me even as I type.

'pretend it's work'? fellow teacher?

Yup - secondary English!

Ditto! That explains a lot (Holes, PJs) and I suppose that means it's pointless suggesting Anthony Horowitz... but don't you just love picking up a book and saying 'well, it is for work'!!

Have you tried A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers - a title which is a little overblown, but a good read nevertheless. Anything by Carl Hiaasen for an intelligent funny? Oh, and how about the Merde series by Stephen Clarke?

Hey - well met fellow English teacher!

Read and loved 'Heartbreaking Work...' a very long time ago: maybe time for a re-read?

Will have a look at your other suggestions.

Have read most of Anthony H's

biccy - with some interesting history woven in, huh?

kalo12 - no, honestly, I really meant it, I was fascinated by the stuff about King Christian, in fact I'd forgotten all about his naughty wife!
thumbbunny, I have just finished The Cellist. I'm glad I read it, because in a beat yourself up kind of way, it made me realise how easy it is to watch the news about war and just let it wash over you without really thinking about what it would mean to be living in the middle of it. But, I wouldn't exactly say I enjoyed it, and I've tried re-reading it and just can't seem to bring myself to open it. I think it helps if you think about the Albinoni Adagio as you're reading it, sort of gives you a theme tune.

Any more folks? The coursework pile is still huge (but shrinking) and I need something to help me switch off each evening. Otherwise I will continue to re-read all Evelyn Waugh's but don't really fancy it tbh.

I like complete girlie rubbish- nothing unplesant or unexpected, just nice easy reading, e.g. Sophie Kinesella, loads of titles,lovely predictable bed time reading ! Am currently reading 31 dream street by Lisa Jewel- as I said, it will not set the world alight, but it is just plain feel good

Have read most of Sophie Kinsella's through them being abandoned at the apartments we stayed in last summer. Don't do chick-lit type stuff as a rule.

What about Daphne DuMaurier - The House on the Strand.
Different but good.

Read it! But thanks anyway - deffo on the right sort of lines.