Compile a Reading List for me! Please! x

[Zebraa]

What books do I really need to read? I don't have much time so I only want the very best pleeeeese. thank you x

Excellent thread! I will watch with interest.

My contribution is A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Blimey, where is everyone?

bump

Anything by Mark Haddon (Curious Incident, A Spot of Bother)

Everyone else will recommend

Time Travellers Wife
We Need To Talk About Kevin (Both good, IMO)

What sort of thing do you like? What do you want to get out of reading - do you want relaxation, escapism, to broaden your mind, to be better educated etc?

Agree with Reality - Neil Gaiman is the only way to go, in my humble - rat speaker - opinion.

Going to lurk I have just finished the Time Travellers wife and looking for another book to read

It was very good btw

Are the books by Neil Gaiman a series?

I do that too Reality, you can never read Neil Gaiman enough!

Neverwhere was my first, and still my fave, but they are all just brilliant.

smiles whistfully thinking about Neil Gaiman

Sorry Zebraa - Neil Gaiman appreciation hijack.

Ummm....apart from my obvious recommendations, I suppose you do need to be a bit more specific, everyones 'very best' varies. (although if Neil Gaiman is in your 'very best' then you are obviously superior! )

I'd recommend "love in the time of cholera' by gabriel garcia marquez. Its beautiful and elegant and contains my favourite ever metaphor ("the hieroglyphics of destiny on the palm of her hand").

I am currently reading "We were the Mulvaneys" by Joyce Carol Oates. I cannot tell you how much I love it although it is absolutely heartbreaking.

Yes to Gaiman.
Some classics - obviously Jane but also Jane Eyre, 1984 etc etc.

I have recently read The Moonstone and it was brilliant.

Brideshead Revisited and A Handful Of Dust.

CJ Sansom

Some Jeeves and Wooster

The Stand

Will come back later with more and to pinch other people's suggestions.