inspire me, I Desperately need good book to read., no horror, something fairly recent.....................

[katierocket]

Really want a good read but need inspiring. Hate horror, don't want anything really intellectual. here are some of my favourite books in no particular order to give idea of what I like.

Secret History
Wild Swans
Memoirs of a Geisha
Anything by Donna Leon
Pursuit of Happiness
Perfume
Wuthering Heights
Driving over lemons
Crow Road
The Beach
I don't know how she does it
anything by Marian Keyes

help please, otherwise I will be forced to try and finish sh*te cecelia ahern book 'where rainbows end' which is making me want to bite someone.

this really does help guys. I love books and I get really frustrated if I have 2 or 3 rubbish ones in a row.

who is this Marian of whom you speak?

does she have a jolly cover with a "handwriting" type font on it?

enid i have a ton of marian keyes willing to send u one for price of pnp as they are just going to charity shop anyway

crikey nemo, one child looks very grim (just checking on amazon). I do like books like that though if they're well written,

Harlan Coben is good too

Enid, honestly, I was absolutely and categorically against any 'chick lit' but friend made me read one of marian keyes books and I have to say I was hooked. However, I say this advisedly, it is a slippery slope and if you start on chick lit before long you'll want to bite people due to horrid cecelia ahern book with 'jaunty' writing on the front, that'll teach me.

off to bed now
any other suggestions would be most welcome

jools i like harlan coben too.
ALso confess to liking some chick lit like mike gayle and cathy lette.

have just bought Harlen's latest - am waiting for The Pact in paperback too.

Not into girlie stuff really.

if you liked secret history,perfume,the beach - the following are just as good or even better imo!!
the mind game
the magus
the bronze horseman
the alienist
rebecca
fingersmith
i know this much is true
count of monte christo
the other boleyn girl
da vinci code

I like the odd bit of chick lit but really hate Marian Keyes.

Harlen Coben fans - have you tried Greg Iles?

No - presumably its similar? what can you recommend?

Yes - similar and as good, but I can't for the life of me think of any of the titles, except for '24' which is the one I haven't read. But definitely would recommend trying one.

Have you tried any Nora Roberts aka JD Robb? Jane Green, Wendy Holden, Sharon Sala... can't think of any more at the moment.

Agree that Marian Keyes' books are great. Got a chance to have some of my books signed by her and she's really nice in RL.

turquoise will try Amazon - have a look at some reviews - thanks

Emma Brown is very good, as someone suggested. I am just nearing the end of "The Distance Between Us" by Maggie O' Farrell and, after a slowish start it's absolutely gripping and beautifully written.

My sisters keeper - Jodi Picoult

Read the first Cecelia Ahearne book and would not be able to stomach a second. Wonder would she have got a book deal if she hadn't been daughter of Irish Prime Minister. Hmmmmm!! And I am Irish!

Your book list sounds like mine. I have just finished reading Tony PArsons, The FAmily Way. Found it brilliant. Love all his books but this was the best. Laughter, Tears the whole lot!

Also liked Catherine Alliot, The Wedding Day. Light weight fun.

Sorry, forgot, also read Notes on a Scandal - can't remember author. Very dark, very good. Apparantly about to be made into film with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Good casting in my opinion.

Margaret Forster,anything she has written is utterly brilliant in my opinion.

Also Anne Tyler ,always a good read,definately not chic lit.I agree makes me want to bite someone

yes liked Notes from a Scandal, it's Zoe Heller isn't it. Also liked Fingersmith and Da Vinic code but will definitely look into the others Shrub.

Ags i didn't realise cecelia ahern was the daughter of Bertie!
I just can't believe 'where rainbows end' has been published, it's utter poo.
Micku5, haven't tried any of those.
OFf to investigate on Amazon. Thanks for the suggestions so far, you may yet prevent someone from getting bitten.

shrub, christine freeman looks a bit scary, is it?

Why not buy the book people's 10 contemp fiction collection (9.99) - Iain Banks, Anita Shreve, Lucy Clare, Margaret Attwood - amoungst others - bound to like something!

Have just finished reading 'Peace Like a River' by Leif Enger this morning. Read it rather than getting my early morning mumsnet fix - the book is that good!

Another good book I read recently - 'Another Ace in the Hole' by Annie Proux.

I love books that take me out of my day to day life - these books both hit the button.