Any ideas for books for a reading group please?

I agree with you, Deedaa. I enjoy the Venetian detective books and, a happily married detective is such a contrast with other fictional sleuths - Rebus, Harry Hole and Harry Bosch, for example. The Sansom books are favourites of mine, but some of our book group didn't respond well. Not sure why.

With my upbringing. It has to be

The Bible!

Actually there are some good stories in it if you regard it as mythology, rather than actual fact.



(That should set the cat amongst ad the pigeons!)

(Creeping away to bed)

I would recommend Great Expectations as a readable Dickens. Very atmospheric and much of it is still relevant today. Must put in a plug for C.J.Sansom's Tudor series, I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. Another personal favourite is Donna Leon with her Commisario Brunetti series. Beautifully written detective novels set in Venice, with that rare creature - a happily married hero!

Have we mentioned Me Before You by Jojo Moyes? That makes for some good discussions. Our group really enjoyed it.

I have to admit this is my favourite thread on GN. it never fails to give me ideas on what to read next. There is no petty bickering - I love it.

I shall order State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I thoroughly enjoyed The Magician's Assistant also by her, but that was some years ago. Agood picture of life in Canada and the Northern States of America.
I love Ann Tyler as well. It is so refreshing to get a picture of the US which is not California, or Eastern States, money making and porno/ war films.
In Ann Tyler's novels, you meet up with quiet, well meaning, friendly Americans which I'm sure most are.

I am not a fan of Dickens either. I tried again with A Tale of Two Cities but gave it up.

We have a planning meeting once a year. I take soundings and suggestions from the rest of the group and then go to the library and order a set of what I think most people would respond to. The latest choice is State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. We try to read a classic every so often so last month we had The Old Curiosity Shop which none of us had previously read. That occasioned quite a good discussion. Personally, I was just glad I had managed to avoid it at university! Not my favourite Dickens.

First you want to consider what the group as a whole like to discuss because that is why you are in a reading group and want lively discussions when you meet. Are they interested in relationships or history or biographies of famous people? Joanna Trollopes books are an easy read and there is always a lot about relationships. Phillipa Gregory writes rather long historical novels about women we have mostly never heard much about and she also gives a framework for reading groups to keep to.

Just enjoyed the Unlikely Pilgimage of Harold Fry. Also Donna Leon Jewels of Paradise.I like foreign writers Qui Xialong lives in the US and writes about Shanghai mainly. The latest I've read is A Loyal Character Dancer.a local (north east ) writer is Eva Ibbotson. Amanda Craig in the ST called her feel good writing. Lots of charm and a bit soppy but very much bank up the fire open up the biscuit tin and cosy down into a deep arm chair.

The Casual Vacancy J K Rowling, had mixed reviews, I didn't have any preconceived ideas about her writing I never wanted to read Harry Potter, nevertheless in my opinion this book was a good read, quite a lot of bad language but I didn't think that detracted from the story.

---The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
---The New Leader by Daniel Goleman
---A Year Doing Good by Judith O.Reiley

I think The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan would make for a very lively book-club debate! Also, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Small Hours by Susie Boyt. You can check out my reviews of the books on Amazon if that helps?

Thanks GrandmaH for the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
suggestion; I'm SO enjoying it

I read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet years ago and found it excellent for discussion at meetings you end up feeling that you are there in the 12th century and helping to build the monestries.

Yes, I enjoyed that, Greatnan. Suite francaise by Irene Nemirovsky is wonderful.

The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff, is a big book, around 600 pages but a very good read. It interweaves a modern story about polygamy with a history of the Mormons.

There are lots already on this thread. I think the one our group most enjoyed was The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas. Of course, I think almost everyone has read The Help, but if not, then it's a 'must'

I have just joined Gransnet and this is my first ever post. The book I am reading now is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett - a big book. A lighthearted read is 'Pear Shaped' by Stella Newman and another good book is 'One Moment One Morning by Sarah Rayner. I joined my local library book club but didn't like it although it did introduce me to new authors. I think 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' was one of the most boring books I have ever read. However, 'each to his own' as they say.

Thanks, Janoir- I loved Secret Life of Bees too -I haven't done that with them yet but I will!
H

They really liked
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society
The Island
The Thread- which I did as they had liked her first book so much
Rebecca
The first Peter James- can't recall the title offhand
The first Lee Childs ( I didn't like this at all)
1000 Splendid Suns
The Other Boleyn Girl
Small Island
Remains of the Day

Some of the ones I expected to be really popular (eg Behind the Scenes at a Museum & Captain Corelli's Mandolin)) did not go down so well so I know that my own personal favourites are not their taste all the time.

I can't remember more offhand & as I am stuck in my kitchen this afternoon while workmen are stripping the hall following a burst pipe in loft & I cannot get to my notebook.

I'd kill for a cuppa but the loo is the other side of the door!!

They loved The Help

Thanks for your recommendations and welcome to Gransnet, Janoir. I enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees, though I haven't seen the film. I usually try to avoid films of books I've liked but it sounds as if this one might be an exception.

I 'm new to Gransnet .This is my first ever post ! Two books come to mind . The Secret Life of Bees -Sue Monk Kidd (the film was very true to the book ) Still Alice - Lisa Genova , The story of a woman experiencing early onset Alzheimer's
Both excellent reads .

Oh dear dorset (going a bit off topic here) - I went back to my singing group last week for the first time in 6 months and a new woman standing behind me, who actually has a really good voice, started belting out the song in my left ear at such decibels and with so little inflection or nuance that I was left thinking 'how on earth can someone be blessed with a lovely voice, and be so insensitive to its use?!' Am still pondering how can this be .

I joined the book club at our local library and it was a complete waste of time for me. Most of the ladies wanted to read John Grisham, Danielle Steele, Lee Childs etc etc. Any that I would term a good book I'd already read. There was a very garrulous elderly lady who was obviously a bit lonely as she could talk for England and not about books either. We heard all her personal and medical history and no matter how hard the librarion tried to get onto the topic in hand, she carried on. This seemed to set the others off and it was a Chat Club rather then a Book Club. So I left.

I heard on the Today prog that there is a group of literary people trying to get us all to read Moby Dick. Apparently it is a fantastic book on many levels. Apparently.

Slightly kicking myself that I Oxfam-ed my copy after page about five.