Summer reads 2014

Thanks for the welcome annodomini.Hope to keep posting as I love reading.Enjoyed reading all the recommendations.

I have just read " The Marrying of Chani Kaufmann" it's about the arranged marriage of a 19 year old girl in North London 's orthodox Jewish community. I loved it. It's by Eve Harris, her 1st novel and I think was short listed for thecosta award.

I went to a writing class held by Wendy Perriam some years back now (in South London). She was brilliant. Penguin suddenly dropped her but she did find another publisher. Can't remember the name of her latest book though.

I really enjoyed 'Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami and 'All the Birds Singing' by Evie Wyld. These are both quirky books in slim volumes so ideal for summer reading.

It is a long, long time since I found a book I 'couldn't put down' - but Graham Hurley's 'Nocturne' fitted the bill. It's a psychological thriller, I suppose, set very much in every-day life, so it could happen to you. I couldn't imagine how it was going to turn out and read it in 12 nerve-racking hours. Very glad I started it at 9 am and not 9 pm!

I have just read "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. It was absorbing from start to finish and I can understand why it was the number one bestseller for so long last year.
The story is about Nick Dunne and the disappearance of his wife, Amy. Did he kill her ?
I would not want to reveal the answer as it would completely spoil the suspense!
I now intend to read Gillian Flynn's other books," Dark Places" and "Sharp Objects"

Anything by Diana Chamberlain.

I loved it to- mind you I do like Kate Atkinson anyway. I did it for our Reading Group & found reading it the second time to work out discussion points was really useful as I saw so much I had missed the first time round.

sorry- this should have been attached the thread about Life After Life

I have just finished The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty and I loved it. It is one if those books that you find yourself thinking about when you are doing something else and can't wait to get back into the story. It's about three Australian women you find out about their seperate lives then how they interconnect. I also loved The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (also set in Australia) I stayed up really late as I was desperate to finish it, and I have loved every book I have read by Jo Jo Moyes. The One Plus One is her latest one. Also a lovely light read is Jenny Colgan's Little Beach Street Bakery, a great story set in Cornwall on a tidal island.

I'm currently reading "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt. Although it's not an easy read as such, I'm thoroughly enjoying it, especially as it's a bit out of my usual reading range. I'm normally a mystery gal, (with cozy mysteries being a holiday staple), but was recommended this to read on an online forum. The main character is a teenage boy, who is coming to terms with the death of his mother in a bomb explosion. He is taken in by his long-estranged father, who takes him to live with him. And the Goldfinch? You have to read it to find out.....

I would like to suggest "God's Hotel" by Victoria Sweet, which is about a long-term care hospital in San Francisco where Dr. Sweet worked. My sister is a resident in the hospital (or hospice, as Dr. Sweet would specify), so I have heard much about it. The book is an impressive blending of description of the hospital and its situation in San Francisco's health care context, Dr. Sweet's research into the philosophy of medieval nun and healer Hildegarde de Bingen, and Dr. Sweet's own spiritual experiences during her walks along the route of St. Jacques de Compestela. It was on U.S. bestseller lists. Not lighthearted fiction, but not difficult to read either; and deeply inspiring.

I really enjoyed Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter which was a Gransnet book choice some time ago. Also recently I have read 'Old Filth' ( cannot remember the author) it is about a retired judge and FILTH stands for failed in London so tried Hong Kong! Really, really enjoyable and made me laugh out loud in places. And for any one for whom ' To Kill a Mockingbird' has passed them by as it had me until last year it is a must. I think it is very short sighted of Michael Gove to take. Book such as this off the GCSE study list.

Hi, I was just going to recommend "Old Filth" by Jane Gardam, funny, sad and shocking, a wonderful character study and extremely well written, such beautiful prose. The author was in her 80's when she wrote it, and there are two follow up books concerning two of the characters from the original, which I am hoping to get from the library. My favourite book to date though is still, A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry. A story of suffering, fortitude and survival in Mumbai in 1975. You will not fail to be moved.

The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a big favourite of mine. They made it into a film which was not well received but the book is a must read. I have also attempted to read the Story Teller by Jodi Picoult but found it very sad and depressing so gave up. My daughter loved it though so it is maybe worth reading with tissues next to you.

The trilogy by Deborah Harkness would get my vote if you like other world genre but with a huge slice of facts. Deborah is an academic and all here background information is based on fact and can be checked out.
Another trilogy by John twelve Hawks would also get a recommendation. These books are based on the imposition of government control and monitoring. The books are based on technology currently available but taken to the next level. ( in some cases not sure it is the next level could be real now). The characters in the book try to live off the grid and the problems they have.

I've already mentioned Jojo Moyes but another that our book group really couldn't put down was Me Before You. The characters are believable, the writing has energy and the plot tackles serious issues with humour and understanding.

I've already mentioned Jojo Moyes but another that our book group really couldn't put down was Me Before You. The characters are believable, the writing has energy and the plot tackles serious issues with humour and understanding.

Loved "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseni

Apple Tree Yard, a compulsive read in the vein of Gone Girl, but if you like your books free from American terminology, you may prefer this as it's set in England. I see Barbara Kingsolver has been mentioned, The Poisonwood Bible is a fantastic read for anyone who hasn't read it yet. From this year, Burial Rites is very well written but ultimately quite depressing, so if you like your reading to be a bit lighter I would also recommend The Midnight Rose. A good book for anyone heading off to Greece would be The Thread. Personally I loved Life after Life, I know everyone seems to prefer Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books but for me this was the best one to date along with Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I recently finished the Luminaries a 800 page tome which I found bordering on tedious. I have just started the Goldfinch which I think will be rather better!

I really enjoyed reading Jamaica Inn after watching the TV series. Also love the Inspector Montalbano books. So easy to read and funny. I imagine myself in Sicily which is probably better than D Du Maurier's Cornwall!

I can quite happily recommend a series of books by Carola Dunn, set in a little seaside village in Cornwall. Manna from Hades, Valley of the Shadow, and A Colourful Death. They are murder stories, but gentle ones, the main character is an old lady who keeps getting mixed up in murders, she`s a sort of combination of Miss Marple and the lady in Murder She Wrote. I found them quite enjoyable.

I too read 'The Shell Seeker's' someone told me about it years ago & i ordered it out the library.Great Read.

A book i have read a few times now because i just loved it,I have lent it but always want it back lol.
It's 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Andrew Golden.It is love story but takes you to the fascinating would of the Geisha.Seen the film but book is a lot better.
The other book i liked & lend & want back lol is'Think of a Number' by John Verdon.This also has been out yrs its about a retired detective life changing when he is drawn in to solve Murder.Great Read.

Three books that I've loved -
'The One Plus One' by Jo Jo Moyes
'Burial Rites' by Hannah Kent
'The Shock of The Fall' by Nathan Filer.
All very different but all are remarkable with such great characters.
Having said that they are very different, one thing in common is that you might need a box of tissues handy.