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Books/book club

Win £700 worth of the best books of 2015!

(706 Posts)
CariGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 10-Nov-15 10:26:09

Yes, it's that time of year again - and may we now present this year's round up of the best reads for the festive season.

Something for everyone - and a chance for one person to win every single book featured on the page...a prize haul worth OVER £700!!

So how to enter? Simple! Tell us about your favourite book...in 140 characters or less.

All qualifying entries will be popped into our giant Santa hat and a winner will be pulled out at midday on Tuesday 8 December...to give us plenty of time to get the HUGE box of goodies over to you before the festive season begins.

grandmaskype Thu 12-Nov-15 09:26:03

My latest 5 star book is Ian McEwan's "The Children Act". A slim volume, it raises some fascinating moral questions about power and fallibility, it's thought provoking and memorable.

NannyDa Thu 12-Nov-15 09:39:05

The Avenue Series by R F Delderfield - I am re-reading these, again. He manages to create lots of different stories from everyday people and makes it so easy and enjoyable to imagine the characters and locations. I enjoy his books, The Swann Saga, To Serve Them All My Days, A Horseman Riding By. I can also remember the TV series from the 70s.

gillybob Thu 12-Nov-15 12:04:15

140 characters, GNHQ??

Its almost impossible or do you mean 140 words?

confused

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 12-Nov-15 12:55:05

Hello! Some great suggestions here. My have-to read list is getting longer...

However...what we were looking for was basically a summary of your favourite book in 140 characters (not incl title). Sorry, we should have been clearer. blush

So, for instance... for Jamaica Inn:

"Shipwrecks, pirates, blood and gore, what has orphan Mary let herself in for? Who can she trust? Not the vicar that’s for sure."

gillybob Thu 12-Nov-15 13:36:48

Thanks for clearing that up Lara I think a lot of people might need to start again though... hmm

lynnalex Thu 12-Nov-15 13:41:32

The turn of the screw by Henry James. A superb ghost story that is ambiguous. Well drawn characters and evocative setting.

gillybob Thu 12-Nov-15 13:45:45

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Small village in France, carnival, beautiful heroine, river boats, creepy priest, imaginary friend and lots and lots of lovely CHOCOLATE.

Greyduster Thu 12-Nov-15 14:38:21

John Boyne's "The House of Special Purpose". The story, woven around actual historical events - is improbable - even impossible - but it is a sweet and tragic love story set against a background of the collapse of the Russian Imperial royal family. Not literature of the highest order, but when I'd finished it, it haunted me for months.

Happy4me Thu 12-Nov-15 14:45:51

My favourite book came into my life several years ago and had a great effect on me .... I felt a connection

Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

OlderNoWiser Thu 12-Nov-15 14:46:10

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (David Wroblewski) - not an obvious best-seller, but such a beautiful story of a young boy and the dogs he loves.

Greyduster Thu 12-Nov-15 14:46:46

shock! I should read things properly!

WilmaKnickersfit Thu 12-Nov-15 14:47:44

Darn Lara I've got less chance of winning now! grin

Maggiemaybe Thu 12-Nov-15 15:20:01

Here we go again then!

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

Delia. Wife, mother. Loved, not told. Visible, not seen. Walks one day out of the old life into a new. Which Delia will Delia choose to be?

KJMoore Thu 12-Nov-15 15:28:46

Incredibly hard to choose from a massive list, but I keep coming back to Andy Weir's 'The Martian'. It's hilarious, clever, scientifically factual (even moreso than the film, with the exception of the martian wind speeds in the storm) and deeply, deeply human. There's a beautiful message of perseverance and eternal optimism from start to finish, and it's never a bleak read. I've not read many books so fast, and I really tore through this one with gleeful abandon.

Happy4me Thu 12-Nov-15 15:32:46

My favourite book came into my life several years ago it had a great effect on me ...

Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

WALES 1175 Matilda. Lady of Hay, trapped in a loveless marriage, barred from her lover and threatened by brutal death at the hand of King John.

LONDON the present. Jo Clifford hard hitting journalist planning to debunk reincarnation ; hypnotised across the ages into the harsh reality of Matilda's life ... and impending death.

Maggiemaybe Thu 12-Nov-15 15:40:14

LaraGransnet, this is going to be one very difficult competition for you to judge!! grin

pensionpat Thu 12-Nov-15 15:44:10

I love most of John Irving's books, but my favourite is A Prayer for Owen Meany. It is unusual, funny, tragic and thought-provoking. I read it about once a year and haven't met many people who have read it. It is about Faith, Friendship and Loss.

Eloethan Thu 12-Nov-15 16:37:24

(Since it's been clarified that this is meant to be a synopsis rather than a review/recommendation, this is my revised offering)

The Accidental Tourist - Anne Tyler

Macon's marriage crumbles following a tragedy. An unlikely - and uninvited - friendship enables him to find new meaning and purpose to his life.

numberplease Thu 12-Nov-15 17:00:47

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.

Moralistic, but heartwarming story of four sisters and their mother, and their life in 19th century America, whilst awaiting the return of their father from the civil war.

numberplease Thu 12-Nov-15 17:01:27

My second try, but I just can`t do it in 140 characters!

rosequartz Thu 12-Nov-15 17:34:12

in 140 characters or less.

Oh!! I missed that bit (must read the OP properly grin)

Right, what did I say - see next post.

rosequartz Thu 12-Nov-15 17:36:45

The Roma sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor about the investigations of Gordianus the Finder are set in Ancient Rome and bring that era to life superbly.

rosequartz Thu 12-Nov-15 17:41:01

The Roma sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor about the investigations of Gordianus the Finder are set in Ancient Rome and bring that era to life

dragon60 Thu 12-Nov-15 18:26:07

The Lovely Bones -fab book about life & death & finding light in the darkest places.

granniefinn Thu 12-Nov-15 18:28:53

My favourite book is called girl in a blue dress by Gaynor Arnold l read it a couple of years ago when I got it out of the library
Then I was at a car boot sale with my son when I found it again I had to get it when I read it again it was just as good as I remember it