Gransnet forums

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.

DylanCalderon Sun 06-Dec-15 02:03:22

For me it has to be the first Harry Potter book (Philosopher's Stone), because it was THE book that got me into reading while at a young age, and if it wasn't for the first book and the books that followed, then I might not be the man I am today.

eilishoneill27 Sun 06-Dec-15 01:42:35

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is my favourite. I've never been to Louisiana but was totally transported there. I just loved the laid back style, the mint juleps, Southern drawl and the scenery. A wonderful observation of female camaraderie and a tricky mother daughter relationship.

soapsoanelive Sat 05-Dec-15 23:10:29

Or, Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry: Ireland's Arundhati Roy: love, the tragedy of inequality and a beautiful twist: read it and weep.

soapsoanelive Sat 05-Dec-15 22:58:57

Orhan Pamuk Black Book or Stig Larssen: Millenium Trilogy documentary fiction, politics, romance: great books: a real thrill to read!

jules56 Sat 05-Dec-15 22:29:38

I love Josephine Cox books, I can relate to them

SingingSilver Sat 05-Dec-15 22:15:27

Loving, by Henry Green. It's set in an Irish manor house during the second world war. It's the most realistic love story I've ever read, and occasionally I get a memory from the book as if they were real people I used to know.

jeangall Sat 05-Dec-15 21:33:22

Peter Robinson creates murder in Yorkshire with people who seem real.

Isobelw Sat 05-Dec-15 21:13:04

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry a sweeping Indian saga that makes you laugh, makes you cry and stays with you forever.

Jumbly01 Sat 05-Dec-15 17:23:33

A thoroughly absorbing read.

Jumbly01 Sat 05-Dec-15 17:22:46

There are so very many enjoyable and favourite books from the classics but I have started reading newer authors and thoroughly enjoyed reading In My House by Alex Hourston. It could happen to anyone of us!

Bobbysgirl19 Sat 05-Dec-15 16:20:06

The Island by Victoria Hislop. This book gripped me from the first page to the last. Set on Spinalonga off the coast of Crete it tells the story of a leper colony. I can understand why the book won so many awards! I have read many books, but this one was different, as it really lives on in my heart!

glossopswift Sat 05-Dec-15 15:53:04

Tess of the Durbevilles is magical and conveys Hardy's consistent style of marrying description with action in every paragraph.

Lapwing Sat 05-Dec-15 15:38:26

Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie

A funny, feel good story about the residents of the Todday' s determination to liberate whisky from the excise men.

dewdneyk Sat 05-Dec-15 15:20:18

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Read it as a child, as a teenager, as an adult, alone, to my children, and I'm looking forward to reading it to grandchildren. Also loved the movie. Aslan is the finest animal character ever created.

Rainy Sat 05-Dec-15 12:50:30

My favourite books are The Lord of the Rings and the HitchHiker series. I read LOTR every other year and always find something else in it, so that has to be my no 1 book.

enfys Sat 05-Dec-15 11:39:10

How do you choose???? I love Stephen King, world's greatest story teller but am going to say Robert Falcon Scotts 'Last Expedition'. Reading about his polar exploration, bid for the Pole and other scientific endeavors in his own words was a wonderful experience.

carol810 Sat 05-Dec-15 08:41:18

I really don't have a favourite book but here goes.
Those we left behind was a great read about a schoolboy who is jailed for murder and when he is out tries to get his life together.Did he kill ? or didn't he.

EmmyCD Fri 04-Dec-15 23:18:24

The Beach - I love how it explores a Utopian society and highlights the fact that no society is perfect. A cult classic!

Mythbirtthedragon Fri 04-Dec-15 21:37:27

Joanne Harris and the first book of hers that I read - blackberry wine. Bit of magic and fantasy with a happy ending that keeps you wondering.

sootyo Fri 04-Dec-15 18:56:28

To Kill a Mockingbird, which I read when an older sibling studied it at school.

Nanajaws Fri 04-Dec-15 18:13:46

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson still hasn't been knocked off the top of my favourites list. I love Sansom's Shardlake series and historical novels but there are too many great books to choose an absolute favourite.

Buddie Fri 04-Dec-15 14:08:15

Despite studying Pride and Prejudice twice at school for O and then A level English Literature it remains a firm favourite with something new to be discovered every time I re-read it.

woodcotepark Fri 04-Dec-15 13:30:32

My favourite is Marley and Me. It's sad in places but incredably funny as well. As a dog owner I can just imagine my dog getting up to some of Marleys antics.

Wallygrom Fri 04-Dec-15 12:16:22

When Christmas Bells Ring - set in Liverpool, my favourite UK city

sueellen Fri 04-Dec-15 11:05:22

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. Romance, history, courage and daring. It's got the lot.