Looking for a book to read ........

I have just started to read The Women, as it is next month's title for my reading group but, oh, it is SO badly written! Feels like the sort of style used for short stories in women's magazines. And there are 476 pages of it!

Yes, I've read several by William Boyd, including 'Any Human Heart', Also, Brazzaville Beach, The Ice Cream War, Armadillo, The Romantic, Waiting for Sunrise, Love is Blind. Just started Gabriel's Moon. Very readable with great characters. Also - a bit lighter - enjoyed 7 Sisters series by Lucinda Riley and several by Kristin Hannah.

John Boyne !!!!

Anything by John Boyle who is a marvellous author. Anne Tyler is also excellent and early Kate Atkinson, Maggie O Farrell.
Didnt like The Women, felt it was shallow and trivialised an important time in women’s lives/ contributions to the Vietnam War.
Also recommend Ian Mcewan as a great writer

I agree with lots of the books and authors recommended here.
I just want to add a different kind of book - not a novel, and one which I am finding easy to read and compelling. It is making a difference. It has been in print for 10 years which speaks well for it! It is "Self Compassion - the proven power of being kind to yourself" by Kristin Neff. It is not about self indulgence but helping see how hard we can be on ourselves and it gets in the way of happiness. We can be happier!

There is a series of books by Steve Higgs called Albert Smiths Culinary Capers about a retired police superintendent and his retired (booted out) police dog who go on a culinary tour of Great Britain to learn how to make various regional dishes. I so want that dog. Full of murders, kidnappings and precarious situations. Quite funny, especially the dog, and at the end you get a recipe for whatever treat he’s been caught up in.

I’ve just enjoyed ‘The Homemade God’ by Rachel Joyce. It’s about an artist who is commercially successful but despised by the art world and seems to be based on Jack Vettriano. The plot is about him upsetting his adult children by marrying a girl younger than they are.

Luckygirl3

LucyAnna5

What’s your favourite book of those you’ve read, Luckygirl? What do you like - detective, romance, history, etc?

I have enjoyed Kate Atkinson.
My tastes depend on my mood I think, but my favourite book of all time is by Kate O'Brian and is called The Land of Spices.

You might enjoy Four Letters of Love / Niall Williams

Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and Cat's Eye were all absorbing reads as are lots of Ann Tylers. Kate Morton books have been great favourite, not so keen on her last one though.

William Boyd, yes! The narrative pace keeps me engaged. I've just finished "Ordinary Thunderstorms" and have started "Love is Blind".
PS Kristin Hannah is not to be confused with Sophie Hannah, whose books are so clever and intriguing, but totally terrifying.

LucyAnna5

What’s your favourite book of those you’ve read, Luckygirl? What do you like - detective, romance, history, etc?

I have enjoyed Kate Atkinson.
My tastes depend on my mood I think, but my favourite book of all time is by Kate O'Brian and is called The Land of Spices.

Can I just add two really thought provoking books, The Island Of Sea Women by Lisa See and Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop. Both feature brave women in two different cultures, real eye openers.

I’ve read a lots of these books, all great recommendations. I’m writing down the others as it’s my choice at book club soon.

What’s your favourite book of those you’ve read, Luckygirl? What do you like - detective, romance, history, etc?

Anything by Anne Tyler.
The novels by Eve Chase are great, especially Black Rabbit Hall
Kate Morton novels are always a lovely read too.

Just personally I found Madeline Miller so boring I gave up

I'm surprised no one has recommended Still Life by Sarah Winman. It's uplifting, well written and with a wonderful cast of characters. It will also make you want to pack your bags and move to Florence (or buy a parrot - you will need to read the book to find out why).

I've started reading about some of the WW2 women who acted as agents during the war. I started it because there's been a fair bit on television about the war lately and I was interested in their life - and am amazed at how young they were and so very brave.

Just finished Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers, lovely book.
Starting The good father by Noah Hawley.

This thread has reminded me of Kate Atkinson's books so I've started re reading. I'm very happy. Thanks for starting it

I am writing all these down!

Deedaa

I've just finished The Story Spinner by Barbara Erskine. Very good if spooky history is your thing, and the villain meets a very satisfactory end. I've now moved on to Stephen Fry's version of The Odyssey, which is great fun and filling in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge of Greek mythology.

If you liked Stephen fry’s book about Odyssey, try Madeleine Millers books , The song of Achilles and Circe. They renewed my interest in Greek mythology.

I've just finished The Story Spinner by Barbara Erskine. Very good if spooky history is your thing, and the villain meets a very satisfactory end. I've now moved on to Stephen Fry's version of The Odyssey, which is great fun and filling in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge of Greek mythology.

I loved "The List of Suspicious Things ". I was so sorry when I'd finished it .

Clare Chambers 'Small Pleasures' and 'Shy Creatures', recently published, are absorbing, beautifully written books about human relationships developing within complex situations,one set in the 1950s, one on 1964.