Gransnet forums

Books/book club

Good reads please.

(107 Posts)
Anya Tue 16-Aug-16 08:07:44

I'm out of action for the next 6+ weeks due to two broken arms. I can't drive, swim, walk the dogs, cook, shop, garden, etc. and I'd go stir crazy if I didn't have my kindle.

I can hold it for about 10 minutes before my arms ache but it's getting more each day.

So looking for suggestions for good reads. I'll read almost anything,except chick flick and spy novels. Preferably I'd like to,discover an author I've not tried before, but please .....all suggestions very welcome sunshine

Charleygirl Tue 16-Aug-16 08:12:31

I thoroughly enjoy Quintin Jardine but they are best read in order.

I also enjoy Mark Billingham and Peter Robinson. Both being good murder, mystery and suspense writers.

ffinnochio Tue 16-Aug-16 08:14:38

Have you tried any books by Alice Munro - Canadian author. Very good at short stories, too.

A little quirky, but insightful, and I find a beauty in her writing.

Do hope you're beginning to feel at least a little more comfortable.

mumofmadboys Tue 16-Aug-16 08:17:32

Try Susan Hill's Simon Serallier series. There are eight or nine in the series and best read in order. Hope your breaks heal well.

rosesarered Tue 16-Aug-16 08:19:53

try 'A Man Called Ove' by Frederik Backman ( Swedish author) it's both funny and moving, I loved it.Also just read a very good page turner of a read called 'Blood Dragons' by Rosemary A Johns ( at the moment only 99p for Kindle) it's a cross between Interview With The Vampire and Alfie, and again, although not my usual reading material, I thought it very good.

Nannylovesshopping Tue 16-Aug-16 08:27:23

So sorry you have two broken arms, much sympathy your way, favourite authors of mine, Sophie Hannah, Alex Marwood, Denise Mina, Stuart McBride, Chris Carter, Alex Gray, Michael Robotham, and after all that, a little light relief with Andrea Camillerie, get well soon flowers

Christinefrance Tue 16-Aug-16 08:28:04

Anya, sorry you are so incapacitated, what bad luck to break both arms, hope they heal well and quickly.
Try - Peter James, Barbara Erskine, SJ Bolton,Nicci French,Diana Gabaldon, CJ Sansom.

Good luck

Megram Tue 16-Aug-16 08:35:02

"Sweet Offerings" by Chan Ling Yap
The Rebus books by Ian Rankin (Amazon helpfully lists them in order)
Alexander McCall Smith"s Ladies Detective Agency series or his Isabel Dalhousie Novels are good too.
Harry Potter?!

Hope you feel better soon and enjoy your reading.

Stansgran Tue 16-Aug-16 08:40:33

I've just read some semi Scandi on Kindle by Torquil MacLeod. They are all cheap and with links to the uk with the female detective! And some daft American mysteries which are Very Light Weight by C Bevill about an family in the Deep South. The titles put me off "Bubba and......."but they open up a new American world. And The Bertie Project by McCall Smith. I find the 44 Scotland Street repetitive but light reading and I love the little boy called Bertie.

Mumsy Tue 16-Aug-16 08:40:54

Shayne Parkinson - Promises to keep, theres four books in the collection all available on kindle, the first book is free to down load.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Anya.

Stansgran Tue 16-Aug-16 08:44:49

I second a Man Called Ove and also My Grandmother sends her Apologies. The Susan Hill books(no1 is on offer on Bookbub) might be hard on someone who can only hold the books for ten minutes as you might want to know what happens next - frustrating. So awful for you.

Auntieflo Tue 16-Aug-16 08:49:54

Anya, do hope that evry day you feel a bit stronger. Have you tried Peter May? Nicci French, and I've just finished The Dressmaker by Heloise May.

Anya Tue 16-Aug-16 08:50:15

What a wealth of suggestions.

Some of these authors I'm familiar with and have already enjoyed their writings but others sound like they're worth a try.

Thank you smile

Auntieflo Tue 16-Aug-16 08:52:29

Anya, apologies, The Dressmaker is by Rosalie Ham, not as above. Not awake yet, so don't know where that came from. confused

Teetime Tue 16-Aug-16 08:55:40

anya how awful for you however did you manage it?
My favourite authors for absorbing reading are Anne Tyler, Anita Brookner, Anita Shreve- all their works are excellent.
I hope you are feeling better soon. flowers

grannymouse303 Tue 16-Aug-16 09:03:39

Sorry to hear you're injured! Reading is certainly a good way to pass the time away smile

oznan Tue 16-Aug-16 09:24:06

Hope you feel better soon!I would recommend anything by Jodi Picoult or Kate Morton-both great authors whose books are very absorbing.

goose1964 Tue 16-Aug-16 09:45:30

if you like fantasy The Dwarves series by Markus Heitz or Earth's Children (Clan of the Cave Bear etc by Jean M Auel)

Riverwalk Tue 16-Aug-16 15:13:21

To prevent the arm ache Anya why not try a book/tablet 'pillow'

Pillow

Unlike a normal pillow or scatter cushions, or any other other item to prop-up a book, this clever thing sits in place comfortably at the right angle and holds both books and tablets. There's a sort of ridge thingy that the book/tablet rests on.

There are cheaper versions but the above is the one I've seen in use by a patient of mine.

Stansgran Tue 16-Aug-16 15:20:11

Elizabeth Taylor's short stories might be good for a ten minute read or Barbara Pym is pleasant rather than gripping. And short stories by Saki or the Father Brown stories.

chelseababy Tue 16-Aug-16 15:26:28

Camilla Lackberg another scandi author I enjoy.- again best read in order. Get well soon

rosesarered Tue 16-Aug-16 15:34:51

Look at it this way Anya....... You can't do any housework! Hope that makes things more bearable, you can direct your DH and be management for a change.

Anya Tue 16-Aug-16 15:55:24

Like the sound of that pillow, will follow your link riverwalk ..thanks.

Re housework roses it's driving me mad seeing all the little jobs undone, but he's trying his best, looking frazzled, learning how to blow dry hair and apply face cream (on me). I can't turn door knobs with these useless arms and he's sleeping in the spare room to give me space at the moment. Only he shut the bedroom door on his way out, which I didn't realise until,I woke in the wee small hours needing a wee.

Couldn't turn the door knob so had to ring him on his mobile to come and release me!

I'm lucky he heard it as he needs two hearing aids and has taken both put for sleeping hmm

Big thanks to all for great suggestions. Should keep me in reading material for the next six weeks.

kitty I tripped out walking.

rosesarered Tue 16-Aug-16 16:06:04

That's why they are called ' the wee small hours' Anya grin
That could all have gone seriously wrong foryou though, if you hadn't got your mobile and couldn't bang on the wall, eeeek.

Anya Tue 16-Aug-16 16:15:53

Oh yes! And having spent the best part of 45+ years training him to screw the tops (tightly) back on things like toothpaste, shampoo, milk, etc. I'm now having to untrain him as I can't unscrew any sodding lids either blush