Reading group suggestions

[jivecat]

It's my reading group meeting tonight and it's my turn to choose the next book we are going to read. Trouble is, I haven't got a clue what to choose. Haven't been to a bookshop, haven't read any reviews- too busy dancing. Has anyone got any recommendations? Something that will provoke a good discussion, not too lowbrow, but definitely not too highbrow (I've got to read it, after all) and summed up in one sentence. Please, please rescue me, otherwise it'll have to be my fall-back position, Middlemarch.

[Franck]

Originally Posted by jivecat

It's my reading group meeting tonight and it's my turn to choose the next book we are going to read. Trouble is, I haven't got a clue what to choose. Haven't been to a bookshop, haven't read any reviews- too busy dancing. Has anyone got any recommendations?

I asked my wife (who is also a book club member) for the latest hits and this is a few suggestions she came up with:

The God of small things - Arundhati Roy (Beautifully written / thought provoking and heartbreaking - Booker prize winner 1997)

The Secret history - Donna Tart (atmospheric / dark, intriguing)

The life of Pi - Yann Martel (bizarre / illuminating - Booker prize winner 2002)

Personally, I would have recommended a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel, or maybe Christopher Brookmyre, but I'm quite low-brow myself

Good luck!

[Franck]

To offer further help, and also to resurrect a very useful thread, you can read about everyone's favourite books (amongst other things) on this thread called Forum Profiles.

[Nick M]

I would highly recommend "A prayer for Owen Meaney" by John Irving. A modern classic, with an accelerting tempo and a gripping ending.

Nick

[Emma]

Funny, I've been meaning to start a book review thread....I'd start a reading group thread, but I know I don't have the discipline to read things to order!

[latinlover]

try the Philip Pullman "Northern Lights" trilogy
yes I know it's a children's book but it raises some surprisingly adult questions - and it(and its two sequels) is a rip-roaring adventure. I found it un-put-downable!
or does that just display my immaturity?

[Chicklet]

Can def recommend "the Secret History"!

One of those that maybe isn't so startling as you're actually reading it - but in the week - two weeks after, you realise how fab it was because you really miss it!

(Still can't get into her second book (the Little Friend) for some reason - anyone managed it?)


Can't disagree with Latin Lover either, the Dark Materials are fab.

Personal Fav of recent times "The Emperor of Ocean Park" Stephen L Carter.
Read this on a beach in Barbados after finishing Roots and not thinking ANYTHING could hold my attention ever again, it did!.

(But then this is coming from someone who has just re-read the Flambards Series and cried all over again, and often spends time with Stanley Gibbons part 19)

Let us know how you get on - I'm with Em, book threads are us!

C

[Gordon J Pownall]

A fantastically moving portayal of China (sounds heavy but is amazing), is Jung Chang's Wild Swans.

I initially thought it was going to be the paper equivalent of a chick flick - how wrong I was.

The story of five generations of women from the days of concubines and warlords, through the cultural revolution up to the current day, Jung Chang charters her own, her mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmonthers and great, great grandmothers lives in the setting of one of the most 'advanced' eastern societies.

An amazing read.....

[Divissima]

How about 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime', any of the 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' books, or Bill Bryson's superb 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' (the last one isn't a novel, though).

'A Prayer for Owen Meany' is one of my all-time favourite novels It is quite long - and some people find it takes a long time to get going.

For something shorter and easier to get into, most of Carl Hiassen's novels are excellent.

I just love books - my favourite part of the working day is my bus journey in the morning, armed with some great reading material.

[Sparkles]

'Memoirs of a Geisha' is probably one of the best books I've ever read, so that would be my suggestion.
Not to offend Mrs Franck, but I would avoid 'God of Small Things' if I were you, it's not the sort of book I would read more than once and some of the issues are rather sensitive. But hey, that's just my opinion.
Hope the meeting went well?

[Emma]

If you liked 'Wild Swans' then try also 'Memoirs of a Geisha' (Arthur Golden) or 'The Joy Luck Club' (Amy Tan).

I'm currently nearly through 'Brick Lane' (Monica Ali) which is a good'un (oh, my powers of review amaze me). I loved 'The Curious Incident'. Divi if you like Carl Hiassen then you shoud read Christopher Brookmyre - they have a similar dark sense of humour. (Oh, and he's Scottish ).

I just got the Bill Bryson for my birthday but it's in the queue behind Olivia Joules and Vernon God Little. Obviuosly I must read Owen Meany too

My most recent thoroughly good read has to be 'The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break' (Steven Sherill) which is just beautifully written (and honest I don't normally go fo those 'beautiful evocative writing' novels). It's about the Minotaur (duh) who being immortal has now had to get a job and is working as a short order chef. Really fabulous book.

I could go on and on (and on and on and on).

PS has anyone read 'The Remains of the Day'? Dunno why but I suddenly have the urge to read it.

[Sparkles]

Originally Posted by Emma

If you liked 'Wild Swans' then try also 'Memoirs of a Geisha' (Arthur Golden) or 'The Joy Luck Club' (Amy Tan).

Great minds

[Chicklet]

Originally Posted by Emma

PS has anyone read 'The Remains of the Day'? Dunno why but I suddenly have the urge to read it.

of course!! Also Loved When We Were Orphans.

And other things keep coming back to me The Piano Shop on the Left Bank - TE Carhart SUPERB!!

And strangely Our Man in Havana was done in "one sitting" one rainy weekend recently.

[Emma]

Originally Posted by Chicklet

And strangely Our Man in Havana was done in "one sitting" one rainy weekend recently.

Yeah, great book

Another book club suggestion Perfume - Patrick Suskind

[Nick M]

Originally Posted by Emma

PS has anyone read 'The Remains of the Day'? Dunno why but I suddenly have the urge to read it.

TRotD is gorgeous - lyrical, poignant, tragic.

Other recommendations -

Paul Theroux "My secret history" (dark, compelling and disturbing - "Mosquito Coast" is also great, and his travel writing is very evocative)

Yann Martell "Life of Pi" (wierd but very readable fable)

"Wobegon Boy" and "Radio Days" by Garrison Keillor if you want something lighter

"Against a Dark Background" by Ian M Banks (His science fiction is better than his conventional fiction, and this book is stunning)

The Robertson Davies trilogies ("Deptford trilogy", "Cornish Trilogy") are excellent too.

Enjoy!!

[Stuart M]

How about something Irish? I'd recommend 'The Third Policeman' by Flann O'Brien (quite surreal in places though), or something by Roddy Doyle (especially one of the Commitments trilogy - The Van is my favourite).

[Rhythm King]

Definitely concur with the Pullman "His Dark Materials" trilogy, "Perfume" and "The Secret History". I'm a great fan of AS Byatt myself, ("Possession", particularly) but also read everything by Pratchett (including the childrens books, I'm on "A Hatful of Sky" at the moment). I also read Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin novels and David Gemmel's heroic fantasy stuff (no comments thanks )

[Emma]

Originally Posted by Nick M

"Against a Dark Background" by Iain M Banks (His science fiction is better than his conventional fiction, and this book is stunning)

Uurgh I've tried very hard to like Iain Banks' science fiction and I just don't seem to be able to get into it. On the other hand 'Whit' is one of my favourite books of all time, I loved 'Complicity' and 'The Crow Road' also 'Espedair Street' springs to mind...horses for courses, I guess!

I vaguely remember reading 'The Van'....must've been a long time ago

I too have read and enjoyed the Dark Materials trilogy, as well as the 'Ruby in the Smoke' series. As a primary schoolteacher I have a valid excuse for reading children's books (it's my excuse anyhow and I'm sticking to it!). Phillip Pullman has also written some sensitive and readable teenage-level 'issues' type books (kindof like Jaqui Wilson for older kids). In the fantasy department I also recommend the 'Wind on Fire' series by William Nicholson.

[latinlover]

Originally Posted by

I also read Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin novels

I've devoured these myself -and ladies (yes,yes, sweeping generalisation and sexual stereotyping...., I know ) ,they're not just blood'n'guts swashbucklers(although there is a BIT of that in them..) , - they are great social/historical fiction and 'adventures against the odds', type of things..err... literary criticism not my strongest suit...

[philsmove]

My favourite book of all time is


News from Tartary by
Peter Fleming
(brother of Ian Fleming)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...862443-7723625