Any decent novels worth a read?

[PeckhamRose]

This is not a classic, and the author is still alive teaching literature at Canterbury.

But I loved it so much I started reading it again immediately after.

The Death of Mr Y by SCARLETT THOMAS

I had NO idea what it was about but someone knew me recommended it and I dived right in.

[Sarah J.]

Really? Hmm. I'll have to grab it if I see it in my travels :)

Thanks for the recommendation!

[Sarah J.]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

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> This is not a classic, and the author is still

> alive teaching literature at Canterbury.

> But I loved it so much I started reading it again

> immediately after.

> The Death of Mr Y by SCARLETT THOMAS

> I had NO idea what it was about but someone knew

> me recommended it and I dived right in.

I like the title.....not that titles are anything to go by, but I do like that one!

I've been reading a lot of Paulo Coehlo (spelling..I always get that mixed up!) lately. 'Witch of Portobello', Brida, and of course, 'The Alchemist'.

Someone recommended the latter title to me and I was about to read it when someone else also recommended it...and then another....and another..... I was worried that I would have high expectations which might ruin the book. So, I waited until I forgot all about it, and then found it quite by chance in a 2nd hand bookstore when I was back in Adelaide. I picked it up for a song at $10AUD! It literally changed my life.

Some authors touch your soul and leave an imprint upon your heart which lasts a lifetime.

[bignumber5]

I quite like Creative Non-Fiction (books based on real life events or themes)

Haven't read it myself, but folks i know with similar tastes enjoyed Rabbit Proof Fence

[Sarah J.]

bignumber5 Wrote:

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> I quite like Creative Non-Fiction (books based on

> real life events or themes)

>

> Haven't read it myself, but folks i know with

> similar tastes enjoyed Rabbit Proof Fence

I've read this one....a very important story in Australia; and being an Australian/Brit, it was a must read for me. :) thanks for the recommendation though, it is definitely a good one :)

[Mick Mac]

Engelby - Sebastian Faulks

I don't read many books sarah - but have recently read Engelby by Sebastian Faulks - I'd recommend this highly - an insight into a person with psychological issues, the implications of which are brought out gradually as the underlying story develops - some review said its his best book to date.

[Sarah J.]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Engelby - Sebastian Faulks

> I don't read many books sarah - but have recently

> read Engelby by Sebastian Faulks - I'd recommend

> this highly - an insight into a person with

> psychological issues, the implications of which

> are brought out gradually as the underlying story

> develops - some review said its his best book to

> date.

Thank you for the brief description. It sounds right along the lines of what would interest me. And I have heard of this author too.

:)

[dukesdenver]

For something completely different, how about No Highway by Nevil Shute? Hark back to a time when men were 'chaps' and people saved up for things. You won't believe how gripping aeronautical engineering can be!

[Sarah J.]

dukesdenver Wrote:

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> For something completely different, how about No

> Highway by Nevil Shute? Hark back to a time when

> men were 'chaps' and people saved up for things.

> You won't believe how gripping aeronautical

> engineering can be!

At this rate, I will be renting a storage hold somewhere with all these books. I've thought of joining a library, but I would want to keep the darlings after reading them. I get attached to books. :-$

[SimonM]

I enjoyed "Engleby" too....but for me Faulks' best book is "Birdsong"

[HonaloochieB]

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but I've just heard that Murder One the crime book shop in Charing Cross Rd is closing after 21 years. Anyone else as heartsick as me?

There's a possibility that two of the staaff will be running an on-line store.

But still, my trips up to the heart of London's busy West End won't be quite the same.

[TillieTrotter]

Am a huge fan of Birdsong but Engleby bored the ass of me. I've recently read Human Traces by Faulks which was pretty good.

[indiepanda]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

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> Sorry to go off topic slightly, but I've just

> heard that Murder One the crime book shop in

> Charing Cross Rd is closing after 21 years. Anyone

> else as heartsick as me?

> There's a possibility that two of the staaff will

> be running an on-line store.

> But still, my trips up to the heart of London's

> busy West End won't be quite the same.

Oh no, that's the best place to get crime fiction ever. Could always get things in there you'd never find in waterstones, borders etc. Mind you, I guess it's people like me who use Amazon a lot who are part of their downfall. I always used to come back with bulging carrier bagfuls when I lived outside of London, but these days I do the majority of my book and CD shopping on line so I've been there less since I moved here than I did when I lived outside.

[siousxiesue]

I'm loving 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga-it's dark and funny and hate to think it's nearly fininshed...

[Sarah J.]

siousxiesue Wrote:

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> I'm loving 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga-it's

> dark and funny and hate to think it's nearly

> fininshed...

Sounds amazing I get like that when I am almost finished a really great book: sad to see it end!

:)

[TillieTrotter]

I've just finished that Sioux, it was good and quite amusing in a dark sort of way. It's up for lends if anyone wants to give it a whirl.

[Sarah J.]

TillieTrotter Wrote:

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> I've just finished that Sioux, it was good and

> quite amusing in a dark sort of way. It's up for

> lends if anyone wants to give it a whirl.

Oh! Me please!

[TillieTrotter]

Consider it done Sarah. Just need to know where to drop it, or for you to pick it up. If you're going to the next EDF drinks I'll make sure to pop in and bring it along.

[Sarah J.]

TillieTrotter Wrote:

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> Consider it done Sarah. Just need to know where

> to drop it, or for you to pick it up. If you're

> going to the next EDF drinks I'll make sure to pop

> in and bring it along.

Excellent! I'll be at the next EDF drinks on the 6th so I will see you then!

[KirstyH]

for really good storytelling I'd go for anything by Peter Carey (eg Oscar and Lucinda) or Harukai Murakami (eg wind up bird chronicles, okay and nearly everything else); agree Engleby AND Rebus (essential).

but don't get ?30 out - get ?7.50 out, or a credit crunch fiver, and go to that fab second hand book stall on Northcross Road on saturdays, or the Mind shop, and buy 3 slightly random books that look interesting (or 50p/?1 each at Tony's on whatever that road is called Choumert I think).

I'm currently on Jean Genet's Prisoner of Love at the moment by this method - definitely worth a read, the bloke hung out with the Black Panthers and the Palestinian liberation fighters in his latter years, bloody hell. One of the most bizarre and imaginative and, frankly weird, was The Republic of Wine by Chinese writer Mo Yan (roughly speaking about an investigation into a baby-eating scandal). And oh yes definitely Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig) for thought provoking plus the inevitable weekend of wanting to be a philosopher. Julian Barnes History of the Universe in 10.5 Chapters is great too. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, followed by Eduardo Galeano's Memory of Fire trilogy which is a history of Latin America, but its not like any other history - he is the most devastating writer about the human condition, probably the writer I most admire (prob not via second hand).

You can tell I've just been nipping up and down to the bookshelf and then you remember something else that's been excellent. Will stop now. PS have two Rebuses in case you want risk free trial.

Am trying to have an alcohol free night in, so this is the result.

[KirstyH]

Got myself slightly overenthusiastic there - but here's the Asian Review of Books on Mo Yan's Republic of Wine, makes up for my rather non-literary description http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?article=72

[Sarah J.]

KirstyH Wrote:

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> Got myself slightly overenthusiastic there - but

> here's the Asian Review of Books on Mo Yan's

> Republic of Wine, makes up for my rather

> non-literary description

> http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?

> article=72

KirstyH! Enthusiastic indeed! I like the results of your alcohol free night in! Hehe. Very entertaining. I was at EDT last night and had one too many scotches :( so I am feeling slightly second hand today! And I am moving today too! Oh it will be interesting!

You certainly have a fantastic range of books there; love your 'off the beaten track' choices in titles.

I think I might have a hunt for some of the gems you mentioned :)

Thanks!

[Polly D]

The Road Home has been a fave read of late, and agreeing with KirstyH - Murakami.

[joey2]

Not without my daughter is one of the best books I've read in a long time and it's a true story. I literally couldn't put it down. They've also made a film out of it but the book is much better.