I'm wanting to start reading again and wondered if anyone has any recommendations? I don't have any particular likes / dislikes, i read anything from Terry prachett to danielle steele.

Well.....

My favourites vary immensley - ones I particularly like are :

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
The Go Between - L P Hartley
The Bridge at San Luis Rey - Thornton Wilder

They're not 'beach' books, but they are quite satisfying reads - they might be a bit different from what you normally read, but you MIGHT enjoy 'em! :)

Perfume - Patrick Suskind

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140120831/026-3371485-6006834?v=glance&n=266239&s=books&v=glance

I'm currently re-reading all the Discworld series from start to finish.

My absolute favourite book is Use Of Weapons by Iain M Banks

My favourite (bed time) read authors are Jeffrey Deaver, James Patterson, Tess Gerritsen and Harlan Coban.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm looking for something to read at night, helps make me tired! I'm prone to nightmares though so have to be careful what I read

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm looking for something to read at night, helps make me tired! I'm prone to nightmares though so have to be careful what I read

Oops....

Avoid 'The Name of the Rose - that's all about murders in a Monastery.
And 'The Bridge at San Luis Rey' is about people who fall off a bridge....

:)

I love the diskworld series but my favourite book is H G Wells War of the worlds.

Kittenta,

In terms of 'books at bedtime' I often like stuff I can dip in to. I have a couple of the 'Dilbert' cartoon books at my bedside, as well as Phillip Knightley's 'the Second Oldest Profession' which is a history of espionage.

Something I've heard of people doing is that they keep inteersting articles from magazines and put them in a file, then read those at bed time.

I like anything by Allan Bennet or H.E.Bates.

Kittena,

I only like murder mysteries, so don't read my suggestions either.

:)

Calvin and Hobbes is what I read when I am feeling poorly x x

Thinking about it i'm tempted at a "my life" type book, brain gone can't think what they are caled, problem is i've heard there are many crap ones!

I'm going to write all these suggestions down and read up on them, thanks!!

If you like sci-fi, but not the fluffy happy utopian sci-fi, then...

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson
The Disposessed - Ursula K Le Guin

They seem to swap places regularly in my top 3.

Oh, & another vote for Terry Pratchett's discworld books, & also Good Omens by him & Neil Gaiman.

I have read one discworld book but don't know which it was lol. I have a copy of witches abroad but could never really get into it. I read diggers (i think) years ago and really enjoyed that one. too many to choose from now!

I love David Gemmell books, he died recently though and didn't get opportunity to finish the latest series :(. They are quite blokey fantasy books though with lots of battles and magic, so probably not suitable for your night time reading.

Bernard Cornwell has also written some excellent books. Sharpe is the most famous series, but his Arthurian novels are the best ones of his that I've read.

I like Dean Koontz novels, several of which have been made into films. They are a mix between horror and Sci-Fi and my absolute favourite of them is "Watchers" it's a story about two creatures that escape from a laboratory, one is a Hyper-intelligent Golden Retriever........."The Other" isn't.

I like Dean Koontz novels, several of which have been made into films. They are a mix between horror and Sci-Fi and my absolute favourite of them is "Watchers" it's a story about two creatures that escape from a laboratory, one is a Hyper-intelligent Golden Retriever........."The Other" isn't.

mmmmmm think that would have to be a daytime read for me :o

mmmmmm think that would have to be a daytime read for me :o

My other favourite is Red Book Number Four featuring Dick, Dora and Fluff the kitten.

:huh: :huh: :huh: now you lost me!

I'm a fan of Phil Rickman's novels (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search?search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=Phil%20Rickman). My favourite book though would have to be 'The Dark is Rising' by Susan Cooper. It's the second in a sequence (http://www.amazon.co.uk/-Dark-Is-Rising-Sequence-Over-SeaUnder-Stone-Dark-Is-Rising-Greenwitch-Grey-King-Silver-on-/dp/0140316884/sr=1-1/qid=1156829148/ref=sr_1_1/026-0226038-0170064?ie=UTF8&s=books) of books published between the late 60s and mid 70s. They're full of myth, magic and legend and are beautifully written.

If you're after a classic, I'd recommend 'Wuthering Heights'. I've read it many times and never tire of it.

Either Dune (Frank Herbert), Weaveworld or Imagica (both Clive barker)

I like long books.

Anything by Bill Bryson makes a great relaxing read - especially Notes from a Small Island. He has wonderful observational skills, and just about the only person I wouldn't mind sitting on a long-haul flight next to!

Anything by Bill Bryson makes a great relaxing read - especially Notes from a Small Island. He has wonderful observational skills, and just about the only person I wouldn't mind sitting on a long-haul flight next to!
Agreed, apart from a Short History of Nearly everything and a very involved one about the funiness of the English Language. You have to have your wits about you when you read those two. All of his travel ones are good light reading though.

Yeah, Short History...was far too heavy for reading late on

If you just want something easy-going and funny about normal people try Marian Keyes - she's kind of been mis-branded as 'chick lit', but i reckon there's something in her stuff for most people to relate to. And she churns out a book every year or so to keep you going.

Try the Thursday Next books, by Jasper Fforde.

They're fabulous, and definitely worth a read.

The first one is "The Eyre Affair." I bought it as the third one of a "3 for the price of 2 offer," not really expecting much, but I loved it.

Amazon says

"Pirouetting on the boundaries between sci-fi, the crime thriller and intertextual whimsy, Jasper Fforde's outrageous The Eyre Affair puts you on the wrong footing even on its dedication page, which proudly announces that the book conforms to Crimean War economy standard. "

Find out more here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-Eyre-Affair-Thursday-Next/dp/034073356X/sr=8-2/qid=1157146057/ref=pd_ka_2/026-5737146-3306812?ie=UTF8&s=gateway

and here
http://www.thursdaynext.com/index2.html

Just finished The World According to Clarkson, very good as is another one of his called I Know You Got Soul.

Other than that, Tom Clancy is always a good read

Try the Thursday Next books, by Jasper Fforde.

They're fabulous, and definitely worth a read.

The first one is "The Eyre Affair." ...
You're the second person today to recommend that book to me. Must have a browse in Borders tomorrow.

I love David Gemmell books, he died recently though and didn't get opportunity to finish the latest series :(. They are quite blokey fantasy books though with lots of battles and magic, so probably not suitable for your night time reading.

damn, I didn't know he'd died :( well that sucks... that means I only have about 5 more Gemmell books left to read then I won't have any new ones left to get :(

Personally I've been reading books by Eric Knight, David Gemmell and Kim Harrison lately... they're all kinda fantasy/sci-fi though so not everyones cup of tea

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm looking for something to read at night, helps make me tired! I'm prone to nightmares though so have to be careful what I read

I think you would like The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.....Its sort of a sci-fi love story. I thought it was a superb read! :)

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/time_travelers_wife1.asp

damn, I didn't know he'd died :( well that sucks... that means I only have about 5 more Gemmell books left to read then I won't have any new ones left to get :(

Personally I've been reading books by Eric Knight, David Gemmell and Kim Harrison lately... they're all kinda fantasy/sci-fi though so not everyones cup of tea
I've only got 2 left (one of which hasn't quite been released yet). I didn't read the Troy series which are his latest as I thought I'd read all three concurrently. That's never going to happen though now :(

After reading this thread, I'm suddenly feeling rather inferior. I seem to be the only person who likes 'pop corn' fiction. In my opinion you cant beat a good Stephen King novel, 'The Stand' is a cracking read.

Also like 'Red Storm Rising' by Tom Clancey, and Dan Browns 'Da Vinci Code' (hangs head in shame):sad:

Not at all Cam, can't beat a bit of Tom clancy. Yet to read Da vinci Code but I fully intend to

After reading this thread, I'm suddenly feeling rather inferior. I seem to be the only person who likes 'pop corn' fiction.

Absolutely not - look at my username! (A friend once commented that I only ever read trashy books (as opposed to Booker prize-winning type books)).

I love Jilly Cooper, Dick Francis, Dean Koontz, lots of chick lit, and I too really enjoyed The Da Vinci Code (complete nonsense but very entertaining!)

Read what you enjoy - reading anything is better than not reading. And if you feel as though you should read "worthier" books, then slip one in amongst the light-hearted stuff from time to time.

I wouldn't mind reading the da vinci code. Anybody read it and care to comment on it? I've heard both good and bad, is it worth the read?

Its not the best written book I've ever read, but there is something about it that keeps you wanting to read on. The end of every chapter is a cliff hanger which makes you think ' just one more chapter'. I'd finished it in record time. His other one called Angels and Demons which is set before the Da Vinci Code is also very good.

I wouldn't mind reading the da vinci code. Anybody read it and care to comment on it? I've heard both good and bad, is it worth the read?


I listened to my Father in law and then Mrs Surfin both rave about how exciting a book it was and the twist in the tale. Obviously with this in mind I decided to give it a whirl.


BIG GIRLS PANTS!!!!!!!


Jim:thumbsup:

I love Martina Cole books

Very gripping!!

I think i have read about 8/9 of her's this year. Love them

Im reading one by Jane Green called Spellbound. I call these sorta books, easy reads. They are just nice to read b4 bed :)

I thought the Da Vinci Code was a good read, so was Angels and Demons which is also by Dan Brown. Haven't read his others, but do intend to.

I must admit to loving chick-lit! Currently reading Sophie Kinsella's "shopaholic" series and loving it!

I'll try anything, although if I don't get into a book in the first couple of chapters, I put it down and move onto something else.

'vernon god little' is the dogs bees

probably aimed at young adults though?