Looking for some good recommendations....I've had some great reads from you guys in the past - Art of Racing in the Rain, Snowflower, Philippa Gregory etc... & my book case is looking a bit bare of new books - so can anyone recommend anything? I will read pretty much anything!

I havn't read anything great for ages, have you read any of the Louis de Benierres (probably spelt wrong) books? There's a series of three he wrote that I really enjoyed, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, Senor Vivo and the Coca Lords and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman, very sad in parts but beautiful stories.
I read White Tiger recently loads of people recommended that, was quite good but not really my cup of tea.
If you like sci-fi you have to read A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, if you like dogs you'll love the aliens in that book, really interesting.
Plague Dogs is one of my favorites too by the same man who did Watership Down, I forget his name.
The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks, is great as well, if you like weird stuff, very short though.
A really nice fantasy series is The Far Seer Trilogy by Robin Hobb and also  The Liveship Traders.
I'm reading a book called Kafka on the Shore at the moment, it's one of those that I'm sure is meant to be profound and full of hidden messages but I'm terrible at reading between the lines so I'm probably missing his point completley, thats written by Haruki Murakami.

I also read White Tiger - perfectly fine (if a bit grim) but couldn't quite see why it was Booker Prize material.  But there have been lots of really good novels written by authors from the Indian subcontinent in the last ten years or so - my favourite is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. 
Do you like classic novels?  Some of my favourites are The Moonstone, Vanity Fair, Emma, Tom Jones. 

I'm currently reading 'Sea of Poppies' by Amitav Ghosh, first part of a trilogy and based at the time of the Opium wars, its fascinating, although the indian/victorian vernacular takes a bit of getting used to! I'm really enjoying it despite the fact it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008, usually the kiss of death for any novel for me :-D

Just finished reading My sister's keeper.  I know it's a film now but the ending is completely different apparently.  A book that can change your mood for the rest of the day though.

I have read White Tiger too - a good read but as someone said grim.   Also just read the Age of Shiva by Manil Suri - a bit depressing in times but kept me reading til the end - thought it was written by a woman and was surprised to find it was a man.  Got to say that I have also just read Paths of Glory by Geoffrey Archer. OH bought it - can't get away from the fact - he can write a good novel.  Alistair Campbell's book - sorry forgotten title was extremely good too - that was given to me by a friend to read - I would never have thought to buy it myself.   Am reading The Time Travellers wife at the moment - needs one to suspend belief rather - but it is keeping me rushing back to pick up the book whenever I can in the day. 

Have you read 'The Kite Flyer' yet?
Not to be missed out!

Karen :)

A really good one I read recently and enjoyed very much was The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.
I have just ordered several new books from Amazon that I am looking forward to getting stuck into. 

I'm reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It starts off very dark, but really draws you in.  It utilises the reader's feelings of being an observer looking in to echo the situation of the main character, watching events from her own personal heaven.

I am in the middle of a book by an author I have never read before: Barbara Erskine.  The book is 'Lady of Hay' which is amazing.  It is about a woman who regresses by hypnosis to a life previously lived during the 12th century.  It is fascinating and I have bought several others of Ms Erskine's to keep me going through autumn.  Also, if you prefer modern thrillers, I can recommend Lee Child's Jack Reacher books.  They are just brilliant and you simply can't put them down.  You will want to buy the whole lot!

The Lovely Bones is one of my favourites.
Lucky also by Alice Sebold (based on her own life) is also fantastic.

A book that i loved was The Testament of Gideon Mack, i found it a strange but compelling book. 
I too have read The Gargoyle and it was a fantastic read, somthing i bought it on the spur of the moment not expecting to like it but was hooked after the first few pages.

> I can recommend Lee Child's Jack Reacher books

Have to agree, I have the full set and they are a great read! I have to force myself to wait for the paperbacks to come out as I don't really like buying hardbacks!
for a bit of light reading Sophie Kinsella's 'shopaholic' series is very readable too.

>Have you read 'The Kite Flyer' yet?

Do you mean 'The Kite Runner' (by Khaled Hosseini)...or are you talking about a different book altogether?

I'm currently collecting my holiday reads and I always have to have a Marain Keys book to kick the holiday off...nothing gets me in the holiday frame of mind faster :)  I'll definitely be checking out some of the recommendations here :)

OMG!
Yes........The Kite Runner.
Please excuse me, all I say and do of late is the same! Wrong order, mixed up everything...I the medication.
Tomorrow I have see the surgeon again, I now have thrush in my throat/mouth  through to many anti-biotics and am totally fed up with it all.
Whinge over .
The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns too. REally good.
Marian Keyes are perfect for easy holiday reading, I'd agree.

Karen ;)

>I am in the middle of a book by an author I have never read before: Barbara Erskine.

One of my favourite authors. :-)

>OMG!
>Yes........The Kite Runner.
>Please excuse me, all I say and do of late is the same! Wrong order, mixed up everything...I the medication.
>Tomorrow I have see the surgeon again, I now have thrush in my throat/mouth  through to many anti-biotics and am totally fed up with it all.

I thought that was what you meant but just wanted to clarify in case it was a different book that might have been a candidate for my holiday reading list :-)  I haven't read A Thousand Splendid Suns yet though so that's a possibility.

Hope you feel better soon.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is fabulous, took me a little bit to get into it but wasn't long before I couldn't put it  down.  Highly recommended

Agree it is a great book - enjoyed it more than The Kite Runner. My fave this year has been Slumdog Millionaire - couldn't put that down! Didn't rate the film at all... :)

> I'm currently reading 'Sea of Poppies' by Amitav Ghosh

I bought my Aunt this for Xmas, might see if she's finished it & borrow it from her.

> Man Booker Prize in 2008, usually the kiss of death for any novel for me

Really? My xmas list of books I'd like is usually a replica of the shortlist!!!

> The Lovely Bones is one of my favourites.

A superb book & that is due for a release as a film soon.

> Lucky also by Alice Sebold (based on her own life) is also fantastic.

I prefer this to Lovely Bones, didn't really like New Moon though.

> I have read White Tiger too - a good read but as someone said grim

Yep me too, very difficult to read in places but a good read.  I've just finished White Teeth which is an oldish book but very good.

I've got some good recommendations here, thank you very much.

Agree Kite Runner (previous book club book on here) & Thousand Splendid Suns are amazing books, I don't know anyone whose read either of this & hasn't enjoyed them.  I hope he's writing again, would love to read some more of his books.

Well I finished the Time travellers wife - it was good but not the best book I have read recently - one or two bits just didn't seem to quite work - won't rush to read her other novel that has a sample bit at the end. However I would say it is definitely worth a read - the idea of it being a film doesn't appeal to me - and it doesn't have very good reviews either.
Have started reading one by Phil Rickman - someone my b-i-l knows and recommends.   The first book is out of print but I have got one second hand - didn't think of going to the library!  So far I am a bit annoyed at the portrayal of the Welsh - you know the sort of thing - odd village up in the hills that clams up on outsiders all good at singing and saying see and isn't it at the end of sentences - mysterious goings on in the churchyard at night.  Ummmm  I reserve judgement until the end. 

> odd village up in the hills

That reminds me - did anyone watch 'Framed' last mon (I think it was) - caused a bit of a stink because it was obviously a North Walian village and everyone spoke with South Walian accents - ooops!

In agreement re Kite Runner and Thousand Splendid Suns, both fabulous and thought provoking books.
Equally, for a quick read, I agree the Jack Reacher books were pretty entertaining too.

I've recently read a lot of the fact based books about the Mitford sisters/family.  Fascinating people!  In fact I've also read a couple of books written by the sisters too.  Love in a cold climate, etc.

Some of the few I have that I've read over recent times that I can also recommend:

Any of Maya Angelou's books

The silk harmony factory Tash Aw

In the Eye of the Sun - Ahdaf Soueif

A hundred and one days - Asne Seierstad

Gerald Durrell - My family and other animals, and most of his other books too.

The Long Walk - Slavomir Rawicz

Tales from the expat harem - various authors (29 ladies) who travelled and lived all over Turkey in the past.

Nigel Slater - Toast

The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje

The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

A Scandalous Life - Mary S Lovell (most recently read about a rather notorious aristocratic lady).

> The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

A fabulous, fabulous, fabulous book!

I've just started reading Carols Ruiz Zafon's new book - The Angel's Game.
So far so good although the reviews aren't wonderful.

> I've just started reading Carols Ruiz Zafon's new book - The Angel's Game.
> So far so good although the reviews aren't wonderful.

lol I just made my husband read that one.  He isn't an avid bookworm like me and he struggled to get through it.  He finished it last night and said will you hurry up and read it and try and make sense of it!  lol
I'll see what I think!

Ive just finished a Chris Mumby book called 'Deep Heat'. Very easy to read and very funny. Good sunshine book!