... what it says in the title. :D

Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (I think??)

Oh sounds like something I had to read for GCSE English or maybe that was Far From A Madding Crowd....sounds good, does anyone have a synopsis?

A suggestion I have is Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult....

A riveting drama of ordinary people under pressure from the "Richard & Judy Book Club" bestselling author Jodi Picoult. Jack St. Bride was once a beloved teacher and soccer coach at a girls' private school - until a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation and robbed him of his career and reputation. Now, after a devastatingly public ordeal that left him with an eight-month jail sentence and no job, Jack resolves to pick up the pieces of his life. He takes a job washing dishes at Addie Peabody's diner and slowly starts to form a relationship with her in the quiet New England village of Salem Falls. But just when Jack thinks he has outrun his past, a quartet of teenage girls with a secret turn his world upside down once again, triggering a modern-day witch hunt in a town haunted by its own history...

Amazon price £3.99.

Quiet in here too ....

My suggestion is Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy

Pat Conroy's inspired masterpiece relates the dark and violent chronicle of an astounding family: the Wingos of Colleton, South Carolina. No reader will forget them. And no reader can remain untouched by their story.

All Wingos share one heritage...shrimp fishing, poverty and the searing memory of a single terrifying event - the source of Tom Wingo's self-hatred and of his sister Savannah's suicidal despair.

To save himself and Savannah, Tom confronts the past with the help of New York pyschologist Susan Lowenstein.

As Tom and Susan unravel the bitter history of his troubled childhood, in episodes of grotesque humour, poignant lyricism and shattering violence, the door opens vividly onto a world peopled by a cast of colourful, eccentric and unforgettable characters.

As you can guess from the synopsis, it's not an easy read, but he writes beautifully.

M.

To kill a mocking bird.   no idea who its by or what its about but my mum always says how its one of her favourites. Or....Dracula?

Harper Lee ;)
Iconic book remember reading it at school :)

I have no suggestions but can I ask if someone can nominate a 'new' book rather than one of the 'classics' which we have all read and discussed before?  I would welcome being introduced to a book which I wouldn't necessarily have gone out and bought myself.....'The Kite Runner' was an excellent first choice by Brihow Collies!

Aah, it was Gemma's choice, not mine - I really did enjoy it though.

M.

This is a good book: http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/culture/book_review/lovely_bones.shtml

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I would recommend it to the Book Club :)

That does look good :)

I've read it!!!  Good book!

The Da Vinci Code????

Oh poo........I didn't see this thread, have posted a suggestion for a good book under Idle Chat :rolleyes:

I wouldnt mind reading the Da vinvi code :)

Read that too! :)

Oldilocks

..........but I'll read it again if you choose it!!!  :)

:D :D

Memoirs of a Geisha is a good book or the lastest offering with an oriental theme 'Snowflower and the secret fan', haven't read it myself but it's had good reviews.

Memoirs of a Geisha is fabulous, quite happy to read that again.

Would love to read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan too. Synopsis here:

Lily is the daughter of a humble farmer in Yongming County, and to her family is just another mouth to feed until she can be married off. But, when she is six years old she is brought before the ambitious local matchmaker who delivers some startling news: Lily is no ordinary girl. If they are bound properly, her feet will be flawless. In nineteenth-century China, where a woman's eligibility is judged by the shape and size of her feet, this is extraordinarily good luck. Lily now has the power to make a good marriage and change the fortunes of her family. But first she must undergo the agonies of footbinding, learn nu shu, the famed secret women's writing, and make a very special friend. A girl will be chosen as her 'old-same' which is a relationship almost akin to marriage and treated with as much seriousness. Her 'old-same', Snow Flower, is a wonder to Lily. She comes from a refined family and is elegant, educated, but cannot suppress her adventurous streak. Even though their worlds are far apart and they rarely see one another, the two girls develop a deep bond through their letters written in nu shu which they paint on fans and embroider on handkerchiefs. As the years go by, Lily and Snow Flower share the burden of being born female in feudal China and find comfort in their friendship until they come of age to be married. But a bitter reversal of fortune is about to change everything. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is a story of two extraordinary women surviving in a time of strict rules and ancient customs. With the eye of a historian and the vibrancy of a true storyteller, Lisa See has written a truly mesmerizing novel filled with colour, fascinating detail and heartfelt drama.

Who's going to make the decision this month, then?

M.

Put it to the vote?

So far, the nominations are:

Tess of the S'ubervilles
Salems Falls
Prince of Tides
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
The Lovely Bones
Da Vinci Code
Memoirs of a Geisha
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
The Night Watch

We could close nominations at midnight tonight and start votiing tomorrow - with a vote count on Friday?

I'm getting my vote in now. I fancy Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

M.

Yep, I'll go for that one too I think

Me too :) sounds fascinating doesn't it? I really want to read it anyway. Hope it gets the vote!

Oooh the lovely Bones is such a touching book, Loved it..and has enough dimensions for a book club to discuss.
I still think of the 'Hippy Dippy' badge *sob*

What about Sarah Waters new book - The Night Watch - out next week I think??

I like the idea of a new book because no one will have read it! Can I join in this next one? Or do you have to be an elite member of champdogs lol

Nobody's fussy here, Tracey LOL.

M.

I read a really good book a few days ago and though i cant remember the author the titel is A curious incident of a dog in the night.It was written by a young man with a form of Autism called Aspergers syndrome.Great book and well worth a read. :)

Yeah Ive read that. I wasnt hugely amazed by it to be honest. I thought it was good but very child like. I know thats the point of it but if people are wanting to get deep into a book then this didnt really do it for me.

'Memoirs of a Geisha' or 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' for me please! :)

To be honest you have to put yourself in the mind of the young chap that wrote it to enable any comprehention.I have a son whos 10 years old and autistic so i was reccomended the book to read to try and get some knowledge of how these people think.It was a great eye opener for me and gave me far more knowledge and understanding and different ways of being able to understand my son.Unless you have experience of this dissorder then i suppose it may be a little dull.I thought it was great though :)

Snow Flower and the secret fan for me!!

I cant decide so I will go with the majority, I think all the books look great :)

Claire *sitting firmly on the fence*

Quite a few new additions to the book club I see...excellent but you all have to promise to come back in a months time & contribute.

Memories of a geisha gets my vote (wanted to read book before see film) but the other one does sounds equally as good...I will happily go with the majority! (joining you on the fence there Claire)

Lovely Bones is a excellent book & would make good discussion so maybe that could be next months although many of us have read it...

Curious Incident was a hard book but I persevered with it & was glad I did...my mum works with kids with learning difficulties (autism esp) & it really gave me an insight into "their" world & also appreciate the frustration my mum often displays...I believe there is a child & adult version if any of you are interested.

So who gets the final decision then? I want to get mine ordered!!

yeah me too, ive still got half a book to read though so I doubt I will get mine finished before the end of the month :(

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan seems to be in pole position - shall we go for that?

M.

I'm happy with that

ok, I think I will try to get it from Amazon, im avoiding town this month - I know if I go in I will have a sneak look at sale left overs :rolleyes:

who is it by ?

Author is Lisa See.

£6.59 on Amazon (note, there seems to be a cheaper one about that isn't published yet?):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747580669/qid=1138916465/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/203-0059884-8989508

M.

Bought it yesterday at Tescos £6.97 (... it's sooo good) :)

ive just ordered it from Amazon.  When shall we aim to have finished it by ? I dont think I will finish it by the end of the month.

I'll need about a million years please

28th February or no pancakes for any of you. LOL

M.

Is that decided then?  Can I go out and buy my copy?  :)

Ive just been to Tesco and they didnt have it . They did have the kite runner though and it was reduced! So Ive got that - Im a book behind but never mind!!

I know its not the end of the month yet, but I've now read Snow Flower & the Secret Fan - loved it - liked her previous books as well - quite a different genre - but I like her style.

I'll try and contribute to the discussion about it from Hong Kong - but any suggestions for the book for March?  I've got a 13 hour flight coming up!!

Margot