Recommending books ?

[jackthehat]

I'm going to be housebound for the next few weeks........and can read without interruption, or guilt, or expectation that I ought to be doing 'something else'.

So, I shall be heading off to Waterstones soon.

Can you provide me with a list of books I ought to consider buying ?
A brief synopsis would also be useful.

Thankyou, matey-peeps :o)

[LeMarchand]

Another vote for "Skallagrigg". Unfortunately if you tell people what it's about they tend to think "sounds awful" and vow never to read it. Give it a go - it's one of a very few books that has changed my views on certain things.

George R R Martin's still incomplete historical/fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" (the Borgias meet the Tudors) is well worth a go, even if you're not normally a fantasy reader. His "Fevre Dream" (a steamboat captain finds out that his spanking new boat has been sponsored by a vampire with a plan) is also a great novel.

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series (starts with "The Eyre Affair") about a investigator tasked with maintaining the integrity of fiction (such as keeping characters from sneaking into other novels) is playful and funny.

Philip Reeve's "Mortal Engines" quartet (a pair of teenagers try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where cities are mounted on wheels) is supposed to be for the young adult market, but is far too good for them - the ending is stunning.

[China Doll]

Don't go to waterstones. Get on amazon, it's so much cheaper and they deliver!

[AB Editor]

My Recommendations:

[jno]

it's worth going on abebooks.co.uk as well because they're sometimes a little cheaper than Amazon - which I don't understand because as far as I know Amazon owns Abebooks. Or you can try comparison sites

http://www.find-book.co.uk/

This may be all a bit late for jack

[China Doll]

I imagine it might be a bit late for her... Plus at 80 pages, I'm just going to assume someone recommended memores of an agnostic dwarf and one fine day in the middle of the night. I really must buy the latter again, I like Brookmyre.

[jno]

so the Ed doesn't do a whole lot of reading then...

[AB Editor]

Fixed the widgety thing... I was trying to be clever. Although I hit a mental block as soon as is started compiling! So instead: some classics from my head!

Spare

[jackthehat]

I'm enjoying reading the suggestions and making a note of all the titles.

Family have very kindly purchased some Waterstones vouchers for me already, so my hands are tied about where I purchase.........but this thread has given me some good food for thought about quite what else I'll be buying :o)

Thanks everyone and keep them coming.........

[jno]

how's the BP, jack?

[sandyRoe]

Sword of Honour By Waugh. The second WW seen through the eyes of aristos. A great read with 'laugh out loud' sections.

[jackthehat]

jno - Last 2 BP results have been satisfactory enough to green-light the operation........Thank goodness ! :o)
So on Friday lunchtime me and my tote bag of books will be presenting ourselves for medical ministrations..........I hope I shall emerge pain-free (if a tidge shorter).
Thankyou for enquiring.

[ummmm]

Good luck with it Jack. Hope all goes well x

[boxtops]

when do you go in, jack (sorry if I've missed it earlier in the post)?

[jackthehat]

Friday lunchtime.
Nothing to eat from 7.30am and only sips of water until 10.30am.
Hope they don't keep me waiting until tea-time...........they won't need to anesthetise me, I'll have passed out with hunger ! :o(

[boxtops]

aaah.. good luck then, we shall be agog for news of you when you can get back on the net. Can someone post for you? (like ttfn's sister did) - it would be good to know that you are OK.

[jackthehat]

Hmmmmm........
Mrs JtH thinks computers are the work of the devil, but I'll see if I can't get a message through somehow. :D

[barb1314]

You may have too many recommendations by now but mine are
The Help
The Stieg Larsson Millenium Trilogy
A Thousand Splendid Sons
The Kite Runner.
Sorry I don't have time to do quick plot. I always read the plots and reviews on Amazon.Good luck in hospital.Barb

[sara3]

all the best for your op, jack.. speedy recovery, and all that :o)

The Elf x

[Hazel104]

Portrait in Sepia or Eva Luna by Isabel Allende are tow of my favorites.

I have read some Philipa Gregory recently.
The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance and currenly the The White Queen.
Although not historically accurate they are good reads.