Good books...

[redsquare008]

I am looking for some recommendations of any good books that anyone knows of...

I really like things like Adrian Mole and other Sue Townsend books, mainly because of the characters and not necessarily the storylines! I love the way that the characters are so well described and that no details about the characters are left, so you can clearly visualise the characters. I also like anything along these lines with a slight undertone of a dry sense of humour. I also wouldn't be adverse to a gripping storyline, but in my favourite books, the characters are the main aspect! I also like books that get the imagination working... I have never liked anything that does the imagination bit for me, so recommendations of Harry Potter etc please...

Can anyone recommend anything that fits this or that they reckon I would like reading? I know I could just have a look and see, but there is nothing more disappointing than sitting down, expecting a good book and finding that it's either rubbish or I can't get into it in the first place!

[China Doll]

Try 'we need to talk about Kevin.' You won't like the characters probably (well I don't) but they became very real to me. I've read it twice now and I'm going to need to read it a few more times. It's a page turner but it's not easy reading. Well it wasn't to me at any rate.

[glenis]

if you like really strong women in your books try anything by martina cole ,denise ryan ,mandasue heller or maggie hudson, full of east end villians and strong women , more light hearted is mike gayle who writes chick lit ,but from a blokes angle very funny and very sad , another favourite of mine is james patterson who is a very prolific writer ,also harlan coben who i have only recently discovered , a great website to go on is www.fantasticfiction.co.uk which lists every author and a synopsis of all their books ,then browse ebay or bootsales -enjoy

[Octavius]

Mark Haddon, A Spot of Bother; and Curious Incident of the Dog...

Both good 'character' books. Also, A Short History of Tactors in Ukrainain by Marina Lewycka.

[China Doll]

Curious Incident is bl00dy awful... Yes, I know it took a lot to write and character and blah, blah, blah... Drove me up the wall.

[Octavius]

I was being eclectic. I have a whole list of books in my head that I have read and this little medley popped up first. I found it a good read (as did the judges of the Whitbread Award and the Commonwealth Foundation), whether you did or not is up to you. It�s all a matter of opinion.

[Joe Shmoe]

Try the Sally lockhart books by Philip Pullman.
Starting with The Ruby In The Smoke. I Found them gripping and you really feel You get to know the characters. Yes They are written by the author of His Dark Materials trilogy which I also recommend but they are not fantasy more historical.
Lastly the Portable Door by Tom Holt. The first of The Paul Carpenter trilogy this is pure comic fantasy.:-D

[Hellyon]

I know exactly what you mean, along similar lines I would recommend:

Jonathan Tropper 'How not to talk to a widower' I loved it's really strong characters who I really cared about, very funny book too.

The Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich also have very strong funny lovable characters.

Confessions of a Bad Mother and In the Aisle by the Chill Cabinet No-one Can Hear You Scream by Stephanie Calman also made me laugh especially if you are a Mum!

[ruby_soho]

Highly reccommend Jill Mansell, especially "Staying at Daisy's"