Recommend books

[hugoboss]

Can anyone recommend some good reads for me. Luckily, I have a job that involves a lot of quiet periods, and I'm able to sit and read. I've enjoyed reading light books by Marian Keyes, and also the 2 books by Alice Sebold which are a little heavy going for a day at work. Can anyone recommend anything for me to get stuck into at work? i like ones with good character development and modern day. thanks

[jaggers]

Dan Brown is the epitomic suspension-holder! His books are so brilliant (in my opinion). At the end of every chapter he leaves you with a simple one line that just changes everything and leaves you on a cliffhanger that you just HAVE to read on to find out how?!?! why?? where?!? lol The best of his work that I've read so far is The DaVinci Code, probably the most famous.

If you're into science, I've just started A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, which is good. 

[ama]

I was also going to recommend Dan browns the da vinci code. (i'd recommend buying them from asda as they are so much cheaper) He's a brilliant author.

[chinadoll]

I like the odd john grisham book everynow and then...I like the Ian Rankin's detective novels as well...and Thomas H Cooks stuff is great though a little harder for work situation....

[BabsG]

For something different try His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman - one of the best books I have read this year.

[natalie_1982]

I've read both of the Alice Sebold books and I found them a little hard going for work (especially Lucky) also.  The books I have read that I find aren't so 'heavy going' are Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden), and anything by Tony Parsons or Martina Cole.  Although I couldn't put any of them down!

[natalie_1982]

Also, agree with jaggers re Bill Bryson, although be prepared to laugh out loud and feeling like an idiot for doing so.

[jcherbstritt]

I recomment Brick Lane by Monica Ali.  It's brilliant character development and very funny.  Set in an Asian community in London about a woman from Bangladesh who has been married off to this guy living in London, and about how she learns to speak up for herself.

Also, like to second the Philip Pullman trilogy - they are unputdownable once you get past about the 4th chapter.  Read them in the correct order though.  The man is a genius!

[emailer]

If you like Marian Keyes, I would recommend any by Anne Dunlop, or Sarah Harvey

[ursula62]

I just finished reading "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult. Brilliant story about an Amish girl accused of murdering her baby.

Also, if you like thrillers, then John Case's books are excellent, very well researched: Genesis Code, First Horseman, The Syndrome, Trance State, Eighth Day.

I did enjoy Dan Brown's books, but there are some obvious flaws in the story lines which later become very important, e.g. code breakers that don't recognise anagrams of names and/or painting titles, in both Da Vinci Code and Digital Fortress. Unfortunately, these made the stories less believable, but they were still a great read!  

[andy hughes]

I always recomend Stephen King novels - 'Christine' 'Salem's Lot' and 'The Stand' are all brilliant.

[Localgirl]

Definitely Dan Brown - but Angels and Daemons is by far the best of his I think.  Also try The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time - can't remember the author but you'll find it easily on best seller shelves.

[Bangkok]

The curious incident ... is by Mark Haddona and highly recommended.

When travelling on long haul flights, I enjoy history books, particularly about WW2.  Inside the Third Reich (Albert Speer) is amazing - he was the only one to pleas guilty at the war trials and he wrote it on toilet paper, which was smuggled out.  Also, William Shearer and John Keegan have writen first rate books.  Winston Churchill's 6 volume autobiography kept me quiet for a long time - heavy goingm, but utterly fascinating.

[SUSANHILL]

Have you read JOANNA TROLLOPE  ? Not heavy but not marshamallow either.. try THE RECTOR`S WIFE.. very good indeed. She is excellent at making characters rounded and strong and very believable. Set now.

[hugoboss]

THANKYOU all for you wonderful suggestions! That lot should last me all year. Merry Christmas everyone!

[rakespeare]

Wold by Paul Judges has been a revelation to me.

This peculiar and funny love story is set in the Yorkshire Wolds (England).

I highly recommend this apparently simple tale, for its earthy beauty and originality.

Buy it !!!

[bronny-face]

I agree, that Angels and Demons is Dan Browns best book, other than that Matthew Reily is good.

I loved Memoirs of a Geisha and The Red Queen also.