Good books.

[scotty]

I have recently had an operation and will be off work for a fair time. I have read a few Steinbeck, Ian Banks , my favourite book is Trinity by Leon Uris. I like murder mysteries, etc, but am fed up with buying books that the papers say are exciting , totally readable , couldn't put it down, etc etc ,but when I read them they turn out to be the same old crap!!

Can anyone suggest some really GOOD books , that are a pleasure to read , the sort that stop you turning out the light at nightime because you need to know what happens next ?? Many thanks in advance for your time

[mycatis]

Have you read "Exodus" by Leon Uris? very good book.
Dont know if it's your kind of thing but 2 of my favourite book are "Dune" by Frank Herbert and "Legend" by David Gemmel, very very good

[Clanad]

Realizing everyone differs on their tastes in literature, I would recommend anything by two fairly unremebered authors.  The first is Robert Ruark.  In the mid to late 1950's he wrote several novels that centered on the Mau-Mau uprisings in Kenya.  He was well versed in the culture of the Kikuyu and Maasai and writes engrossingly about the "white hunters" and their safari clients in the midst of the horrors of the uprisings.  One of the most memorable was "Uhuru", while the next was "Something of Value".  Both were made into forgettable movies, so don't judge the writing by the movies.

The second is an acquaintance... Ernest K. Gann... Gann was a true aviator himself, flying DC-2's for American Airlines as early as 1938.  He wrote "The High and the Mighty", and, arguably one of the best aviation based novels of all time, "Island in the Sky".  He also wrote "Masada", a novel about the cliff-top fortress of the Jewish rebellion against Rome, that culminated in the defenders committing mass suicide.  All of his novels are based on actual facts. Many of his novels were also made into movies, but don't hold that against him. His turn of phrase and use of tension are unparalleled, in my opinion...

[shaneystar]

If you like murder mysteries but not the run of the mill serial killer gorefest thing...then you might like anything by James Lee Burke or Henning Mankell.
Mankell writes about a very dour Norwegian ,Inspector Wallender who is looking for the meaning of life while solving his cases and JLB is great ..too many books to mention...
http://www.jamesleeburke.com/

[MargeB]

The BFG by Roald Dahl.

(just kidding).

The Coma by Alex Garland. A bit like The Bridge, but a lot better.

[mfewell]

The Odessa File - Frederick Forsyth, which I read in one sitting until about 5am.

Or go for short stories so you get some sleep. Any Sherlock Holmes or Father Brown - enduring, magical and so original and imaginative.

Or the 2 best of all time, Jane Eyre and A Tale of Two Cities.

[Scylax]

Likes and dislikes are 100% subjective, of course, but I read: 'HMS Ulysses', by Alistair Maclean, over and over again. It is a story of the Arctic Convoys to Murmansk, winter 1942. Almost unbearable in its realism. The Observer described it as 'overwhelming'.  I agree +++.

[Mare181]

The Lovely Bones   by Alice Sebold

[scotty]

Many thanks to you all , please keep them coming.I have read Exodus and QB11 by uris, v.g.

Mare 181, wot is the lovely bones about?

[mrs p]

Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett.  About a group of people held hostage in S America - a political thriller, sort of, v readable. Have sent it to 3 recuperating friends.  Also a delightful book by Alexander McCall Smith, set in Edinburgh, called s/t like "The Sunday Philosophy Club".

Almost anything by Alastair Maclean. Have you read "Birdsong" by Sebastian Faulks? Beautifully written & powerful.

[justineo]

Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd is a murder mystery with a twist. I found it a bit scary actually. 

Hope you're recovering OK

[Litchick]

Just for fun -- "The Sicilian" by Mario Puzo.....REALLY GOOD READ -- I actually really liked the main character...

[AliFlump]

James Patterson writes excellent murder mysteries about one detective Alex Cross, start with Along Came a Spider then Kiss the Girls, then there are about 8 others. Make sure you read them in order

Also just read Tokyo by Mo Hayden, an outstanding read!!

[hannahjo]

I kept on mentioning this book on AB, so apologies if its getting a little tiring! Its not a murder mystery but I recommend Shantatram by Gregory David Roberts �it absolutely blew me away, and incredibly it�s a true story (you�ll know what I mean by incredibly if you read it!) plus its pretty big, so should keep you going for a while!

Hope you have a speedy recovery.

[loobie]

I agree with Mare 181 - read The Lovely Bones. It is about a girl who is reped and murdered and basically throughout the book she is looking down from heaven and watching her friends and family deal with her death and carry on with their lives. It is so well written - delicately bearing in mind the subject matter. I read it a couple of weeks ago and It really is one of the best books I have ever read and literally had me on the brink of tears throughout. The author has written more books - one called Lucky which is next on my agenda. That is about the author experiencing a brutal rape and overcoming it - a true story.

The others that I would recommend if true stories are liked by you are three books by Dave Pelzer. It is a trilogy and each book is about a chapter of his life. He was horrifically phyisically abused by his mother until he got away from her and it covers his life with this, being in foster care and his adult life. The books are called, A Boy Called It, The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave. I have just finished the first two and they are fab. Real heartwrenchers. Am about to start the third.

Sorry this has turned into an essay but you do need to know the reason that they are so good. I think sometimes true life is better than fiction as it really makes you think and is much more involving.

hope this helps you choose some

[scotty]

Many many thanks to you all, I think those lot should keep me going for a while, and W.H. Smiths share price should rocket !! Once again many thanks,kindest regards Scotty

[spinchimp]

Try anything by Elmore Leonard (tough well written novels about american low life criminals, usually with a hard but sympathetic good guy and a strong female lead - he wrote Get Shorty). I love it all.

You could also try Walter Mosely - black american writer who has produced a wonderful series of novels based around a character called eazy Rawlins, an immensely sympathetic amateur black detective. The novels are very readable but address american racism in the 50's and 60's. Sounds heavy, but they are not - very gripping stuff.

 

I also like Douglas Coupland, canadian whose novels are set in america, can be very strange and surreal, but have a good narative drive.

[spinchimp]

And how could I forget James Ellroy - brilliant evocations of violent murder and american low life. Can be very gruesome in places, but superbly well written, wonderful characters - I really can't put these down.

[juliely]

Anything by

Matthew Reilly
Harlan Corben
Mo Hayden
Val McDermid
Alex Cava
Jeffrey Deaver.

Just a few suggestions.

[Mare181]

Dear Scotty

The Lovely Bones is a story set In America  about a teenage girl who has been murdered. It is told from the girls perspective as she watches down over her family

and sees the effect it has on them.

It is both unususal and moving and never descends into

being grisly.

Try It!!