Having slightly surprised myself by turning out to not mind public libraries after all, I’ve been enjoying finding a new author or two. So far, if Amazon star ratings are to be believed, I’m excellent at judging a book by its cover, as all the ones I’ve brought home and read, I’ve loved (I brought home more than I managed to read the first couple of times – knitting and work and Pocket Frogs distracted me!)
A particular favourite was Amenable Women
On the back of enjoying Amenable Women, I borrowed Yesterday’s Houses
One of the things I’m loving about having an older daughter is that we are beginning to both enjoy similar books. She reads things now I’m happy to try and I’m hoping it won’t be long till she reads up to me. She’s also about to begin guest blogging on here and so we thought we’d do a string of reviews, as well as revisiting a reading target for the year. When I was pregnant, I set myself a 100 books I a year target; I didn’t manage it and probably won’t this year either, but I’d like to read 50 and hopefully she’ll be joining me with a similar target.
I’ve a terrible temptation to stick with familiar authors and, when anxious, even familiar books and I’m hoping to branch out this year, particularly as I think my birthday present may be going to encourage this 😆 I love lots of authors, Freya North, Victoria Clayton, Jane Green, Philippa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick being just a few and happily read my way through lots of The Big Read a few years back (hmmmm… that could do with putting into WordPress!) I’d be more than pleased to get some author recommendations 🙂
Well, I’ve been sent loads of stuff I wouldn’t usually touch for my 100 books challenge, and they are all going to get reviewed on blog, maybe there will be something there that interests you?
Jax, I keep quick reading your blog and thinking “must come back and work out properly what’s she’s up to!” and forgetting. I’m kind of skimming the reviews of baby books though, but will keep a look out for the grown up ones (ad a ‘this won’t make you cry, Merry’ banner? 😉
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Stockett-THE-HELP/73669783277
Got this for Christmas and I loved it – best thing I’ve read for ages. Highly recommended, if you haven’t already read it.
I must give Mavis Cheek a try – think my mum has some of her books, so next time I visit, I’ll give her a go.
Hannah and Catherine,
I think I saw that when skimming for digital books the other day; I’ve been and added it and it looked familiar. I might of hopped over it because it reminded me of something else (on the cover) which made me cry even before I had Freddie. This is not a good reason to discount books! 😆
Not at all sure I have the same taste in books as you although you mentioned Jane Green who I like. For light reading I like Marion Keyes, Jill Mansell, Cathering Alliott, Celia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella. I also like Lionel Shriver, Jonathan Tropper, Jodi Piccoult, Alice Sebold. Have a look at Fantasticfiction.co.uk as that has lots of ‘if you liked that try this’ or ‘similar author’ links which are pretty reliable recommendations.
Nic, will add those to my list of people to hunt out at the library. have avoided Sophie Kinsella n the basis of covers (looked too fluffy) but a book under her real name popped up the other day and I liked the bit I read. Thanks 🙂
Definitely second Hannah’s recommendation of Kathryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’, I also really enjoyed it.
I love Kate Morton- great books- recommend all of them.
Also The Thirteenth Tale- by D. Setterfield.
Thanks Leslie – added as well (digital books have the potential to be extremely addictive – I hope I like actually using them! :/ )
Alison, I’m still trying to persuade myself to try Georgette Heyer – I have 3 – think I am avoiding in case I don’t like and then such a big back catalogue will be closed to me!
Nic, have read Jean Auel (is it book 6? If so, whoop!) and can’t think what, but know I have read an Anita Shreve becasue I can see i in my minds eye – not sure what though.
Was going to suggest Catherine Alliott – tripe really, but makes me laugh 🙂 Is a bit overkeen on widows! Think because it’s not a widow’s fault she’s single at 35, which makes me cringe somewhat. The earlier ones are funnier, imo. Jenny Crusie – chick lit but not sickly 🙂 Have you never had a Georgette Heyer phase? I started reading “These Old Shades” at Okehampton (from their shelves!) and didn’t finish it and have been kicking myself for not bringing it home 🙂 “Devil’s Cub” is the sequel and is what Violet is reading at school for English. Really like Lionel Shriver. (Will have to try Jonathan Tropper 🙂 )
Thought of some more 🙂
Catherine O’Flynn (only written 2 but I really enjoyed them both), Emily Giffin, I’ve read a couple of Anita Shreve which I’ve liked, you might like Victoria Hislop, don’t know if you’ve read Jean Auel (she has a new book coming out soon, hurrah!), David Nicholls.
Re: Sophie Kinsella, the shopaholic series is a bit crap (altho’ for various reasons I have enjoyed them 😉 I think the main character is strong but she’s churned too many out) but the rest of hers are pretty good and yes, when writing as Madeleine Wickham she has a more mature subject matter and storyline which is good.
Am currently reading a Catherine Ryan -Hyde (she wrote Pay it Forward which I’m guessing you will have heard of / read anyway) and I’ve just realised she’s written quite a few more. I also have an India Knight lined up to read next.
Merry, I am thinking that maybe recommending The Help was a
little crass given your situation – lots of stuff about little
children and some parts of the story might be rather upsetting when
you are feeling emotionally drained anyway – though it really is a
great book, not sure if exactly what you need right now. Sorry, I
got a bit carried away because I rarely manage to read more than
the weekend papers – takes me all week – so I was somewhat
over-excited about having read a whole book over Christmas and just
wanted to recommend it to someone.