And I know Corrie has just done 'what to take on holiday' but I'm off too for 10 days to a cottage in Mallorca with my girlfriend who, being in a relationship, has asked me very nicely to calm down and behave for the duration. So please people - three books. Engrosing and vaguely intelligent but not too heavy. Of which I won't lose the plot each time a tight, tanned bum passes on his way for a beer. (Woah - I'm ahead of you. No I didn't mean a pissed tramp.)
Corrie I don't bring a book on holiday, let alone 3 but I am trying to get into reading.
John Grisham sounds good, so I will make a start on him. MrFC has one lying around.
I'll offer 2 no 3:
Paul Theroux - Hotel Honolulu - Brilliant
Ian Mckewan - Atonement - destined to be a classic
Ian Fowles - The Magus - if you understand it let me know :!:
I'm serious about these :!:
Tune Essence.......Dave Peltzer, if I remember rightly, did some stories on his childhood.....he had a pretty nasty childhood....amazing books (I have read the first two) and very inspiring....makes me forget about my little problems.
I have to agree with daffodilbbw "The Da Vinci Code" will have you glued to the book, the same goes for "Angels and Demons" by the same author.
For non-fiction try "Freedom in Exile: Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet" or any other book by the Dalai Lama. His books are moving, thought provoking and insightful, yet at the same time warm, compassionate and witty.
Hmm, enjoyable holiday reading? Romance, a little excitement, comedy, not too heavy?
It has to be Erica James. She's written seven books: my favourite is the appropriately titled The Holiday; there is also Airs and Graces, Time for a Change and Act of Faith that I can remember off the top of my head. Hidden Talents is brilliant. James' books could be described as chick lit or recreational reading but she writes with humour, intelligence and insight, good storylines and defined characters.
For something with less romance, but more mystery and excitement, try Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Unputdownable. Well written with definitive shades of Umberto Eco, though more accessible.
I agree with Tune Essence; you cannot beat Jane Austen, an author I read religiously every year. Also Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone, The Woman in White, No Name and The Evil Genius among many. (I'm working on getting Will hooked on Collins and i think it's working!)
Have a great holiday Jezzay!
Sappho xxx
Come on this is easy:
book no1 - my life, my loves - Roger347
book no2 - the stud - mal609
book no3 - Twin Peaks - well_busty_babe
sorted!
KinkyLizard
Jim Dodge: anything, really (he hasn't written nearly enough). There is no book more perfect than Fup, but Not Fade Away is longer.
Haruki Murakami: A Wild Sheep Chase. It made me even more confused about identity and free will than I was before.
You'll never find a copy, but David Foster: The Glade Within The Grove. "...tempts us to feel that here the work of the novel is done so well that there can be no achievement beyond it."
I'll put in a vote for Atonement as well. McEwan is a master of manipulation.
I've just got into Martina Cole books - they're easy reads, don't have to keep flicking back to remember whos who and you get into them from sentence 1, paragraph 1, page 1. The ones I've read are set in a pretty seedy side of life but are also as gritty as hell. The kind of books that I enjoy reading from start to finish and not just read to see how it ends
Tough Q, what were the last books you really enjoyed...?
You gotta read The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh though, its kinda like the movies 8mm but is so atmospheric.
Also theres a new book out called The Honey Trap about a single mum who works for an agency trapping men for cheating on their wives, its really sweet and genuinly funny.
Also the book Secret History by Donna Tartt is really engrossing about a group of kids at an American University seeking to experiance true Greek hedonism.
Wow, what did I start? Excellent. Thank you everybody. I have a shortlist to hit Waterstones with. Well actually it's quite a long list.
I just recently read the Da Vinci Code and thought it was great but I hadn't thought about looking for another by Dan Brown. Thanks, Corrie - you have a great holiday too - yeh John Grisham. 'The KIng of Torts' was superb (have you started it yet, Mal?) and also 'A Painted House' which is a complete change of style for him. Something I always admire.
Now I was going to simply ignore Mr FC in a dignified manner until Blue went and backed him up. So I guess that's my airport reading sorted out. I've never even heard of NUTS.
Two I can strongly recommend in return are Barbara Kingsolver. 'The Prodigal Summer' is a beautiful book with great characterisation, environmental awareness and subtle sensuality. (Good subject for a seperate thread maybe - erotica without graphic detail.) 'The Poisonwood Bible' is quite different but also excellent.
And for great fun William Sutcliffe. Well observed and hilarious insight into the boy/girl thing in lots of contexts. 'Are you experienced' is a must for anybody who has travelled and 'The Love Hexagon' is just a must. Here's a taster - thanks again.
Keri is talking about after sex " I'd be lying there, and you're beginning to get your orientation back, and before I'd even remembered who I was, this voice would rise up from the next pillow and start thanking me. Can you believe that?"
Lisa laughs, and allows a short silence to open up before saying, "You'd forget who you were?"
"What?" says Keri, frowning.
Lisa lowers her voice. "You'd forget who you were? During sex?"
"What are you on about?... You always forget who you are. That's the whole point."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Course it is."
"Oh."
Why" says Keri. "Don't you?"
"Er... I don't think so."
"You sure?"
"If you walked in in the middle, and asked me what my name was, I'd definitely remember," says Lisa.
I'm sure this is one that has been covered on the forum before, but "The bride stripped bare" is a good and evocative read, although far from likely to keep you on the straight and narrow during the holiday!
Stranger In A Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
The Starmaker - Olaf Stapledon
The Bible - Various artists