Book recommendations

Ptangyangkipperbang · Post by **Ptangyangkipperbang** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 7:58 pm

Not seen one of threads for a while and with it being holiday season a couple I have just recently read
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri about a couple trying to flee war torn Syria both heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure
And a good poolside read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman a bit of a quirky read about old age pensioners trying to solve a murder

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:11 pm

The Thursday Murder Club is actually OK for a "celebrity write" (a concept I find cringe worthy tbh), but all very Sunday evening drama ish if you get me.
I absolutely loved "Shuggy Bain" and also "Hamnet" which is a very clever book imo, but my most favourite recent book was "All the Light We Cannot See" which I thought was brilliant.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:43 pm

Pure by Andrew Miller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_(Miller_novel)

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:47 pm

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:43 pm
Pure by Andrew Miller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_(Miller_novel)

I read this several years ago and although it's very well written and the historical subject matter around which it's based is rather fascinating, I sadly found it ultimately rather a dull story for some reason.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:53 pm

The Patrick Melrose "quintology" by Edward St Aubyn

Superbly well written.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:15 pm

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:47 pm
I read this several years ago and although it's very well written and the historical subject matter around which it's based is rather fascinating, I sadly found it ultimately rather a dull story for some reason.

That's a shame. I very much rate it. The novel hits the right spot for me on a couple of levels and I liked the characters. I loved the feeling that there is monumental change coming in the air. There's also a gothic edge to it.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:19 pm

When people think about Icelandic fiction, they tend to think crime novels.

However, the country also produces some fine writers in terms of literature.

Although his novels are not exactly gripping or action-packed, Jón Kalman Stefánsson is a magnificent writer whose works are a fusion of prose and poetry.

His trilogy "Heaven and Hell", "The Sorrow of Angels", and "The Heart of Man" will, I think, ultimately see him become the second Icelandic writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, after Halldór Laxness.

The novels are set in the 19th century and describe the harsh nature of life shaped by the weather and its main form of subsistence, fishing.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:39 pm

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:15 pm
That's a shame. I very much rate it. The novel hits the right spot for me on a couple of levels and I liked the characters. I loved the feeling that there is monumental change coming in the air. There's also a gothic edge to it.

I can certainly see that and agree, but ultimately the "story" seemed all a bit inconsequential.

Vintage Claret · Post by **Vintage Claret** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:40 pm

Anything by James Patterson.

BuryClaret · Post by **BuryClaret** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:42 pm

Billy Summers by Stephen King is a good read if you're looking for one to take on holiday.

chorleyhere · Post by **chorleyhere** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:58 pm

The Familiars by Stacey Halls - all based on Gawthorpe Hall back in the time of the Pendle Witches. Interestingly the lead female has the first name of Fleetwood (not named after the Lancashire coastal town but based on a real person - Fleetwood did not exist by name as a place at that time)
Very well written with an intriguing storyline. Recommended .

CardyTheClaret · Post by **CardyTheClaret** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:29 pm

My last 5. All great books.

Black Box Thinking - Matthew Syed
The Woods - Harlan Coben
The Couple At Number 9 - Claire Douglas
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
The Last House On Needless Street - Catriona Ward

Mondsley · Post by **Mondsley** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:32 pm

BuryClaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:42 pm
Billy Summers by Stephen King is a good read if you're looking for one to take on holiday.

I'll second that. Totally different to other King novels I have read. My favourite remains 11 22 63. Epic!

iowalan · Post by **iowalan** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:36 pm

Another shout for All the light we cannot see.....and also James Patterson books

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 6:47 am

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stolen-Village ... 1847171044

Guitargeorge · Post by **Guitargeorge** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:09 am

The books by Peter May about the Shetlands. Start with The Black House

MrTopTier · Post by **MrTopTier** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:17 am

We begin at the end - Chris Whitaker

eastanglianclaret · Post by **eastanglianclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:53 am

Scoundrels by Duncan Crowe and James Peak. Have read volumes 1 & 2 several times. Laughed my bits off each time I've read them. Daughter bought me the third for Father's Day. Yet to start that one but I'm told it's equally as good as its predecessors.

JohnMcGreal · Post by **JohnMcGreal** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 8:39 am

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately but just finished Dodgers by Bill Beverly and really enjoyed it.

1968claret · Post by **1968claret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 8:47 am

The Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz are excellent. He has also done a number of standalone books that are very good.

I had never been much of a Stephen King fan but the Billy Gilmore book was excellent and I would also recommend the Mr Mercedes books from him.

Anything from Harlan Coben, but particularly his earlier ones and the same for Lee Child. All very good easy reading.

The Peter May books starting with Black House as mentioned above are brilliant.
I’ve also just got back into John Grisham books. If you like courtroom dramas he is very good.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:27 pm

Guitargeorge wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:09 am
The books by Peter May about the Shetlands. Start with The Black House

Agree 100pc that they are excellent but they are set in the Outer Hebrides (Lewis) not the Shetlands.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:31 pm

The English Passengers by Matthew Kneale is the best fiction book I have read in the last 2 or 3 years. Massively recommended.

Have just read An Unsung Hero, Tom Crean Antarctic Survivor ...a biography of an Irishman who went on both Scott's doomed race to the South Pole and Shackleton's famous Endurance expeditions. Read it in no time at all it was so gripping.....the blokes on those expeditions underwent, and mainly survived, incredible hardships.

Hbclaret007 · Post by **Hbclaret007** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:58 pm

chorleyhere wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:58 pm
The Familiars by Stacey Halls - all based on Gawthorpe Hall back in the time of the Pendle Witches. Interestingly the lead female has the first name of Fleetwood (not named after the Lancashire coastal town but based on a real person - Fleetwood did not exist by name as a place at that time)
Very well written with an intriguing storyline. Recommended .

I really stuggled with this book. I thought it was a good idea very badly done, just plain daft in places. You might try Lancashire Witches by Harrison Ainsworth or Mist over Pendle by Robet Nowell.

boyyanno · Post by **boyyanno** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:00 pm

I'm an avid King reader so would recommend nearly anything he's written, but those looking for an easier King novel to get in to could do worse than try "The Institute" which I thought was excellent.

Hbclaret007 · Post by **Hbclaret007** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:00 pm

First World War currently reading - The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker. A real insight into the horrors of the war and the impact upon soldiers and their families.

Jel · Post by **Jel** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:12 pm

The Tao of Pooh and the te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff.
Exploring the teaching of Taoism through the popular characters of A A Milne

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:40 pm

The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers. A gritty novel based on the Cragg Vale coiners.

Same writer - The Offing. The setting is the North Yorkshire coast during the summer in the aftermath of WW2. An easy read full of coastal escapism.

Im_not_Robbie_Blake · Post by **Im_not_Robbie_Blake** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:45 pm

'The Moth and the Mountain' - an incredible true story about a Bradford man's attempt tp fly solo to Mount Everest and become the first person to climb it. I couldn't put it down!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moth-Mountain- ... oks&sr=1-1

pompeyclaret · Post by **pompeyclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:45 pm

I've lost interest in fiction, so have moved onto autobiographies.

Tom Allen was good, very light.
Arnie was also a good read, very varied and interesting life, excellent great American dream.
Will Smith a mix of both, and very insightful

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:57 pm

I know the subject has been covered a multitude of times by the likes of Antony Beevor etc; Barbarossa by Jonathan Dimbleby.

ClaretMov · Post by **ClaretMov** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 2:11 pm

Anything by ex cop and now novelist Nick Oldham, he's local and a friend but regardless of that the books are written from experiences in the job brilliant and follow on

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 2:18 pm

Just finished 'Wild Thing" - about Jimi Hendrix by Philip Norman and prior to that 'The Stones' biography by the same author.
Both in Burnley Library and great reads if you like biographies, popular history and music.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:20 pm

It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story: My Life in The Hollies.Bobby Elliott

The Kate Mcguire detective series by Graham Masterton.

spadesclaret · Post by **spadesclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:28 pm

If you enjoy crime fiction I can very highly recommend the Grimm series by David Gatward. They are set in the Dales, based in Hawes. The first of the series is Grimm Up North.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:43 pm

The crime books by the author Neil White are a very good read.

Brucefanclaret · Post by **Brucefanclaret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 6:39 pm

Another shout for Mist over Pendle - my go to book whenever I’m not feeling too good. More recently, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is worth a look.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 6:51 pm

Just a thank you to everyone so far, I’ve passed on the crime thrillers etc to my wife who’s an avid reader, she especially likes
psychological thrillers. I’m not into reading, although I did read Joey Barton’s book, prior to that it was Stan the man.

1968claret · Post by **1968claret** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:02 pm

conyoviejo wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:43 pm
The crime books by the author Neil White are a very good read.

Yes they are and he is a local guy. Used to work in Burnley and his early books were set locally.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:22 pm

Brucefanclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 08, 2022 6:39 pm
Another shout for Mist over Pendle - my go to book whenever I’m not feeling too good. More recently, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is worth a look.

Very much agree re "Where the Crawdads Sing". Excellent and very different.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Sun Jul 10, 2022 1:53 pm

Although I'm not one for crime novels I can put forward a few names of leading French writers in this field whose books (most of them) have been translated into English.

Most people seem to think Fred Vargas is the best. She (yes) is regularly cited as the most highly recommended.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Vargas

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=fred+varga ... -doa-p_1_6

One who passed away some time ago was Jean-Claude Izzo. His books took place in Marseille and the city's history has never been short of murders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Izzo

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=izzo&crid= ... _sb_noss_1

A very famous one is Michel Bussi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Bussi

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=bussi&i=st ... 5_ts-doa-p

Erasmus · Post by **Erasmus** » Sun Jul 10, 2022 3:16 pm

God of Small Things by Arudhati Roy is very good.

For World War 1, Parades End by Ford Maddox Ford is almost unsurpassed.

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:48 pm

Two series I enjoy:

Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell by Laurie R. King
Chronicles of St Mary's by Jodi Taylor.

The first continues Sherlock Holmes' life after Conan Doyle left off, and the latter includes lots of history because it's about an organisation that investigates "history in contemporary time".

MT03ALG · Post by **MT03ALG** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:13 am

Most travel books by Bill Bryson are a good read.

jtv · Post by **jtv** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 9:19 am

Mondsley wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:32 pm
My favourite remains 11 22 63. Epic!

Wasn't that Mourinho?

Sozturf7 · Post by **Sozturf7** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 2:29 pm

Another vote for Bill Bryson. His "notes from a small island" is absolutely hilarious.

Penwortham_Claret · Post by **Penwortham_Claret** » Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:15 pm

MrTopTier wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:17 am
We begin at the end - Chris Whitaker

I’m giving this a read, the reviews are fantastic

Lubanski · Post by **Lubanski** » Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:26 pm

James Lee Burke, Cadillac Jukebox, set in Louisiana, one of his Dave Robicheaux novels, brutal levels of low life's do exist in the swamps and city of New Orleans

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Wed Nov 01, 2023 7:54 pm

James Ellroy: The Enchanters
Malcolm Mackay: The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Wed Nov 01, 2023 7:55 pm

spadesclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:28 pm
If you enjoy crime fiction I can very highly recommend the Grimm series by David Gatward. They are set in the Dales, based in Hawes. The first of the series is Grimm Up North.

I'll have a look at that. Thanks, Spades.