Lavenders_Blue Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I read 'The Help' over Christmas too and thought it was a great read. I was also quite surprised about the attitudes of the white ladies towards the black servants given it is set in relatively recent history. I've also just finished 'War Horse' too, as I wanted to read the book before the film came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I can never read fast enough to keep up with this thread, BUT, I am reading Before I go to sleep now as my own recommendation to my book club so very relieved to hear good comments here! I am enjoying it too. I really enjoyed The Help and saw movie after I'd read it. Loved the last Shardlake - Heartstone (three cheers for Sarah/Cinnamon who recommended them on an earlier thread). Will he write another? Just saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when it first came out and thought it a good match to the book- not the easiest trilogy to get into but worth it(in my humble opinion). What about We have to talk about Kevin? I found it harrowing but it really made me think I think I will get Warhorse to read quick before I watch the movie. Loving the trailer. Anyone read The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry? I loved that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Heartstone [/color](three cheers for Sarah/Cinnamon who recommended them on an earlier thread). Will he write another? He had darn well better!!!!! Glad you enjoyed them - they are by far the best group of books I have read in the last 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Haven't read those but did enjoy Winter in Madrid. Found it very moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I really enjoyed The Help and saw movie after I'd read it. Terri how does the movie compare ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I loved The Help and thought the film was a pretty good adaptation. Very true to the book! Am currently reading The Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley Loving it. About a house sitter that goes to a Country Mansion to erm, house sit! She ends up having half the village to stay! Also saw The Agatha Raison series on special offer, so bought the first one. Haven't started it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I've just got The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood from the library (pinched the suggestion from the Omlet "Chicken Lovers Book Group" on Facebook ). Loved The Help too and the Girl with Dragon Tattoo series . These suggestions are all brilliant - I always copy them and print them out so I have a list of books to look out for . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Am currently reading The Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley Loving it. About a house sitter that goes to a Country Mansion to erm, house sit! She ends up having half the village to stay! One of my favourites,along with 'A Winters Tale' by the same author. I do like a good seasonal book,& have a little selection of Christmassy books to read around Christmas time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 i too have read the thirnteenth tale, the secret scripture and working on the CJ Sansom books. I can also recommend the Book Thief and Alone in Berlin. Both by different people but both about the german people in the second world war. Fascinating perspective. The book thief if narrated by death which gives a little twist. There is also another book called the Red Tent. Been around for a while. its about the bible story but from the female perspective. I am not religious but found it really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 The Book Thief is a good book, it was on the Omlet book group list. I've just recommended it to my son to read. The Red Tent is also a book that I really enjoyed, that was on Cinnamon's recommendation. I was really drawn into the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 The Book Thief is amongst my favourite books, it is so moving and gives a real human perspective on war as does A Thousand Splendid Suns. I have read C J Sansom's Shardlake books and really enjoyed them, and I am currently reading Winter In Madrid. My Husband loves Peter James's books and when he starts one he doesn't put it down until it is finished. On a lighter note he also loves the Agatha Raisin books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 There is also another book called the Red Tent. Been around for a while. its about the bible story but from the female perspective. I am not religious but found it really good. My all time favourite book - I have recommended it here many times. Even my daughter read & loved it when she was 14. I didn't like 'The Book Thief' at all though...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 cinnamon, the ALone in Berlin book was also about germany in the second world war and the fear that the germans lived in within their own country from their own people. Not sure whether you would enjoy it, but i found it gripping. i have winter in madrid on my book shelf waiting to be read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Rosie has just finished reading Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys; it's about the Russian invasion of Lithuania, very harrowing from what she tells me and we've had lots of discussions about it. I might just take that one on holiday too. Moving, but suitable for mid-teens onwards from what I gather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 cinnamon, the ALone in Berlin book was also about germany in the second world war and the fear that the germans lived in within their own country from their own people. Not sure whether you would enjoy it, but i found it gripping. i have winter in madrid on my book shelf waiting to be read. Not my cup of tea,I don't think,but my daughter is very into her History & is fascinated by the World Wars. In fact she has just won a place,one of 3 in her College,to go to Auchswitz for a trip & to attend several seminars on the place over the next few months,so I may get this for her to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I really enjoyed The Help and saw movie after I'd read it. Terri how does the movie compare ? I thought it was a good match actually. I liked the fact that many of the actresses or actors were not well-known (not to me) and felt they portrayed the characters really well. I came out feeling upbeat - always a good sign!. I also have Winter in Madrid on my shelf as a proper book unlike my recent reads which are all iPad. I have The Book Thief and The Twelve Days of Christmas but not read either yet. I really enjoyed The Lovely Bones and enjoyed that movie portrayl also, whereas one of my absolute favourites is The Time Traveller's wife and I found the movie so disappointing Great ideas a) this thread b) writing them all down in a list to keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I have just read Pigeon English - which made me both laugh and cry - it is about the experiences of a Ghanaian child moving into an inner city estate - very well written and thought provoking. Over Christmas I have also read and enjoyed 'Before I go to sleep' and 'The Help', also a teen fiction called 'frozen in time' - looking for good reads for my reluctant readers at work!! I could not get into 'We need to talk about Kevin' - not to my taste. I think I will try one of yout suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a brilliant book too - has been out for a couple of years now. Just seen that it is being made into a movie directed by Kenneth Branagh & starring Kate Winslet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I have just read Pigeon English - which made me both laugh and cry - it is about the experiences of a Ghanaian child moving into an inner city estate - very well written and thought provoking. I finished that last week . It was really good, wasn't it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a brilliant book too - has been out for a couple of years now.Just seen that it is being made into a movie directed by Kenneth Branagh & starring Kate Winslet I loved this book, it was a quick read, but quite thought provoking, and informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Easy read and great book - GLPPPS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I recently got Black Beauty as a free dowload to my kindle. Read it as a child (about 40 years ago) and enjoyed it then but even more so this time round. I'm going to re-visit some more of my childhood favourites - Secret Garden, Railway Children etc and see if the magic has lasted. On the strength of the recommendations here I've just downloaded Before I go Sleep - thanks folks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a brilliant book too - has been out for a couple of years now.Just seen that it is being made into a movie directed by Kenneth Branagh & starring Kate Winslet I loved this book, it was a quick read, but quite thought provoking, and informative. I loved this book too. Another book I enjoyed is Chapter and Verse by Bateman. I love Bateman books and would also recommend the Mystery Man books. For crime fiction that's not by Bateman and that's a bit different, I might get something by Jasper Fforde or Malcolm Pryce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 All or any of Alexander McCall Smith. Gentle, easy and heart warming. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 For those who loves the Shardlake/CJ Sansom books I really recomend Sacred Treason by James Forrester - set in Elizabeth 1st era its pacey and very very readable. As books are so expensive and I have a reading monster to feed I keep a list of authors in my purse so that, when I am in a charity shop or, even better, Oxfam bookshop I can dive straight for 'my' sort of thing (probably should be more openminded tho! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
