Friday 5 August 2011

Summer reading 2.

Thank you for the response to my request for books to read over the Summer. It is obvious that we all have such differing tastes - Dominic is even brave enough to suggest that his books may well have limited appeal. I can vouch for that. If he enjoys a book I know I will not enjoy it - and vice versa. John also suggests that I publish a critique on each one! That leaves to be believe he wants me to read them all! So, what I am doing is publishing a list of them all here - in no particular order. If anyone wishes to know more about any book then there is a bit more info on some of them on the Summer reading comments, if you go there. But at the very least it does give us all another name or two to look for when we visit the library.

Margaret Drabble (always a good, well-written read). 'The Sea Lady' and ' A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman' (short stories.)
Virginia Woolf. 'To the Lighthouse' and 'Orlando'.
Alice LaPlante 'Turn of Mind.'
Rosamund Lupton 'Sister'.
Durrell 'My Family and Other Animals' (always a firm favourite with everybody.)
Any books by Roger Deakin or Ronald Blythe.
'The History of the World in 100 objects.'
James Joyce 'Dubliners.'
Frank Herbert 'Dune'.
Edmund de Vaal 'The Hare with the Amber Eyes.'
Ken Follett 'The Fall of Giants'.
The Book of Fate.
Abraham Verghese 'My Own County' and 'Cutting for Stone'.
Kate Atkinson 'Started Early, took my Dog.'
Shilpi Somaya Gowda 'Secret Daughter'.
Any books by Mark Haddon; Lionel Shriver; Paul Theroux and Anita Shreve.
Maggie O'Farrell 'The Hand that First held Mine.'
Elizabeth von Arnim ' An Enchanted April' and ' Elizabeth's German Garden.'

To this I must add Dominic's May's 'The Boy's Book of Crystal Sets' - I know how much pleasure he had from it as a child and how much pleasure it has given to other children. Of course the child has to be interested in such things but I can vouch for its success on a wet day!

Thank you for taking part. I do hope you have added at least one or two of these to your library list (or even your Amazon list - I find it all too easy to click on 'add to basket' on Amazon I am afraid.

12 comments:

Heather said...

It was such a pleasant task Pat and I must take note of some of those other titles. I am hoping that a couple of the Ronald Blythe books might arrive today. Amazon are very crafty in making their process so easy for customers. Happy reading!

Gerry Snape said...

I feel that I definitely have to read Edmund de Waal's book as so many people have recommended it recently.

MorningAJ said...

After the discussions here I've just bought Hare with Amber Eyes from Waterstone's (online - but a real book!)

Elizabeth said...

Adding my praise for "HARE" --best book I've read for ages.
I have to laugh at your comments about your son's reading......
I think I'm probably in our camp.
Dune is a very special taste I think.
I'll read and reread anything by WG Sebald but some people can't bear him at all!

Elizabeth said...

should read 'your' above!

Sue said...

I can definitely recommend Started Early Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson, and her other books too.
I enjoy reading your blog; I went to school in Wensleydale and my best friend's family (Avison)had farms at Harmby and Agglethorpe, ? Coverdale.

angryparsnip said...

I have read several book you mentioned but will have to look up several from your list I haven't.

This was a wonderful idea for a post I really enjoyed reading/hearing (?) about others book choices.

cheers, parsnip

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hi Sue! Thanks for visiting my blog. My husband knows your best friend's family very well - he has lived here all his life (I am in incomer). I have tried to get on to your blog but can't get to it - do tell me how please.

Sal said...

Just catching up...I seem to have missed these posts..but would like to add , 'A Fortnight in
September' by R.C. Sherriff.
It's such a wonderfully well written book!
;-)

bekahjane said...

oh how i love to read and simply am in heaven with all the recommendations here.. cheers :)

Cloudia said...

super reader!



Aloha from Waikiki;


Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >

Rarelesserspotted said...

I'm ashamed to say I've never read any of the books mentioned above. Perhaps I could find one or two for my Kindle. It would be nice for you to review one or two of them after you've read them for our guidance.
X