I have to agree, Corelli's Mandolin was fantastic (I bought it after reading so many great recommendations for it on this thread!). I read it while on vacation a few weeks ago, and when I finished it, my father also read it. He has read a zillion books and agreed with me that this one was wonderful and so beautifully written (after all the many books he's read, this is the only one that he was referring back to certain segments and reading them to me!). I hope they follow it to the letter in the movie soon to come out. <BR> <BR>

OK, so I'm supposed to be working... <BR> <BR>Had to mention "The Vintner's Luck" by Elizabeth Knox as I didn't see it recommended earlier. <BR> <BR>Set in early 19th century France, centered around a vintner's relationship with .... an angel. Not everyone's cup of tea, but utterly compelling in my view. Enjoy

I have to say, if you haven't read them, The Harry Potter books are wonderful, and nothing will take you away from it all like those. My 12 yr old son read them first and recommended the first one to me, now I read them before I pass them on to the kids (and we buy 2 copies so they won't fight over them). <BR> <BR>Pillers of the Earth is also excellent! I am listening to it on tape while I work. <BR> <BR>The 3rd series is by Jack Whyte. I haven't seen it mentioned. The first book in the series is "The Skystone" and purports to be the "true" story of Arthur, beginning with his Roman Legionaire grandfathers. Wonderful, it will really take you away. <BR> <BR>And my usual fare is mystery/courtroom books!

the book, chocolat (recently made into a movie)--not super thick but you cannot put it down--setting is in France, the author is French, currently living in London and teachs French.

A new book from the author of Chocolat. Haven't read it yet but seems interesting and a European setting. A description that I got off a cookbook site reads: <BR> <BR>This is another magical tale from <BR>Joanne Harris. Like her previous novel, Chocolat - which has been made into a critically acclaimed film - the setting for Blackberry Wine is Lasquenet, France. We reacquaint ourselves with the villagers in the company of an English writer named Jay MacIntosh. Jay has impulsively purchased a home in the town, bringing along a special elixir bottled by retired miner Joseph "Jackapple Joe" Cox. The novel takes us from Jay's youthful summers spent with his mentor Joe to his life in London as victim of writer's block, and, finally, to France. Along the way, we meet Jay's mysterious neighbour, Madame Marise d'Api. Joe, a past master of astral travel, visits frequently. Is Jay dreaming or is Joe's elixir interfering with reality? The answer is well worth drinking in. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Yes, Blackberry Wine is a very enjoyable book. I read it quite a while after Chocolat. I felt I preferred Chocolat but possibly that was because I had enjoyed Chocolat so very much that it was still fresh in my mind. Blackberry Wine has the same feel to it.

My gosh - this is so fabulous!! I have already written down over 20 titles I want to check out! I have to chime in for Shipping News, and Harry Potter. I just devoured the 4th in the Potter series, and then my husband said (with a "wait til you hear my great idea" look), "honey, I'm gonna wait to read that one until we're on the plane to Italy," I was SOOO envious that he thought to do that - for it will be the PERFECT thing to make him forget we're on a 12 hour flight on Alitalia!! Oh well, I'll know next time to save the 5th, 6th or 7th one until we fly again <BR><BR>Also want to recommend Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver, and Geography of Desire and Mystery Ride (Robert Boswell). Fabulous reads!! Also, for a good British author, I would HIGHLY recommend Therapy by David Lodge - he is so funny!! I can't wait to log on to Amazon now and check out all of the tips I got here. Thanks Friends!

I've just found out that Joanne Harris will have another book published on Monday. Also set in France, it is called "Five Quarters of the Orange"

"The Road to Wellville" was an <BR>absolutely hilarious, very entertaining book.

It's not about Paris. It's a no-brainer. But if you want the hours to race by, and if you like off-the-subject murder mysteries, the new James Patterson book "1st to Die" will definitely hold you !

What a great listing of books, but aren't there any murder/mystery buffs out there? Two of the best authors in that genre are John Sanford and Michael Connelly. I never start one of their books unless I know I can set everything else aside until I have finished reading it. And my husband devours every new release by either author as soon as it hits the shelf. Our tastes in reading material are vastly different, but we both love Sanford and Connelly. You would not go wrong with any of their books. In a totally different vein, I whole-heartedly agree with everyone who has recommended Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells--what a hoot!! Happy reading!

I would recommend (highly) "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. I, like you, am a lover of historical fiction and "big, fat, get lost in" books and this one really was fabulous. The story revolves around the building of a Gothic Cathedral in England in the 12th century and the lives, over the centuries, of people involved in that. Perfect background reading, whether the cathedral you're visiting is in Paris, Florence, Munich. <BR><BR>I actually read this book about 4-5 years ago but, whenever I think about my absolute favorite book of all time, it's this one. <BR><BR>However, there are great recommendations here...I'm going to print this listing for MYSELF!!!

Since Maria recommended it first, "Pillars of the Earth" has been listed about five more times. Any OTHER Follet's?

One of my favorite reads was "The Poisonwood Bible" So good you won't be able to put it down.

Not fiction, but I enjoyed it nonetheless:<BR><BR>Richard Halliburton, "The Royal Road to Romance". <BR><BR>Richard graduated from Princeton in 1920 or thereabouts... and took off to see the world. He climbed the Matterhorn, swam in the Taj Mahal... was jailed for taking pictures at the Rock of Gibraltar (and was amazed to see it "live" without its famous "Prudential Life Insurance" ad running across it - gads, how long has that company been around, anyway...)<BR><BR>and so on. a charming read.<BR><BR>Beth

Gina,<BR><BR>An American author who has been recently re-discovered is one I would look in to. Try her "My Home Far Away". <BR><BR>Another good one is "Confederacy of the Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole.<BR><BR>"Memento Mori" by Muriel Sparks.<BR><BR>All are in paperback. Hope you like them.

Glad to see somebody else mentioned Larry McMurtry, because "Texasville" has to be one of my all time favorite reads. It was written in the mid 1980s and is the 30-years-later sequel to "The Last Picture Show." I laughed out loud so many times that I lost count. <BR><BR>McMurtry recently published a third and final book which deals with the same characters, called "Duane's Depressed." Glad I read all three books, but the second in the series, "Texasville," is still my hands down favorite. Each book is written to be read independently of the others, so don't worry about reading all three, or even reading them in order.

I am a big Paulo Coelho fan. The Alchemist is an excellent - kind of like the Celestine Prophecy sort of messsage but written much better. I also enjoy reading the 'Traveler's Tales" series. They compile short stories/essays on a country or city - I am currently reading their Spain edition and love it.

Gina,<BR><BR>Sorry I forgot to name the author of "My Home Far Away". It is Dawn Powell. If you like this book there are 12 more of her novels to read. One of them I particularly like is "A Time To Be Born".

Topping this for today's reading.