If you have any interest in the Arthurian legends of England, then the book for you is "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It is a retelling of the Arthur story from the perspective of the women around him. I was glued to it literally.

If you're going to Rome--or Italy--actually anywhere!--try POPE JOAN by Donna Woolfolk Cross. A real page-turner (kept me up all night) about one of the great "mysteries of history"--the woman who in the ninth century (darkest of the dark ages) disguised herself as a man and rose to become Pope!! Filled with fascinating detail about life in medieval Europe. Whether legend or truth, Pope Joan's story makes a WHOPPER of a great yarn!!

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg<BR><BR>Perfume by Patrick Suskind<BR><BR>And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave<BR><BR>Frankenstein by Mary Shelley<BR><BR>The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass<BR><BR>Great Expectations by Charles Dickens<BR><BR>Geek Love by Katherine Dunn<BR><BR>All of these are utterly compelling.

can we get this up to 400?<BR><BR>I see the Asia forum has threads larger than this one - and it's a relatively quiet board.

Wow..this thread is over 2 years old and still going stong. Thanks to that well known author "Anon" for topping it. I have just started to read the Fodor's europe talk and am not familiar yet with all the older postings.... got lots of great ideas on books to read, as if I need more books. My book "jones" is on par with my travel lust...just I need more shelves for the books!!!<BR><BR>My suggestions are not nec think ones, but I sometimes like to take two complementary ones to read together, such as:<BR> "Pride and Prejudice" combined with "Pride and Perjusice and Jasmine Field" by Melissa Nathan. Hallarious modern day version of the Austin tale within the Austin tale framework. Read it and see what I mean!! Great fiction and fun fiction together.<BR><BR>Also after 300+ postings I can't believe no one has mentioned ALAN FURST. Not thick novels to be sure but most definitley unputdownable (is that a word?). His books are set in Paris on the eve or during WWII and defy classification: part espionage, part historical fiction (VERY well researched) and part Paris as atmosphere books. If his books were films they would be B & W, with casts from french films of the 30s and you could almost smell the stale cigarettes and feel the sun on your face as you stroll the boulevards. Try esp "The Kingdom of Shadows" and "The World at Night"..<BR><BR>Now pls excuse me, I have to go to the bookstore, I feel a literacy attack coming on.<BR><BR>Judy from Munster, Germany<BR><BR>PS Does anybody else feel compelled to go into bookshops when on vacation ?? Especially when you don't even know the lanaguage!!!<BR><BR> <BR><BR> <BR>

"Water Music" - T.C. Boyle for those interested in African exploration in the 18th century. Excellent and exciting. I'm reading it for the 2nd time.

Gone With The Wind! I read this on my first trip to Europe at age 14 and got lost walking around Berlin while reading it since I couldn't put it down. Even if you have read it before it is perfect to read again and just as engrossing as the first, second, third time. ALSO: Anna Karenina, just read it for the first time, best novel I ever read, cannot put it down, excellent writing, will give you a real feeling for pre-1900 Russia. ALSO: Shining Through by Susan Isaacs, most readable book in English, funny, poignant and suspenseful. Oops...just printed this thread and saw that you, Gina, also love Anna Karenina!!! Well other Fodorites GO FOR IT!! <BR>

Well I sure would like to thank everyone for their replies. Much has happened since I first asked this question. I went to Europe in 2000 to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau and took several of these book suggestions with me. I did read CORRELLIS MANDOLIN (boy the movie sure was different wasn't it?), SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR, and THE POWER OF ONE on the trip. All fabulous. I agree, THE MISTS OF AVALON was pretty incredible. That's the best book I've read in a long time. My book group is reading BEL CANTO right now by Ann Patchett. Comments are very positive. Someone asked about buying books overseas. We really like that Smith's bookstore right across the street from the Concorde metro station. The reason we like it is because it often has books out in paperback earlier than you can get them in the US. Happy reading everyone!

Any recommendations for a traveller going to Paris??

You'll never put it down! Taylor Caldwell's "Glory and the Lightning". Takes place in ancient Greece. One of the best I've ever read. Have a great flight and trip.

Can't help to bring this thread to the 350 mark!! I first recommended "The Pillars of the Earth" and was glad to see how many people agree! Since, I've read many recs posted and most were outstanding recommendations. <BR><BR>Has anybody read "The Secret History" by Donna Tart (sp?); very, very good read; suspense, great story. Happy Summer readings!!

You must read 'Miss Garnet's Angel' by Salley Vickers. Set in Venice, about a spinster, communist, schoolteacher who takes a flat in Venice and meets some interesting people. A parallel thread in the book is the story of Tobias (from the Apocrypha) that weaves together with Miss Vicker's discoveries in and around the churches in Venice. GREAT READ!!!!!! PLease try it!

Dear Gina,<BR>I am an extremely picky reader, but I usually like something mindless for an airplane flight. However, you mentioned that you like historical drama and appear, based on the writers that you mentioned, to like to read multiple works by the same writer. Bernard Cornwell wrote a lenghty series of books that follow a british soldier through the Napoleonic War. They are a good mix of history and fictional license. It starts with a book called Sharpe's Rifles. Check them out. PBS and BBC did an entire series on them with Sean Bean. They are very entertaining.

If you haven't read "A Short History of a Small Place," by T.R. Pearson, give that a try. Narrator is a young boy, setting is small town in the South, and story concerns an eccentric family. I laughed so hard I had to read parts aloud, and my father and sister think it is the funniest book they have ever read. Despite the humor, the story is touching and rings so true.

How about "Lust For Life" which is about Vincent Van Gogh and his impressionist buddies? that will give you a great story along with some great history.

Thanks to all those who mentioned "The Pillars of the Earth." I read the book on a week-long trip to New Orleans earlier this year. WOW!! I was so captivated by the story I didn't even pick up another book until weeks later.<BR><BR>"Confederacy of Dunces" was recently discussed on the U.S. forum, also. I have tried that book but had to quit. The main character is so pathetic. Do people enjoy making fun of him? Or do they identify with him?<BR>

"Drawing of the Three" by Stephen King. Second book of a series based on a gunslinger from a "midevil other world" in the present day. Rutger Hauer is that gunslinger.

Maira- actually I did, on 5/2/2000 but who's counting?

Hi - made it through most of the list... but it is getting looooong!<BR><BR>Agree with many rec's, disagree with others, but here are some more suggestions (haven't seen these on the list, but may have missed them):<BR><BR>Rec's already listed but that I love: Birdsong, Confederacy of Dunces, Mists of Avalon, Girl with the Pearl Earring, Stones from the River, A Suitable Boy, Me Talk Pretty One Day... (PS - Hated Pilot's Wife - thought it was trite and predictable!)<BR><BR>Here are some of my long-time favorites:<BR><BR>A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry - an amazing book set in Indira Gandhi's India. <BR><BR>Dreams of my Russian Summer (Le Testament Francais) by Andrei Makine - wonderful dreamy book moving between France and Russia<BR><BR>In Memory of the Forest - Charles Powers - a very moving read about a Polish village trying to come to terms with its Russian and Nazi past. <BR><BR>Sacred Hunger- Barry Unsworth - a very good sea yarn that is about much much more, including pride, freedom, what it means to be human.<BR><BR><BR>Now down to a few miscellaneous: <BR>For a few chuckles, most of David Lodge's books or Russo's books. <BR><BR>For good historical fiction, Margaret George and her imcomparable Mary Queen of Scots and Henry the 8th. I would also recommend Rose Tremain and Restoration or Music and Silence. And who can forget Agony and Ecstasy!!<BR><BR>For a darn good read (great for airplanes!) - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. <BR><BR>For a good kids read that is nice for grown-ups too, try Holes by Louis Sachar. <BR><BR>For books that make you laugh and cry - Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Ya-ya Sisterhood, To Kill a Mockingbird...<BR><BR>And I can't forget to mention Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels! <BR><BR>Non-fiction: Into Thin Air, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, Undaunted Courage, The Nightingale's Song<BR><BR>I could go on... but this list is too long already and I have to get reading some of the other suggestions!!! <BR><BR>Happy reading!<BR>

I'm on the last 20 pages of The Blind Assassin and now I'm at work and can't finish it until lunch. Oh the agony!