Good novel suggestions:THE SEQUEL
 

Hello, fellow travel obsessors. thanks to this forum, I not only had a fanatastic trip to Paris this summer, I also discovered some new authors/books (result of a great thread <BR>seeking a paper travel companion). Any more suggestions? Can't wait for your replies! <BR>PS I love mysteries,historical fiction. <BR>

Just finished "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver and absolutely adored it. Actually, I also got the book on tape so I could "read" while exercising, and hearing the language was even better than reading it. It does fall into the "historical fiction" category -- about a white American family from the segregated south in the 1950s who move to the Congo to be missionaries (the colonial/political situation there provides a factual backdrop for a fictional story), but it actually unfolds almost like a mystery since the book opens with a prologue by the mother that foreshadows the events that take place. The story is told through the eyes of the four daughters.

I just want to thank everyone for the fabulous suggestions from the last book thread. I'm having knee surgery in a couple of weeks and now have a stack of books to read while I am laid up in my percoset-induced state (inlcuding The Poisonwood Bible). Keep 'em coming!

Thank you Bookish for doing the SEQUEL! <BR>That thread is wonderful, but was very tiresome to scroll through. <BR>These two books are not novels, but very interesting anyway. <BR>Both by Tim Parks, <BR>Italian Neighbors, and Italian Education. <BR>Both dealing with his life settling into Italy with his Italian wife. <BR>My husband read a book that he loved, called A Carnival Of Saints, by George Herman.It is an historical mystery/thriller, if I can remember correctly. <BR>Books by Pauline Gedge are fictional accounts/stories of the Pharohs of Eygpt. <BR>Both my husband and I have enjoyed them. <BR>More books please! <BR>nancy

We listened to P.D. James' "A Certain Justice" unabridged (15 hours) in the car this summer on our vacation--it is a compelling British mystery! <BR> <BR>Enjoy!

I'm not sure if I posted these on the last one... <BR> <BR>"The Mystery of the Yellow Room" by Gaston LeRoux, actually a more popular book in its day than his better known novel "Phantom of the Opera" which is also a good read. <BR> <BR>"A Very Long Engagement" by Sebastien Japrisot, historical fiction set in France during WWI. <BR> <BR>"The Scarlet Pimpernel", set during the French Revolution <BR> <BR>For a lighter read, I also enjoy Anne Perry's mysteries featuring Thomas Pitt.

Read 'The Hacienda', a memoir by Lisa St. Aubin de Teran. In brillant prose she relates her struggles as the English teenage bride of a schizophrenic Venezuelan Hacienda landlord. Also check out her 'Venice: The Four Seasons', a pictorial with text describing her two year stay in Venice. Another is 'A Valley in Italy' about fixing up her villa in Umbria. <BR> <BR>If you have a taste for NASTY & VERY raw writing, try Irvine Welsh's short stories, 'The Acid House'. His first novel was Trainspotting and you perhaps remember the movie. For a Yank to read his writing, the Scottish dialect and slang is priceless, not to mention his extraordianry command of the English. <BR> <BR>BTW, if anyone knows of any historical fiction novel set in Northern Italy or The Netherlands, please post. My husband likes the genre.

Yes, and if you like mysteries don't overlook Janwillem van de Wetering's Zen spiced Amsterdam cop series.

Another suggestion for Bookish; <BR>My husband enjoyed this book *very* much. <BR>Daughter of God, by Lewis Perdue. <BR>It is new. <BR>It is a mystery, set in Italy and Switzerland, story is contempory setting,but concerns some ancient 4th century piece of art. <BR>Sounds like it might cover all bases . <BR>Even though this is a travel site,and not a literary site,more suggestions would be wonderful! <BR>More suggestions please! <BR>Nancy

I would recommend "the Instance of the Finger Post" A truly gripping and gigantic mystery novel set in the "Age of Enlightenment" in England... unable to put that one down. Anyone got any other big-fat-European history fiction novels out there? I would love a suggestion as well.

not travel related but two good books: <BR> <BR>Isabel Allende <BR>Daughter of Fortune <BR> <BR>Anita Diamant <BR>The Red Tent <BR> <BR>the red tent is an unbelievable read, loved it so much i am actually jealous of people i see reading it, b/c i wish i was reading it for the first time. <BR> <BR>second or third the opinion on Poisonwood Bible, long and satisfying. <BR>also worth it are <BR> <BR>Memoirs of a Geisha (almost as good as Red Tent) and <BR>I know this much is true, by wally lamb <BR>

Anything bt ruth Rendell, aka, Barbara Vine.

In preparation for a trip next week, any suggestions on historical fiction set in Napoleonic France? <BR> <BR>

War & Peace--too big?-- try doing a search on Amazon: amazing search engine!

I've been dying to recommend the following books: <BR> <BR>Possession by A.S. Byatt (set in modern England) <BR> <BR>Waiting by Ha Jin <BR> <BR>The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco <BR> <BR>The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve <BR> <BR>Emma, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, all by Jane Austen <BR> <BR>The Shipping News by Annie Proulx <BR> <BR>Sorry about my eclectic taste. Enjoy! <BR> <BR>

Pat, this may be old hat, but how about "The Count of Monte Christo" by Dumas - or any of his actually. <BR>For a big, fat historical fiction book, how about Sharon Penman's series about Wales - I believe the first in the series is "Here be Dragons".

1)The God of Small Things <BR> (sorry, I don't have the author). A beautiful, poignant book. <BR> <BR>2) The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood <BR> (okay, I don't remember the name of this author, either). <BR> <BR>Another vote for <BR>3) The Poisonwood Bible

Although I had replied to the original thread, two more books come to mind; "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck (my absolute favorite author), and "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving (another favorite). I read both books many years ago and they remain two of the best books I ever read.

The God of Small Things is by Arundhati Roy

Just read "Book of Kings" by James Thakara. Amazing. Not a literary critic, but would highly recommend the novel. Follows 4 main characters through pre- and post-WWII in Europe. All facets ... an Algerian writer, an American abroad, a German baron/soldier, and a German philosopher. <BR> <BR>Also, reading "From Here to Eternity" for the first time and really enjoying it, too. <BR> <BR>If you're into different, try "Geek Love". <BR> <BR>Oh, and I also just finished Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There" about retracing his 60s backpacking trip through Europe, but in his pudgier 40-something years. I laughed through the whole book.

I am currently reading Artemesia by Alexandra LaPierre. It is historical fiction about the painter Artemesia Gentileschi. So far it is excellent. I'm actually reading three books right now. I'm also reading Hemingway's Moveable Feast (thought I should since I'll be in Paris less than a month and have always meant to get to it) and Longing by James D. Landis. Longing is about Robert Schumann and is also historical fiction.

topping

The DaVinci Code!

My top reads are:

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth - wonderful, long saga about the Indian middleclasses. It'll stay with you forever.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - Victorian set thriller, utterly absorbing, I used to pray for Tube delays so I could carry on reading.

Life of Pie (2002 Booker Prize Winner) - cover says it'll make you believe in God. Makes you feel warm, tingly and emotional. Beautiful beautiful story, completely original, about an Indian boy shipwrecked and floating on a boat with a wild tiger. Sounds bizarre I know, but I've never read anything like it. Author is Canadian, can't remember his name.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith - funny, touching saga set in modern day north west London (my territory).

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Every time I read it, I find something new, and I have read it many times. Does an author know the ending before he starts the book? This one really makes you think about that.

Glad someone mentioned &quot;Possession&quot; by AS Byatt(amazing book). And &quot;The God of Small Things&quot; (ditto) - it's by Arundhati Roy. Try &quot;A Fine Balance&quot; by Rohinton Mistry too.
And for some more brain food: &quot;The Reader&quot; by Bernard Schinck (sp?) translated from German - not to be missed.

I also liked the God of Small Things. Been meaning to read A Suitable Boy, but haven't gotten round to it. Nicci French books are real page turners; psychological thrillers. There's a new one just out, and when I start I can't put it down! The Sebastian Falkes books Birdsong and Charlotte Gray were excellent too. Birdsong describes the first WW so vividly that you feel like you are in the trenches. Charlotte Gray is about the second WW. Don't know if that is historical enough for you Bookish!

Middlesex. Best book I have read in years.

How funny that three of the most original and intriguing books I've ever read are quoted above: Life of Pi (it's by Yann Martel), a Prayer for Owen Meany and the God of Small Things. Strongly recommend all three.
And a short book I just finished reading the other day: Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto. 1 long and 1 short novella - beautifully translated, and utterly engaging.

&quot;Life of Pi&quot; was written by Yann Martel

Love this post! I've read so many wonderful books because of threads like this one. I second the Daughter of God recommendation. If you liked DaVinci Code you will like this one. Also, Too Many Men. I can't remember the author but it's about a woman's journey to Poland with her father who is a concentration camp survivor. It's actually both funny and touching.

this is definitely worth a top!