What books do people enjoy?

I quite like WWII books too. The Tattooist of Auschwitz was very sad but conversely uplifting. The indomitable power of the human spirit in the midst of unimaginable horror and evil is something wonderful. I read novels in bed at night before going to sleep. For that reason my preference is something light like any Santa Montefiore, Victoria Hislop or the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson. During the day, if time, I read only non fiction, usually something related to archaeology, palaeontology, world religion or The Levant. I’ve just ordered “Human Peoples: On the Genetic Traces of Human Evolution, Migration and Adaptation” by Luis Quintana-Murci”. It should arrive on Wednesday so I am looking forward to starting that. 

I don't think I've read the invisible women. May have to check it out.

I love WW2 historical fiction too. The invisible women is one of my favorite books. I just got diagnosed with autism so I’ve been reading a lot of books on autism. I’m in the middle of we’re not broken which I’m enjoying and I just finished autism in heels.

Yes sometimes I like to go back and read books that I loved as a child and I still love them as an adult. I think the Velveteen Rabbit will always be one that I have a very special place for. I think it was the first time I read a book that made me feel genuine emotion for the story. It still makes me feel the same way reading it as an adult. I think when I was a child cuddly toys were so important to me, the idea of having to get rid of one was absolutely devastating.

Lol my very original Harry Potters are like that, very worn from use and age now. Sometimes it’s a pity to read books because they end up in a condition where reading could literally destroy them! I wish I could get every single set but there’s no way I could ever afford that. They are crazy expensive.

I haven’t heard of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Back home but I’ll be sure to  look them up. I’m always excited to read new books! ^^ The Secret Garden has such a special place in my heart. It’s one of my favourite books to read and I have 4 or so editions of it. For me, like Harry Potter it never gets old I could read it forever.

Expecto_Patronum said:

I love books too. I have so many that I haven't read yet but I love buying new ones.

This is a problem for me as well. I have soo many books on my shelves that I yet to read and some of them are from 3-5 years ago.

I have my original set but I can't read them anymore because they're falling apart . And then I have a new set. I'd love some of the special sets but they're so expensive. I have the mina Lima ones and I'm also absolutely gutted they aren't continuing. Stupid scholastic. 

I also like books like the secret garden. I've got a few child hood favourites like that. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Back Home are some more favourites from when I was younger.

I love books too. I have so many that I haven't read yet but I love buying new ones.

Hi Expecto_Patronum ^^ I am also a huge Harry Potter fan! I love all the books. I’ve got all of the original book set, the new 25^th anniversary edition and I have the 3 released by MinaLima. Absolutely gutted they won’t be continuing the series as they were a really unique pretty edition.

Harry Potter is up there as my favourite book series. The story is unique and addictive, when I start reading them I can’t stop I have to read it right until the end.  I also like the Percy Jackson books. I’m also a big fan of all books by Terry Pratchett.

Other books I adore and read and read again are: The Book Thief, all Roald Dahl books, The Secret Garden, all Agatha Christie books, Skulduggery Pleasant book series and I love every Jacqueline Wilson book released to date. I love books. They’re a great escape, I can escape into them from the hassle and pain of real life any time, and they inspire me with my own writing as well :-)

Ah ok. That does sound good. I'll check it out.

Yes, I read most of Banks' novels years ago, including The Business. I did enjoy it but I can't actually remember much about it, as it was over 20 years ago. Maybe I'll re-read it sometime.

I loved Iain Banks's books both the sci-fi and the mainstream ones, his was some of the only sci-fi that I could get into, my favourite was Excession and I loved the concept of The Affront! Given the political times we're living in has anyone read THe Business? If not maybe give it a read, it seems somehow prophetic, given the tech bros in the Whitehouse.

I tend to read non fiction as i find some character plots difficult to understand. I have just re-read a book on Raven Rock, the American government nuclear bunker. I am reading a book on the Isle Of Wight's railway and love anything on London Underground. I love David Sedaris books and enjoyed seeing him read live.   

Yeah, I didn't think I'd like it as I had got a bit bored with the zombie genre, but I decided to give it a go as it's part of my kindle unlimited subscription so I didn't have to buy the books. It's about a lot more than just zombies though - the description says: "This is a tale of loyalty, friendship and the sacrifices we make for love...A gripping and often laugh out loud exploration of how far we'll go to protect those we care about". It explores what might happen if government and law and order disappeared overnight, what it means to be human and sentient, and also has a mystery element.

I've seen the film and I did enjoy it. I didn't realise it was a book series. I will check it out. Thank you.

Expecto_Patronum said:

Do any of you like the same books?

From your favourites list I think you may enjoy the series of Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

There are 7 books in the fantasy series which are aimed at the young adult group I think and the books make extensive use of weird victorian photohraphs to illustrate some of the characters and situations, bringing an extra dimension to the storytelling

It starts off in modern day Miami and soon jumps to an island off the cost of Wales then starts jumping about in time as the main character finds a group of Peculiar children who are living in a daily recurring loop in wartime Britain.

There was a film of the same name but it truncates the story with a makeshift ending that isn't in the books and the books lead down much darker paths of war, segregation, slavery, genocide and such delightful topics.

It isn't graphic but doesn't shy away from some of the bad stuff that happens along the way.

I found it qute entertaining in a fairly light way and worked through all 7 books fairly quickly.

Characters in the books have some autistic characteristics but since most are from way in back in the past they have no knowledge of autism, but there are many traits present when you know what to look for.

Wow. Ancient DNA studies does sound interesting. I just can't get into reading books like that though. I tend to just Google the very specific thing I want to know about.

Science fiction is not a genre I've ever really got into. I will bear Murderbot in mind though.

I've never really read anything from ww1. I don't know why. May have to give it a try.

The Undead sounds interesting. I went off zombie things a little bit though when every other film or TV series was about a zombie apocalypse.

I also enjoyed "The Rosie Project" and "The Curious incident of the dog in the night time"

Recently I went through a phase of reading war time fiction and I thought that "The Berlin sisters" by Soraya M Lane was very good. I also like many of Ben Elton's novels, which include "The First Casualty" which is set in WW1, and "Two Brothers" which is set in WW2.

 I'm currently reading "The undead" series by RR Haywood. It's a post apocalyptic story after a virus has been released which turns most of the population into zombie like creatures intent on passing the virus on, but the virus gradually becomes intelligent and creates a hive mind. It's the story of those who survived it, who fought its hosts, who tried to find out why it was released and why some do not succumb to it, and others who tried to create a new society from the ruins of the old one. It's gory and tragic in places but funny or poignant in others. 

I read lots and lots of non fiction, partly because of my job and partly because of my interests.

But I’m also a life long science fiction reader and particularly admire Iain M Banks’ work and Frank Herbert’s Dune series.

I would also recommend Martha Wells’ Murderbot series to any autistic person. You’ll spend the entire time saying “that is me!”.

For fiction, its mostly crime fiction and historican and history and mystery together are really good, I like Lindsey Davis' Falco series for that reason as they're set in Rome.

I love Louise Penny, Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway series, theres just so many authors I love, Phil Rickman, Kate Ellis, Alison Weir, both her fiction and her non fiction.

I do read a lot of non fiction too, mostly history, early Anglo Saxon, pre history and ancient DNA studies and anthropolgy stuff.