book club

great idea SCACO I am not quite up to reading yet the weeks have taken their toll, butI am lesley pearse, maeve binchey, cathy kelly sort but not apposed to most good reads... best book I ever read highly reccommended was called 'remember me' by lesley pearse Ive reccommended it to loads and they have all loved it fiction based on facts of a true story, if that makes sense, another excellent lesley pearse is called 'Hope' agin a fab story entwined with factual history set in the crimea war brilliant!
edited to thank SCACO who started this thread but credited this post to the april chemo thread XXX

Good thread - I have always read voraciously but have been struggling somehow through treatment so far, as anything too literary just completely defeats me! Will be good to see recomendations for books that can be enjoyed with a chemo brain!

hi
If you fancy getting into a long read then Ken Follet is yer man. I have just read World without end, and found it fascinating. Set in Medieval England it gives you a real flavour of the social conditions people lived in through the eyes of a group of central characters.
One of his books was televised, Pillars of the Earth.
Its a huge volume but I found that I couldn't put it down and it was a good distraction. I have a kindle so didn't have to wrestle with a large book . Amazon have a half price event on kindle books. I am so pleased I have mine.
x sarah

Hi Sarah,

Like the sound of the book you mentioned - my sister-in-law recommended " Pillars of the Earth", but I forgot to order it/watch it! We're quite interested in Medieval life at home at the moment as we have been watching "Filthy Cities" on BBC2, which is great, but not when you're eating! Kindles seem good too - will have to save up as my poor old credit card needs a rest!

Love, Sarahx

Hi SCACO,

Thanks for this thread. I had no idea how many ladies love reading crime novels! I also enjoy horror (feel I could write one now) novels, the usual - Steven King, James Patterson, Dean Koonz. I love all the Rebus books and havestarted trying out new authors. I cannot remember them all off hand at the moment (blame chemo-brain) but I will devour anything. Wandy, I agree about Michael Connelly and Lee Childs but haven't tried Simon Kernick - I intend to though.

Sue xx

I've been re-reading some of the classic Agatha Christies, among other things. Just about right for waiting rooms or days when you're only half awake most of the time.

I recommend Jasper fforde's Thursday Next books to anyone who combines a love of books with a slightly surreal sense of humour or an appreciation of parodies of modern life. If you can't take it all in because of chemo fog, they are worth re-reading.

I also enjoy science fiction and fantasy at the more literary/social commentary end of the scale. I'll read anything by Ursula Le Guin, however bad I feel, and Terry Pratchett makes me laugh while he slips in the commentary.

I'll need to look through the pile; the more serious reading I've done has been for professional development and is about language.

Cheryl

I know what you mean Alto about naming and shaming secret reads!!

I named my JD Robbs though, so you ought to be able to name your sci-fi's!!

Not easy or hosp or chemo head reading but if you like historical, Dorothy Dunnetts' Lymond series and Niccolo series. Very dense reading, but absolutely stunning writing.
Plots - 10/10
Ease - 3/4 out /10.

Hi

Totally agree.( another teacher)I always loved reading. Favourite book is The Englsh Patient, but have been corrupted by a frequent bcc poster ( you know who you are) into reading the Sookie Stackhouse series of vampire trashy novels. Totally entertaining if you like that sort of thing but certainly not intellectually challenging. Escapism is great.

OH got a kindle and loves it, but I love the smell and feel of a book.
Debx

I generally prefer books, but kindle is great if you are feeling very weak or have a sore arm or if you can't take enough books with you. I speak as a person whose first preparation for a holiday is to buy new books and half fill the suitcase with them. My older daughter gave me a kindle for Christmas, and it is good when you have to wait a long time, especially for a fast reader. I've been hunting up Dickens and Trollope that I haven't read yet (free) and it's also worthwhile checking Project Gutenberg for books out of copywrite--you just have to download them to your computer first and then transfer to the kindle or any other reader you have.

You need to check prices--I was going to download a book I wanted to read for CPD, but the kindle version was quite expensive and I got the hardback more cheaply on a discount. I'm glad I checked.

But I can read a book in the bath, and I wouldn't dare do that with the kindle. And yes, I really prefer books.

Cheryl

PS Still into books but my friend urging me to get a Kindle. We'll see.

Love C J Sansom and Master Shardlake, Terry Pratchett and DEATH is favourite character there - as I've read them so often they're great for appointment visits as I can pick-up & put down with ease.

Currently reading The Reluctant Fundamentalist and The food taster.

Tried audio books and kindle but prefer the feel of a book in my hands.

Helen x

Oooohhhhhhh this is my new favourite thread! Thetes nothing i love more than finding a new author i love and knowing i have their whole back catalogue to read!

I am entirely without shame and am happy to confirm that i am the person who has corrupted Deb/Midge into reading the Sookie Stackhouse books. I read all 11 within a few weeks and was a very hands off mother during that time, who needs to get tea on the table on time when the dallas vampires have just turned up to wreak hVoc in area 5 ? I have alwYs loved sci fi and fantasy books. John wnydham's The Chrysalids opened my eyes to this as our set book at school when i was 13. Day of the triffids is my all time favourite book. Terry brooks' shannarra series was another favourite.

I love most books, but during my chemo i just couldnt concentrate. However i bought The Times every day and read it cover to cover and the weekend supplements also kept me going.

I love the feel, smell and look of books. I would convert a room into a library snd go round it stroking my books if i could. Pre kids, i had to take a book a day for holiday. I am about to get an ipad2, and have been told you can download a kindle app and use it on there (?) or should i buy a kindle too?

I love this thread!

Vickie

Hi Vickie

I was given an ipad for Xmas and yes you can download a kindle app for free and then download whatever books you choose.

Andie

Sci Fi - yup, was heavily into that when younger. John Wyndham's books made good films but were much better in their paper versions. I recently saw Day of the Triffids, the original, and nearly bust a gut laughing at the special effects, while remembering that I was hiding behind the sofa when I first saw it.

John Grisham's also a good "airport novel" kinda thing, along with the Jack Reacher series (Lee Childs) and loads of others that have been mentioned.

When I was in solitary a few weeks ago I know I read a book while I was in but I have NO IDEA what it was. It was a bit rubbish is all I can remember, so at least I didn't miss a good book.

I enjoy reading and re-reading Harry Potter for something just to put in front of my eyes. I've read them so often they're familiar friends that don't need a lot of concentration. Similar with Twilight, more concentration needed for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, they're all books that I've read more than once. Wouldn't bother re-reading any of the crime novels though, however enjoyable they are first time round.

ROOM was a recent read and I really enjoyed it. Very thought-provoking.

And my Kindle has had me reading some complete crap as well as some good stuff - well it's free! Currently reading the Dominion series by Robin Parrish. Undecided, but good enough to keep me reading.

I'm reading pretty much anything at the moment, so some very good suggestions, and three pages on the forum in only one day!

The daftest thing I have on my Kindle, which I was reading while waiting for my re-excision? The NICE Guidelines for early breast cancer! I kid you not, that was what I was reading before my op. Barking. Completely barking.