Ben

Another glowing recommendation, and thanks, me too.

I'd expect nothing less. I guess now is better than never though.

Well after the many recommendations from you lovely people and the insistence from Kylie that it should be next, I've decided to read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I'm very excited to get started with this one, and I'll be reading it alongside Sandra Brown's Lethal which I haven't got started properly with but shall soon. Synopsis: 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird'. A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much. The synopsis only makes it sound even better. I have a feeling I'll be one of those people who says 'why did I never read this before.'

Nonsense! This thread is here to discuss recommendations, the novels I'm reading this summer, and that's what you're doing. He sounds like a very interesting man and In Cold Blood sounds awesome. Thank you for telling me about him. Consider it added.

Julie, many thanks for posting about how it became the undoing of him, I find that absolutely fascinating. I recently read a novel called The Good Father which is about a kid that eventually ends up shooting a presidential candidate, and on the way he researches different assassinations and murders, and in a sense he becomes connected with the people that he reads about and their actions. There's much more to it than that but it seems to be that he found a connection with them, in a somewhat different way to how Capote connected with the killers he interviewed. The story that you've described sounds absolutely fascinating and I'd much like to read more about him and of course read In Cold Blood. You've most certainly persuaded me to have a look at this whenever I can purchase it, so thank you for that.

Thank you very much, Julie. I do think the author pulls in the reader extremely well in this novel, you're right about that. No, that's correct, she's never mentioned by name, only as Mrs de Winter. I can see why it's done. Although you say the story is about the story and feelings of our narrator who frames the narrative through a flash-back, I think the name is left out so that we can identify with her feeling like she doesn't belong at Manderly; like she will never take the place of Rebecca, who's name of course gives itself to the title of the novel. In a sense she never feels like she has her own title; she's always merely a shadow of the past given the name Mrs de Winter. Well, that's my view anyway, not sure if it makes any sense. I think Maxim's attitudes towards her are certainly intentional on the author's part. I mean, partly because that's how husbands reacted to their wives in those days, but also perhaps because of the commanding atmosphere his previous wife had through Manderley, and the hold she had over him. In a way his reaction towards his second wife is a response to this in my opinion. I do agree that he didn't need to be like that though, all she had was love for him throughout. It's something I'd love to get involved with as a career, but it's almost impossible to find newspapers willing to take you on. I've asked around many times and I've managed to create contacts and do reviews for certain publishers (both on the board and outside of it), but it's such a difficult thing to get an actual job out of, at least while I'm this young. Perhaps sometime in the future.

I did indeed, just typed up some quick thoughts on it here if you fancy a read. Ah, yes, on the back of this Virago Modern Classics edition of Rebecca it shows Sally Beauman's Rebecca's Tale. It's also listed as authorised by the du Maurier estate which is interesting enough, perhaps one to add to the wishlist. When it comes to Dickens I've got a decent collection of his novels awaiting me now, although I'll add Pickwick Papers to the list because I have heard you be enthusiastic about it before and it sounds like an enjoyable read. I'll take a look at the Collins books and see which ones I fancy adding to my list. Ooh that is interesting how he collaborated with Harper Lee on In Cold Blood. I'll check this guy out at some point.

Finished Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca not too long ago and I thought overall it was wonderful. Thoughts: Rebecca for me was an absolutely fascinating tale of love and of heartache. A young girl whisked away from her previously simple life, away to Manderley, home of Maxim de Winter, towards something she could have never imagined. Narrated from the future, the heroine of our novel describes life at the estate, where she struggles to adapt to the lifestyle around her, struggles to throw off the image of Rebecca, her husband's previous wife. Speculation surrounds her arrival and ultimately everyone talks of nothing else, frowning upon her upbringing, questioning her ability against the wonderfulness of the women who ruled Manderley before her. Maxim refuses to talk about the past, and the little she learns from those around her does nothing to alleviate the doubt that this isn't where she belongs; that she is an intruder who walks around Manderley handling the things that don't belong to her as they did his previous wife. The past to her is a locked door, but as the novel progresses, things that have remained buried for a long time will once again rise to the surface. A ship that has run ashore will bring the answers, but are they answers that our heroine really wants to hear? Daphne du Maurier writes with wonderful care, crafting images that at times can be both haunting and beautiful. Characters that range from the tactless sister Beatrice, the mad wanderer Ben who walks the seashore, and the ever-loyal and friendly Frank Crawley, the author creates a web of lies that wrap around Manderley, threatening all the while, to bring it to its knees. 5/5.

What with me recently finishing Du Maurier's rather marvellous Rebecca I came into this thread ready to chose my next classic read. After your absolute insistence that I must read To Kill a Mockingbird next, and the fervently good reviews that it's had from you lovely bunch, I've decided that Mr Lee's novel is next in line. *Reaches for the Kindle.* Well we all know your love of Catch-22 so admittedly no surprises. Ooh, not the weepy novels. I used to never cry at books up until I became awfully sentimental (I know, I know..), but now I must factor into the equation the addition of tissues, deary me. Thanks for the warning and the comments. Consider them added (when I get around to checking through the thread and adding one's I want to buy). Perhaps I'll be inspired to read his short stories too. I don't think I'm qualified to answer this just yet but I'll get back to you when I'm done.

Haha it's a good job I knew what I was getting myself in for with this list ahead of me. As for Wells, I most certainly will add him to the list. Them collections look wonderful, where would you propose I start with him? I think a lot of people tend to own a lot of classics but then seem to ignore them in favour of easier reads, myself included. I think that's why I've dedicated a good few months to trying to diversify my tastes and tackle some of the books I've always wanted to read but have often ignored. It seems like slow progress when tackling lists like these because there's so many marvellous novels to read, and for every one you tick off another slides in its place. You seem like you're coming along nicely though, and in no time at all you'll find that you've made even better progress. Thank you. Ah, Rebecca has been wonderful so far, not many pages left to go now. I'll add My Cousin Rachel to the list as Daphne Du Maurier has certainly persuaded me enough through this novel to pick up something of her other works. It's a good job really as there are many Dickens waiting for me this summer; something I'm undoubtedly very excited about. I've never read any Wilkie Collins and never realised he was friends with our dear Charles. Would there be anything in particular you would recommend starting with? I could think of much worse situations to be in though.

Ah I know that feeling, pesky illness getting in the way of valuable reading time. I hope you feel better soon. Will be interested to see how you get on with this one, it's been on my TBR pile for what seems like forever now.

Hello and welcome to BCF, April, I'm extremely jealous of where you live. Hope to see you in discussions.

Rebecca is coming along very nicely at the moment, I'll post my proper thoughts when I'm finished. Sons and Lovers I read recently and although I enjoyed it was a little too stodgy at times because of the masses of romanticised descriptions it contains. Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll see what I can add to the list. Interesting question. I saw someone else on the forum say that pre-WWII books were what they considered classics - forgive me, I forget exactly who that was - and I think in a broad sense that's what I'd stick by. Obviously you have your 'modern classics' too, novels such as Birdsong and Lord of the Rings. I think I'd ultimately consider The Secret Garden a classic of children's literature from what I can see, and it's been one I've been meaning to read - I'll add it to the list.

That figures, it was one of the liveliest ends to a season I've seen in a long time. It was the nature of being tipped with two goals in stoppage time that bothers me, QPR had fought so hard to get themselves within touching distance of what would have been a sensational win, and then they just couldn't hold on. Was a sad moment for me. It'll be a tough game but best of luck, would much prefer an English team to do one over on the Germans. In any case, I suppose we better take this elsewhere as we're a little off-topic. Back to the top notch classics recommendations, thanks folks!

Excellent reading pace as is to be expected now I have so much free time on my hands. Finished The Good Father by Noah Hawley - reviewed and posted in the 'Fiction' section for you all to have a gander at and hopefully become compelled to pick it up. I'm also making good progress with Rebecca which is coming along very nicely making me disappointed that I've never got around to reading it before this point.

Urgh, I come on here knowing there won't be much football chatter unlike the stick I'm getting through calls. Cut me some slack here.

Thank you, it really was one of the most compelling books I've read for a while. Ooh well here's hoping, would be a great present.

Thanks, I'm certainly looking forward to working it - there's some brilliant novels on the list. To Kill A Mockingbird is a priority in all fairness, it's been on my list for too long now with all the recommendations it's had from members on here. I'm not sure about whether they'll appeal to me until I've got started, but I suppose books like Austen's Pride and Prejudice are more appealing for women too and I adored that. I suppose I'll just have to see. Far From The Madding Crowd is another priority after a lot of recommendations, although in fairness I'm starting to feel this is such a good list that they're all 'priority' reads. Thanks for the recommendation of The Barchester Chronicles, I shall add it to the ever-growing list.

Next in line is another book sent from Hodder to review - Sandra Brown's Lethal. Synopsis: When her four-year-old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that 'sick' man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she had her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word. But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trust. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. And Coburn is there to retrieve it - at any cost. This one sounds like an interesting thriller - will be reading alongside Rebecca which is coming along nicely at the moment.

Recently had the pleasure of reviewing this one for BCF, and thought I'd post the review below in the hope it'll inspire some of you to add it to your wishlist. It was a truly fantastic read. Synopsis Dr Paul Allen is a well-respected man. He lives a comfortable life with his second wife and their family. Until the night when a knock at the door blows his world apart: a hugely popular presidential candidate has been shot, and they say the young man who pulled the trigger is Paul’s son. Daniel, the only child from his first, failed marriage, was always a good kid and Paul is convinced his quiet boy is not capable of murder. Overwhelmed by a vortex of feelings, Paul embarks on a mission to understand what happened and why. Following the trail of his son’s journey across America, he is forced to re-examine his life as a husband and a parent, and every decision he ever made. Review Have you ever had the sense that you truly know someone? The belief that you can identify with them deep down: their every thought and feeling. Then, in another instant the certainty is shattered, replaced by the realisation that you never knew them at all. Instead, that what you took to be a connection, an understanding, was you convincing yourself that all was well; the delusion that the relationship you held was one that was infallible. As Dr Paul Allen lives carefree in the unspoiled happiness of his life – a perfect job, a wonderful second wife and two kids – his world is suddenly turned upside down by the arrival of the news that his son has murdered the potentially future president of the United States. Paul strives to understand what has happened, refusing to entertain the idea that his son has carried out these acts. He will go to extraordinary lengths, as far as it takes to try to prove his son’s innocence, but as events unfold and the thread which holds his comfortable lifestyle together starts to unravel, Paul must face the grim reality and make some important decisions. Noah Hawley’s novel The Good Father is at the centre a story about journeys: a young man on a quest for identity and meaning, sprawling across the states of America, wandering aimlessly in an effort to find some answers about who he is; unable to throw of the chains of restraint clamped on him from a chaotic childhood. A father who frantically follows in race against time; his once rational, scientific mind reduced to theories and conspiracies in an effort to ignore the truth: that he was never quite the father his son needed. As a doctor he has learned to be objective, to break down the facts methodically, logically; to be emotionally detached. Yet as we all know, sometimes the emotions of the heart leave one unable to accept what is often staring you right in the face. From a farm in Iowa, home to nice parents who are willing to give a young man a chance, to the college dorms of alcohol-drinking, drug-taking students, Hawley takes us on a sweeping journey through the United States, painting a picture with the endless pit of different characters that he has to offer. Interspersed within the plot, the author presents us with a wealth of knowledge: from information on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, to the exploits of other famous killers such as Charles Manson – facts both fascinating and thought-provoking. His writing is at times heart-wrenching, always utterly compelling, and ultimately Hawley leaves the reader asking questions about themselves and the type of person they really are. 5/5.

Okay here's my review of Noah Hawley's The Good Father - the novel was absolutely brilliant. 5/5.

So last night I wrapped up The Good Father by Noah Hawley, and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. It was heart-wrenching, utterly compelling, and I wanted to go back to the beginning and start over once I had finished. I implore everyone to pick this up and give it a read. Full review coming later today.

Most certainly is.

Spent the day reading The Good Father by Noah Hawley. Just about thirty pages to go and it's absolutely fantastic.

Oh my, I forgot to put the book. Yes it is indeed, it's really good so far - utterly fascinating.