chesilbeach

I would start with Heat and Dust or A Backward Place, there are the ones that I enjoyed most, although it's been a while since I read them, but they stick out in my memory.

I hardly think the phrase "Happy Reading" and the book "Jude The Obscure" should be in the same post

I was so disappointed by this book. I'd heard rave reviews on the radio and television, and I love books set in India, so I sat down expecting to enjoy a good read. Alas, it was not to be. The characters weren't engaging, and while I understand that the book was about the English in India, there was so little about India or the native population, it could have been set anywhere. At times the plot and character development were unconvincing, and I almost felt like some of the characters were contemporary women transported to the 1920's. Like Janet, I spotted the mistake about the parlour game, which smacked of lazy editing, as even if the author had made a mistake, the editor should have picked this up. Having said all that, it was a reasonably entertaining book and I did enjoy it enough to finish it, however, I was hoping for more. If you want to read other books set in India, I would recommend Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's books, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, Eclipse of the Sun by Phil Whitaker or, finally, my favourite of all, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

I started to read this last year, but I got about 120 pages in and then put it down and never picked it up again, and I've no idea why. I was interested in the story, and engaged by the characters, and I really can't think why I stopped reading. Having said that, it's been so long since I started it, I'd have to start from the beginning again, and, to be honest, I'm not sure I can be bothered. I may give it another go if I ever deplete my already huge TBR pile!

I did buy this at one point, but I think I read so many reviews saying it was very scary that I ended up giving it to the Oxfam bookshop - basically I'm a scaredy cat

I think I'll go with that Rachel's Holiday then, and see how I get on.

Nope! I've joined you in the chick-lit category I've also picked Contemporary fiction, Classics and Young Adult (even though I'm not one!), although I will read anything that my book group chose, which often results in a crime book but I rarely enjoy them.

I have the same reflex, ii - if I see anyone else crying my eyes automatically well up.

Electric Lift Equipment For Modern Buildings. A Practical Guide To Its Selection, Installation, Operation And Maintenance (Hardcover) by Grierson Ronald (this is a genuine book available on amazon.co.uk!)

Despite being a fan of chick lit, I've never read any of Marian Keyes' books! What one would you all recommend as a good starting point?

I read Backpack when it first came out, and thought it was quite good, but then picked up Cuban Heels in a charity shop, but put it down after about 80 pages and haven't picked it up since. It didn't grab my attention at all, and it's put me off reading any more of her novels. Based on these reviews, I might give this one a go, and see if she can win me back.

Her publishers website (http://www.hodder.co.uk/author_details.asp?author=1037) has the synopsis of each book, and both these titles have Lizzie Jordan as the main character, so I assume they are linked, if not necessarily as series (as there are only two of them).

According to http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk: Lizzie Jordan's Secret Life (2000) Running Away from Richard (2001)

Finished re-reading Lucia Victrix: Mapp and Lucia today, and enjoyed it even more on a second read, as this time, I'd read the previous novels in the series, so had a better understanding of where the characters had come from to get to this point of their story. Continuing the anthology, I've started the fifth book today, Lucia Victrix: Lucia's Progress, which even after one chapter I'm already loving it!

Totally makes sense - although I don't take the train much, when I do get the chance I love to read on the train. I'm always the one driving in the car, so the only journeys where I can read are on the train, and it's guilt free reading time, because you can't do anything else!

You'll need to watch out for Jane Green's next book as well, as the US title is Dune Road while the UK title is Girl Friday. In her blog, she put a little aside about the reasoning:

Not much, but here's the blurb on it from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk: "Translated into 15 languages and greeted with massive praise when it was originally published in Germany, Martin Suter's thrilling novel follows a troubled woman as she tries to escape her tragic past. After running away to a remote village, however, a more chilling series of events begins to unfold right in front of her. Tightly plotted and intelligently written, this engrossing mystery's gripping ending will leave readers questioning truth and identity."

I'm not sure if the challenge is reading the books, or finding the books to read in the first place! Still, I've been doing some investigation for you, and found: Deal With The Devil by Swiss author Martin Suter, who was born in 1948 - is that the sort of thing you were looking for?

La Belle Saison by Patricia Atkinson made me cry at then end. And I finished reading Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner yesterday through a veil of tears, as there was a completely unexpected plot twist which caught me off guard, and brought rather a lot of emotion out of me.

I read this earlier this week - awesome book, fantastic description of the bookshop, and heartbreaking study of loneliness.

Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka The Road Home - Rose Tremain Queen Lucia - E. F. Benson Miss Mapp - E. F. Benson Lucia In London - E. F. Benson The Girl from the Chartreuse - Pierre P

I don't read much fantasy, but my favourite would have to be: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling By far the best book of the series. Lovely to listen to on audiobook as well, beautifully read by the delicious Stephen Fry.

Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka The Road Home - Rose Tremain Queen Lucia - E. F. Benson Miss Mapp - E. F. Benson Lucia In London - E. F. Benson The Girl from the Chartreuse - Pierre P

Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner

I haven't read masses of classics, but I have read both "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" and I would say that I think "Jane Eyre" is an easier introduction into the world of classics than WH, which I found a difficult read and I didn't really enjoy it, whereas I felt JE was written in a way which felt more modern and felt almost like a contemporary book in a period setting.