[A Killing Frost - RD Wingfield]

I used to love the Frost books then I read one (can't remember the title) which had so much rape, beatings up, murder and general unpleasantness in it that I realised thaat not only wasn't I enjoying all this but that most of the Frost books had more than their fair shaare of human beastliness. Haven't read one since.

[No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay]

Not great literature but it was a terrific read. Just what the doctor ordered when there's a hurricane blowing, the power's out for two days and so all you can do is read by candlight.

[East of the Sun by Julia Gregson]

I'm with Chesilbeach here - I was really disappointed in this book, it was curiously flat and seemed to lack a proper sense of place. Also being a historical pedant I foound that the main charecters simply didn't behave as women brought up then would have done. Sorry can't go into more detail as I got rid of the book almost immediately.

 

I loved A Suitable Boy, that's a book that paints such a vivid picture you can practically smell the surroundings. Anita Desai is another writer who writes fine books about India, I'd particularly reccomend Fire On The Mountain and for a wonderfully lush, rollercoaster of a read there's Sister Of My Heart by Chitra Banderavi Something or the other which everyone I've lent it to has adored.

 

And if you want a really good historical novel about India let's not forget The Far Pavillions.

[A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini]

Fraaid I didn't enjoy this very much. yes the subject was harrowing but I thought he doesn't write well enough to overcome the simplistic charecterisation and predictable plot.

[Barbara Kingsolver - Prodigal Summer]

I picked this up in a charity shop not knowing anything about Barbara Kingsolver - what a marvellous surprise it was. I adored this book, I thought the theme got its point over without being at all preachy and I was completely blown away by the clarity and energy of her writing.

Reccomended without reservation.

[Favourite chick-lit author?]

Frankly I don't like any of them very much. Of the "softer" type of chick lit I suppose Jill Mansell is my favourite but I tend to go for writers who write romances but with a bit more bite to them like Jennifer Crusie.

[The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett]

Loved the beginning, adored the end, thought it sagged a little in the middle though. Well worth reading.

[The most disturbing work of fiction that you have ever read]

Sophie's Choice which I read when I was pregnant and gave me nightmares for weeks. Any parent who knows what the choice Sophie had to make was will know why. (Sorry don't know how to do spoilers.)