Karsa Orlong Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hi all I have a problem. Yes, apart from the obvious one(s) It's my mum's birthday coming up soon, and I always buy her some books because she loves to read. Unfortunately, I'm running out of ideas, and I'm hoping someone here could point me in the right direction. She tends to like novels that are about family, and/or multiple generations of said families. She tends to like stories set in the past, rather than modern day. At the moment she is into Phillipa Gregory, and has enjoyed her Wideacre trilogy and The Other Boleyn Girl, and has The White Queen waiting to be read (all of which I bought for her ). In the past she has read the likes of Catherine Cookson, Jean Plaidy, Maeve Binchey. Nothing too raunchy or sweary. There are other authors she has tried, but I can't remember them at the moment, and - apart from anything else - it's becoming impossible to recall what she has or hasn't read, as she hasn't kept all her books for me to check. Pretty inconsiderate, I'm sure you'd agree So I think my only alternative is to try an author who is something like one of the above, and who she hasn't read before. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 A couple of titles come to mind: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. The latter one has some possibly none-interesting bits which your Mum might not like, I. e. hermaphrod..ilia? Is that a word? An excellent book anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 The book I was going to suggest is long since out of print, unfortunately. If she wouldn't mind a second-hand copy though there are loads on Amazon! It's Hardacre by C L Skelton. It's been donkey's years since I read it when I was about 15 (so 30 years, give or take!) but I remember really enjoying it, although it's not the sort of thing I'd buy now. I think it's probably fairly Catherine Cookson-esque - I hadn't thought about it for years until I read this but it immediately sprang to mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Has she read the Kate Morton books,House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours? Also The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield may appeal. I'm sure she would also like The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons too, I just read it last week and thought it was brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Oh yes, and Natasha Solomon's previous book, Mr Rosenblaum's List - that was lovely! And Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ooh, thank you! I know she's got Gone With The Wind (that's one that's still on her shelf), but the C L Skelton, Kate Morton and Natasha Solomons ones sound just her kind of thing Has anyone read anything by Christie Dickason or Gabrielle Kimm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmylou Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I would recommend you take a look at Michelle Moran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 What about Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth? That's a great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 My Mum used to like Catherine Cookson & she also read a lot of Victoria Holt I don't know if you can still get her books but your Mum might like those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KindleWorm Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Has she read the Kate Morton books,House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours? Also The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield may appeal. I'm sure she would also like The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons too, I just read it last week and thought it was brilliant. I was going to suggest the very same. it sounds like my mum has very similar tastes to yours, Karsa Orlong... and if I remember correctly she loved these. A little bit left-field, but something my mum has been obsessive about for years... I bought her the Harry Potter books on audio CD read by Stephen Fry, and she absolutely loves them. Has listened to the whole thing more times than any of us know! Just another idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jade32 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 What about Josephine Cox, isn't she similar to Catherine Cookson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think your mum has similar tastes to mine. Has she tried any Elisabeth Chadwick books. If she likes Philippa Gregory she might like to try some of Elisabeth's books - they take place earlier in history (usually around 12th Century) but they are great stories. If she is wanting a doorstep challenge, they maybe try some Edward Rutherfurd. His sagas start in various countries from the beginning of time to present day. I'd recommend London, Russka and Sarum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readwine Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Rosamunde Pilcher is lovely: Coming Home, Winter Solstice and The Shell Seekers are my favorites. Just read Ken Follett's Fall of Giants which was very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiH Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Rosamunde Pilcher is lovely: Coming Home, Winter Solstice and The Shell Seekers are my favorites. Just read Ken Follett's Fall of Giants which was very good Can second Rosamunde Pilcher's coming home. One of my favourite books ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I got her The Forgotten Garden in the end - and she hasn't read it yet, she's still reading Phillipa Gregory! Anyway, I'm now plundering the suggestions in here again for one of her Christmas prezzies Edit: The Rosamunde Pilcher one looks like exactly the sort of book she likes, thanks Edited November 23, 2011 by Karsa Orlong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyzenthlay Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 May I also suggest a translation of Scandinavia's Margit Sandemoe's great work - The Legend of the Ice People Don't let the strange-sounding name put you off. They are family oriented, there are HEAPS of them (47), they come with a supernatural evil twist (a blood line curse) but they are addictive and captivating and a great read. They include upper class / royalty as well as lower class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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