Sula_Milly
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Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 95
Loc: Stirlingshire
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What would it be?
A well known classic or a more obscure title?
Everyone has a favorite that they go back to, that made a huge impression, or even inspired them into action.
What would be yours?
For years I would have said "To kill a Mocking Bird", but now would stuggle to choose between it and "A Thousand Splendid Suns". "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys would be up there too.
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DeepBlue
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Reged: 16/02/2008
Posts: 392
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Has to be Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's the only book I've ever read again and again. And that wonderful line, "Reader, I married him". Wonderful.
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scottishmags
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Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1329
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Hi there
Just one book is really difficult, even ten would be hard, but I think it would have to be "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry
It's the inter-connected story of four people living in India, doing their best to survive and realise their dreams in a cruel society, maintaining a "fine balance" between hope and despair. It's harrowing at times but also very uplifting and I've never read a book where I've cared so much about what happened to the characters
When I worked in a local bookshop for a short time I used to virtually frogmarch customers to the till to make them buy it ..
Mags
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Loo
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Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 2365
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"Shopaholic has a baby" - very funny, in fact anything by
Sophie Kinsella, my favourite author at the moment.
Loo
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...as in Looby Loo
This is me, with Andy Pandy and Teddy.
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wendy21709
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Reged: 16/09/2009
Posts: 27
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Hi Scottishmags,
I have just bought "A Fine Balance" on your recommendation. You made it sound so good!! Whilst buying it I noticed that it was also on the Oprah Winfrey Bookclub list.
I am currently reading the Alexander Macall Smith series of 44 Scotland Street. The 1st book of this series I picked up from the bookshelf at the hotel I was staying at, when on holiday. To be honest I could not put it down, and now I have the 2nd book of the series I am also finding the same!!
Wendy
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Janmac
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Reged: 18/06/2008
Posts: 786
Loc: Lancashire
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Deepblue got there before me !
Jane Eyre - just has to be !!
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debz
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Reged: 18/05/2009
Posts: 331
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Scottishmags - I have listed your book on my Xmas booklist. Just finished The Road Home that you recommended last week, and I LOVED IT! I have bored everyone at work today telling them all about it....
I have just started a Martina Reilly book - has anyone read any of her stuff?
Oh, and getting back to the question, I would struggle to narrow it down too, but the 3 books l have reread several times are Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, The Dwelling Place by Catherine Cookson (similar theme), and She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb.
Debz
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Sula_Milly
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Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 95
Loc: Stirlingshire
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Hi Scottish Mags and Wendy21709,
I will be looking for these books next time in the bookshop. A Fine Balance sounds a great read and I have enjoyed AMS No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books, but have not read the ones you mention yet. Sounds like I should!!
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chilla
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Reged: 05/09/2008
Posts: 6252
Loc: runcorn
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LOL wendy, I bought it too because of scottish mags recommendation!
I like Jane Eyre, but always thought how weak the section of the book where she just 'happens' to meet up with relatives was, and it put a damper on the book for me. Of the Brontes, my favourite would be the Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
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I have the talent of single-minded determination and foc....hey, look, dog!
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BevRae
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Reged: 24/05/2009
Posts: 244
Loc: Edinburgh
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Anything by Kazuo Ishiguro, particularly Remains of the Day - beautiful book AND a wonderful film. And you can't beat Ian Rankin on the crime front.
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beau
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Reged: 25/03/2009
Posts: 98
Loc: Planet Beau
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I'm always nervous recommending books - I raved about Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier but hubby couldn't get into it. I just couldn't grasp how he didn't like that book.
Anyway, Cold Mountain or Far North by Marcel Theroux. Both quite bleak but with streaks of humanity.
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I am not an old hippie.... I am a hip oldie
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beau
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Reged: 25/03/2009
Posts: 98
Loc: Planet Beau
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I also loved Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe - loved it at the time and thought everyone should read it but I wonder would I still feel the same now  I also love various classics but some of these have been mentioned.
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I am not an old hippie.... I am a hip oldie
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scottishmags
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Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1329
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Wendy,and Chilla, I really hope you like A Fine Balance - it takes a bit of reading but it's well worth it. I got really focused on books set in the Indian sub-continent at one time, partly because I have family in Bangladesh,; I just find it a fascinating part of the world.
Debz, so pleased you enjoyed The Road Home. It really helps to convey how tough it can be living in a foreign country, struggling to make a new life. I wonder if Nick Griffin would appreciate a copy ..
Bev, I agree about Remains of the Day, the film too .. the unexpressed love between the characters was so poignantly acted by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson wasn't it
Mags
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junemc
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Reged: 12/02/2009
Posts: 882
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Hi,
If I had to choose my most favourite book of all time it would have to be 'Pride and Prejudice' I still love it and have lost count of the number of times I have read it!!
Modern day, I love Marion Keyes, Cathy Kelly, anything by either of them! Have also enjoyed Sophie Kinsella 'shopaholic' series.
June xx
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Sula_Milly
member
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 95
Loc: Stirlingshire
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Hello BevRae,
Have just been to see Ian Rankin speaking at Off the Page in The Tollbooth in Stirling as part of the Stirling Book Festival, and he was fantastic. I love his books anyway, but hearing how he approaches his writing was very interesting and as an added bonus, he was very funny!! Great evening!
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scottishmags
member
Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1329
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Ian Rankin studied English Lit at Edinburgh Uni at the same time as me; he was in the year below and I didn't really know him so can't claim him as a friend unfortunately .. there was an interesting documentary about him a couple of months ago S_M - did you see it? I think Bev did
Mags
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marieoh
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Reged: 26/10/2008
Posts: 27
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Wendy, keep going on the Scotland Street series. I've just finished the fifth. Read it while in hospital recently and it was just the sort of light reading I needed. I also like his Isabel Dalhousie series for escapism.
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Ginnie
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Reged: 24/06/2008
Posts: 1065
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This is so difficult. There are so many good books and after thinking about the Brontes, Jane Austin etc I have decided it has to be Sebastion Faulkes Birdsong. Wonderful book.
I loved The Road Home. It really made me think.
Scotland Street books are so cleverly written. Poor little Bertie.
Ginnie
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BevRae
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Reged: 24/05/2009
Posts: 244
Loc: Edinburgh
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My brother often sees Ian Rankin having his coffee in a local coffee shop. Maybe I should start hanging around there!
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scottishmags
member
Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1329
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Ginnie, I agree Birdsong is brilliant; I've enjoyed other books by SF but don't think he will better it. Have you read Life Class by Pat Barker which has a similar theme?
Bev, I think you should definitely befriend Ian Rankin and come back and tell us all about him!
I have a similar very tenuous connection to Iain Banks, whose best friend's brother used to go out with my little sister .. another of my favourite writers .. has anyone read his stuff?
Mags
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