I want to start reading a great book together with member of nl. Can anyone make a choice? I am presently reading harry potter and if u are interested we can share our thoughts on this thread

If you want to read a great book, then I strongly recommend 'Pillars of the earth' by Ken Follet. You will love it I promise!

minotaur:

If you want to read a great book, then I strongly recommend 'Pillars of the earth' by Ken Follet. You will love it I promise!

I second this recommendation. I'm thinking about re-reading Pillars of the Earth at some point this month or in September so if you decide that you want to read it too, I'd be happy to share thoughts with you here.

Hey Tatase. So you've read the book? Greatest book I've ever read. Have you read the sequel? Not as interesting but still a great read. I'm happy to have found this literature section. Away from the madness of that romance section filled with all sorts of nonsense. So, have you read other books? Care to share your thoughts on 'Pillars of the Earth' or any other book you have read?

@tatase: stole a peek at your last posts. seems like you read a lot of novels. So you've also read 'World without End'? As I said,not as good as pillars of the earth but still a great read. I pride myself on having read at least a book by every author alive(lol) but I must say one of the books you mentioned had me stumped. You mentioned a book 'Girl who kicked the Hornet's nest' by one Evanovich or something. Never heard of the author or the book. How is the book?

Yes I've read both Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. I liked them both but agree definitely that Pillars was better. It started a little slowly in my opinion, but it really picked up and you become obsessed with it and before you know it, you're finished.

I do read a lot of novels (I'm not big into poetry, plays and non-fiction). When I was younger, I read more widely (in terms of more genres), now I tend to stick to what I like, although I'm open to trying new things. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is not by Janet Evanovich. It's part of a really excellent thriller/suspense trilogy by an author called Stieg Larsson (the books in the trilogy are The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, & The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).

Janet Evanovich is a totally different author who writes light-hearted romantic comedy suspense. So not at all related to the Stieg Larsson books. I just like her and her stuff is light and unserious fluff and sometimes it's nice to have that in a book, too.

oh ok. I will look for the books and read. Thanks for the recommendation. I hope Evanovich writes good romance and not all these 'run of the mill romance'. Allow me to demonstrate - She meets the guy at first and its hate at first sight. Then she runs into the bathroom to wash her face after which she looks in the mirror. Then the author begins to describe her 'brunette,upward slanting eyebrows with soft brown eyes. An aquiline nos with a cupid shaped mouth begging to be kissed and a stubborn chin. Then they happen to be posted to one remote island or something where the hate turns to love and they have great sex usually described in lurid detail(usu seen in the middle of the book where the coupon is). Then they live happily ever after. bla bla.

Oh the good old days of mills n boon and harlequin romance!

thats why I prefer romance set in medieval ages like pillars of the earth. So, do you PROMISE me these books aint like that?

minotaur:

oh ok. I will look for the books and read. Thanks for the recommendation. I hope Evanovich writes good romance and not all these 'run of the mill romance'. Allow me to demonstrate - She meets the guy at first and its hate at first sight. Then she runs into the bathroom to wash her face after which she looks in the mirror. Then the author begins to describe her 'brunette,upward slanting eyebrows with soft brown eyes. An aquiline nos with a cupid shaped mouth begging to be kissed and a stubborn chin. Then they happen to be posted to one remote island or something where the hate turns to love and they have great sex usually described in lurid detail(usu seen in the middle of the book where the coupon is). Then they live happily ever after. bla bla.

Oh the good old days of mills n boon and harlequin romance!

thats why I prefer romance set in medieval ages like pillars of the earth. So, do you PROMISE me these books aint like that?

Ummmm. . . Noooo!!!!!!! But major LOL, in fact ROTFL. No soft brown eyes, stubborn chins (btw what exactly is that? how can a chin be stubborn?), or faux hero-hatred. They still put the coupon and the opportunity to win a gift in the middle though, right with the hottest sex scene. I still like them though! That's funny you brought that up and put it like that o, though.

Anyway, I wouldn't call Janet Evanovich's books "great" in a general sense, but for what they are, they're pretty good. If you're going to try one, try her Stephanie Plum series, the first book of which is "One For the Money;" it's definitely one of my favourite series to read.

What about you? Any other "great book" suggestions other than Pillars?

Truth be told, I will be hard put to remember the names of the books I read. I used to read everything I could lay my hands on- the whole pacesetter series, sidney sheldon,jeffrey archer. Oh, and did u read mallory towers,famous four,adventurous five,secret seven,wishing chair,virtually anything enid blyton.and a host of other novels. then I entered med school and there was barely time for novels.

I just finished this book that looks a little bit like Pillars of the earth. Name is 'Cathedral of the Sea' by Ildefonso Falcones. Set in medieval spain and spanning the time during the Inquisition. Jut like Pillars of the earth just that the setting is different. But its a nice book. would have sent it to you but pity I'm not around. Nothing like sharing the joy of a good book with someone else.
I dont really like series or trilogies because you may not find the following part to read. There are like 3 novels that I'm still looking for the second or 3rd part since childhood. I will gladly give an arm just to lay my hands on one of them.
And yes,they describe their chin. They no get wetin dem no dey write for those romance books

But how come you are so interested in novels? Ladies don't read novels, And even if they do, its usually romance.

according to romance novels. a jaw is described as stubborn when it is jutting out or something. dont tell me u've not come acrsoo that before. they describe all sorts of things.

I would have recommended Wole Soyinka's "Ake: The Years of Childhood", but I am presently busy writing.

minotaur:

according to romance novels. a jaw is described as stubborn when it is jutting out or something. dont tell me u've not come acrsoo that before. they describe all sorts of things.

No I know all about stubborn chins, it's one of those things one reads and wonders WTF and then moves on. I did also read mallory towers, st. clares, the naughtiest girl in school, famous five, secret seven and more. Good memories. I know how life gets in the way of reading for fun, although, reading is kind of my getaway, so I always make time for it. . . for the sake of sanity. I'll check out the Catherdral of the Sea also.

@ topic,
After a bit of thought, some that come readily to mind are:

The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
The Good Earth by Paul S. Buck
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
The Red Tent by Kate Furnivall
The Stieg Larsson Millenium Trilogy
Of course all the Jane Austens