FabSwingers.com forum: Favorite Books

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Wanting to read more books, just curious what peoples favorite books are or would recommend

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

Depends on what sort you enjoy.

I'm partial to a good crime novel.

Try something by Jo Nesbo or Mark Billingham. Both have plenty to choose from.

Nita

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I read the Witcher series 2 times, and also listened to it twice on the audio books.

The art of war by Sun Tzu is also a good read.

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By *HaRiFMan
over a year ago

Beyond the shadows.

Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2 its riveting I've read the first chapter 10 times

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you fancy a bit of fantasy, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is an excellent book. Beautifully written and the story is great.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm not into novels much unless they are historical ones

I like Philippa Gregorys books

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Dr Sleep - the sequel to The Shining by Stephen King - it's awesome!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you like creepy horror then I recomend Stephen kings Geralds game

And if you like really creepy sleep with the lights on kinda book then James herbert the secret of crickly hall

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

To Kill a Mockingbird is my favourite classic book.

Just reading Driving over Lemons which was recommended on a previous thread by a fabber. Really enjoying it.

Sarah

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By *ildbillkidMan
over a year ago

where the road goes on forever

The wheel of time series by robert jordan

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The wheel of time series by robert jordan"

Yes. This. 100%.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Dr Sleep - the sequel to The Shining by Stephen King - it's awesome!"

I also recommend Stephen King's Salem's Lot

I could drone on and on, when comes to the horror/fantasy books I've read and liked, so I won't

Mandasue Heller's a good author, she's more urban drama/crime fiction

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Slapstick comedy. The Stephanie plum books by Janet evanovich. Think there is 22 of them x it's about a female bounty hunter who is fairly pants at her job.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

*Some* of our favourite fiction:

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dosteovsky

The Stranger - Albert Camus

Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

The Clash - Arturo Barea

Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre

A Hero of Our Time - Mikhail Lermontov

Roads to Freedom (Trilogy) - Jean-Paul Satre

Quiet Flows the Don - Mikhail Sholokhov

Intimacy - Hanif Kureishi

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

Hunger - Knut Hamsen

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By *ancyDrewWoman
over a year ago

Glasgow

What type of books are you into?

I am reading 'Instead of a Letter' by Diana Athill - am OBSESSED with her. She is an amazing woman. Truly amazing.

Have read Doctor Sleep too, agree it is v good.

Am a huge Sarah Waters fan too. And John Irving. Books are porn.

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By *arksidesubCouple
over a year ago

not far from you..

I'm reading..

Behind closed doors.it's really a girly read..I'm gripped!..

B x

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By *he Queen of TartsWoman
Forum Mod
over a year ago

My Own Little World

The wheel of time series by Robert Jordan.

The sword of Truth series - Terry Goodkind

Most of Stephen King, Tom Clancy. Just started the Jack Reacher books, the jury is still out on these.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just looking up a few of these suggestions, myself Im a sci fi fantasy, futuristic kind of book person, but Im looking to get into crime novels and give them ago, I also want to start reading Stephen King. Im expanding my horizons on the categories of books I read.

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By *ancyDrewWoman
over a year ago

Glasgow

Stephen King is GREAT though am less of a fan of post 1995 stuff. He interweaves characters a lot, which I adore. So one book you are reading about an old woman and then in another you learn why she is the way she is. But neither take anything away from the story. Not sure where I would start with him, probably Misery?

I want to win the lotto so I can just read forever.

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By *ullswapcouple30Couple
over a year ago

Valleys

Got to agree with most on here.

Stephen King is one of my favourite authors, pet cemetery and it being two firm favourites.

The millennium series - Steig Larsson

a company of liars - Karen Maitland

Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy - Douglas Adams

Anything by James Herbert if you love horror and erotica

Too many to list and too little time !!

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By *ullswapcouple30Couple
over a year ago

Valleys

"I'm reading..

Behind closed doors.it's really a girly read..I'm gripped!..

B x"

I've just read that and thought it was pretty good.

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By *ottie_84Woman
over a year ago

Nottingham

The odd Thomas series by dean koontz or pet cemetery by Stephen King for me

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm not much of a reader, I just stick to The Hobbit

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By *ookworm258Man
over a year ago

Wythenshawe

Matthew Reilly and Clive Cussler for thrillers, James White Wraith for horror and James Axler for sci-fi action. I have just completed the 12 Jason Bourne novels which were enjoyable

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Never been able to get on with Stephen King. I recognise that he's a good storyteller, and that he's immensely popular - but I find his style tedious and unremarkable. I've never been anything other than bored within moments of picking up one of his books

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

MORT by Terry Pratchett, a disc-world book, must have read it at least four times.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Am a huge Sarah Waters fan too..."

Seconded!

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By *ottie_84Woman
over a year ago

Nottingham

"Never been able to get on with Stephen King. I recognise that he's a good storyteller, and that he's immensely popular - but I find his style tedious and unremarkable. I've never been anything other than bored within moments of picking up one of his books

"
tbh pet cemetery is the only book of his that really got my attention I found it hard to read his other books

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The nights dawn trilogy by Peter f Hamilton, it's science fiction and it blew my mind!

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By *abes in the woodWoman
over a year ago

wales

True story

Also love romance novels

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Since mine isn't published yet Magician by Raymond E Feist

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By *he Queen of TartsWoman
Forum Mod
over a year ago

My Own Little World

"Since mine isn't published yet Magician by Raymond E Feist"

Just finished re-reading that series last week.

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By *arksMan
over a year ago

in the centre

David Niven - the moons a ballon and bring on the empty horses , 2 great autobiographies

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Jack London 'Martin Eden'

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By *uzy444Woman
over a year ago

in the suffolk countryside

terry brooks. david eddings if you like fantasy fiction..well written and absorbing

i like the fact that the characters reappear in the sequels

or if you want anthropology, ancient culture and deepening awareness of whats humanly possible

the twelve books of carlos castaneda...they may just blow your mind

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By *edRidingWolfCouple
over a year ago

Lydney

"I'm not into novels much unless they are historical ones

I like Philippa Gregorys books

Try the Sharon Penman, Diana Norman (and her pen name Ariana Franklin), Barbara Erskine and Diana Gabaldon books

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By *edRidingWolfCouple
over a year ago

Lydney

"The wheel of time series by robert jordan"

Yes!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Oh Christ

Horror-wise... there's a lot of different genres of horror, most of which I've enjoyed since being a teenager.

There's a particular genre called "splatterpunk" that I adored as a teenager - according to google, the definition is "a literary genre characterised by the explicit description of horrific, violent or pornographic scenes." One of my favourite splatterpunk authors was Richard Laymon - if you fancy a series, look at the the Monster House Chronicles.

Stephen King is an obvious choice - one of my favourites - and his writing style tends to go between horror, thriller, sci fi or all of the above. If you want straight up horror, IMO, go for Salem's Lot or Pet Sematary. If you want a ghost story, The Shining's your obvious choice. Gerald's Game and Cujo are good at building suspense. For more teen-based stories, try Christine or Carrie, and for something a little different try The Dead Zone or Firestarter. I absolutely love It but if you're starting with Stephen King that might be a bit too long.

Then you have James Herbert. IMO, his stories tend to be split between more gorey stuff - like The Fog and The Rats - and more fantasy/ghost driven - like The Secret Of Crickley Hall and The Magic Cottage. There's also Once, a really good erotic adult fairy tale, and there's the Ash trilogy, which deals with ghosts and supernatural elements. That's Haunted, The Ghosts Of Sleath, and Ash.

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By *aystay66Man
over a year ago

Manchester

On the Road jack kerouac !!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee.

It was the book that,as a teenager, made me realise how enjoyable and fulfilling reading is.

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

Dune probably. The spice must flow!

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By *GHertsCouple
over a year ago

North Herts

Mark Billingham's already been mentioned in the crime thriller category, but I'd also add Peter James' series of Roy Grace books.

Probably one of my favourite ever reads was Birdsong by Sebastien Faulks.

Like a good Autobiography too, currently reading Danny Baker's second one, loved Robert Vaughan's a few years back too.

Mr G

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Really enjoyed a bit of William Gibson cyberpunk back in the day - Neuromancer / Count Zero / Mona Lisa Overdrive. His bridge tirlogy of Virtual Light / Idoru and All Tomorrow's Parties were pretty good too.

For dark fantasy you can't beat a bit of Neil Gaiman or China Miéville. Neverwhere and American Gods are two of Gaiman's best. Kraken by Miéville is an enjoyable alt-London tale.

Favourite sci-fi stuff is by Alastair Reynolds - Revelations Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, plus Chasm City is a great little tale.

And overarching all of that lot is Neal Stephenson. If there's even the slightest hint of the history / maths geek about you, you'll love his Baroque Cycle - Quicksilver, The Confusion and The System of the World. He also mimicked Gibson's prescience with Snowcrash, and The Diamond Age is a good little read too.

Oh - and recently read Mike Shevdon's 'Sixty One Nails', which was a good fun alt-London tale too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Since mine isn't published yet Magician by Raymond E Feist

Just finished re-reading that series last week."

Taking them on holiday again this year.

Also Wolf by Robert R McCammon or anything by Joe Abercrombie or Clive Barker

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Favourite sci-fi stuff is by Alastair Reynolds - Revelations Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, plus Chasm City is a great little tale.

I loved that series, but the ending was brutal, it's like he really couldn't be arsed, or realised he had written himself into a corner.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Dresden file books by Jim Butcher are just excellent

Anne Rice's Prince Lestat, was a welcome return of her vampire chronicles

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By *KMaxMan
over a year ago

Bristol

For Whom The Bell Tolls.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I do t read fiction so I can only suggest non fiction. The wolf of Wall Street was by far the best book I've ever read, I really missed it when I'd finished it. Well worth a read.

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By *lice400Woman
over a year ago

nottingham

The magical faraway tree when I was little.

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By *ancyDrewWoman
over a year ago

Glasgow

non fiction wise, I've not long finished Stasiland by Anna Funder

it is amazing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm not into novels much unless they are historical ones

I like Philippa Gregorys books

Try the Sharon Penman, Diana Norman (and her pen name Ariana Franklin), Barbara Erskine and Diana Gabaldon books"

I have read most of Barbara Erskines books, and only yesterday ordered her latest..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A sense of an ending - julian Barnes is amazing

Buddha of Suburbia - Kureishi is brilliant and hilarious

Old Man and the Sea and The Sun also Rises - love Hemingway. What a life he lived

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm in the chick lit, I love the shopaholic series but that's just me

G x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Too many too mention, but i love Jules Verne & George Orwell

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fly fishing by J R Hartley

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy."

Louis De Bernier as in Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

And I love a bit of Neil Gaiman too, especially Stardust.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

John buchan's Richard Hainey books including the 39 steps. Amazing book.

Anthony burgess a clockwork orange.

J.J connelly's Layer cake

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy.

Louis De Bernier as in Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

And I love a bit of Neil Gaiman too, especially Stardust.

Yep, the very same. Neil Gaiman's Amercan Gods is fantastic, and I loved Good Omen's with Terry Pratchett. It's my comfort book

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy.

Louis De Bernier as in Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

And I love a bit of Neil Gaiman too, especially Stardust.

Yep, the very same. Neil Gaiman's Amercan Gods is fantastic, and I loved Good Omen's with Terry Pratchett. It's my comfort book

By coincidence, the film adaptation of Stardust is my comfort film

I've not read many more by him to be honest. I've read The Graveyard Book, Coraline & Other Stories and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane.

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By *verysmileMan
over a year ago

Canterbury

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. A fantastic tale of PTSD before it was called PTSD.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy.

Louis De Bernier as in Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

And I love a bit of Neil Gaiman too, especially Stardust.

Yep, the very same. Neil Gaiman's Amercan Gods is fantastic, and I loved Good Omen's with Terry Pratchett. It's my comfort book

By coincidence, the film adaptation of Stardust is my comfort film

I've not read many more by him to be honest. I've read The Graveyard Book, Coraline & Other Stories and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane."

It's my comfort film too! I feel all fuzzy and warm when I watch it. Very different from the book though.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. A fantastic tale of PTSD before it was called PTSD."

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels are some of my favourite books. The Colour of Magic is still brilliant to reread

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By *oungladMan
over a year ago

Burnham

Not my favourite but current book. Horror in the museum by h p lovecraft

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sci-fi, Dune or Kurt Vonnegut the Slaughter House 5.

Historical fiction, Sharon Penman books, anything by Louis de Bernier and Sebastian Faulks, the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy.

Fantasy, anything by Neil Gaiman or Robert Holdstock, A Song of Ice and Fire series, Tolkien etc......

Favourite author of all time, Thomas Hardy.

Louis De Bernier as in Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

And I love a bit of Neil Gaiman too, especially Stardust.

Yep, the very same. Neil Gaiman's Amercan Gods is fantastic, and I loved Good Omen's with Terry Pratchett. It's my comfort book

By coincidence, the film adaptation of Stardust is my comfort film

I've not read many more by him to be honest. I've read The Graveyard Book, Coraline & Other Stories and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane.

It's my comfort film too! I feel all fuzzy and warm when I watch it. Very different from the book though."

Oh bless you

I agree but I'm glad they didn't ruin it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

To Kill a Mocking Bird, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo are some on my favourites.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels are some of my favourite books. The Colour of Magic is still brilliant to reread

Still love Mort, Lords & Ladies and Carpe Jugulum. Some began to feel a bit formulaic, but anything with Sam Vimes rates highly with me.

Agree with those saying about Gaiman and Stardust - book and film were both good, though quite different. I've loved Neil Gaiman since getting into his Sandman stories at university.

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By *ali 69Man
over a year ago

jersey

The raggered trousered philantopists , by Robert Tressle , Chavs , by Owen Jones , Domain , James Herbert .

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By *rbusyhandsMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

A Farewell to Arms and Old Man and the sea, both Excellent, thought provoking books to read.

The Big over Easy by Jasper Fford, its a little like Rodger rabbit in the sense its about a detective investigating nursery crimes involving humpty dumpty and the like, funny and enjoyable.

And top of the list Frankenstein - Romantic (in a sense) and horrifying, amazing book.

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By *KMaxMan
over a year ago

Bristol

"A Farewell to Arms and Old Man and the sea, both Excellent, thought provoking books to read.

The Big over Easy by Jasper Fford, its a little like Rodger rabbit in the sense its about a detective investigating nursery crimes involving humpty dumpty and the like, funny and enjoyable.

And top of the list Frankenstein - Romantic (in a sense) and horrifying, amazing book.

Ooh I forgot Farewell To Arms, what a great read that is. Never got round to The Old Man and the Sea, I may well make that one of my holiday reads this year.

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By *tretchygirl and tintinWoman
over a year ago

Dartford

"Just looking up a few of these suggestions, myself Im a sci fi fantasy, futuristic kind of book person, but Im looking to get into crime novels and give them ago, I also want to start reading Stephen King. Im expanding my horizons on the categories of books I read. "

For futuristic but slightly weird I suggest anything by Haruki Murakami especially 1q84 books 1-3.

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By *G LanaTV/TS
over a year ago

Gosport

Science fantasy/fiction - Tad Williams - Otherland tetralogy

Humour - Ben Elton - Dead Famous

Historic fiction - Amitav Ghosh - Sea of Poppies

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