Ink and Paper Blog discussion

Looking for a book recommendation? The group is here to help. What are you looking for? Let us know.

Ideally I am looking for a book including...
1) historical fiction, fantasy or adventure
2) coming of age story with great character development (à la To Kill a Mockingbird)
3) witty humor (not overused and flat though; more like Mark Twain)
Any ideas? :)

How about The Reader by Bernard Schlink. It hits two of the points on your list (it's not humorous)

I have already read The Reader but I really liked how it tackled WWII from a more uncommon perspective. It's been a while, maybe it is time for a re-read - thank you!

Alina wrote: "Ideally I am looking for a book including...
1) historical fiction, fantasy or adventure
2) coming of age story with great character development (à la To Kill a Mockingbird)
3) witty humor (not ove..."

Have you read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - it is a historical fiction / fantasy epic - I think it is the character development you are looking for - with a very sly sense of humor. And on a completely different note - check out Midnight's Childern by Rushdie - an epic coming of age tell set in India - with a bit of Magical realism a ton of character development and some of the best writing ever. Hope that helps. :-)

Alina wrote: "Ideally I am looking for a book including...
1) historical fiction, fantasy or adventure
2) coming of age story with great character development (à la To Kill a Mockingbird)
3) witty humor (not ove..."

I'm listening to Hannah Kent's Burial Rites- it's fantastic. Set in 19th century Iceland about a young woman sentenced to death. I'm nearly half way through and just loving it. The writing is beautiful.

I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?

I think Mating by Rush is a pretty famous novel set Botswana. I've only flipped through but have been recommend it a number of times

Marcella wrote: "I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?"

I dont know whether you are into detective fiction but Alexander McCall Smith's series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is set in Botswana. McCall Smith was born in Zimbabwe but taught law in Botswana.

Russell wrote: "I think Mating by Rush is a pretty famous novel set Botswana. I've only flipped through but have been recommend it a number of times"

Thanks! I'll check that out :)

Britta wrote: "Marcella wrote: "I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?"

I dont know whether you are into detective fiction but Alexande..."

I have read the first two books in that serie years ago. I think I enjoyed them, but I can't remember much about them. I'm wondering if I could just continue with the third book.

Marcella wrote: "Britta wrote: "Marcella wrote: "I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?"

I dont know whether you are into detective ficti..."

Hi Marcella
I think you could continue with the third book easily. I started reading the series a few years ago as a holiday read and I still enjoy doing that. So whenever I'm in a train station or an airport I pick one up regardless its place in the series.

Marcella wrote: "I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?"

If you don't mind reading somewhat older books you could check out Bessie Head. She was a very influential author in the sixties and the seventies. Her most important books are "When rain clouds gather " , a book about a South African refugee stranded in a little village in the heart of Botswana and "A Question of Power". She also wrote a selection of short stories. Some are set in 19th-century Botswana. I don't think her writing is outdated. Her stories focus on everyday life en on the relationships between ordinary people.

Vera wrote: "Marcella wrote: "I am looking for books for books from and/or set in Botswana, preferably both.

Anyone have some recommendations?"

If you don't mind reading somewhat older books you could check ..."

Thanks! She sounds like an interesting writer. And thanks also for your advice on the #1 ladies detective agency series.

Thank you all for your recommendations! Some of them I already had an eye on so I will definitely check those out :)
Unfortunately I haven't read anything on Botswana so I cannot give any advice there.

Thank you Manda for The Pillars of the Earth recommendation. I have had this book for a while and just need to get to it. Especially with the third book coming out.

Russell wrote: "Alina wrote: "Ideally I am looking for a book including...
1) historical fiction, fantasy or adventure
2) coming of age story with great character development (à la To Kill a Mockingbird)
3) witty ..."

Thanks Russell. I love historical fiction. Jonnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell looks so interesting. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Christine wrote: "Thank you Manda for The Pillars of the Earth recommendation. I have had this book for a while and just need to get to it. Especially with the third book coming out."


Same with me! I have had it for a long time and it keeps getting pushed down the road. Was it Russell the one talking about it recently or David Wilde? Some was and it got me thinking that now is the time to give it a go.

Jill wrote: "Christine wrote: "Thank you Manda for The Pillars of the Earth recommendation. I have had this book for a while and just need to get to it. Especially with the third book coming out."


Same with m..."
It wasn't me - but I say read Mr. Wilde LOL. Pillars of the Earth wasn't for me - but I know a lot of people really love that book.

Quite interested in recommendations for off kilter time travel stories.

I have read The Time Machine, The Summer of Impossible Things & The Time Traveler's Wife, and have The Shining Girls on my shelf.

Shaun wrote: "Quite interested in recommendations for off kilter time travel stories..."

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but Outlander combines time travel with a mix of historical fiction, romance and adventure. It is less about travelling back and forth though and more about the protagonist Claire settling permanently into her new life 200 years prior to when she was born. It is set during the Jacobite rising in the Scottish highlands and goes quite a lot into the changes in women's position in society and the whole science vs. witchcraft debate.

Alina wrote: Not sure if this is what you are looking for but Outlander combines time travel with a mix of historical fiction, romance and adventure. It is less about travelling back and forth though and more about the protagonist Claire settling permanently into her new life 200 years prior to when she was born. It is set during the Jacobite rising in the Scottish highlands and goes quite a lot into the changes in women's position in society and the whole science vs. witchcraft debate. "

Thanks for this suggestion Alina. I think the issue with that series is that I have watched (and really enjoyed) the TV series already, before I realised it was based on a book series.

Shaun wrote: "Quite interested in recommendations for off kilter time travel stories.

I have read The Time Machine, The Summer of Impossible Things & The Time Traveler's Wife?

How about Kindred?

Marcella wrote: "How about Kindred?"

Good shout. That's the kind of thing I am looking for.

Shaun wrote: "Quite interested in recommendations for off kilter time travel stories.

I have read The Time Machine, The Summer of Impossible Things & [book:The Time Traveler's Wife|..."
Highly Highly recommend Kindred. And if you haven't - go for a classic like Slaughter House Five.

I just read Slaughterhouse five and it was excellent. 5* from me. :)

Hello y’all!

Since it’s my birthday next week I’m in the lucky state of building a book wishlist 😬

One thing I’m in the mood for this autumn, are biographies and diaries about/by woman*, especially Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Kate Mansfield, you get the gist.

I feel a bit lost in my search, since there are so many, so I’d love to hear what your favorites in this genre are! I’ve read nearly nothing so far, so any recommendation, even books you might think everyone read, would be very much appreciated.

Greetings,
Kat

Kat wrote: "Hello y’all!

Since it’s my birthday next week I’m in the lucky state of building a book wishlist 😬

One thing I’m in the mood for this autumn, are biographies and diaries about/by woman*, especial..."

Happy birthday Kat! Here are a few that I can think of:

Sylvia Plath: A Biography by Linda W. Wagner-Martin
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford
Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston by Valerie Boyd
Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), Stacy Schiff

I hope that you find these interesting.

Russell

Russell wrote: "Highly Highly recommend Kindred. And if you haven't - go for a classic like Slaughter House Five.

I have Kindred on my shelves somewhere so will definitely pick that up. Slaughter House Five I read many years ago and loved, but I am about due a reread and it crams so much into such a slim book.

I have just finished Ties by Domenico Starnone and whilest I admired the writing and the impact it has, it also left me feeling very down.

Maybe it is because I have fairly recently gone through a break up and this wasn't the best time to read this book. But it has made me feel like I never want to be in a relationship again. Ties isn't a horror book, but their relationship just sounds like a nightmare..

So, please recommend me books that make me feel hopeful about relationships again. A book that is just as well written as Ties, but makes me feel the oppossite.

Marcella wrote: "I have just finished Ties by Domenico Starnone and whilest I admired the writing and the impact it has, it also left me feeling very down.

Maybe it is because I have fairly recently gone through ..."

I am sorry you are going through this Marcella. I would love to recommend you some books - but I don't read happy books. As I go back through my list most them are dark or very sad. I hope someone can help you.

Marcella wrote: "I have just finished Ties by Domenico Starnone and whilest I admired the writing and the impact it has, it also left me feeling very down.

Maybe it is because I have fairly recently gone through ..."

Have you read Heartburn by Nora Ephron? It is about the ending of a marriage, but it's so good. You'll laugh and cry. I find it cathartic to read and usually reread it every year. It's a favorite. My 23 year marriage ended last year and it's been hard, so I can sympathize. I like reading about women who have or are going through worse than I have. It somehow makes me feel like If they can survive, then so can I. Also if you like the book the movie with Meryl Streep is excellent!

Thank you Rebecca, I'll be sure to check that out :)

More books like Excellent women? by Barbara Pym. I love her. I would like a good cozy, fall, book.

Rebecca... try Miss Bunckle’s Book or The Brandon’s.

I just read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI as part of Autumn Readathon (autumnal nonfiction), and I am in awe of this superb journalistic effort. This book is excellent, relevant, and heartbreaking. It is about the racism and prejudice that have been and continue to be ingrained in the USA makeup. It is about both humanity darkest impulses, and humanity magnificent ability to overcome adversity. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Russell haven't progressed much in my reading lately but have started Miss Bunckle's book. I have loved the the first few pages.

Russel have you read Confessions Kanae Minato??
I LOVED this book. It had me FREAKING out at all the twists and turns. I read a ton of books (this was my 200th book this year) and This is was by far my favorite this year. It is translated from Japanese and was this authors amazing debut! It it told from 5 (6) perspectives and it is all based around a 4 year old's death in a pool, which was ruled an accident but was really murder, and the little girls single mother is a teacher at the middle school, where the killers go. Because the boys are only 13 she doesn't feel that the police will serve justice.. and JUST WOW,, it is only 235 pages and I can't even count how many many questions are addressed. I hope you find time to read this if you haven't. ( I thought of you because of the debut club and the reading around the world you do....) Also because it is a little dark,, which you seem to like,,,

Manda wrote: "Try the excellent The Pillars of the Earth. Knightsbridge series, the third in the trilogy is out very soon, I have on pre order and seriously, these books are excellent. Humour in them..."
I agree what a great book!