Hola! - looking for some good reading.... any recommendations - particularly something connected with Espana - gracia
Homage to Catalunya?
Non spain related I would recommend 'Girl with a Dragon Tattoo' - I know its the 'hyped' book at the moment....but with reason. Great book.
[url= http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Spain-Travels-Through-Countrys/dp/0571221688 ]Ghosts of Spain-Giles Tremlett[/url].
Murakami
Second Murakami, or lighter reading The Angels Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Spainish readers wives?
Number 9 Dream - David Mitchell
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
Star of the sea
A thousand splendid suns
Birdsong
"Pillars of the Earth"? or something was my last really good holiday book. Big book, historical novel type thing but very entertaining.
Just read the "escape artist" cycling based story which was good for a cycling story but probably only a plane journeys worth.
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-Over-Lemons-Optimist-Andalucia/dp/0953522709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281732552&sr=8-1 ]Driving Over Lemons[/url]
French Revolutions - Tim Moore.
+1 for Driving over lemons, cracking read! Born to Run: The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougal, mazin' book!
if you like crime/detective books i am working my way through the wallender books and they are very good and fairly addictive.
Personal favourites though would have to include The Cruel Sea and The Riddle of The Sands.
Birdsong, now theres an epic although not too joyous for a holiday. The oral sex scene lightened the mood but apart from that quite distressing. Come to think of it the Cruel Sea's not exactly cheery but it does have a certain black humour
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0753820250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281733853&sr=8-1 ]The Shadow of the Wind[/url] by Carlos Ruiz Zafron.
About a boy in Spain, and written by a Spaniard.
Beat that.
pillars of the earth - John fowles (I think)
the magus - can't remember (but a cracking long read set in greece I think)
or
kitchen confidential - Anthony Bordaine (very funny if you're a cook)
Beat That, author?
My bookywook. Russel Brand.
Basque History of the World
[i]As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning[/i] by Laurie Lee.
''a million little pieces'' by james fray... some books are life chaging! 8)
Rogers Profanisaurus
http://www.amazon.com/Rogers-Profanisaurus-Viz/dp/0752215078
I randomnly found "The surgeon of Crowthorne" by Simon Winchester in a bin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Surgeon_of_Crowthorne
In search of Robert Millar. He's not very keen on spanish people but you should read the book to find out why.
Or, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway. That's about Spain.
Oh! Death in the afternoon!
can you recommend a good read for when I'm lounging by the pool
Yeah, Jaws!
I have recently discovered the Discworld series, I know it's old but if you've not read them then they are a must.
Currently reading No Way Down: Life and Death on K2 by Graham Bowley.
Nearly didn't buy it because the preface almost put me off, but actually it's well written and hard to put down. Perfect holiday book.
If it's cycling you want, Bad Blood is pretty good, if a bit chewy.
OP what books/genre/history are you interested in?
Ian M Banks Use of Weapons or Against a Dark Background.The latest one Matter isnt too bad either.
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spanish-Steps-Travels-Wih-Doney/dp/0099471949 ]Spainsh Steps - Tim Moore[/url]
I would second "girl with the dragon tattoo" I know its not about spain.... but it is one of the best books I've read in a very long time, or anything by Lee Child.....(yep I'm really quite low brow..!)
Just read "The Big Nowhere" by James Ellroy. Quite hard reading as he uses 1940's language, but a good read. He also wrote Black Dahlia and LA Confidential & I'm going to get some more of his...