h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello people

Can anyone recommend a book that isn't fantasy or SF? I don't have anything on the go at the moment and it is a bit distressing.

The mindless prejudice against fantasy and SF is caused by me asking a colleague to recommend some books. One of them was David Brin's 'The Postman', which I suppose is a combination of fantasy and SF. I thought it was utter drivel and had my suspicions Objectively confirmed when I ran it through the drivelometer and it came out rating 98% drivel. And correct me if I'm wrong but this book won AWARDS and things.

Thanking you already

Binaryboy

If you like crime novels, I would recomend anything by Christopher Brookmyre. I don't read much of this type, but he has a certain way of ranting which I find very entertaining. Also, Iain Bank's mainstream fiction work can be very good. Try The Crow Road or Complicity.
Oh and for totally non-fiction, Bill Bryson's travel books are very good.

One of the flat-out funniest books I have ever read was "Tight Little Island", but you probably couldn't find it very easily, too old. Also hilarious was Farley Mowat's "The Boat that Wouldn't Float". I waited for years and years before I felt the time was right to read "Tom Jones" by Fielding. The movie was OK, the book was simply wonderful. I would read Josephine Tey, CharityBlackstock, or P.D.James for any mystery. I'm playing Asheron's Call on-line--as an appropriate companion I'm reading "The Illiad". A prose translation,as this is my first time through it. For an exciting true-life story, thinly fictionalized, there's "All God's Dangers." And I still sniffle my way through "Lassie-come-home" by Eric Knight.

One book I keep recommending for everyone is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo... JUST LOVE IT!!

Hello again chaps

Actually this is odd and synchronistic because the reading situation was bought on by finishing Les Miserables (which is very enjoyable, warts n all, but not as good as Bleak House). But I had to go on a Long Journey before I could get to the replies - for the purpose of which, I bought Tom Jones, of all things. It is rather splendid, stuffed with scabby 18th century wit. And it offers very good VFM, weighing in at four of your English pounds for 850 pages.

Bryce Courtney: The Power of One, followed by the sequel Tandia.
All I can say is... BRILLIANT!!!!!

The Africa House. Can't remember the author but it is a biography of Sir Stewert Gore-Browne First World War hero and builder of a massive estate and country house in the back of beyond in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). Very interesting history of colonialism and one mans struggle to bring the gentlemanly virtues to the back of beyond. Quite moving towards the end as well.

Hello chappies -

Zimbabwe book sounds interesting. But Vanora - what is this Power of One book about?

By strange co-incidence I was living in Jo'burg last year writing software (allegedly) for short term insurance companies, so you probably have me to blame for something or other.

At the moment I'm reading Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau. It is very good, and a good translation too. But it only short so I will be needing something else soon!