I assume since it's holiday by the pool, something light both in actual weight and contents are in order...so I say the Swedish author Jan Guillou's Arn Magnusson books are good. Info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knight ... trilogy%29. Good historical fun and action, too. That said, the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell is good fun.

For science fiction, Iain M. Banks and his Culture novels. (maybe not light, though...)

For heavier book (physically, not contents), a favourite of mine is Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth.

So many others, too...

Liespotting: Essential Techniques to Detect Deception by Pamela Meyer.

Everybody lies. Fascinating book on human behavior and how to use it to your advantage.

Terry Pratchett is usually good (though his last but one was a bit so-so). But Lee Child is brilliant! Any of the "Reacher" novels is worth a read and real good escapism.

Ice Station by Mattew Reilly. Easily the best military action book I've read yet.

I used to read a lot of the Reacher novels, but they get a bit formulaic and predictable after the first 6 books.

My Name Is Pete wrote:I used to read a lot of the Reacher novels, but they get a bit formulaic and predictable after the first 6 books.

What drivel you do talk Formulaic? Never!







Good formula though

Read Ice Station and you'll see that it's tough to go back to Jack Reacher afterwards...