Discover more book recommendations
Ask a Bookseller: Claire, Kirsty, Debbie and Kerry from Kibworth Books
Bookshops are the very best places to go for book recommendations – and booksellers are the friendliest, most knowledgeable of readers!
Claire, Kirsty, Debbie and Kerry from Kibworth Books in Leicester have joined us to answer your questions and share their favourite picks.
Want a recommendation of your own? Submit a question for our guest booksellers and if it's answered, we'll send you a £15/€20 National Book Token to spend in your local bookshop.
What makes Kibworth Books a great place to visit?
"Kibworth Books is a friendly, welcoming and inclusive bookshop in the heart of a thriving village community in rural Leicestershire. We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of books which we hope will include something for everyone. We love connecting people to their next read and making recommendations – it's such a joy when customers come back to tell us that they’ve loved a book they found through us! Our new premises has a huge room full of fiction and non-fiction, a dedicated children’s room and a (soon to be open) specialist rooms for cards and stationery – lots of space to welcome everyone in!" - Kirsty
What is the most exciting Agatha Christie book with (in your opinion) the best storyline? – Jess, age 14
Well, being quite the fan of an Agatha Christie books that's a tough choice indeed, but my personal favourites would definitely include The ABC Murders – a serial killer on the loose and time is running out, it's a gripping read! And Then There Were None also earns a place on the top of the list – stranded on a remote island with nowhere to hide, it's a really immersive and compelling story and definitely one to add to your reading pile. - Clare.
What is the most compelling and heartbreaking book you have ever read? – Binita, age 17
I'm quite a fan of a book which makes me cry, and a lot do! One of the most heart-breaking books for me has to be The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. I felt so deeply for the characters and the relationships depicted, and there's a line towards the end (no spoilers!) which made me sob. I also adored Katya Balen's The Space We're In, illustrated by Laura Carlin. It's a deeply moving read which touches on difficult subjects and emotions but in the most beautiful and sensitive way. I loved it and would highly recommend. - Kirsty
I am trying to get my Dad into reading and want to find a good book for him - I'm thinking perhaps something easy-going and funny. What would you recommend? – Carys
I really enjoyed The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion – it’s funny, heartwarming and compelling, perfect for kickstarting a new reading habit. It's a trilogy too which is always nice for those 'well, what’s next?' decisions on ending a book. Other titles and authors to look out for include A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman, or authors such Nick Hornby or David Lodge (maybe a short story collection such as The Man Who Wouldn't Get Up and Other Stories might be a nice way to ease in). Our other top recommendation would be Brian Bilston – he writes poetry rather than fiction but it is incredibly funny, witty and so accessible. Try Diary of a Somebody – part love story, part murder mystery and smattered throughout with hilarious poems, it's brilliant. - Kirsty
I've recently finished my quest to read all of Discworld. Do you have any recommendations of similar books that I can read to fill the Discworld shaped hole in my heart? – Evie
I love everything Discworld too and would heartily recommend The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. There are four books in the trilogy (giving you an idea of the Adams' humour!) and they are so funny, transporting and clever. I also love Scarlett Thomas's Worldquake trilogy which starts with Dragon's Green. Various doors in Edinburgh are portals to other worlds; books and libraries play a big part in the adventures of Effie and her friends, who I can still vividly picture even though I read the books years ago. - Debbie
I am going to Greece on holiday this summer. I love to read books set in the destinations that I visit. Can you recommend any great reads set on the Greek islands? – Naomi
It's lovely to read a book set in a holiday destination as it really adds a whole other dimension to the reading experience. For a trip to Greece I'd recommend Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki. It's luxury in book form, with engaging characters, evocative description and a beautiful coming-of-age story of three sisters. Other titles to check out with a Greek backdrop would be The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell, The Island by Victoria Hislop, One Summer in Crete by Nadia Marks or The Girl Under the Olive Tree by Leah Fleming. - Kerry
