One of my favorite novels
341090
I first discovered "Good in Bed" when I saw it done as a Dramatic Interp. at a college speech tournament.  Just from the parts I saw performed I was instantly interested and went out that day to buy it.  I couldn't put it down from the first page to the last.  Every woman, no matter their age or size, can identify with Cannie and her struggles with her own self-image as well as how the world sees her.  The characters are well developed and the book is extremely well written.  It's witty, entertaining, heartbreaking, true, and relevent.  I'd recommend this book to anyone.
593252
This is my absolute favourite novel. (This book beat out Jane Austen's Persuasion and Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel for that top spot)  Maggie O'Farrell writes in a beautiful and unique style.  She creates characters you fall in love with, characters you love to hate, characters you identify with.  I read Esme (and all Maggie O'Farrell's other books) over and over again; I'm truly addicted.  I think there's enough plot summaries, so I won't bother with that, but I will say I loved Esme and I highly recommend.
3107672
I love this novel.  Contains all the factors of a well done novel. Some transcription errors. Just a beautiful story.
4839221
I have read this novel several times and each time is like reading it for the first time. There are two more in the series.
1427548
This is a lovely and well written novel. The characters and story-line work well together. I have passed this on to several friends who all tell me they have savored this book. I will give it as gift to more people and keep my own copy to reread..
2067707
Am an avid reader -- and this novel is in my Top10 all-time favorites.
2544338
I could read this novel over and over and still get more from it. So moving. Such real-life people. I highly recommend it.
2786549
I borrowed a friend's copy for a day, but after I got through half of it, I realized I was going to REALLY enjoy the novel, so I purchased my own copy.
It is a sweet story about a young girl finding herself. This has since become one of my favorite books, because I love the way it seems so  real.  These incidents could really happen, and might have. I fully  recommend this novel to anyone searching for a good read, and can hardly  wait to read another of Lett's novels.
1481137
One of the best novels I have ever read. It's about a family and an illness. It's also about love, friendship, careers, marriage, and children. Beautifully written, with great sensitivity and brilliance. Highly recommended for those who love a great novel.
2358455
Love it.  One of my favorite novels ever.  Read it several times.  Profound love story.
31618
It's nice to know that other people have enjoyed this novel as much as I have. India and the era of the Sepoy Mutiny have always interested me, and this book covers it throughly, without romanticizing. It also delivers a believable love story between two intelligent, independent minded characters.
Laura, the philosophical poor relation, owes a certain debt to Jane Eyre, but she is far from being a carbon copy. Travelling to India with her newly married cousin, she wants to know something of the real, non-British India. Along the way she makes some unusual friends, from a scholarly merchant to an Indian noble, not to mention the women who have managed to survive life in India.
Oliver owes a debt to Georgette Heyer's harsh featured, anti-social heroes, but again is developed so well that he is a character in his own right. Though English, he is a zemindar, a kind of hereditary Indian noble. He sees all too clearly the mistakes and injustices of the British that lead to the rebellion. He has a few flaws of his own, though, including a tendency to blame women for the tensions between the British and Indians.
Like a Victorian novel, it moves slowly, introducing all the characters and situations that will be important in the last half of the story. However, enough happens to keep these chapters interesting.
Eventually, Laura, Oliver and their friends find themselves engulfed in one of the bloodiest rebellions of the 19th century. Even today, reading about the war crimes committed by both sides is enough to make you shudder, though this is not one of those novels that revels in descriptions of bloody or violent scenes. It has much more to do with how experience changes the characters. After I read it, I feel almost envious of Laura, whose hardships have brought her so much insight and perspective.
Like other posters here, I always wish for a sequel, or even a different book by the same author. It is much better than, for example, the highly romanticized Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye, which also covers the Rebellion.
1039903
I just re-read this book after getting it for Kindle and it made me squeal with as much delight as the first time I read it in the late 90's.  It is one of my favorite novels.  I got it when it first published because I worked at a division of the original publisher and they used to supply discounted and free samples of new titles to employees.  I never expected to enjoy it as much as I did.  As someone who is not generally a Sci-Fi fan, I mostly enjoyed the historical notes in it especially as 16th century history was played out for the cyborgs via 20th Century media devices such as reporters "on the scene" at the wedding of Queen Mary and then at the subsequent burnings.  I also enjoyed the somewhat snarky conversations between the cyborgs.  But it would be a total lie to say that what I got the biggest kick out of in this novel was not the quirky love story between cyborg and Protestant Scholar.  The love story was funny, ironic, sad, sweet and even sexy.  It had me at the first apprehensive glance across  Sir Walter's orange-free breakfast table and kept me until the end.  I read the rest of the books in the Company series also and all were very good but this was my favorite.
1407924
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It has romance, intrigue, history, and the most fascinating characters. I wish there were a sequel!
4113638
I've been reading Catherine Cookson's novels for several years.  This is one of my favorite ones.  She is not a romance writer but a true realist, dealing with harsh realities of every day life. She overcame great personal hardships to become one of England's most beloved novelists.  What I like about her is the humanity of her characters-you really feel for them and share in their triumph over struggles.  Other books of hers that I highly recommend include:KATE HANNIGAN,  THE MARY ANN SERIES, THE MALLEN TRILOGY, THE BILL BAILEY SERIES,  A DINNER OF HERBS,  THE MALTESE ANGEL and  THE ROUND TOWER.  Also,  good to read as a background to her novels is THE GIRL FROM LEAM LANE by Piers Dudgeon.  It gives a lot of insight into why she wrote specific novels.
1879972
This is one of my most favorite books of all time. I appreciate the lesson of Love, as well as the metaphysical fantasy.
2334325
This is one of the best novels I've read in the last 10 years. It is a bit long at times but overall a great read. It is beautifully written and touches on several interesting topics, such as arts and philosophy. The last few pages of this book are simply amazing.
2196217
One of those novels you can't put down and want to call your best friend,  hey, you have to read this. It's so good.