Recommend me a novel to read on holiday

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Looking for three or four books to stick on my Kobo and read on holiday.

Any recommendations? Something obscure that wouldn't be on the Tesco shelves is fine (Pirlo Family Circus, say).

You read 2000ad. I read 2000ad. You know what I like.

[The Adventurer]

A book book?

The Automatic Detective by A. Lee. Martinez

Alternate Choice: Legend of the Galactic Heroes Book 1 - Dawn by Yoshiki Tanaka

[CalHab]

I picked up Lauren Beukes' "Zoo City" for exactly this purpose and then decided to read it beforehand. I'm halfway through and its very enjoyable so far. Kind of like China Mieville, but with a real South African flavour.

Or Pat Mills' novel?

[Colin YNWA]

For the direct 2000ad link go with Fictional Man by Al Ewing.

Mr Vertigo by Paul Auster (a little atypical for him but I love it)

For a non fiction try This Band could be your life by Michael Azerrad I'm 3/4 of the way through and its a pretty fascinatating read, I suspect even if you aren't interested in the bands themselves.

This all assumes you've read everything by Kurt Vonnegut.

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

A book book?

Yup. I thought "novel" covered it but to be clear: prose.

[CalHab]

For a non fiction try This Band could be your life by Michael Azerrad I'm 3/4 of the way through and its a pretty fascinatating read, I suspect even if you aren't interested in the bands themselves.

The book that made me go to a Mission of Burma concert. Shortly afterwards I discovered that I had lost some frequencies of my hearing. The two things may be related.

[hippynumber1]

This, by me: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1530626331/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494274463&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sex+violets&dpPl=1&dpID=4164sPEfARL&ref=plSrch

Read the reviews if you don't believe me... 

[Buttonman]

'True Tales of American Life' is probably my favourite book. Edited by Paul Auster it's a few hundred three and four pages essays by people relating real life events. Always find a new favourite in there!

[dweezil2]

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris.

Sure, you've seen the movies, but have you read the book?

It's an absolute page turner and surely one of the best crime fiction/ serial killer novels ever written. 

[maryanddavid]

I read that years ago, good book!   I'd go for Dune, one of my favourites, failing that anything by Asimov, and select Harry Harrison.

[PsychoGoatee]

I'll second the Harry Harrison love, I especially like The Stainless Steel Rat Is Born.

[shaolin_monkey]

The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton.  It has everything - crime, space opera, suspense, supernatural, lasers, spaceships, possession, robots, etc etc.  Total page turner - superb for reading on the beach. 

That said, it's a chunky book, heavy to hold above your face if you're on your back by the pool - get it on kindle if you can.

[I, Cosh]

I'm currently reading this. It's pretty good and the cover should certainly turn a few heads on the beach.

[Lobo Baggins]

I always recommend Last and First Men and Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon and Limbo by Bernard Wolfe, but they might be a bit heavy going for holiday reading (and Limbo has yet to turn up as an ebook, and rarely actually stays in print when it does come out...)

Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe novels.  They're all good.

[Arkwright99]

Serial Killer by two young reprobates called Pat Mills & Kevin O'Neill. 

Not a novel but it certainly reads like one so I don't hesitate to recommend The Hot Zone by Richard Preston.