It was ok. This might be terrible to say but I liked Pillars of the Earth better.
1- Technically Enid Blyton, but as an adult for contemporary fiction (according to Goodreads), Sebastian Faulks, Colm Toibin, and Pat Barker are in joint leads. Jane Austen and Shakespeare lead for classical.
2- Bed or couch
3- Sometimes
Thanks for the tag @Eggs