Recommendations for a brilliant novel to buy as a present?

[WherewherewhereisWally]

Anyone read any amazing novels recently? A friend has asked for a novel for her birthday. She likes literary fiction eg Donna Tartt, Kate Atkinson, Zadie Smith and Chiminanda Ngozi Adichie and has read all their latest. She's also read a lot of the classics. Non fiction wise she loved H is for Hawk.

Would really appreciate recommendations of books that are v engrossing but also really well written.

[mistymeanour]

A Place called Winter by Patrick Gale
The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber are two recently released books I've enjoyed ( I also like literary fiction)

[agoodbook]

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby - amazing

[wrenster]

My favourite book this year is I am Pilgrim. Nothing has come close to comparing yet.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Does it have to be non-fiction?

This is nice.

Or this is lovely

[Tisy10]

Inside out by Janet Ollerenshaw. I couldn't put it down!!

[hopelesslydevotedtoGu]

Barbara Kingsolver is a fantastic writer.
www.amazon.co.uk/Poisonwood-Bible-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0571298842/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428426558&sr=8-2&keywords=books%20by%20barbara%20kingsolver&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/Lacuna-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0571252672/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428426558&sr=8-3&keywords=books%20by%20barbara%20kingsolver&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Southeastdweller]

She may have read them as they were published over a decade ago but I loved The Hours (Michael Cunningham) and Notes on a Scandal (Zoe Heller).

[CuntWagon]

I'm loving A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava at the moment. Few years old but I bought it a couple of weeks ago. It feels really fresh and unique to me.

[CuntWagon]

Ooh or The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Bit harrowing in parts but wonderful.

[highlandcoo]

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is excellent.

The Observations by Jane Harris is absorbing and well written.

[dementedma]

Currently re-reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Very good

[CuntWagon]

Or something by Mario Vargos Llosa for something a bit different that she might not pick up herself, he is a Peruvian writer who sets his books in various parts of South America. I discovered him in a tiny airport in Peru and have read everything of his now. I'll shut up now.

[TheCrowFromBelow]

YY Bel Canto and The Lacuna

I also enjoyed What The Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin but it's quite old.

[Linstock]

I enjoyed Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Its a fictional story about the building of a cathedral in medieval times, I know that sounds incredibly dull but believe me it's a gripping novel.

There's a lot of characters in it and the story is centred on the relationships between them, so theres love, murder, corruption, affairs, betrayal etc.

There's a bit of everything and I found it difficult to put down :-)

[Calfon]

The Name of the Rose or Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco are two if my favourites. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson is excellent. Another favourite of mine is Time and Again by Jack Kinney.

[iseenodust]

Wild Swans by Jung Chang is one of my favourites & I've never known anyone not like it - watch someone will pop up now.