Not sure what I want to read - inspiration needed please!

[CarlessFandango]

I'm in need of a good book to get lost in, but I've struggled with reading fiction lately and I don't know what!

I'm not sure what type of book I like any more! Something interesting & "intelligent", but not too worthy. I know what I don't like - nothing historical, crime based or chick lit type, but I'm not really sure what I do like.

The last fiction book I read and loved was Station Eleven. Another recent book (for me!) that I really enjoyed was The Tiger's Wife, so something of that ilk?

Nothing too sad as my dad died recently, but also nothing too jolly either. Maybe something "life affirming", although Life of Pi was sold to me on that basis, but I found it horrifying and disturbing, rather than life affirming (so not sure what that says about me! )

So, I know that's not much to go on, but could you all offer me some suggestions please. I used to love getting lost in a good book, and I desperately need to get lost in one right now. Thanks!

[Speakeasy22]

I’ve just finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and loved it. Read it over a couple of days cos I didn't want to put it down. I don’t often recommend books though I read a lot but I thought this was great. Unusual, funny, poignant, serious. Hope you enjoy it!

[CarlessFandango]

Thanks! I've had a brief read of the kindle sample and think I might give this one a go.

[Liliywil]

Read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and it was quite good.

[wildbuttercup]

I'm not usually into science fiction but I've recently been reading the 'Red Rising' series and absolutely loved it. It's a New York Times bestseller. Honestly give it a try, it's a breath of fresh air after many very similar psychological type thrillers I've read recently.

I also love Bear Grylls books (who knew he was an author)!

If you liked the film 'the martian' the book is very good too.

Black eyed Susan's was also a great read (psych thriller type thing but felt quite 'intelligent')

[hollytom]

I seem to like similar books to you as I enjoyed those books. Some of the best books I have read this year are:
Eleanor Oliphant
The Muse by Jesse Burton
Dark Circle by Linda Grant
The Power by Naomi Alderman
The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig

[doctorcuntybollocks]

Engine Summer by John Crowley.

[MadamePince]

I've struggled to get back into reading after my dad died in march. I'm finally getting back to it, and know how you are feeling OP.

The ones that stick in my mind recently are:

Seven types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman
This was a book club book and I'd never have picked it up otherwise, it's about a depressed teacher who loses his job and kidnaps his ex-girlfriend's son (not his). It's written in seven different parts and a different character narrates each part (with a little bit more of the full story coming out each time)- the ex-girlfriend, the kidnapper, the kidnapper's psychiatrist, the boy's father etc. It's very interesting, no character is perfect and without blame (except the boy obviously!). Unfortunately not available on Kindle, but well worth a read.

11-22-63 by Stephen King
It's been reviewed a lot on here, but I enjoyed it. About a high school teacher who finds a way to travel back to 1959. After a few trips back and forth to the present day he decides to stay in the past and prevent the assassination of JFK. What could possibly go wrong?

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng another bookclub one, which I was very dubious about as I would never have picked it up as looked dangerously close to chick lit, but i am really rattling through it. (about 15% to go) Very readable, it is about a seemingly perfect all American family with four perfect teens, it starts with a house fire and it appears one of their kids has burnt the house down. It then goes back to see how they got to that point. I've not finished it yet, so much has happened and the interwoven relationships in their town are well written, can't predict the ending yet.

[CarlessFandango]

Thanks all. I've just finished Eleanor Oliphant, but found it a bit "meh", after an interesting start. I found the characterisation a bit too "try hard" and not really that believable, and could tell the twist coming a mile off. I also found the old man's funeral bit rather emotional, having just recently lost my dad, so a warning to anyone in a similar situation. However, I did get lost in it for a few days so I suppose it did its job!

I shall now explore the other recommendations - thanks!

[LadyinCement]

I read The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley last night in one sitting! It was very atmospheric, interesting and creepy but not horror-style - more of the Sarah Waters variety. I would recommend this because I had got out of the way of reading for some reason, having read about 50 books last year.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I didn’t see Elinor Oliphant as having a “twist” - I thought the point was of course the reader knew what had happened long before Elinor did, and the story was really following her as she eventually learned how to face it, so viewed it more positively in that light.

What do you mean by historical? Like Phillipa Gregory type? Because my 2 favourites this year have been The Essex Serpent and Rush Oh, set in 19th/Early 20th c respectively, good and intelligent reads.

Where’d You Go Bernadette is an intelligent and funny one. All written by women but none are “chick lit”

[SueGeneris]

I really liked The Sisters Brothers- can't remember the author.

I'm planning on reading my way through Neil Gaiman next year.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

sue it’s Patrick DeWitt. Had it on my to-read list for ages

[BrizzleDrizzle]

I'm really struggling to read anything at the moment, I find a lot of the 'chick lit' and 'shop of X by the sea' type too light to take my mind of things and psychological fiction (my usual choice) too hard to get into a the moment.

I've read a lot this year, I started out on the 50 books thread and have done that but this last month I've barely read at all.

[SueGeneris]

Bit late, but thanks Satsuki! Read it!