In a reading rut, help!

[1wokeuplikethis]

Automatically I click on kindle bestsellers, look for what has the most reviews, try a sample, read, buy, sigh, feel dissatisfied, repeat.

I am really sick of reading "thrillers" you know; the "most unputdownable (worst descriptive word ever invented and utterly overused) thriller that will keep you guessing with a TWIST AT THE END YOULL NEVER SEE COMING!!!! Richard & Judy book club best seller hot new debut fab fab fucking head exploding incredible thrilly mind bending twisty twerker edge of your seat MUST READ that you'll have to finish in one go!" Etc etc and they are all pretty...meh.

In my dissatisfied rut I've returned to some old favourites and read some Stephen Kings I've not read before. Read Marian Keyes new one and then one of her old ones I've read before. And I'm thinking I'll just buy penny vincenzis new one and maybe when I come back to bestsellers there will be something decent.

I do like thrillers when they are good, but there is a lot of bumpf about right now as it seems the hot topic. I like real-life fiction and I like horror and I like a bit of humour like the 100 year old man or Danny Wallace. I'm rather eclectic, most of all I just like a GOOD BOOK. That I want to get to bed early for to read. Probably not felt like that since I read the hunger games.

Help a bookworm out, please!

[GeorgeHerbert]

Why not try a Kate Atkinson? One of her detective ones like 'Started Early took my dog'. There are 4 in the series I think, well written, well plotted.

[LyraPotter]

Have you read The Dry? It's a thriller but an above average one for sure! I really enjoyed it.

[ReluctantlyRedundant101]

The charity shop is your friend! Some of them do 5 books for £1 so you can pick some you like the look of. Guarantee you’ll find some gems

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Another recommendation for Kate Atkinson. I discovered her books last year and I’m rationing myself as I don’t want to run out!

[PrincessoftheSea]

The Essex Serpent

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Sorry, pressed post too soon. If you like thrillers have you tried the Montalbano series?

And if you like Marian Keyes have you tried Veronica Henry’s books? Try The Apple Orchard first, it’s free.

As we’re in deepest winter, I’d also recommend the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

Hope you find something you like.

[oreosoreosoreos]

I’d highly recommend Tana French - set in Dublin, all murder mystery style, but excellent writing too. Some of the same characters pop up in different books, but you don’t have to read them in order.

[buckeejit]

Yes to Kate Atkinson or Lianne Moriarty. Some recent faves of mine

Eleanor & Park-Rainbow Rowell
The kitchen God's wife-Amy Tan
My brilliant friend series - Elena Ferrante
The heart's invisible furies-John Boyle
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
Any Sarah Waters

[TractorTedTed]

Have you read Maggie O'Farrell? Her books are great.

[parklives]

I have the same problem, I love reading but haven't a clue what books I like as I really like a mixture of styles/authors etc, but I don't like every book I read.
I have decided to follow radio 2 book club as due to my work I can't really commit to a real life book club.
I think it's every 2 weeks, and they pick a random mix of I assume good books.
I'm starting with the next book.
I'm hoping to read a wider variety of books, and no more agonising over the amazon ratings!

[EssaysOfElia]

I would also recommend Kate Atkinson. The Jackson Brodie series is great, the first one is called Case Histories and as a PP said there are four in the series. All her books are fantastic though!

[43percentburnt]

The secret history by Donna tartt.
The crimson and the red - fab book!
Anna karanina.
Never let me go by Kazuhiro Ishiguro
The sense of an ending by Julian Barnes.
A suitable boy by vickram seth
Emma donaghue.

[43percentburnt]

Sorry the crimson petal and the white! Michelle Faber

[43percentburnt]

Argh Michel

[Avebury]

Dorothy Koomson

[KatsutheClockworkOctopus]

I've just finished the Plague Times trilogy by Louise Welch which were good. I'm going to try some of her others once I've read the new Natasha Pulley one.

[waycat]

This is so interesting because at the moment I feel as if the market is saturated with so-called best selling thrillers that seem to be churned out with alarming rapidity, often to the detriment of the quality of the writing.

As far as Amazon goes, I have trawled through their thriller/crime/adventure recommendations many a time, only to come away thoroughly uninspired and disheartened, or let down and disappointed if I have bought something, read it and then puzzled over what all the fuss and hype was about.

I understand that all new authors need a platform, be it self-publishing or maybe signing with a small independent publishing house. However, these sorts of offerings can be a bit hit-and-miss, although sometimes you do discover some absolute gems among the poorer publications.

At the moment, I am steering clear of the so-called "unputdownable bestselling thrillers of the year", and am instead sticking to tried and tested established authors.

I'm sure I will return to trawling the Amazon recommended lists in the future, but for now I prefer to either buy or borrow something that I know will tick all my boxes, whatever the genre.

[Tawdrylocalbrouhaha]

I really recommend Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I resisted it for ages but then read it within 24 hours.

[SnapesTears]

Go to the library and try something totally different to your usual read.

Have you read Patricia Highsmith?

[Frouby]

I have just read The Rosie Project and absolutely adored it.

And just started The Woman In Black amd seems quite promising.

I loved the Vera series and the Shetland series. And the Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French. And the Lewis trilogy by Peter May.

I get stuck in reading ruts too. Am also fed up of must read thrillers. They seem to be getting very samey.

A couple of Lisa Jewels recent ones have been good tho. The Girls is one I think and also I Found You.

[buckeejit]

The heart's invisible furies.

I cannot fathom that anyone would not like it. Great on audio

[Sounbelievablydull]

I exactly know what you mean - do you have a period of reading where everything is wonderful then book after book of tedium?
My top tips are anything that won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction withoutout exception wonderful.
If you want a super fun easy read the trilogy by Kevin Kwan is great escapism well written trash.
Looking forward to others tips here

[ReluctantlyRedundant101]

Agree with the Pulitzer Prize I’ve just finished Middlesex by Jefferey Eugenides - great book!

[Sounbelievablydull]

Yes they sound so hard work but really are not try olive kitteridge it's great

[Taffeta]

I so hear you with the thriller ennui

I’m trying a few different ones at the mo:

The gargantuan A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle
The Book of Dust