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Books you wish you could read for the 1st time again

209 replies

BusyTraybake · 05/03/2025 18:54

I am currently in bed recovering from surgery. I can expect to be immobile for 6 weeks and I am already bored out of my mind. I actually had a little cry earlier as I am so claustrophobic already.

I have found reading helps. Please recommend any books you wish you could read again for the first time.

Thanks in advance. In desperate in need of mental stimulation as I have turned to food which is not something I usually obsess over. Probably would be best for my overall recovery if I don’t pile on a pad of weight.

My answer to the question: never let me go, love in a time of cholera and persuasion

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 05/03/2025 20:04

LakieLady · 05/03/2025 19:32

Everything by Ian McEwan. There are many writers that have never written a bad book, but Ian McEwan has never written a bad sentence. To be able to read them all again and get the same thrill as I did the first time would be wonderful. Re-reading them is pretty damn good though.

Also Pat Barker's "Regeneration" trilogy.

For the lols, Jerome K Jerome: Three Men in a Boat, which still makes me lol, but I'd love to read it with the freshness of the first reading.

He lost it from Atonement onwards, Saturdays and Solar are terrible novels!

bobby81 · 05/03/2025 20:03

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

minipie · 05/03/2025 20:03

Just seconding a few of the above

Pat Barker - especially Regeneration and The Silence of the Girls & sequel

Barbara Kingsolver - The Poisonwood Bible

Anthony Doerr - All the light we cannot see

All of Georgette Heyer (lightweight historical fluff but done well)

DorotheaDiamond · 05/03/2025 20:02

Enders game (orson Scott card)
saga of the exiles (Julian may) then intervention and the milieu trilogy (must be that order)
these old shades (georgette heyer)
gone with the wind

yes to the Patrick Rothfuss too except he hasn’t finished the trilogy so don’t start until he has!

Notellinganyone · 05/03/2025 20:02

IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 05/03/2025 19:15

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell (the author not the comedian)

its A brilliant,brilliant novel.

Ghostofborleyrectory · 05/03/2025 20:01

Fingersmith-Sarah Waters- such a beautiful evocative book- makes you feel you are living in Victorian England- and a fabulous plot as well. Get well soon!

MyrtleLion · 05/03/2025 20:01

singletonatlarge · 05/03/2025 19:33

I was also coming on to say Tana French, @arcticpandas! The Dublin Murders series got me through a really tough time last year.

Agree with Donna Tartt, The Secret History and The Goldfinch as well.

And would add Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies (not necessarily the third one though!)

If you want an audiobook, You Are Here by David Nicholls is lovely and a really easy listen.

We love the same books. Please become ny best friend immediately.

happystory · 05/03/2025 20:00

Carole Shields: the stone diaries - I've only read it twice but I think of it often. A whole life documented in a very intimate way.

outerspacepotato · 05/03/2025 19:59

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

The Manuscript Found in Zaragoza by Jan Potocki

An Apprenticeship or the Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector or any of hers really

Alwaysdreamingofgoodtimes · 05/03/2025 19:59

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. You’ll never be the same again after reading this.

Moosecat29 · 05/03/2025 19:58

Anything by Karin Slaughter
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Jane Eyre
Atonement by Ian McEwan

alloutofcareunits · 05/03/2025 19:58

The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Tortielady · 05/03/2025 19:56

A random selection from my read books on Kindle:

Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Aidichie
Any Human Heart - William Boyd
The Star of the Sea - Joseph O'Connor
An Infamous Army - Georgette Heyer
Perdido Street Station - China Mieville
Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
The Mill on the Floss - George Eliot

I see someone's already mentioned Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, so I'll leave you with her equally lovely My Cousin Rachel.

Enjoy and I hope you have a smooth recovery.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 05/03/2025 19:51

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and its sequel The Wise Man's Fear. Just incredible.

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 05/03/2025 19:50

Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne

NameChangedForThis2025 · 05/03/2025 19:49

The Constant Gardener - John le Carre
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
The Lord of The Rings
Tiffany Aching series - Terry Pratchett
Watership Down - Douglas Adams
Endurance- Alfred Lansing

Nosleeptheo · 05/03/2025 19:48

I only started reading late last year and omg I wish I could start the journey all over again already reading a court of throne and roses for the 2nd time as I loved it so much and I highly recommend forth wing as well. The rest of the ones iv read are dark romance books which have been amazing and will re read again

Notellinganyone · 05/03/2025 19:48

Flippercanorious · 05/03/2025 19:12

The house of sleep by Jonathan coe

Me before you. Jojo moyes

I love The House of Sleep! If I were ill I’d want to re-read The Cazalet Chronicles.

Arraminta · 05/03/2025 19:46

The Wolf Hall trilogy. Have read them all 3 times, but still cannot bring myself to read the final page of The Mirror & The Light.

Everything by Mary Renault but especially The Persian Boy.

Everything by Rosemary Hawley Jarman. I've read her books over and over until they fell apart in my hands.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 05/03/2025 19:46

All the Ruth mysteries by Elly Griffiths..

LuvelyBunchOfBeetroot · 05/03/2025 19:41

MR James short stories
Conan Doyle short stories - he wrote a lot besides Sherlock Holmes - the horror & fantasy ones are very good, and his Professor Challenger books
Saki short stories
Heart of a Dog & The Fatal Eggs by Bulgakov
Feast by Nigel Slater is lovely and very uplifting

stanleytheflamingo · 05/03/2025 19:40

Also, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

laloue · 05/03/2025 19:40

This is Happiness -Niall Williams - possibly the best book I have ever read , it was just so luscious, beautiful writing.
The shock of the fall (can’t remember the author but I immediately bought it for two friends) had me in bits.
Weyward and The Sirens - Emilia Hart , gripping and engaging both.

LakieLady · 05/03/2025 19:35

CrickityCrickets · 05/03/2025 19:32

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

I've had Hamnet on the bedside table for over 4 years. I bought it a few days before my partner died, and haven't felt up to reading a book about a bereavement since then. I think I may be scared that I might find it triggering.

Love Maggie O'Farrell though.

ForRealCat · 05/03/2025 19:35

A Town Like Alice Nevil Shute
Riders Jilly Cooper