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Original poster

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:
SchrodingersKitty · 05/03/2025 19:18

That sounds awful - I do feel for you.

The books that spring to mind for me are a mixture of things I loved and re-read endlessly when young and those that are really tricksy and engaging reads.

In the first category: things like Cold Comfort Farm, I Capture the Castle, The Dud Avocado.

In the second: all of Stuart Turton - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle; The Devil and the Dark Water; The Last Murder at the End of the World. David Mitchell, The Bone Clocks; Hugh Howey's Silo series. Also One Hundred Years of Solitude, but I expect you've read that.

EveryKneeShallBow · 05/03/2025 19:18

Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
His Dark Materials Philip Pullman
All of Terry Pratchett
The Slough House books by Mick Herron

Createausername1970 · 05/03/2025 19:16

All Jane Austin
All Terry Pratchett's discworld series.
All Agatha Christie
All PG Woodhouse "Jeeves and Wooster" series.

PermanentTemporary · 05/03/2025 19:16

Jane Eyre
Middlemarch
The Cruel Sea
The Happy Prisoner by Monica Dickens
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute

IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 05/03/2025 19:15

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

WhatsTheMatterDavid · 05/03/2025 19:15

I absolutely loved:

End of the world running club - Adrian J Walker
The end of men - Christina Sweeney-Baird
The girl with all the gifts - M R Carey.

The end of men has to be my top book of the last few years, it had me crying but it was amazing. They're all fairly easy reads, gripping wise, but obviously darker in nature than a "city career woman moves to countryside and ends up married to rough around the edges farmer".

They're all dystopian end of the world stories which is my go to genre. Oh how I really miss the newborn nap days of hours of reading!

Wishing you a speedy recovery (unless you come across a great series which mandates additional bedrest!)

Blackbirdflying · 05/03/2025 19:15

Possession by AS Byatt. I read it 30 years ago and have never read it again in case it does not live up to how I remember it.

Flippercanorious · 05/03/2025 19:12

The house of sleep by Jonathan coe

Me before you. Jojo moyes

Catza · 05/03/2025 19:08

I could never get to the end of never let me go (or Clara and the sun) so, I guess, take my recommendations with a pinch of salt.
Anything by Saramago, specifically The gospel according to Jesus Christ and Blindness.
Orwell's roses by Rebecca Solnit
Call me by your name by Andre Aciman
This is going to hurt by Adam Kay
Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang
Ignorance by Kundera
Misbelief by Dan Ariely
Sum by David Eagleman