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Original poster

Need a 'can't put down'

85 replies

Munzle · 23/06/2011 12:37

You know what I mean... where you pretend that you need the loo loads just so you can go and read your book?! On holiday next week and it's ages since I've read a book that had me furiously turning the pages. Don't like chick/lit, murder/mystery. Last book I read that had me gripped like this was Time Traveller's Wife, and We need to Talk about Kevin. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
FreddoBaggyMac · 28/06/2011 20:17

I didn't like The distant hours as much as The forgotten garden Indigojohn - twas still good though.

I'm just coming to the end of Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton and am finding that a real page turner (it's better than Sister imo)... although I nearly stopped reading it at one point because the ideas in it are quite hard to deal with.

I read the Poison tree by Erin Kelly before that and thought that was another good 'un.

Agree with the positive reviews of The help... but am I the only one who thought that The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks was just as boring as it sounded? I read it due to positive reviews on here (I'd never have picked it up in a million years otherwise) but gave up halfway through.

Indigojohn · 27/06/2011 18:28

Kate Morton's The distant hours - fantastic, as are all her books.

Bandwitch · 27/06/2011 18:22

SORRRY! read first then post.

OK so it's 1) the bronze horsman, 2) t&a and 3) the summer garden

Bandwitch · 27/06/2011 18:21

toomanybrownies so is the trilogy in this order 1) t&a 2) the bronze horseman... and 3) ?

Conkertree · 26/06/2011 21:52

I like Christopher Brookmyre books for being unputdownable.

Liked The Help too. Thought One Day was good but a bit overrated. Preferred his Starter for Ten.

Taffeta · 26/06/2011 21:51

Just finished The Hand That First Held Mine - excellent. I read Ciatlin Moran's How to be a Woman in three sittings. Blush

TooManyBrownies · 26/06/2011 21:49

Another vote for the bronze horseman. Fave book of all time. Or anything by Paulina Simmons.

striving have you read the sequels? Tatiana and Alexander and The Summer Garden. Both great.

Original poster
Munzle · 26/06/2011 20:25

Thanks everyone - just spent ages putting loads of those suggestions into my Amazon wish list. I went for 'The Help' as I remember a friend enjoying it on holiday, so will let you all know what I think. Fully agree to some of the suggestions that I've read: Kite Runner, Thousand Splendid Suns (thought was the better of the two), Half of a Yellow Sun, The Slap, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, The Book Thief, Small Island, Handmaid's Tale. Was half-gripped to Her Fearful Symmetry but found it a bit daft and didn't really care about any of the characters. I certainly won't be getting to read lots as we're in Wales - not sunning ourselves near a pool with a kids' club, but am planning to go to bed early tonight as it's my lie-in tomorrow... am going to read instead of sleep ;)

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 25/06/2011 21:39

I'm a bit of a weirdo about 'gone with the wind' I freely admit - I've read it at least 50 times and my copy is currently my 4th as the other 3 fell apart Blush

I thought 'one day' was worth reading.

Am currently half way through 'American assassin' by Vince Flynn and is actually really good!

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2011 13:50

I hated A Thousand Splendid Sons but loved The Kite Runner. Yes - that and one about a blind boy are the only two Dean K books worth reading ime.

colditz · 25/06/2011 10:15

AND

One door away from heaven, by Dean Koontz

It's surprisingly good

colditz · 25/06/2011 10:08

A Thousand Splendid Suns

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2011 09:51

Yes to The Handmaid's Tale. After The Flood is decent too. King's The Stand. Yes to Rebecca.

I thought Gone With The Wind was completely unreadable, I'm afraid. Was v disappointed as I'd been looking forward to it for ages.

I've mostly given up on fiction lately, as much of it is so, so bad. But 'This Thing Of Darkness' about Fitzroy and Darwin is amazing.

chocolateyclur · 25/06/2011 09:24

One Day is AMAZING. Couldn't put it down.

The Kite Runner is good, too. As is 'When I was Five I Killed Myself'. Can't remember authors off the top of my head!

sayanythingRogerjustrogerme · 25/06/2011 09:07

Prayer for Owen Meany is incredible, as is the World according to Garp but in different ways.

The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (sp?)

Under the skin, Michel Faber

TotalChaos · 25/06/2011 08:44

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Seriously!
The Long Song or Small Island by Andrea Levy

yy to Blacklands, White Tiger and Six Suspects

JoleneJoleneJoleneJoleeene · 25/06/2011 08:30

One day is amazing. William boyd books are fab too

HippyHippopotamus · 25/06/2011 02:20

Is One Day good? I almost bought it the other day but I'm not sure

I second/third Perfume. Amazing.

OP, have you decided what one you're to go for? I'm Envy of your holiday if you get to read lots!

Lightshines · 25/06/2011 00:01

mrsravelstein - sorry, that book is totally putdownable Wink
'Into the Darkest Corner' is a page turner

Shinyshoes1 · 24/06/2011 23:16

The curious incident of the dog in the night time 9/10

The Help was ok, i'd give it a 5/10

Am about to read Steven Tyler - Is the noise in my head bothering you.

BlackandGold · 24/06/2011 23:12

Definitely the Ken Follet "Pillars of the Earth" and "World without End".

Also enjoyed his new book Fall of Giants.

Anything by Jeffrey Deaver is good but a little bit of Jodie Picoult goes a long way!

PotteringAlong · 24/06/2011 23:11

Have you read 'the hour I first believed' - wally lamb? Definitely one you can't put down. Or how about a classic? You can't beat 'Rebecca' by du maurier or 'gone with the wind'

Bandwitch · 24/06/2011 23:06

I second nevergoogle's recommendation of the 19th wife. David ebershoff? or eversoff? something like that. totally brilliant. off to look up the perks of being a wallflower now.

i'm reading a jonathan tropper now and really enjoyingit. This is where I leave you.

Bandwitch · 24/06/2011 23:04

What was good about owen meany? it was ok.

BitOfFun · 24/06/2011 21:51

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer. Think Kes, but scary and page-turning. If you enjoyed the creepy psychological aspects of We Need To Talk About Kevin, I think this will be right up your street. Read the reviews on Amazon and download a sample if you have a Kindle.

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