Absolutely Unputdownable Books

miggy - you have to start it as soon as it arrives. And take notes!

ks - I know I should be rereading the Quincunx and making notes but I have completely lost my brain due to pregnancy so probably couldn't get through the first chapter.
My most recent unputdownable books were his dark materials - got them for Xmas and had finished all three by 30th Dec, and in tears for the last hour of reading.

KS-just bought the quincunx from Amazon, thanks to your rave reviews-if I hate it you're in big trouble

Squirmyworm - it was The little Friend. I did read it all but kept looking to see how many pages I still had to get through

Anything by Barbara Trapido
Anything by Armistead Maupin
Used to like Nancy Mitford when I was younger, not quite so convinced now
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Nice Work by David Lodge
The Salterton Trilogy by Robertson Davies

I'm reading The Little Friend at the moment, & it's OK, but I agree that it's not nearly as good as The Secret History.

Am now going to scour my bookshelves to see what I've forgotten....

so glad you said that 'The Little Friend' is one of the few books that I haven't been able to get all the way thru. Just didn't care what happened to any of the characters.

I have just read 'The Soldiers Return' by Melvyn Bragg which was fantasic and very unputdownable.

Posey, I love Donna Tartt's 'Secret History' - couldn't get through her second book tho'

Italo Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveller

and can I say Marghanita Laski, Little Boy Lost again, or will somebody please tell me to shut up?

Matthew Kneale - English Passengers
Peter Carey - Oscar and Lucinda; Jack Maggs
John Galsworthy - The Forsyte Saga
Rachel Cusk - A Life's Work: on becoming a mother
Thornton Wilder - The Bridge at San Louis Rey
Joanna Trollope - Other People's Children
John Lukacs - Five Days in London: May 1940
Antony Beevor - Books on Stalingrad and the Fall of Berlin
Richard Overy - Russia's War
Anne Tyler - Back When We Were Grown-ups

I'm reading His Dark Materials now and might have to get back to it. The only thing stopping me is the worry I'll have nothing to read during ds's night feeds.

Other books:

Wild Swans
Regeneration trilogy (isn't it great when you find a good trilogy? )
Blackberry Wine by Joanne Thingy who wrote Chocolat
Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (and some others of his, but not all)
Shroedingers Cat by Robert Anton Wilson
...and a book I can't remember the name of by Angela Carter.

I'm sure there are more, but I can't remember. Maybe some re-reading is in order.

Had to go and get my little book of books (yes, I write down all the books I've read, don't know why, but now its coming in handy!)

Most recent unputdownable was "Letters from A. Nutt" which is non-fiction, read in one sitting. Actually read it in bed when ds was still sleeping in our room and had to keep shoving the duvet in my mouth to stop me laughing so much and wake him up
Others include:

• The Secret History - Donna Tartt
• Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
• 84 Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff
• The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson
• A Fatal Inversion - Barbara Vine
• The 39 Steps - John Buchan
• Under the Skin - Michael Faber
• anything by Jonathan Coe

My first unputdownable was "A Woman of Substance" when I was 14.

Wild Swans - Jung Chang
one of the most amazine (true) stories ever.

You are all very deep readers, methinks! I like James Paterson and the next one for me to read is Shane Richies autobiography!!!!! How shallow am I?

Ks - I LOVED I capture the castle, good story although a little odd in some parts. I would like to see the film now though!!

Lisa Dalby is drier than Artur Golden, his descriptions are more beautiful, it is very hard to find an author like him. If any one has any suggestions???

Aargh, I remember that I thought aha at the end of the book, and was sure I knew, but I read it the year it came out (mid eighties?) and haven't re-read it, so I have no memory of anyone's names or anything. Or events for that matter
I'll re-read it and tell you what I think! ROFL about your solicitor

Completely agree with the Quincunx, ks! And his other book, can't remember whether it's the same as the one you mentioned. A Suitable Boy is another of mine.

Angeliz , I was hooked on Celestine prophecy and HAD to buy the whole series. Below are a few faves , but I will report back if I remeber any others:

• Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
• The Tales of Murasaki - Liza Dalby
• Geisha - Liza Dalby
• Conversations with God - Neal Donald Walsh. Following on from the themes discussed in Celestine, Neale discusses his spiritual conversations with God. Very lovely thoughts and feelings , many in the series.
• Strange fits of passion - Anita Shreve , read all of them but this one is the best.
• Written on the Body - Jeanette Winterson
• The Passion - Jeanette Winterson
• Possession: A Romance - A.S. Byatt

I know , bit mad on the japan/geisha stuff!!!

This is a great thread
Agree with Peter Carey, have you tried 'The Illywhacker'

I would much rather take a recommedation from a MNer than a newspaper book review

oooh YES collision - LOVE James Paterson - he was one of those authors I read one book by and then went and devoured the rest in a big chunk