Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Finally - a book I've enjoyed

31 replies

codswallopandbalderdash · 11/04/2018 20:25

Right so I've started reading much more this year simply by giving up telly.

However, I have been completely underwhelmed by the books I've read this year - House of Names, Colm Toibin; Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett and 'we are all completely beside ourselves' were disappointing. Read some thrillers - e.g. karin slaughter and OK but predictable.

However finally - 4 months in - I've read a book I've really enjoyed and has stayed with me - Station 11 by Emily St John Mandel.

Anyone else read it? Did you enjoy it too? And do you have any other recommendations? I can't bear to read anything else rubbish after this

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
TheThirdOfHerName · 11/08/2018 23:58

Gnomon- Nick harkaway was about 200 pages too long and a bit disappointing
And difficult to read without a dictionary to hand.

NocturneGmajor · 11/08/2018 15:31

I really enjoyed Station 11
More apocalyptic is -
The Silence by Tim Lennon
The Stone Man by Luke Smitherd.
Check out Amazon reviews for Stone Man, very good!

cdtaylornats · 11/08/2018 15:20

Pig Island by Mo Heyder

Flaskfan · 11/08/2018 13:48

A sudden reappearance of hope - Claire north was better than expected
Gnomon- Nick harkaway was about 200 pages too long and a bit disappointing. Sort it out, Harkaway, I want more Gone Away World or Tigerman.

Flaskfan · 11/08/2018 13:45

My summer holiday list:
Home Fires- kamila Shamsie
The Circle- Dave Eggers made me smirk a lot on the beach
Underground Railroad- Collison whitehead (not as good I thought it'd be; I felt like I'd read it before)
The bones of you- can't remember who by, hilariously shit thriller with truly awful dialogue, kept me occupied on the plane.

Future living God and The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich were v good

TwoGinScentedTears · 11/08/2018 13:38

I've just finished this (late to the party!) and I enjoyed it. Found it easy to read. I've been scouring this board to see if anyone else had read it and clicked on this to see if there were any good recommendations.

I get that it wasn't brilliant, but I enjoyed it none the less. I've passed it to my 13 yo ds to read and he's getting pretty stuck into too!

CoteDAzur · 21/05/2018 22:51

codswallop - Here are a few SF recommendations:

Hyperion - Dan Simmons

Seveneves - Neal Stephenson (actually, most books by him. Snow Crash and The Diamond Age are also excellent).

Flood - Stephen Baxter

Daemon - Daniel Suarez

Red Rising series - Pierce Brown

Dark Eden - Chris Beckett

Lock In - John Scalzi

CristalTipps · 21/05/2018 19:24

I know I read Station 11, because I have a copy complete with the "I read this at some point" dog eared page corners, but I don't remember a thing about it...

I did enjoy We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves though.

Original poster
codswallopandbalderdash · 20/05/2018 22:19

Hi Cote
Would love some recommendations please. I have been looking at the 50 books threads but haven't been inspired

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 14/05/2018 17:43

"But my main point is why are so many books just a bit disappointing / don't live up to their promise / need a bloody good editor."

Because you read popular authors and first books from Bestsellers' lists.

Come over to the 50-Book threads to have recommendations for good books.

As for Station 11 - It is a very VERY mediocre sci-fi book with a ludicrous premise and pitiful 'world building', if it can be called that. If you liked the post-apocalyptic aspect of it, I and others would be happy to recommend some good books in that sub-genre for you.

Troubleandstrifebagforlife · 28/04/2018 09:14

Also the Louise welsch trilogy is good as an end of the world type book
I am a sucker for them though
The Justin Cronin books are also fantastic really addictive

Charley50 · 27/04/2018 19:59

I am Pilgrim is a proper gripping thriller. Not fully dystopian, but civilisation as we know it is in danger of being destroyed.

PixieN · 21/04/2018 22:20

If you like dystopian fiction, you could also try ‘The End of the World Running Club’ by Adrian Walker’ or ‘The Girl with all the Gifts’ by M.R Carey.

PixieN · 21/04/2018 22:16

I downloaded it onto kindle, but not got round to it yet, though my DH has read it & enjoyed it. Have you read ‘Wool’ by Hugh Howey? A fantastic read & you won’t read another book where the word ‘cleaning’ has such sinister connotations.

Recently read ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ - very different genre, but enjoyed that too.

Bellaposy · 21/04/2018 22:08

I loved it and it's really stayed with me. I look around now thinking how easily it could all fall down.

buckeejit · 21/04/2018 21:53

Ok loved station eleven. Agree about most books being disappointing & clicked on this thread to find a rec!

Recent great reads are the hearts invisible furies & asking for it. Also started the knife of never letting go but shelved for a gentleman in Moscow as its borrowed. Both good so far!

Paranormalbouquet · 20/04/2018 21:08

Liked it, didn’t love it. I liked how it all tied together. Read it for my book club at the same time as world war z and much preferred WWZ.

Charley50 · 20/04/2018 21:02

Was going to recommend you a great thriller but I can't remember what it's called so I'll have to keep you in suspense! Grin

Charley50 · 20/04/2018 21:02

I loved it too.

bakingdemon · 20/04/2018 16:55

I loved it but then I will read just about anything about the end of the world!

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 18/04/2018 22:10

I loved it. You might enjoy The Enemy series by Charlie Higson. YA but wonderful. Also try The Bees.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 16/04/2018 14:42

I love this book! Read it so many times. I read a few more of hers off the back of it but they weren't nearly as good.

KirstenRaymonde · 12/04/2018 20:09

I really enjoyed it too, wizzed through it in about 2 and a half days. But then I went online and saw all the people pointing out plot holes which dampened my enthusiasm a bit! Still think it was brilliant though.

Original poster
codswallopandbalderdash · 12/04/2018 20:07

Ah I've read oryx and crake series - loved those too. First one in particular

OP posts:
GeorgeHerbert · 12/04/2018 17:16

I liked it. Why not try Margaret Atwood? Oryx and Crake series?