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Original poster

If I loved these books, what next....

27 replies

Hunning · 06/09/2018 13:03

I'm really struggling to find a good book to read next. I've started a few that haven't grabbed me so I'm started to re-read old books now

What would you recommend if I loved these:

  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (I know there are mixed views on this on MN but I loved it. TBH, it ruined reading for me because I haven't found a book to match it)
  • The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara
  • Everything written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
  • Everything written by Donna Tartt
  • Almost everything written by Isabelle Allende
  • Almost everything written by Andrea Levy
  • The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (hurry up the English translation of the final one for gawd sake)
  • Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood (but I've really struggled with her other books)

I also enjoy historical fiction but I find it a bit hit-and-miss. I like CJ Sansom's books and most of Karen Maitlain's.

Please help me find my next read.

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BitOfFun · 10/09/2018 11:34

Jenniferturkington, I totally agree with you on The Heart's Invisible Furies.

Original poster
Hunning · 10/09/2018 11:27

Oh, so many wonderful suggestions on here, thank you

I bought The Namesake and Eleanor Oliphant for now but this thread has given me tonnes to get through for the next few months Grin

OP posts:
Kilash · 09/09/2018 15:22

Your taste os quite similar to mine - I also love isabelle Allende and Barbara Kingsolver, also Ann Patchett

Lyinglow50 · 09/09/2018 00:00

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman

thinkfast · 08/09/2018 23:52

Have you read any Rose Tremain? Love her novels. Or William Boyd?

PawneeParksDept · 08/09/2018 21:45

Try :

The Poisonwood Bible
Ghana Must Go
The Song Of Achilles
Bel Canto
Notes From An Exhibition
American Pastoral
A Spool Of Blue Thread

mummaoftwoboys · 08/09/2018 21:36

Think you mentioned liking CJ Samson, he has a new book out on the 18th October (Shardlake series).

lucysnowe · 08/09/2018 21:26

You might like The Manuscript Found in Saragossa - has got the original magic realism/hispanic vibe :)

TwoGinScentedTears · 08/09/2018 21:17

Barbara Kingsolver
Siri Hustdvet
Sebastian Faulks

Disfordarkchocolate · 08/09/2018 21:14

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami and The Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

Jenniferturkington · 08/09/2018 21:08

The Heart’s invisible furies, John Boyne

ThursdayLastWeek · 08/09/2018 21:06

I wonder if you’ve tried Margeret Atwoods Oryx and Crake trilogy? It’s a bit more like The Handmaids Tale than some of her other earlier stuff IMO. Dystopian future. I really enjoyed having never got in with The Blind Assassin and the like

BifsWif · 08/09/2018 21:03

Sorry, just saw that you’ve read them already Blush

BifsWif · 08/09/2018 21:02

Absolutely The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Brilliant books.

babybythesea · 08/09/2018 20:56

Loads of great ideas on this thread. I need to stop reading them - my wish list is growing exponentially and I'm supposed to be reading the books I have and thinning out, not expanding!

babybythesea · 08/09/2018 20:55

Adhaf Soueiff - The Map of Love.

I also like Kate Morton. The Forgotten Garden is one of my favourites of hers.

worstmotherintheworld · 07/09/2018 15:23

I like most of the books on your list and have also enjoyed Rose Tremain, Joanne Harris, Helen Dunmore, Tracy Chevalier, Georgina Harding and Victoria Hislop. Have you tried any of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's other books? I think they are aimed at young adults but I enjoyed them as they have a similar mysterious vibe.

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 07/09/2018 15:05

Oh sorry see you said "Cemetery of Forgotten books" series, ignore my post.

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 07/09/2018 15:04

Have you tried "Shadow of the Wind"? by Carlos Ruiz Zafon" I think that was the first of his that was translated, I read it years ago, I remember I enjoyed it.

royguts · 07/09/2018 13:42

What's Left Unsaid by Deborah Stone is new out. Really terrific read

LilaGrace · 06/09/2018 14:19

The Magus by John Fowles. Absolutely amazing book.

Original poster
Hunning · 06/09/2018 14:07

Oh wonderful suggestions both, thank you. I heard about The Namesake on Radio 4 the other week and thought it sounded great actually Grin

OP posts:
Dottierichardson · 06/09/2018 13:57

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer, beautifully written novel set in Paris and Hungary during WW2, long and absorbing. Audre Lorde's Zami: a new spelling of my name, Maxine Hong Kingston The Woman Warrior, Michelle de Kretser The Lost Dog (the title doesn't do it justice), Jhumpa Lahiri The Namesake, Claire Messud The Emperor's Children, haven't read it yet but Pachinko has had good reviews, Ann Patchett State of Wonder, Rose Tremain The Colourand The Road Home.

Historical/crime:
Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobb's series, ignore the cover designs, much better than they look. S.J. Parris Giordano Bruno series often liked by Sansom fans. Manda Scott's Boudica series entertaining historical fiction four books; Colin Cotterill's Dr Siri series set in Laos in the 70s.

StUmbrageinSkelt · 06/09/2018 13:41

Dorothy Dunnett is fantastic historical.

Original poster
Hunning · 06/09/2018 13:13

Should also say I've always enjoyed Daphne Du Maurier books as well.

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