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

Anne Tyler or Maggie O'Farrell?

38 replies

gerbo · 26/05/2020 08:21

I'm struggling to start a book at the moment without abandoning ship as my concentration seems poor!

I think I need a good 'story' - everything I'm trying is too heavy or 'different'. I just need to sink into an easy-ish read with a fast plot.

My book group love these authors and talk about them lots but I've only read 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox' by O'Farrell, which I think I enjoyed, years ago.

Would anyone be able to recommend a book by one of these authors? Or someone similar / who writes similarly? Want to start with their best offerings as both authors seem to have written a lot.

Thanks!

OP posts:
tassedecafe · 26/05/2020 15:40

I have read few Maggie o farrwls
Most recently I enjoyed this must be the place by my Maggie o farewell last year on holiday.
As well as Elena it oliphant is absolutely fine. I also like like Anita Shreve too. And a Clare Macintosh I enjoyed her debut novel. I did like girl on the train too. So sad I don't read as much as I used to!

Magicbabywaves · 26/05/2020 14:50

I liked Clock Dance, it got me onto AT.

HollowTalk · 26/05/2020 14:15

Have you read any books by Carol Shields? I love her.

Destroyedpeople · 26/05/2020 14:15

A spool of blue thread. ..is that the one with the family house and the foster son called stem?

Pyjamasarethenewblack · 26/05/2020 14:11

A Spool of Blue Thread is my favourite Anne Tyler. Cannot recommend it enough.

Destroyedpeople · 26/05/2020 14:08

Instructions for a heatwave was pretty dire tbh

Destroyedpeople · 26/05/2020 14:07

Oh I loved 'vinegar girl' by Anne Tyler really funny and sweet.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 26/05/2020 14:05

That's exactly the reason I haven't read City of Girls @Asuitablecat Grin

Asuitablecat · 26/05/2020 13:34

City of girls. Just finished it. I balked a bit when I saw it was by the eat pray love woman, but it was fast paced, bouncy and fun. Feel like I need something with spaceships in now though.

Xylophonics · 26/05/2020 11:53

Agree , I think her books have improved over the years, less focused on one female in distress.

Hamnet sounds good- it's on my list of books I want to read.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 26/05/2020 10:37

Hamnet is just great. I also enjoyed Instructions for a Heatwave but found Mo'F's earlier books annoyingly verbose. I did also enjoy A Spool of Blue Thread but that's the only Anne Tyler one I've read.

Original poster
gerbo · 26/05/2020 10:09

Thanks xylophonics, appreciate that.

OP posts:
Xylophonics · 26/05/2020 09:53

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler was v good and also enjoyed Vinegar Girl (this was based on Taming of the Shrew)

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell, is v good.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.