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

Original poster

I need a book that will make me forget what time it is.

95 replies

Kayemm · 31/05/2020 19:04

You know what I mean. One that you don't actually read because you are there with the characters.

I've loved:-
The Woman in White
A Prayer for Owen Meaney
Persuasion
Watership Down.
The Book Thief.
A Tale of Two Cities.

Not so much
Eleanor whatshername.
Misery memoirs.
Cloud Atlas

Throw your best suggestions at me?

Thanks.

OP posts:
houseforanartlover · 02/06/2020 21:37

I second Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, completely absorbing, loved it.

nickEcave · 02/06/2020 21:31

Just finished the Mars Room by Rachel Kushner set in an American womens prison. Really good! Also love everything Donna Tartt has written.

HollowTalk · 02/06/2020 11:11

Have you got a library app on your kindle? I've found it a great way to read, especially over lockdown when the book shops are shut.

I'm reading A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler at the moment - absolutely love her work.

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 02/06/2020 11:03

an old one, so you might have read it, but Memoirs of a Geisha is great for taking you to another time and place

massistar · 02/06/2020 11:00

I've recommended Where The Crawdads Sing to loads of people and they've all loved it.

Original poster
Kayemm · 02/06/2020 10:52

I loved His Bloody Project and chose it as my book group pick. Not everyone shared my love though.

OP posts:
Bluemoooon · 02/06/2020 06:10

His bloody project by Graeme Macrae Burnett. Set in 1869 in the Highlands. The title is off-putting imv, not sure why he chose that.

Marriedtoapenguin · 02/06/2020 05:58

Don't know if historical fiction is your cup of tea, but Patrick O'Brians Aubrey series (the film Master & Commander Far Side Of the World is based on these) is an absolute thief of time.

Original poster
Kayemm · 01/06/2020 14:38

I've ordered the John Boyne and put some others on my list.

To those who recommended A Fine Balance - that book nearly destroyed me! I sobbed so much, similarly A Little Life. Sad

Thank you again.

OP posts:
seekingwaxwings · 01/06/2020 10:07

I came here to say The Heart's Invisible Furies as well! A wonderful, engrossing book.

idontevenknowanyonecalledblurb · 01/06/2020 08:53

The hotel New Hampshire- or Garp- both brilliant. I loved wolf hall and got completely lost in the story.

Smallblanket · 01/06/2020 07:07

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver

bonsaidragon · 01/06/2020 07:03

Stephen fry's Mythos is excellent, especially as an audio book.

FrankUnderwoodsWife · 01/06/2020 06:58

Not a novel but reads like one: Putin’s People by Catherine Belton
Also
The Eighth Life

MrsLully · 01/06/2020 06:57

Harry Potter
The name of the wind
Ender's game

Diorissimo1985 · 01/06/2020 06:46

Winter in Madrid - CJ Samson

A slow start but incredibly absorbing and I stayed up late many evenings to keep on reading.

IdblowJonSnow · 01/06/2020 06:43

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
Both are extremely substantial (especially the former) and you wont know what to do with yourself when you've finished them!

Original poster
Kayemm · 01/06/2020 06:29

Oooooh. Thank you all. Lots there that I have read and loved.

Too many to comment on them all but thank you.

I've just reread Harry Potter, they are there as a comfort blanket for me.

I read the Susan Howatch books when they came out and loved them, lots about charismatics as I remember.

Off to check out Amazon. I will report back.

OP posts:
IWouldLikeToKnow · 31/05/2020 22:03

Came on to say The Heart's Invisible Furies, by John Boyne, but was beaten to it. Genuinely one of the best books I've ever read.
Also loved A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner, both by Khaled Hosseini

parietal · 31/05/2020 21:42

For whom the bell tolls - Hemmingway
A fine balance - mistry
the dandelion clock - burt
the last life - messud

Attictroll · 31/05/2020 21:38

A suitable boy...totally absorbing and takes you to a totally different time and place.

FruitPastillesaregood · 31/05/2020 21:33

I'm currently reading Love after Love by Ingrid Persaud. It's wonderful.

flowertoday · 31/05/2020 21:33

The Cazalet Chronicles - five novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard. I have read them lots of times, and I feel that I have gone back and am with this family at the time of the books.
Absolute favourite escapism and lovely characters .

hellosun20 · 31/05/2020 21:30

4321 is excellent. Long but very much worth your time!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 31/05/2020 21:25

@NoMoreMuchin

We seem to have to have very similar taste! Bardo is done as a Greek Chorus type thing, really interesting