What is the most gripping, incredible book you have ever read that you just couldn't put down?

it made me laugh - no-one ate, slept or went to the loo in his book...

but a gripping, rollarcoaster ride : read in 2 days!

Why does Dan Brown write in italics all the time to emphasise something shocking

I know. It doesn't deserve any literary awards. I still reckon it's perfect, untaxing beach reading material though.

i know, Lyra, it's very entertaining,it's just it breaks all the literary rules from the very first page!

'Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum's Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio. Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Saunière collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas.'

you don't TELL people he was renowned, you SHOW them actions and qualities which reveal him to be renowned in the eyes of the reader, Mr Brown... and that's just for starters!

lol Yummers, same as with the Da Vinci Code - at the time of reading I knew it was utter shite, and hated the way it was written, but still couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened. What a load of crap!

Another vote for His Dark Materials trilogy (For OP's info, books are called The Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass). The most fascinating, gripping and intelligent books. I sobbed at the end!

I loved Vanity Fair as well, seems like a such a modern book even though it was written in the Victorian days.

Any NIcci French
fan bloody tastic

I loved The Da Vinci Code. The fact that it's extremely popular automatically makes it rubbish in many people's eyes. It's a good thriller with lots of twists and is a very entertaining light read - it does exactly what it says on the tin.

and i must add that a friend of my dp's was so engrossed by Dan Brown that he read the whole thing in one day, he couldn't even bear to put it down to go to the loo, so apparently peed in the pint glasses that were lying around in his room. and the bathroom was literally next door, i might add!

at the time i was reading 'The Da Vinci Code' it seemed the most gripping, incredible book of all time. lol . it's a bit like porn as in you finish the book and have this sudden realisation of what you've been doing. and then you think what a pile of wank!

thecoffeelady.blogspot.com

Where is the blog, frothykindofadrink?

I found Agent ZigZag (up for consideration for December Book club on MN) unputdownable. Not my usual sort of read - but what a story! If it had been fiction you would have complained about how far-fetched it was!

Second, third etc the Northern Lights. Love the Sarah Dunant historical novels (Birth of Venus), ditto The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. You already know the story of the latter, but you just have to read on.

Generally enjoy Ian Rankin's Rebus series for rock solid story telling and characters. I always devour them quickly. Ditto the Minette Walters psychological/ crime novels.

Although not a read at one sitting sorts I always look out for Jojo Moyes, Sarah Waters, Victoria Clayton, Iain Banks (not the Sci-Fi ones), Adriana Trigiani.

BTW I want to read a book called "Can Any mother help me?". Sounds like an early version of MN - via letters?

Hope that the time passes quickly for you while you are on bedrest and enjoy your reading!

Has anyone read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini? I thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read.
Agree about Northern Lights Trilogy.
The Secret History and The Little Friend by Donna Tart are dark but gripping, really enjoyed Alice Hoffman's writing for a slightly lighter read- Here on Earth, The probable Future- and loads more, Anita Shrieve is good, and agree about Sarah Waters- I liked Fingersmith the best for a good ripping yarn.

the magic cottage by james herbert

swallows and amazons by some old dead chap

inkheart and inkspell by cornelia funke

The Bronze Horseman - Paulina Simons, i loved this book and the follow up Tatiana and alexander is fab too.

A love story set in ww2 Leningrad, Unputdownable!!

i have nearly missed my stop(s) on the tube this week due to the riveting Kite Runner

I am reading a lot of books in bed atm

I write about them on my blog if you are interested

Try the Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, could not put it down.

Also I love the classics, try Wuthering Heights for size.

The Bone People - Keri Hulme
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (saw me through long hospital stay)
Tales of the city books - Armistead Maupin
Anything by Douglas Coupland.
Lincoln Rhyme books Jeffrey Deaver (if you like crime books).

Good luck

Bizarre and filthy? Must get that one.

TRY DOUGLAS KENNEDYS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP OR THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS OR STATE OF THE UNION ALL GOOD READS,

ALSO LETTERS TO MY DAUGHTER IN FRANCE IS A GOOD READ FORGET WHO AUTHOR IS AGAIN.

YA ITS DEF A TEAR JERKER BUT SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN I READ IT IN A FEW HOURS AS I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN, ITS THE ONE BOOK THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME QUITE SOME TIME, FOUND IT TOUCHED ME SOMEWHERE WITHIN! JUST READ HER OTHER BOOK ABOUT ALICE SEBOLDS LIFE FORGET THE NAME BUT SHE HAD SOME TOUGH TIME!