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Original poster

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

113 replies

tripletsandtwins · 23/11/2007 14:31

I desperately need an incredible book! I'm on bedrest and I'm suddenly finding myself with time to actually read, but no good books!

Currently, I'm reading Harry Potter 7, but I'm nearly finished!

Help!

OP posts:
Marina · 23/11/2007 15:09

Zoe Oldenbourg - The World is Not Enough
Irene Nemirovsky - Suite Francaise
Jeffrey Eugenides - Middlesex
Michel Faber - The Crimson Petal and the White
Sarah Waters - The Night Watch
Robertson Davies - The Salterton Trilogy

some quite new, some old, all books you can lose yourself in
Hope you are OK

Dinosaur · 23/11/2007 15:07

Barbara Vine's A Dark-Adapted Eye or A Fatal Inversion. You will not be able to put them down, I promise.

Also fantastic, although a bit more "literary", is Donna Tartt's The Secret History.

Original poster
tripletsandtwins · 23/11/2007 15:05

Wow! Thank you, I shall have to check those all out.

I'm still in the dark ages when it comes to books, I have't read anything from cover to cover for 3 1/2 years! LOL. So thanks for helping me out!

OP posts:
HonoriaGlossop · 23/11/2007 15:02

I mean, if you've enjoyed Harry Potter, these books are a thousand times better - better written, an incredible imaginative experience...

HonoriaGlossop · 23/11/2007 15:00

I second The Northern Lights trilogy. Gripping, and incredible, describe those books perfectly. You really HAVE to give those a go. I bet you won't be able to put them down.

EffiePerine · 23/11/2007 14:54

William Boyd, The New Confessions

lululemonrefuser · 23/11/2007 14:48

"massive narrative arc that you can lose yourself in"

There is a great series by the Egyptian author Naghib Mafouz - the Cairo Trilogy.

here is is

That would keep you going for a bit and is a bit out of the ordinary run of things.

toomanydaves · 23/11/2007 14:42

Anna Karenina/War and Peace
All of Dickens
all of Dostoevsky
Margaret ATwood
You want something with a massive narrative arc that you can lose yourself in.
Vanity Fair
Zola

Rosa · 23/11/2007 14:42

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett Its long, good not up in the excellent range but you want to know whats going on ...There is a follow up out as well not read it yet.

lululemonrefuser · 23/11/2007 14:40

I'd second that - The Tenderness of Wolves is brilliant (although some inconsistencies and slightly unbelievable stuff, so no good if you are pedantic!).

I found Jonathan Strange and Dr Norrell by Susannah Clarke really compelling too. And very long!

Also, The Secret History, by Donna Tartt, if you didn't read it first time round.

PanicPants · 23/11/2007 14:36

Or even better try

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Which is incredible, beautifully written, gripping etc etc etc

toomanydaves · 23/11/2007 14:35

have you read the northern lights trilogy?
Blardy marvellous.

PanicPants · 23/11/2007 14:34

Try Hurting Distance by Sophie Hannah

It's is gripping and although I probably wouldn't go as far as incredable, it is very good - a few good twists.