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Original poster

What's the best books you've read in the last 12 months?

231 replies

lizkt · 03/09/2021 00:07

American Dirt really stands out for me.

Looking for some new books to read so would love to hear any ideas.

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 07/11/2021 14:44

@Mydogisagentleman

Girl Woman Other Hamnet Shuggie Bain
Loved all of these but Shuggie Bain will stay with me the longest.
Cazziebo · 07/11/2021 12:16

Just finished American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Could not put it down. Shocking, moving and totally absorbing.

Mydogisagentleman · 06/11/2021 22:47

Girl Woman Other
Hamnet
Shuggie Bain

Hallelujah2020 · 05/11/2021 07:08

American Dirt
A town called solace by Mary Lawson

Newpuppymummy · 01/11/2021 20:02

Love that so many people enjoyed Small pleasures. I thought it was amazing.

Also loved

Where the crawdads sing
Girl, woman other
It ends with us
Everything he never told me
Mrs England

Newmum29 · 01/11/2021 00:25

The truth about her

Amdone123 · 01/11/2021 00:22

Hearts invisible furies - brilliant. I laughed so much, and it's so thought provoking.
Behind Closed Doors - couldn't put it down but at times too scared to pick it up !
I'm off to Google Claire Chambers as I'm sure I've read one of hers. I will read Small Pleasures though.
Great thread. Thanks op.

PhiOmicron · 31/10/2021 23:48

Agatha Christie's Five Little Pigs (quite innovative in the way she presented the material, and on this occasion I did not guess whodunit, SMH)

Dracula - Bram Stoker, soooo much darker and more disturbing than I remembered its being

11/22/63 by Stephen King- needed a light edit, but gripping, and one moment near the end absolutely ripped my guts put in the best possible way.

MsAmerica · 31/10/2021 23:39

In Dubious Battle, by John Steinbeck. Just crazy about it.

I doubt it's anyone else's cup of tea, though.

Motherdare · 31/10/2021 14:11

The Dutch House by Anne Patchett.

Terpsichore · 31/10/2021 08:21

Best fiction to date for me this year was Francis Spufford's Golden Hill, which most of my book group hated Grin

Best non-fiction so far is too difficult to narrow down as I've had a really good streak of excellent books, but I loved The Land Where Lemons Grow by Helena Attlee. Everything you ever wanted to know about citrus fruits!

whichiswitch · 25/10/2021 12:56

My top three are...
The Octopus Man by Jasper Gibson
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

rumred · 24/10/2021 20:42

Purple hibiscus by chimamanda ngochi. Brilliant

MagpieMary · 24/10/2021 09:28

Thank you!

hanahsaunt · 23/10/2021 23:29

@MagpieMary sorry - was in a complete rush - it's We The Drowned by Carsten Jensen. Really fabulous.

MagpieMary · 23/10/2021 15:39

@hanahsaunt

PlacemarkingSmile. Highlights would include Hamnet (actually sobbed), Beartown, and Small Pleasures.

Outright winner though has to be We, The Sea.

Outright loser would be Rodham which I found utterly vile and salacious.

I can't find the author of We. the Sea?
MagpieMary · 23/10/2021 15:35

The Signature of All Things Elizabeth Gilbert
Oliver Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout
Hamnet
I Am I Am Maggie O'Farrell

hanahsaunt · 22/10/2021 20:00

PlacemarkingSmile. Highlights would include Hamnet (actually sobbed), Beartown, and Small Pleasures.

Outright winner though has to be We, The Sea.

Outright loser would be Rodham which I found utterly vile and salacious.

Photosymphysis · 22/10/2021 19:52

@LoveFall

Perhaps I am a hopeless science nerd, but I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary.

I listened to the Audible version. By the end I was in love with a certain character called Rocky.

@LoveFall it was amazing, wasn't it?!

DH and I read/listened simultaneously and just loved it.

Photosymphysis · 22/10/2021 19:49

@KateyKontent

Hail Mary by Andy Weir was the best book I've read this year

I really like Gentleman in Moscow, think I actually preferred Rules of Civility by the same author.

I'm about the re-read the Sanctuary fantasy series by Robert J Crane.

Just here to say yes to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

Possibly the best book I've ever read. I had it on ebook and audiobook so I could switch between and keep listening when I had to do stuff. Totally brilliant. Can't wait for the film (though it should have been an 8 part series)

Original poster
lizkt · 22/10/2021 19:47

@Windows01

I just use the desktop app these days and download to there. Not sure where my Kindle is these days.

You can buy the kindle deals on the usual amazon site.

OP posts:
Sherrystrull · 22/10/2021 19:21

I've just read 'Small Pleasures' and really enjoyed it. It's such a lovely, easy, lyrical read.

Eightytwenty · 21/10/2021 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elkiedee · 20/10/2021 22:04

@Windows01 I'm rather obsessive about monitoring Kindle bargains and buying far too many of them, not sure when I think I'm going to read some. www.ereaderiq.co.uk offers various options, displaying popular books that are currently available at a lower price and with options to watch for books at various price points, import wishlists, all sorts.

Another monitoring website is called something like KindofBook - I don't think it's as good but they do send out a daily email and I sometimes spot some offer on there that I would otherwise have missed.

BaconAndAvocado · 20/10/2021 14:28

Windows01
American Dirt, for me, was a great adventure story which at the centre holds the tale of a mother's love for her son.
I know it's been criticised in some circles because it wasn't written by a Mexican author.
I loved it!

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