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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:
Windows01 · 20/10/2021 07:37

[quote lizkt]@stripetop I find a lot of these bestseller books tend to go for 99p on Kindle at some point or another. Goodness knows why but not complaining :-) I got Piranesi recently for 99p.[/quote]

I don't have a kindle but is there an app to get these deals also?

Windows01 · 20/10/2021 07:36

American Dirt had cropped up a lot. What was it that everyone was drawn to in this book?

I've been trying to get through this one for some time now and haven't picked it up in a while. Should probably get going with it again soon.

LoveFall · 18/10/2021 22:35

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.

MooseyMoo · 18/10/2021 22:20

Also loved Hamnet, Where the Crawdads Sing,

My favourite so far has been The Five by Hallie Reubenhold - the backstories behind the victims of Jack the Ripper. Absolutely fascinating.

Closely followed by The Woman in the White Kimono

languagelover96 · 14/10/2021 14:55

Falling for Christmas

hookiewookie29 · 13/10/2021 19:21

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton
Seven Days by Alex Lake
Gave them all 5 stars!

Cookiecrisps · 09/10/2021 22:44

I loved reading The Girl With All The Gifts. Have yet to see the film.

jobsagudden · 09/10/2021 18:17

Not a new book but I Am Pilgrim, the best book I've ever read.

stripetop · 09/10/2021 17:32

@lizkt absolutely. I have a list and check them from time to time. Try to always get on offer

Original poster
lizkt · 09/10/2021 17:13

@stripetop I find a lot of these bestseller books tend to go for 99p on Kindle at some point or another. Goodness knows why but not complaining :-) I got Piranesi recently for 99p.

OP posts:
doodleygirl · 09/10/2021 15:11

Beekeeper of Aleppo
The vanishing half
Small pleasures

stripetop · 09/10/2021 15:07

Just working my way down this topping up kindle.

American dirt 99p today

Thejoyofslippers · 09/10/2021 09:43

Hamnet by far my favourite read of the year. I also liked The Girl With the Louding Voice. My concentration is a bit shot at the moment as my Dad is very ill but the Rebus books (Ian Rankin) have been a great get away.

Couldn’t stand Crawdads and wasn’t that keen on American Dirt (though it was a gripping read).

WhyOhWhyOhWhyyyy · 08/10/2021 16:34

American Dirt for me too.
Snuggie Bain was another standout for me
Also really enjoyed More than a Woman by Caitlin Moran and Educated by Tara Westover if you fancy a non-fiction book
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi also very good

PrincessMaryaBolkonskaya · 08/10/2021 16:27

@Athenajm80

I have loads that I have loved, but 2 really stood out for me and I think they were all recommendations from here.

Csardas by Diane Pearson. Free on Kindle Unlimited (although I am now going to buy the hard copy) which was an epic based in Hungary, covering the two World Wars. I love Hungary and the people, so it was very interesting to read about a side of the wars I have never learned about.

Zemindar - another saga free on KU based in India around the time of the Indian rebellion in 1857.

I love big saga books. I have one called Stalingrad but it's a physical copy and is huge so not easy to curl up in bed and read. It's meant to be good though, as is Warsaw by Richard Foreman which had me in tears several times, and I don't usually cry at fiction. I've just realised the latter is free on KU too.

Oooo great thanks for these. I’m always on the lookout for kindle unlimited recommendations.

If anyone is interested the third book in the Vera series Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves is on kindle unlimited at the mo. None of the others.

Smokeybacon72 · 07/10/2021 15:04

Mayflies by Andrew O' Hagan very moving

Athenajm80 · 07/10/2021 14:58

I have loads that I have loved, but 2 really stood out for me and I think they were all recommendations from here.

Csardas by Diane Pearson. Free on Kindle Unlimited (although I am now going to buy the hard copy) which was an epic based in Hungary, covering the two World Wars. I love Hungary and the people, so it was very interesting to read about a side of the wars I have never learned about.

Zemindar - another saga free on KU based in India around the time of the Indian rebellion in 1857.

I love big saga books. I have one called Stalingrad but it's a physical copy and is huge so not easy to curl up in bed and read. It's meant to be good though, as is Warsaw by Richard Foreman which had me in tears several times, and I don't usually cry at fiction. I've just realised the latter is free on KU too.

Original poster
lizkt · 07/10/2021 11:42

Coming back to report that I've now read and loved My Dark Vanessa and Piranesi.

I read the Girl with the Louding Voice and it was ok but I just couldn't get on with the writing style, I'm afraid.

Going to read Hamnet next.

Thanks everyone, this thread has been a great source of ideas.

OP posts:
PiscesSt · 07/10/2021 08:59

The Salt Path
The Wild Silence
The Trick to Time

KobaniDaughters · 07/10/2021 04:37

Was going today American Dirt!! Otherwise my favourite books this year have been:

Shuggie Bain
Parable of the Sower
The Mercies
What Strange Paradise
Mr Loverman
Dirt Music
The Four Winds
The Alice Network

bluetongue · 06/10/2021 09:54

Never Let me Go
Leave the World Behind

HarlanPepper · 27/09/2021 16:59

The Olive Kitteridge books by Elizabeth Strout
Commonwealth and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Small Island (in audiobook format, read by the author) by Andrea Levy

blondie87 · 26/09/2021 19:00

Sorrow and Bliss Meg Mason
Americanah- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Wild and Sleepless Nights- Clover Stroud
Queenie- Candice Carty-Williams

Puddock1 · 26/09/2021 18:55

Favourite of the year:
We Begin At the End - Chris Whitaker

Also loved these:
This Is Going To Hurt - Adam Kay
Small Pleasures - Clare Chambers
Piranesi - Susannah Clark
The Sealwomen's Gift - Sally Magnusson
The Cat and the City - Nick Bradley

BiscuitLover09876 · 26/09/2021 18:53

As meat loves salt. Stick with it, it's mad.

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