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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:
Chemenger · 26/09/2021 18:51

This is cheating a bit because I read it more than a year ago but Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk is a terrific book, and a bit different.

ImFree2doasiwant · 26/09/2021 18:48

I thought American Dirt was outstanding. I dudnt like the midnight library much either, it was ok. Same with Thursday Murder club. I think I expected them to be amazing after all the great reviews I read.

stealingbeauty · 26/09/2021 18:45

The Glass Castle. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

I also enjoyed The Salt Path.

TiddleTaddleTat · 26/09/2021 16:43

Bring up the bodies
All the light I cannot see
Hamnet

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 26/09/2021 16:43

My Dark Vanessa
The Salt Path
The Appeal
The Vanishing Half
The Night She Disappeared
Ghosts
American Dirt
Troubled Blood

squashyhat · 20/09/2021 05:48

I have just finished This Tender Land. Wonderful book which will stay with me for ages.

MynahBird · 20/09/2021 04:50

The Girls - Emma Cline
American Dirt
My Dark Vanessa
The Glass Hotel
Salvation Creek - Susan Duncan (may have been more than 12 months ago, but this one has really stayed with me)
Troubled Blood
Inside the O'Briens - looooooove Lisa Genova
Sorrow and Bliss
The Perveen Mistry books by Sujata Massey
The Push
See What You Made Me Do - Jess Hill
Bright Burning Things
Girl, Woman, Other
Heartsick - Jessie Stephens
Rodham

Bloodybridget · 20/09/2021 03:18

Glad to see @Cazziebo mention Fingersmith, one of my best ever reads.
I've been useless and t reading for a long time now, but am romping through Elly Griffiths's Ruth Galloway novels thanks to a recommendation on MN.
I picked up The Home Corner by Ruth Thomas in a second hand bookshop a few days ago and absolutely loved it, it's very funny but also sad/moving, well written. Looks like it hasn't had the success it deserves so am pleased to give it a shout out here.

Cazziebo · 19/09/2021 12:37

The Girl With The Louding Voice
Fingersmith
Panopticon

and a bit lighter -
The End of the World is Flat

WeeFae · 19/09/2021 10:43

Hamnet by far.

KateyKontent · 18/09/2021 20:33

@BaconAndAvocado well that's a nice surprise.

The second Thursday Murder Club came out on 16th.

Just started Piranesi and have high hopes.

HappydaysArehere · 15/09/2021 16:12

The Girl With The Louding Voice.
My Name is Eva.
The Thursday Club.
Lots of other favourites but before the last 12 months.
Those would include many already suggested:
The Gentleman From Moscow.
All the Light You Cannot See.

BaconAndAvocado · 08/09/2021 08:40

KateyKontent
Holy moly, Amor Toyles' new book The Lincoln Highway is out on 21st October 🙌🏻
I might have to splurge on the hardback.

It looks interesting.

mrsfeatherbottom · 07/09/2021 20:33

@Stopsnowing

Station Eleven
Agree. Loved this so much.
KateyKontent · 07/09/2021 20:29

@BaconAndAvocado I read Rules of Civility first, it was ruddy marvellous.

I have the latest MurderBot to catch up on. I'll re-read the whole series first.

PollyPepper · 06/09/2021 23:53

@lizkt I'm glad you say that about American dirt because I've just skim read the final 2/3rds of Beekeeper. What a load of self serving wank. Read like the author didn't care about plot and just wanted to bag a pulitzer. Has really put me off bees.

@Winterfairy23 I've borrowed My Dark Vanessa and it hasn't grabbed me yet so was going to just return but I'll renew it and give it another shot.

The Wolf Den was amazing
Last house on Needless Street- cannot recommend this enough
Crawdads (obvs)

U2HasTheEdge · 06/09/2021 22:29

My Dark Vanessa
American Dirt
Hamnet
The Song of Achilles
Circe
The Silence of the Girls
A Thousand Ships
Boys Don't Cry

SkepticalCat · 06/09/2021 20:53

Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi
Monsieur Linh and His Child, by Philippe Claudel

ScottishDiblet · 06/09/2021 20:39

@LongLive89 I think you have excellent taste in music and books. What else would you recommend to read and listen to?!

CovidCorvid · 06/09/2021 19:56

I see it's already been recommend but I'd also say Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton... Read it in a day staying up till midnight to finish it.

Farfalle88 · 06/09/2021 19:56

Also another vote for Hamnet .
This is not About Me Janice Galloway

HermioneWeasley · 06/09/2021 19:55

The Sin Eater

Farfalle88 · 06/09/2021 19:54

Olive Kitteridge and Olive Again.

BaconAndAvocado · 06/09/2021 12:18

KateyKontent (love the tagname)

I also loved the Rules of Civility probably a tiny bit more than Gentleman in Moscow.

Wish AT would write something new!

JaninaDuszejko · 05/09/2021 12:59

Just going to add, I'm just about finished The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani, it's about a Frenchwoman who marries a Morrocan soldier who is posted to her village in WW2. The book is about their return to Morocco and the first 10 years of their marriage and with the campaign for independence going on in the background. It's absolutely fabulous and I don't want it to end! It's the first of a planned trilogy so looking forward now to the next two.

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