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Original poster

Can you please please recommend a book….am in a rut….

90 replies

dameofdilemma · 14/06/2022 19:56

I seem to have lost my way with a few books (that are popular with lots of people) that I’ve tried recently and not really liked - Hamnet; American Dirt; Piranesi etc

Books/authors I’ve really liked - Donna Tartt; Sarah Waters; Clare Chambers; Kate Atkinson (but not the crime series).

Unexpectedly I liked The Salt Path and Thursday Murder Club and Magpie Murders. Not my usual style.

Don’t like chick lit type books (Marian Keyes etc). I do read comfort books (Wodehouse, Agatha Christie etc) but in between something more substantial.

Really don’t want something harrowing full of abuse, despair etc.

Have tried a few samples on my Kindle but nothing is grabbing my attention….its driving me nuts! Please someone help….

OP posts:
Riverlee · 14/06/2022 21:28

WhatICallMyUsername · 14/06/2022 21:12

I knew someone would recommend How to kill your family! It was our book club book last month and of the 30 odd of us that made the meet up only 2 enjoyed it! Most of us said we only finished it was because it was book club Grin

Show quote history

Wow, big book club!

Riverlee · 14/06/2022 21:27

The Chronicles of St Mary - Jodi Taylor
Seven Sister sisters series - Lucinda Riley (plus her stand alone books)
Rhys Bowen books - Farleigh Fields etc
The Heatwave - Kate Riordan
Three Hours - Rosemary Lupton

All good books

TequilaSunriseforme · 14/06/2022 21:26

I’ve just read Circe by Madeleine Miller. Loved it.

LadyEggs · 14/06/2022 21:25

I'm a big fan of Anthony Horowitz. There is a sequel to Magpie Murders called Moonflower Murders, and his Daniel Hawthorne series is good too. But I also love Liane Moriarty and can highly recommend Big Little Lies. It's an excellent audiobook too.

BreadInCaptivity · 14/06/2022 21:25

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden.

Brilliant book (shit movie),

shortsaint · 14/06/2022 21:24

I am LOVING Still Life by Sarah Winwood right now - gorgeous characters, utterly charming. Her other books are great too - Tin Man etc

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 14/06/2022 21:17

I've just read Restoration by Rose Tremain, and its sequel, Merivel. Historical, set in the time of Charles Ii. Easy to read, well-written, lots happens, and altogether very enjoyable. I've liked everything by her, but these are my favourites.
I also loved A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
Also The Star of the Sea. Can't remember who wrote it but it's a murder mystery set on board a ship taking immigrants from Ireland to the US during the potato famine. It uses contemporary accounts, songs, newspaper articles etc and is bloody brilliant, especially if you have any connection with Ireland, or just like history.

WhatICallMyUsername · 14/06/2022 21:12

YellowFlowersGreenStems · 14/06/2022 20:12

I really enjoyed How to kill your family by Bella Mackie recently but might be too chick lit for you. And Matt Haig - the midnight library (has a depressing start) and How to stop time.

I'm currently reading a young adult fantasy called Threadneedle for a change. I liked the cover and it's turned out to be good so far.

I knew someone would recommend How to kill your family! It was our book club book last month and of the 30 odd of us that made the meet up only 2 enjoyed it! Most of us said we only finished it was because it was book club Grin

Welshrarebit75 · 14/06/2022 21:11

Do you like detective/police procedural books?

Cheryl Rees Price - Welsh detective series is good. Not too gory (more Midsummer murders type crime), but interesting characters and Det. Meadows is a bit of a sweetheart.

Theredjellybean · 14/06/2022 21:06

I've obsessively read all of charity Norman's books after reading "see you in September"
I don't like chic lit or particularly happy endings but also don't like violence, gore, etc.
All her books are excellent except after the fall which was a bit saccharine at the end.

Thewolvesarerunningagain · 14/06/2022 21:05

Some recent finds from me

Catriona Ward The Last house on Needless Street dark as hell but wow!
Greg Buchanan Sixteen Horses similarly dark but fabulously well written
The Dog Stars Peter Heller just breathtaking
The sixteen trees of the Somme Lars Mytling utterly absorbing
Anything at all by David Mitchell but The Bone Clocks is stunning

Schrev123 · 14/06/2022 21:03

Have you read 'any human heart' by William Boyd? I just discovered it & couldn't put it down.

Original poster
dameofdilemma · 14/06/2022 21:02

5minutes - I recently watched the My Brilliant Friend series and thought it was amazing. Also read and watched The Lost daughter and am thinking of trying The Lying Life of Adults next.

OP posts:
mrsfeatherbottom · 14/06/2022 21:01

I recently read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and loved it!

Original poster
dameofdilemma · 14/06/2022 21:01

Wow lots of recs - a few I’ve read/tried but most I haven’t. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
keeprunningupthathill · 14/06/2022 21:00

Have you read The Absolute Book? I like very similar books to you and I found it difficult at first but once I got into it - wow. It's sort of bonkers but a particular bit was the most tense I've ever been reading a book.

Fruitloopcowabunga · 14/06/2022 21:00

Patrick Gale - Mother's Boy or A Place Called Winter. There are sad bits but not what I'd call gloomy. Tracy Chevalier is wonderful too A Single Thread and Remarkable Creatures.

GoodnightRain · 14/06/2022 20:57

Rivers of London series is good!

5minutesofquiet · 14/06/2022 20:55

Elena Ferrante 'My Brilliant Friend' quartet. I can't tell you how brilliant the series is. I couldn't put them down. Especially good if you've any connections with the south of Italy but even if you haven't, they're amazing!

Alexisrose16 · 14/06/2022 20:54

I second lessons in Chemistry, I also recommend The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah and Hungry by Grace Dent

AussieSue · 14/06/2022 20:53

Have you read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman?

Myownpapillon · 14/06/2022 20:49

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Golem and the Djinni

Blackcountryexile · 14/06/2022 20:49

My suggestions would be
The Sealwoman's Gift Sally Magnusson
The Most Fun We Ever Had Claire Lombardo
We Must Be Brave Frances Liardet

For well written but cosy mysteries Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver series. First one is After The Armistace Ball

Newestname002 · 14/06/2022 20:47

I'm rereading Dan Brown's books - just finished "Deception Point" and lived "Inferno", "Angels & Demons" and of course "The Da Vinci Code".

I do find his books are sometimes a bit heavy on the research/information but that hasn't stopped me rattling through three books in the last week. They are consuming reads and I'm reading them for the second time. 🌹

DisplayPurposesOnly · 14/06/2022 20:44

The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (find it hard to get into but worthwhile - even harder to get out of!)

Jane Smiley
A Thousand Acres (a retelling of King Lear)
The All True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton (historical novel set in America as slavery is debated & the west settled and sides being drawn up pre civil war)
Duplicate Keys (woman reassesses friendships when one in her group is murdered)