Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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:
Smokeybacon72 · 14/06/2022 20:43

Andrew Greig has written quite a few, would recommend any, Electric brae was first one I read and so beautifully written can see he's a poet by use of language and how he paints with his words.

Cantstandsmugness · 14/06/2022 20:42

Loved where the Crawdads sing and am now reading The Paper Palace which I am loving, it is of a similar style for those that were surprised by Crawdads, as I was.

pandora206 · 14/06/2022 20:41

For a really good story and quite a light read try The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman. It was my choice for our book group and everyone enjoyed it.

maudesvagina · 14/06/2022 20:38

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 14/06/2022 20:37

I love Natasha Pulley "The watchmaker of filigree street" is a favourite.

I also love Elizabeth Strout and have read several of her books.

Also love Madeleine Miller and "Song for Achilles" & "Circe".

Bananapud · 14/06/2022 20:35

I can second “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “Threadneedle”.
Based on the authors you like I think you might enjoy books by Claire Fuller and Elizabeth Strout.
Other books that I have read and enjoyed this year: “A Town Called Solace”, “Klara and the Sun”, “The Mercies”, “Matrix” - Lauren Groff, “To Paradise”, “Mothering Sunday” - Graham Swift.
”A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” - an old one and a real comfort read.

sleepymum50 · 14/06/2022 20:32

If you don’t mind knowing the plot then I recommend buying the book of any films you really liked. Obviously only if it’s based on a novel.

I have recently read The Power of the Dog, True Grit, and Silence. All very good.

Passmealargewine · 14/06/2022 20:28

I've just finished Where The Crawdags Sing & really enjoyed it, not my usual style but I liked it a lot

Oioicaptain · 14/06/2022 20:24

If you liked The Thursday Murder Club , try Death and Croissants! I've just read it and loved it. It's very funny.

suckingonchillidogs · 14/06/2022 20:23

I love John Steinbeck - East of Eden is brilliant if you've not already read it

WallaceinAnderland · 14/06/2022 20:20

Have you read the Cormoran Strike series? If not, start with The Cuckoo's Calling.

hanahsaunt · 14/06/2022 20:18

The Dictionary of Lost Words might be worth a try. Other beautifully written books read recently include The Island of Missing Trees and The House of Glass.

BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ · 14/06/2022 20:17

I’ve recently really enjoyed these, mostly non fiction/life writing as I’m into that at the moment- all really good, especially the Seamus O’Reily and the Lucy Easthope.

Excited to see what other people recommend because I want to get back into fiction. I hope one of these whets your appetite.

When the Dust Settles by Lucy Easthope

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

A Village in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Written in Bone by Sue Black

Night. Sleep Death. The Stars. by Joyce Carol Oates

Diary of an MPs Wife by Sasha Swire

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Seamus O’Reily

The Year of the End by Anne Theroux

Sad Little Men by Richard Beard

Original poster
dameofdilemma · 14/06/2022 20:14

Midnight library was another one that lots of people raved about and I didn't like....

I listened to the Bella Mackie book on Radio 4 recently and thought it was good so might give that a go, even though I know the story now.

OP posts:
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.