So which book did you love that you just randomly picked up?

The Movie by Louise Bagshawe. I got it free with a magazine and read it so many times it fell apart.

Dunno why, really. Just fun escapism.

The Girl With No Name by Reine Andrieu, a book by a French author translated into English. The central part of the story is about a little girl with amnesia just after the Second World War but also tells the tale of the events leading up to it, concerning a well-to-do French family and a German soldier. I learned a lot about the war from the French point of view and just how courageous the members of the Resistance were.

Just finished ‘Educated’. It was stunning.

@Pallisers enjoy it!

what a wonderful thread. I've just downloaded The Card on my library app. Thank you @JohannSebastianBach

When I moved to the US 30 years ago I went to a second hand shop and bought a beautiful old mahogany table for almost nothing and also a copy of Susan Howatch's Glamorous Powers for 50 cents. The table served us all these years and is now in my son's flat. I adored that book and was thrilled to realise it was a series and have read and re-read all the starbridge books over the years.

I also picked up Agustus Carp Esq by Himself in a secondhand shop in Ireland - what a joy. I gave it to my BIL who teaches in a US university and he put it on the list of "Books professors think you should read before graduation" on the university's website.

Also discovered The Papers of A.J Wentworth B.A in a second hand shop - another joy.

The Well by Catherine Chanter - I picked it up on a holiday cottage bookshelf and couldn't put it down.

I loved that in fact anything Korean related highly recommend the orphan masers son as well
but a TV series how exciting when ?

Rosemary's Baby - I'd seen the film years ago and wasn't too fussed about reading it but it really gripped me. I even woke up in the middle of the night and kept on reading - and then couldn't get to sleep as it was too scary.😆

I also got Burning Bright with a magazine (was it More?) and have loved Helen Dunmore ever since!
Talking to the Dead is also fantastic.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - an amazing book!

Pachinko. Most people probably read it five years ago but I only just picked up a copy. can't wait to watch the tv series now.

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome, was abroad on a school exchange, neither the family nor my exchangee were friendly or welcoming and it was awful! Found this on a bookshelf there and bizarrely loved it!

Back 20 years, I got 2 books free with magazines in a short period. To my surprise they were both excellent and I've re read them many times.
A Slipping Down Life by Anne Fine
Burning Bright by Helen Dunmore

There was a third one about a young doctor, recently qualified, who had a difficult relationship with her mum, who may or may not have cancer. It was also very good but I've forgotten the title.

Randomly picked and listened this audiobook from my library's app! So good!

My partner knows her, apparently she is lovely

I picked up a book called "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" by Ayelet Waldman at a book swap, and ended up loving it.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym - I think think I even realised how much I enjoyed it initially, but its become one of those books I read at least once a year

Also Diary of a provincial lady by E M Delafield

Yes I've read it all now! And the donkey series. The only one I didn't like was the weird period one written by Barclay

@PeskyYeti make sure u read the rest in the series I think there are 13 books and some smaller numbers he’s in between.

then when u have done that go on and read the time police which is the spin off. Love any work Jodi Taylor does.

The House with the Stained Glass Window by Żanna Słoniowska. I saw this in the bookshop having never heard of it but ended up loving it. It's set in Lviv and there's such a strong sense of place, made me want to visit thisbeautiful and historic city. Not that that is possible at the moment.

Middlesex. Picked it up in my brother’s house in Africa and really enjoyed it.

Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. It was so interesting and brilliant and every book I've read since has been disappointing as it's just not as good

Why men lie and women cry by Allan & Barbara Please. Laugh so hard!!!

The Food of Love by Anthony Capella.
A love story set in Italy and a complete delight to the senses, food, wine, aromas and sunshine. It includes recipes that the love interest cooks but probably not for vegetarians!!

Legends and Lattes - cheap kindle read that was cheerful, upbeat, fun, and generally optimistic. Like the fantasy books i read as a teenager in the 80s, before everything became post-apocalyptic and depressing.
legends&lattes

two young adult books that i loved but knew nothing about before picking up
The Bone Dragon just beautifully, poetically written, although often harrowing in subject matter.

and Alyzon Whitestarr just really gripped me, although the author doesn’t seem well known in the UK.