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Original poster

The last book that wowed you (take two!)

57 replies

CurlewKate · 13/11/2024 10:06

I have to provide a book each for 6 people. Has to be fiction. All are readers. Aged 23 to 65. All have varied interests-except one, who is a history nut who likes "war" stuff. Two like feminist literature. One like spies.

Not too heavy or too long because they are for reading over Christmas. But not too light either. What's the last book you loved? Oh, and paperback, please...

OP posts:
Violetparis · 13/11/2024 19:26

Weyward - Emilia Hart, would be good for your feminist friends.

40somethingme · 13/11/2024 19:22

A man called Ove - lovely book and set in snowy winter time

autienotnaughty · 13/11/2024 15:26

Here one moment Lianne Moriarty

The wrong sister Claire Douglas

newrubylane · 13/11/2024 13:35

CurlewKate · 13/11/2024 10:06

I have to provide a book each for 6 people. Has to be fiction. All are readers. Aged 23 to 65. All have varied interests-except one, who is a history nut who likes "war" stuff. Two like feminist literature. One like spies.

Not too heavy or too long because they are for reading over Christmas. But not too light either. What's the last book you loved? Oh, and paperback, please...

Transcription by Kate Atkinson might fit the bill.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/11/2024 13:19

The last book that wowed me was Demon Copperhead but if you are not snobby about YA you can tick the boxes of war, spies and feminism with Codename Verity by Elisabeth Wein.

elephantskiss · 13/11/2024 13:17

Far far beyond Berlin.

Sweary but very funny and well thought-out, I thought!

ohyesido · 13/11/2024 12:54

The last book that wowed me was Last One At The Party. Probably not what you're looking for but it really was brilliant

Fgfgfg · 13/11/2024 12:41

We have always lived in the castle - Shirley Jackson

chickensandbees · 13/11/2024 12:39

A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe.

I read a lot and often forget books quite easily but I read this over a year ago and still think of it often.

HuaShan · 13/11/2024 12:36

Another vote for The Bee Sting
Tin Man - Sarah Winman
Demon Copperhead

My favourite 3 reads this year

minisnowballs · 13/11/2024 12:26

For thy great pain have mercy on my little pain

Short, feminist, historical. Can't stop thinking about it really.

SabrinaThwaite · 13/11/2024 12:24

All The Light We Cannot See might tick a few boxes.

And I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes was a good read, but it’s very long (although lots of short chapters with cliffhangers that make you keep reading on).

JustinThyme · 13/11/2024 11:26

CrossPurposes · 13/11/2024 10:52

Old Baggage or Their Finest Hour and a Half by Lissa Evans

I agree - great books! Funny, feminist, historical, not too heavy… particularly Old Baggage, which is one of my favourites.

I’d add Crooked Heart, which starts with a slight link to Old Baggage and takes place during the Second World War.

JollyHostess101 · 13/11/2024 11:21

1WanderingWomble · 13/11/2024 11:03

Transcription by Kate Atkinson might be a good choice, it's about a young woman who is recruited as a spy during WWII. I really enjoyed it and it kind of hits feminism, history and spying themes.

Oooh I hadn't heard of this one of hers thank you I'll add it to my Christmas list!!

No33 · 13/11/2024 11:07

For the feminists Jeanette winterson. Her novellas are incredible.

I love 'sexing the cherry' and 'the passion'

1WanderingWomble · 13/11/2024 11:03

Transcription by Kate Atkinson might be a good choice, it's about a young woman who is recruited as a spy during WWII. I really enjoyed it and it kind of hits feminism, history and spying themes.

Parapaderapa · 13/11/2024 10:56

Lessons in Chemistry was enjoyable

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 13/11/2024 10:55

I'm currently reading, and really enjoying, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. It would tick quite a few of your boxes (feminist, history, conflict).

CrossPurposes · 13/11/2024 10:52

Old Baggage or Their Finest Hour and a Half by Lissa Evans

FranticFrankie · 13/11/2024 10:49

Ghostwritten - David Mitchell
Dark Matter - Michelle Paver

SirChenjins · 13/11/2024 10:47

All the Light we Cannot See
Once Upon A River
The Bandit Queens
The Covenant of Water
The House of Special Purpose (anything by John Boyne really)
Anything by Clare Chambers

Happyinarcon · 13/11/2024 10:46

The Things They Carried is a good book for the war category. Vietnam war though

TragicTess · 13/11/2024 10:44

I loved Orbital - delighted to see it has just won The Booker

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 13/11/2024 10:40

Hearts Invisible Furies is great.
Also John Boyne has a series of books called the Elements. They're quite short but not sure if they are in paperback yet. So far he's released Water, Earth and Fire.

I read Water and Earth last week and really enjoyed them.

Vissi · 13/11/2024 10:34

Recent novels I liked:

Miranda July, All Fours (eccentric, cheery middle-aged crisis road US trip)

Samantha Harvey, Orbital (poetic, collectively-narrated astronauts on space station)

Yale van der Wouden, The Safekeep (set in the Netherlands shortly after WW2, rigid, strange woman’s life disrupted by a visitor to her childhood home)

Charlotte Wood, Stone Yard Devotional (set in a convent in the Australian outback, environmental themes)

LOTE, Shona Von Reinhold (modern researcher fascinated by obscure black modernist poet)

I’ve also just begun Conclave by Robert Harris, having just seen the film adaptation of it with Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini. Political thriller set during the election of a new pope.

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