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Original poster

If I loved Demon Copperhead...

94 replies

HippyKayYay · 13/11/2024 14:35

... looking for recommendations for something to put on my Kindle before I go away this afternoon! The brief is very well written, but engrossing (think Demon Copperhead!). I was thinking of either Miranda July's All Fours (but it's expensive on Kindle) or Hello, Beautiful (but have read really mixed reviews). Any other ideas? Thanks!

Some books and authors I like:
Demon Copperhead
The Bee Sting
The Cazalet Chronicles
Sorrow and Bliss
Restless Dolly Maunder
All My Mothers
Dictionary of Lost Words
Lessons in Chemistry
The Whalebone Theatre
Hamnet
Shuggie Bain
Deborah Levy
Maggie O'Farrell
Colm Toibin
Rachel Cusk (although have to be in the right mood!)

Ones that I've found a bit meh or actively dislike
Still Life (it just hasn't grabbed me!)
Yellowface
Wolf Hall (have tried several times and I can't stick at it)
Neopolitan Novels (sorry!)
Island of Missing trees
Sally Rooney
Jessie Burton

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 19/11/2024 17:45

Curtis Sittenfeld? I loved both American Wife and Rodham.

levantine · 19/11/2024 17:43

Great suggestions here. I second suggestions for A Fine Balance and the Goldffinch. I did also enjoy the Poisonwood Bible.

fridgemagnette · 19/11/2024 17:38

@HippyKayYay I loved Demon Copperhead and Lessons in Chemistry, and have just finished Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, which I also loved. It's written in a similarly matter-of-fact narrative style, in the first person from two perspectives and was very much a page-turner for me.

notatinydancer · 19/11/2024 10:38

Also
The Nightingale
All the light we cannot see

notatinydancer · 19/11/2024 10:35

The Covenant of Water

raspberryberet7 · 19/11/2024 09:21

Feckinlego · 13/11/2024 15:32

All the colours of the dark Chris Whitaker? Reminded me of Demon.

Just finished this and immediately started reading as ironically I'm not ready to let go yet!! Can't recommend this highly enough. It's a slow burn but well worth it it's amazing

DisplayPurposesOnly · 19/11/2024 07:42

A Thousand Acres - Jane Smiley

(I thought The Poisonwood Bible was really hard to get into, the first time I read it. It was worth persevering.)

Carriemac · 19/11/2024 07:38

I think Poisonwood bible is the worst Kingsolver book . And I loved DC .

desperatedaysareover · 19/11/2024 07:23

Dreamland, Rosa Rankin-Gee - epic writing, and the closest I've ever read to a modern-day Dickens, close correlations with the more dystopian elements of his work. One of the top ten best books I've ever read from probably thousands. Might just break your heart though.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 19/11/2024 07:15

The Poisonwood Bible is worth another go. I also love Prodigal Summer and Unsheltered.

I would also recommend Michael Dorriss’s A Yellow Raft in Blue Water

Oleo24 · 19/11/2024 06:52

HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 22:20

I don't read non-fiction! Honestly, I'm not a philistine, but because I have to read a lot for work, non-fiction is a busman's holiday...

Show quote history

I never used to either, but I’ve discovered so many great non-fiction books that are page turners and read like fiction!

Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 22:23

Topbird29 · 13/11/2024 16:56

I've enjoyed some on your list, and have several of the others in my TBR pile!
So I suggest The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne.

Edited

Yes, I'll add this to the list as I've seen it recommended elsewhere for those who've liked DC and The Bee Sting

OP posts:
Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 22:21

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 18/11/2024 21:48

Have you read anything else by Barbara Kingsolver? I love pretty much all of her books.

i think we have similar taste - as well as loving Demon Copperhead and other Barbara Kingsolver I also love Maggie o’Farrell and can’t get along with Wolf Hall and hate Sally Rooney 😂. So will be stealing some suggestions from this thread.

I haven't read any of her others. I got a sample of Poisonwood Bible, but it didn't grab me for some reason. I'll try again

OP posts:
Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 22:20

Oleo24 · 18/11/2024 21:46

I was going to recommend this too. Although I read it the other way round to you - Empire of Pain first, then Demon Copperhead. Two brilliant books.

Show quote history

I don't read non-fiction! Honestly, I'm not a philistine, but because I have to read a lot for work, non-fiction is a busman's holiday...

OP posts:
PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 18/11/2024 21:48

Have you read anything else by Barbara Kingsolver? I love pretty much all of her books.

i think we have similar taste - as well as loving Demon Copperhead and other Barbara Kingsolver I also love Maggie o’Farrell and can’t get along with Wolf Hall and hate Sally Rooney 😂. So will be stealing some suggestions from this thread.

Oleo24 · 18/11/2024 21:46

brislereg · 15/11/2024 15:48

I second the recommendation for Empire of Pain. I read it straight after Demon Cooperhead and I loved it as a sort of non fiction companion to the Kingsolver book. It's so compelling it's like you are reading a novel rather than NF.

I was going to recommend this too. Although I read it the other way round to you - Empire of Pain first, then Demon Copperhead. Two brilliant books.

Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 21:33

Thanks all. Some good ones here. Some I’ve read before and like. Some not so much! And lots of new ones to try.

OP posts:
Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 21:32

Velvian · 15/11/2024 16:00

I agree with pp that you should try Ann Patchett. Commonwealth is so good with a Demon Copperhead vibe. Do you listen to A Good Read on BBC Sounds? That's where I get a lot of ideas and I'm sure nearly everything in your OP has been featured.

i didn’t know about A Good Read! Thanks for the tip

OP posts:
Original poster
HippyKayYay · 18/11/2024 21:29

DGPP · 13/11/2024 15:54

i like Similar books to you and love Ann Patchett and Anne Tyler. Start with the Dutch House for Ann Patchett

Oh yes I loved this too!

OP posts:
Velvian · 15/11/2024 16:00

I agree with pp that you should try Ann Patchett. Commonwealth is so good with a Demon Copperhead vibe. Do you listen to A Good Read on BBC Sounds? That's where I get a lot of ideas and I'm sure nearly everything in your OP has been featured.

MagicianMoth · 15/11/2024 15:51

We also have similar taste except I really liked Still Life

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Children's Book by A S Byatt

brislereg · 15/11/2024 15:48

I second the recommendation for Empire of Pain. I read it straight after Demon Cooperhead and I loved it as a sort of non fiction companion to the Kingsolver book. It's so compelling it's like you are reading a novel rather than NF.

augustinmeaulnes · 15/11/2024 12:40

Another vote for All the Colours of the Dark

Last House on Needless Street Catriona Ward and Looking Glass Sound
The Hunter and if you enjoy it the sequel The Searcher Tana French
We Begin at the End Chris Whitaker
Kala Colin Walsh
Our Wives Under the Sea and Private Rites Julia Arnfield
Wild Houses Colin Barrett
Bitter Orange and Our Endless Numbered Days Claire Fuller (and her others)
Strange Sally Diamond Liz Nugent
Cahokia Jazz, Light Perpetual and On Golden Hill Francis Spufford
The Shock of the Fall Nathan Filer

The Good Daughter Karin Slaughter and her other books

shinny · 15/11/2024 07:08

how about the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)?
well written but easy reading
I have very similar taste to you and have now got a large list to go through - thanks

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 15/11/2024 06:54

Have you read and of the non-fiction books on the Opioid Crisis? Empire of Pain and Dopesick are both very good

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