Elinor Oliphant is my favourite book ever. What next?

[thisisnothow]

Just finished it and loved Elinor. Don't what to read next but missing a good book. Recommendations please!

On the ASD/Asperger's debate, this us exactly my problem with the book. If she was autistic from birth than that is one thing but it us implied that it is the traumatic events where changed had led to her being the way she is. I find this confusing and if she is meant to be autistic then wouldn't she have learnt at least some basic social skills just by observation? Again, I know every autistic person is unlike another but women with autism tend to at least do some level of masking. I know some so called high functioning aspies find every day like completely disabling, despite a high level of intelligence (my own DD included) so Elinor passing her degree and managing to keep down a job doesn't sit with me.

Still, it is always good if books get the whole autism debate going as it raises awareness, I think...

And I did sort of enjoy the book just finding niggles with it now!

I've just started 'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts - so far, I'm obsessed! It's truly excellent, and a proper page turner (even though from the cover it doesn't look like it should be!!)

.... & obviously, I also recommend 'My Family and Other Animals' ...

I loved Eleanor Oliphant and recommend Dear Mrs Bird - a wonderful book that I didn't want to finish.

My sister’s keeper. I love reading it. But I need some more recommendations. Thanks I’m going to see if I can find these at my local library or bookstore.

I enjoyed Elinor Oliphant as a fun read and I don't think bears/requires close scrutiny. The waxing scene was very funny & when she went to the death metal band - I also enjoyed the musician's tweets.

A similar fun read is A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka.

I liked Eleanor Oliphant. I also liked Time Travellers Wife (old), Keeper of Lost Things and Big Little Lies which I watched after I''d watched the TV series and still loved. There is one passage I still remember that chokes me up.

I usually stick to my favourite authors but read a lot of recommended books last year.
There was a lot I didn't like such as The Secret History, The Goldfinch and The Cows (Dawn O'Porter it was utterly shite). I was recommended them as my d sis as some of her favourite books and we usually have similar taste.

Currently reading Three Body Problem which I'm not sure if I like yet (I think I do at 50% in ).

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. Cracking Gothic horror / thriller.

If you want something warm and gentle Miss Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers is a lovely book. I read it years ago but it's in a similar vein to Elinor.

I enjoyed Elinor Oliphant, not my most favourite book ever but worth reading. Just finished The Cactus, again enjoyed it, an easy read, similar character.

I loved Eleanor Oliphant and recommend Dear Mrs Bird - a wonderful book that I didn't want to finish.

I'm reading Dear Mrs Bird at the mo, about half way through and enjoying it. Lighthearted compared to my last book, The Child Finder, which was brilliant but quite dark.

Shatner- I can definitely see where you are coming from! It was pretty forgettable in terms of details but I think that I partly just enjoyed the west coast setting as haven’t read that many books set there (unless I imagined that it was set around Glasgow?!) and like another poster said- it is basically chick-lit (which i know is a problematic expression- easy airport novel targetted at mainly female audience?).

I think it was Dusty who recommended Bitter Orange. Seconded! Saw the author Claire fuller talk. Brilliant writer. Different league entirely. Highly recommend all three of her novels.

Actually I cancel using the phrase chick lit- inaccurate and offensive to the book, even though i agree with a lot of criticisms put to it!

susan hill books
clair mackintosh books.
lisa jewell
holly martin
carole Matthews
Debbie Johnson
simon kernick
sarah morgan
Karin fossum
Karin slaughter

To the PP who loved 'How to Stop Time'...apparently Benedict Cumberbatch has bought the movie rights. I loved most of it too- just hated the way they killed off one of the main characters (no spoilers). It would be a great film.

Oh thanks @LucyInTheSkyy I'll have to read it again before I go to the cinema!

Anyone a fan of Ruth Ware? I loved The Death of Mrs Westaway and In The Dark Dark Wood, need to get the other two of hers.

I have enjoyed some of Lisa Jewell's books but found 'I Found You' utterly unbelievable and ridiculous. (To be fair most of my book club really liked it though)

I'm another one who reads purely for enjoyment. I recommend anything by Adele Parks, also anything by Emily Giffin. Liane Moriarty is very good.

I second A Little Life. It hurt my heart to read it. Devastating. Also loved All the Light We Cannot See. Any Patrick Gale.

Three things about elsie - Joanna Cannon, I loved this and Eleanor Oliphant!

If you liked Elinor you will probably love The Silver Linings Playbook.

And possibly On Chesil Beach which was also a pile of shit.

I agree about Chesil Beach.

A man called Ove
Very similar in that the main character is tricky socially- it’s a lovely book

Also
Elizabeth is missing and
Water for Elephants both good stories and easy reads whilst also being well written enough to not notice the writing if you know what I mean.

Trauma in the early years can manifest similar to autism or she could be autistic or she could be autistic and had trauma in the early years.

Another vote of Ove - just love that book.

Also try anything by Lianne Moriarty (Nine Perfect Strangers is her latest). I really enjoy her books.

Lisa Jewell is always a good read - particularly her more recent ones (though Vince and Joy is glorious).

Charity Norman is another to look out for - See you in September is particularly good