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!

I loved Eleanor. I thought she was autistic as my brother has autism and he speaks in an incredibly formal and old fashioned way too.
Apparently it’s getting made into a film!

I’ve refently finished The Cactus which, like other pp’s mentioned, was similar in style to Eleanor.

Little Fires Everywhere was ok but I didn’t rate it as highly as everyone else seems to. My mum absolutely loved it.

The Essex Serpent. Hands down my favourite book of recent years.

Ann Patchett is pretty reliable too.

DISCLAIMER I didn't much like Eleanor Oliphant, so it's possible our tastes don't align…

Ok. I've ordered it. And now read the scathing reviews further down.

To whoever recommended Rachel's holiday as a similar read (fab book), it's your fault if I don't like it!

'All that was lost' by Alison May is a great book but finished too soon. I hated The Essex Serpent - found it dreary and oddly characterless.

I loved The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes & Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Also in total agreement with all above who have recommended Poisonwood Bible - it's amazing, made me weep on the tube!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Gideon Mack by James Robertson
Ferney by James Long
3 of the best books of all time imo

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. It tells the story two slaves who have escaped from the horrors of a plantation in Georgia. Terrifying, heart-in-mouth stuff. Somewhat allegorical, eg the Underground Railroad is depicted as actually that, but it works well for the plot.

Shatner
Chesil beach is bloody awful! Glad to hear someone else say that.
For those who have slightly darker tastes in literature, life after like by Kate Atkinson or Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker.
Currently reading Paying Guests which is ok but far from gripping.
Quite liked Elinor but perhaps not very realistic!

Sorry if it had been said already but ‘where’d you go, Bernadette’ by Maria Semple has humour in a similar vein to Elinor.

Poisonwood Bible reminded me that Prodigal Summer is (IMO) even better. It's my favourite Barbara Kingsolver.

Also, similarish to the Silence of the Girls but better, I think, is Circe by Madeline Miller.