Fictional books that have left a mark.

[whodunit3]

I used to absolutely obsessed with reading but over the years the DC have kept me either busy or exhausted and I have stopped.

However now we are on lockdown and the DC seem to be all getting along and happy thought I’d treat myself to some new books on my kindle and try to get back into reading, but where to start.

I like quite serious matter books especially with layers and characters that draw you in. I used to love Jodie Picoult and Diane Chamberlain but looked at a few just now and they are not drawing me in...

I think my favourite (fictional) book I have ever read is the Memory Keepers daughter which I absolutely loved.

Which books would you recommend and have found real page turners?

Trudi Canavan, Black Magician Trilogy + the rest.

I have re-read them every couple of years.

I should have said really not a fan of fantasy or sci-fi.

I read My Absolute Darling recently. A lot of people didn't like it but it really gripped me. Tough subject matter though.

Some of the books I’ve enjoyed recently ~
Fatherland by Robert Harris
Sweet Caress by William Boyd
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Tully by Paulina Simons. I have read it about 10 times.

Autocorrect... Paullina

On the Beach

Especially atm. About the end of life after a nuclear weapon. But not sensational.

A considered, measured book that that brings an emotional hit.

The book thief
The kite runner
Birdsong

The gift of rain - Tan Twan Eng
Ferney - James Long
A Thousand splendid suns - Khaled Hosseini
Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
The master and margarita - Bulgakov
Boudicca series by Manda Scott
IQ84 - Haruki Murikami
The Bone Clocks - David Mitchell
2666 - Roberto Bolano

When God Was a Rabbit - Sarah Winman
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

Anything by Khaled Husseini (not sure I've spelt that right) esp A Thousand Splendid Suns. An amazing book.
Pillars of the Earth trilogy - Ken Follett
The Tattoist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Story
Atonement by Ian McEwen

Year of Wonders
Daisy Jones and The Six
The Handmaid's Tale (or The Testaments if you have already read it)
I know you said Jodi Picoult is not really drawing you in, but I absolutely loved Leaving Time.

Books that have left a mark? Henry James' 'The Portrait of a Lady' did that for me. I wouldn't call it a page turner, but it completely changed my outlook on the rest of humanity.

I read a lot of Iris Murdoch in my twenties. God knows why, utterly brutal experiences that left me traumatised for a good fifteen years afterwards.

Loved The Tattooist of Aushwitz.
For something a little lighter but I really enjoyed was The First Last Kiss by Ali Harris, i stayed up till 3am to finish that one.

Down the Common.

I re read it every year, it's like going to visit an old friend.

They are non fiction but I'd REALLY recommend:

The Cut Out Girl (Bart Van Es)
The World I Fell Out Of (Melanie Reid)

Both serious topics at least.

BA Paris - behind closed doors

I’ve loved the Wolf Hall books. Just finishing the final one.

The silence of the girls, I read the final bit on the train and had to take a deep breath and stop reading so I didn't start sobbing.
It haunted me for days afterwards.

Thanks everyone, so far I have downloaded My Absolute Darling & Tully.

Another vote for khaled hosseni

Home going yaa gyasi

My sister the serial killer by oyinka braithwaite

Underground Railroad by colson whitehead

Les Miserables
Atonement
Jude the Obscure
Ferny
The Sunne in Splendour
Therese Raquin
Never Let Me Go
The Remains of the Day

Still Alice.

It utterly haunts me.

On The Beach most certainly
Edward Rutherford - Sarem
A year of wonder about the plague in Eyam (probably not at the moment!)

The Island- Victoria Hislop
Shadow of the Wind- Carlos Ruiz Zafon
One Day- David Nicholls