If you could recommend one single book to read, what would it be?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I've set myself an annual readingoal, having lost the wherewithal to read like I used to, pre kids.

I'm flying through the books on my list, and also want a new target to aim for next year.

So.

I need more on my list. I'm literally open to any genre. Any length etc.

if you could only recommend one single book, what would it be? And why?

@PearLime

Partly superficial reasons admittedly - I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll say an early scene involving a snake completely turned me off.

Also I could not believe or care about any of the characters.

The book is an allegory around forgiveness and what guilt is, but to me that's exactly what it reads like. A heavy handed treatise and pompous.
(Ok, I know I'm basically on my own here!)

@Rainbowqueeen

The Night Circus.

Oh yes. Good suggestion.

Guilt by association would be my all time high ..Susan Sloan.
Remarkable

The Book Thief. It's heartbreaking and beautiful. There's a particular part that makes me absolutely sob and is one of the most touching things I've read.

Sorry I couldn't manage just one.

Kane and Able by Jeffrey Archer
The first last kiss by? Sorry I can't remember the author's name.

Both books had me sobbing and have always stayed with me.

A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Housseni

The horse dancer by Jojo Moyes is one of the only books to ever make me cry. I often read books again but I can't bring myself to read it again just yet!

Possession, AS Byatt

@BiLuminous

The Book Thief. It's heartbreaking and beautiful. There's a particular part that makes me absolutely sob and is one of the most touching things I've read.

Fabulous book. I have a necklace containing a quote from it.

We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Absolutely brilliant book; superbly written and moving. My absolute favourite.

A tree grows in Brooklyn
I first read it as a teen and still get something new from it every time I read it

www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/22/the-natural-way-of-things-review-a-feminist-horror-masterpiece

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood. Brilliant book about a group of women sent away as punishment for men’s sexual indiscretions. Won literally prizes.

Fools Die by Mario Puzo. I was 14 the first time I got my hands on a copy and it was a highly inappropriate text even for the advanced reader that I was. I didn't really understand most of what I read but it left a lasting impression on me.

I am now 37 and have returned to it many times since. Every time I get to the end I am still left wondering "what the fuck did I just read" but having really enjoyed it.

A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini. His other books are beautiful too.

literary, obvs!

I am lucky to be a very quick reader and read >100 books per year. This one really stood out. I read an interview from the author saying it was written from middle-aged female rage.

Animal Farm by George Orwell. A book which teaches you everything you need to know about how power corrupts, how politicians corrupt language and how to write clearly and simply.

[quote EarringsandLipstick]@PearLime

Partly superficial reasons admittedly - I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll say an early scene involving a snake completely turned me off.

Also I could not believe or care about any of the characters.

The book is an allegory around forgiveness and what guilt is, but to me that's exactly what it reads like. A heavy handed treatise and pompous.
(Ok, I know I'm basically on my own here!)[/quote]
I absolutely agree, you aren't on your own.

I hated it; I especially hated the choosing the youngest child to save bit, as that was done incredibly insensitively.

The whole thing was imo a pile of self-indulgent steaming shite. Such a relief to find one person who agrees

The 33 strategies of war by Robert Greene, to give people different perspectives on strategy and general perspectives for day to day interactions with various people.

Oh @TurquoiseBaubles the relief! I think you're the first person to ever agree with me!

I don't like Barbara Kingsolver's fiction at all but very much enjoy her non-fiction writing eg Animal Vegetable Mineral.

The Screwtape Letters.. C.S Lewis.
Letters from an older devil to a younger one on how to get your human into hell.
Total atheist here but the humorous and moving insight into , well, us, is brilliant.

@StillMedusa

The Screwtape Letters.. C.S Lewis. Letters from an older devil to a younger one on how to get your human into hell. Total atheist here but the humorous and moving insight into , well, us, is brilliant.

Oh I'd forgotten this book! My dad had it. I first read it when I was about 6 (I read anything regardless of whether I understood or not!). Hadn't a notion but remember asking my dad to explain it to me.

Lincoln in the Bardo (Saunders) - an extraordinary book IMO.

Some great suggestions but re A Fine Balance - it is a good book and I still think about it - but it is also the only book to give me nightmares!

Poison wood Bible haters, did you like Prodigal Summer? That's one of my favourite books. I did like the pwb, but I do get what you're saying.

In terms of one book, Sheesh, I have to not think about genres or styles or times? That's tough.

I'm going to need more time. I love books.

@PJ04JCW

A tree grows in Brooklyn I first read it as a teen and still get something new from it every time I read it

I love this book.

The Mists of Avalon
I am a big King Arthur nerd and this book tells the tale from a female perspective.