Tell me a book that you just couldn't put down.

[Cantusethatname]

I haven't read anything good for ages.
I like autobiographical, some historical, I do like psychological thrillers. I liked The Girl on The Train. I like Louise Candlish.
I'm not keen on chick lit. I don't like a happy ending.

I spent last night reading Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie, just couldn't put it down.

It's the second part of a trilogy, so I would recommend reading the first part first.

The protagonist is the AI of a spaceship, reduced to one single human body after the rest of "her" was destroyed. First novel is her planning to kill the ruler of the universe, Anaander Minaai, a person who inhabitates thousands of bodies via brain implants and is therefore immortal.

It is deliciously weird, lots of people die, and it is not at all like chick lit. I think you might like it. (Not read the last novel yet, but considering the odds, I don't think a happy ending is at all likely.)

I loved To Serve Them All My Days by RF Delderfield. It's one I return to again and again.

It's the story of a miner's son invalided out of WW1 and sent to teach at a public school on Exmoor. It deals with the time between the Wars and there are a number of themes: the aftermath of the War, the General Strike and the establishment of the Labour party and female politics. At the end, WW2 is well underway - a feeling of deja vu as the School again records the boys who have fallen in action.

More than anything, it's an excellent story.
It does have similarities with Goodbye Mr. Chips, but it's so much more than that.

Lightning by Dean Koontz. I read it in my late teens and it's still my favourite book of all time. If you love the theme of fate and destiny you'll love it.

The shadow of the wind
The poisonwood bible

Anything by Agatha Christie or Dan Brown.

Anything by Stuart McBride.

Agatha Christie is a bit hit and miss. My favourite is Sleeping Murder and I remember having to read the ending of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd twice because I simply couldn't take in what I'd read!
I had to do the same with Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Sad Cyprus, Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None - all excellent.
However, Postern of Fate was tediously obvious and I hated They do it with Mirrors. You can keep the infuriating Ariadne Oliver and every book that features her, too.

I do like Thomas Harris and his Hannibal Lecter books, too.

My favourite was Hannibal, although I know a lot of people didn't rate it. I really liked the inversion that made the law enforcement the bad guys and the murderous maniac the hero.
Mind you, it's a bit hard to be scared of a psychopathic cannibal when you're wondering if his recipe would work better with beef or pork

Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
It's very explicit and is about a bored housewife in Switzerland seeking out new experiences. Doesn't sound promising, but it's really gripping!

Flanders you've recommended two of my faves. Have you read We have always lived in the castle?

This thread has just cost me a fortune on Kindle.

Thanks!

The Avenue books by Delderfield
also my dd said the HP books lol

I would second Any Human Heart by William Boyd, it's one of my favourite books ever. It was made into a good TV series too.
If you like crime Sophie Hannah's Culver Valley crime series is great, I don't usually read crime but these are brilliant. Also Into the Woods by Tana French is good.
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood is brilliant and anything by Curtis Sittenfield, particularly the one about the American First Lady, actually based on Nancy Regan. Gone Girl is good if you haven't read it and Gillian Flynn's other ones too. I also loved Life After Life by Kate Atkinson as others have mentioned and there is a sequel out now. For a guilty pleasure I love Phillippa Gregory's Wars of the Roses and Tudors series...

Well, since you asked for books I couldn't put down, I'll be honest. I do read vaguely more intellectual or high brow books occasionally, but I struggle to get into them (except Bronte if that counts - they are both good reads and fairly worthy... maybe?). Anyway, if you are looking for something intellectual or meaningful then this list probably won't be for you!

Gone Girl by don't know
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I'm re-reading Rivals by Jilly Cooper atm and also enjoyed Big Girl by Kelsey Miller.

I couldn't get into Kite Runner which was suggested by a pp must have been over my head.

This thread has just cost me a fortune on Kindle.

Me too.
I sit with a pen and paper writing them all down, so I can research them on Amazon I have no life

Seriously though, I love these threads. They're the best ever.

Agree with Any Human Heart by William Boyd , but hated Gone Girl!

No coming back by Keith Houghton.

I also try to read any thing by Gerald Seymour and by Robert Harris

Argh I didn't even mean to write fucking Gone Girl! I meant Before I Go To Sleep (which is equally trashy and I did actually really like Gone Girl too - sorry)!

The Five Gates of Hell by Rupert Thompson (I think) - dark and weird but strangely beautiful.

Remains of the Day
The Time Traveller's Wife
Anybody Out There

I love Marian Keyes when I need a laugh.

wildflower, the Sittenfeld book American Wife is based on Laura Bush - Nancy Regan was a different kettle of fish.

Sarah Harrison is very good

And I always loved Maeve Binchey.

We Have Always Lived At The Castle ( Shirley Jackson) is another of my favourites, too. I liked it better than the Haunting of Hill House, although that's good as well.

I am Pilgrim was a favourite in our reading group.