to ask what book you've read that you'll never forget?

[sunshineNdaisies]

I'm looking for new books to read and I'm trying to find something similar to those I've read over the years that have stuck with me. I'll start:

Of mice and men, the rats of nimh, persuasion, pride and prejudice, nicholas nickleby, oliver twist, little house on the prairie, the help, 12 years a slave, the color purple, the red pony, sunset song, memoirs of a geisha, little women, all the harry potter books, the prime of miss jean brodie,

I'm sure I'll remember more

Please recommend a book that will stick with me! Nothing scary though, I don't like scary. Also I hated Wuthering Heights so that stuck with me for the wrong reasons!

As a child a book called I am David
As a teenager To Kill a Mockingbird
As an adult A Thousand Splendid Suns
Captain Corellis Mandolin
Anything by Kate Atkinson
The Seige by Helen Dunmore
The Book Thief
Birdsong and Robert Graves Goodbye to all that.For evoking the horrors of First World war.Cheery !
Likewise Testament of Youth Vera Brittain

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. I have no particular interest in war history but it's very harrowing and moving.

I choose to live.Its a real life account of a Belgian girl who was kidnapped and sexually abused,told by her.It doesn't go into detail about the horrific things she entailed thankfully but it's clear that she is such a strong character who refuses to be beaten.I think it's by Sabine dardenne

We need to talk about Kevin
English passengers
The luminaries
Atonement
Possession
The magus
Behind the scenes at the museum
The secret history
Talking to strange men
Wolf hall

I've thought of more...

If Not Now, When? by Primo Levi
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (you have to stick with this one, but I promise it's worth it by the end)
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver

I agree that We need to talk about Kevin can only be read once. It is just too shocking, I was completely traumatised by this book. It was brilliant but I could never read it again. The film wasn't half as good.

The narrow road to the deep north still haunts me years later. An awful, beautiful, story set around a Japanese death camp.

Swiss Family Robinson is a favourite of mine

5 people you meet in heaven
Shadow of the wind
A handmaid's tale
To kill a mockingbird

Bel Canto, I thought it was be beautifully written and some of the lines still stay with me years later

And The Bonesetters Daughter, I sobbed!

Snugglepiggy,
I second I am David, I read this as s child and gave it to.my d's as a tween and he was deeply moved by it too, I was only talking about it to my dh the other night, I've already got a copy for my Dd when she's old enough.
That and The Silver Sword are 2 children's books that have stayed with me my while life, and that I will pass on to both my children.

Anything by Haruki Murakami especially Norwegian Wood, 1Q84 and Dance, Dance, Dance.

The Summer It Rained Champions - It reminded me of 1976 all over again!

A home at the end of the world
The art of racing in the rain
The remains of the day
Recently read unraveling Oliver which was very good.
As a child there were lots of books that I loved
Under the hawthorn tree
These stars are upside down
I am David
Goodnight Mr Tom
Gobilino and the little wooden horse
Flowers in the attic- still disturbing so many years later!

We need to talk about Kevin (although not for the sensitive among us)
Life of Pi
A boy called it
Never let me go (my all time favourite)

I love all of these because I enjoy the writing style (They are great stories too!)
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (and the rest of the series, this is the first).
The Once and Future King by T.H.White.
The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (but be warned, the third part of the trilogy has been pending for years!).
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel.
Mallory Towers by Enid Blyton was my childhood favourite.

Loving this thread, got lots of ideas now for what to read next!

The Women's Room.

Midnight’s Children
Satanic Verses
The Agony and the Ecstasy

SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad

Oooh yes, have never forgotten that and read it quite young! When I springclean it’s as if I read it yesterday!

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. One review said its as if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Metropolitan Police.

I also second Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
And the Heinlein books Stranger in a strange land & Time enough for love.

Hans Fallada, Alone in Berlin
Nevil Shute, A Town Like Alice (convoluted narrative but the story is so inspiring and uplifting it's worth it)
Sarah Laing, Mansfield and Me
Zadie Smith, White Teeth
P D James, Devices and Desires
May Sinclair, The Divine Fire

As far as kids' books go, I don't think you can top 'Charlotte Sometimes' by Penelope Farmer (The Cure wrote a great song about it too)!

The Persian Boy - Mary Renault

The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber

A Spell of Winter - Helen Dunmore

Small Island - Andrea Levy

A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

Middlemarch - George Elliot

The Walled Garden - Tom Holt

Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

The Poisonwood Bible
Gillespie and I
I am David
His Dark Materials Trilogy
The Lovely Bones

Way of the peaceful warrior