To ask for the best book you've ever read?

[chxm19]

Recently got into reading again and want to ask for suggestions!

I've just finished The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena after it being recommended by a friend.

Needless to say I was so disappointed with the ending

TIA

superstellaella I loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum too. It was slightly spoiled by the fact that my dm had read the book before me and left a handwritten family tree on the first page. She was struggling to remember who was who so before I even started I’d read things like Judy - killed in car crash age 10, Robin - died from broken neck etc. (I’ve changed names and death methods for people who haven’t read it). My dm thought it was terribly helpful to do leave it in there for me.

Such a long journey
Rohinton Mistry

Orangeowl thanks. I enjoyed 13th Tale and had forgotten author's name. Just googled and she has a new book out. Excellent! Ordered from Amazon.

There are so many but The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is the book I always recommend - I wasn’t convinced I’d love the subject matter but it’s an absolute masterpiece and I could read it over and over.

I also love Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk, and Diary -can’t stand his later books but his earlier work is fantastic.

A million little pieces/my friend Leonard - James Frey

The name of the wind - Patrick Rothfuss

Sabriel (and the rest of the old kingdom books) - Garth Nix

Noughts and Crosses trilogy - Malorie Blackman

Making notes on some of these (although ignoring others - The Time Traveller's Wife I cried at but felt was poorly written and exploitative of my emotions)

My top 5 ....
A David Mitchell - probably Bone Clocks: surreal, unexpected, supremely clever
A Kate Atkinson - probably Behind the Scenes at the museum: witty, distinctive...
A Barbara Kingsolver - probably Prodigal Summer: warm, human, steeped in nature
Rohinton Mistry - A Fine Balance (probably the best book I've ever read: blew my mind)

5th one ... agghhh. Maybe Jane Austin (Sense & Sensibility); or Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities ; or Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale. Or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Or Dorothy L Sayers. Or the wonderful Perfume (Patrick Suskind - very, very dark...) Maybe Hitchikers Guide, or a Terry Pratchett...

So many suggestions, I don't know where to begin

Sweet Valley High - The Evil Twin. Only 50% joking

A book I really enjoyed was Rose Madder by Stephen King - I read it when I was going through my divorce and related so much to the main character

Another of his I love is The girl who loved Tom Gordon. A simple read but a great story - one of his best.

@TheGirlWhoLived
Have you read the immortal series I really enjoyed them.

The Book Thief
Behind the scenes at the museum - Kate Atkinson

@tactum

Totally agree the burial rites. Absolutely wonderful book. On basis you include this, I am going to buy your other recommendations

I also loved
Stoner
A song for issy Bradley

@Graphista if you like twists try Sarah Waters - Fingersmith and Affinity.

Some great recommendations on here.

Oh yes, Sarah Waters does brilliant twists.

I can't pick a favourite but @runningtogetskinny I read The Hearts Invisible Furies recently for book club and absolutely loved it. It's been a while since I was picking up a book at any and every opportunity to get a few more pages in. The only book for a long time that caught me by surprise so much at one point I actually gasped. The authors website has what I consider a spoiler on the page for the book though unless I missed that being obviously telegraphed somewhere along the way. Definitely a book I'll remember

My favourite (is favourite different to best?) was The 00year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window.

Ridiculously funny, heartwarming in places, lots of proper laugh out loud moments, I loved it. Another great read was The 100 foot journey.

Both have been made into films, neither film comes anywhere near the book.

Of course if you prefer a different style to these, then you may disagree, but in my mind The 100 year old man is the best book ever.

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the best books I have read if you like fantasy at all
Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene series is superb detective fiction set in Oxfordshire
I like J D Robb (Nora Roberts) In Death series set in future New York its a sext setective series, the love story of Dallas and Rourke is beautiful.
I love ‘armchair mountaineering ‘ books especially relating to Everest.Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is one of the best. However,
‘Touching the Void’ by Joe Simpson is probably the finest mountaineering book ever and very controversial.
If you like children’s fiction try The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.

Mustn’t forget Mitch Albom’s The Five People You meet in Heaven one of the best books I have ever read.

Most books by Jodi Picoult - my favourites are The Storyteller, Leaving Time, Small Great Things and My Sister's Keeper.

Another vote for A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner.

So many fantastic books on this thread.

@thegreylady - have you read The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev? Tells the same story as Jon Krakauer from a different perspective. Make your own mind up about who is the more reliable narrator. Into the Wild by Jon K is also a good read.

I don’t think anyone has mentioned A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Read it on the plane on the way back from Sri Lanka.

Anything by Margaret Atwood, but The Blind Assassin is brilliant.

Sarah J Maas - young adult fantasy.

Robin Hobb - start with the Assassin’s Apprentice and work your way through the entire series. 15 I think i have listened to on Audible.

Game of thrones - the books, NOT the TV series.

Another vote for Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

Trail of Broken Wings and The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani.

Lots of other good ones of course, but my favourite is as it has been for thirty years – Watership Down by Richard Adams. It's so beautiful and moving and I don't care that it's about rabbits!

Harry Potter books (read by me at University and then re-read to my children)

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
I've just read Circe by Madeline Miller and I loved it if you like greek mythology and witchcraft
Every year I re-read The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley. Not really sure why, probably for it's nostalgia.
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian (midwife and a court case)

All the Swallows and Amazons books (read them as a child but still up there as my favourites)

ElvisParsley Yes I have read ‘The Climb’ there are many books about the 1996 climb and I have collected most of them. I wanted as many perspectives as possible. Hardly anyone comes out well except perhaps the IMAX team. The South African group was especially selfish. Have you read “Left for Dead” by Beck Wethers?

And adding,

Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and A God in Ruins - going to re-read them again but give it a few years

I've loved everything I've read by John Steinbeck, except for Tortilla Flat, which was terrible. The Grapes of Wrath, to a God Unknown, In Dubious Battle and Pastures of Heaven are all amazing.