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

Middlemarch
We need to talk about Kevin
Cold Comfort Farm
The Heart of the Matter
Rebecca
The Complete Molesworth
Madame Bovary

I think it might be considered a bit ‘non pc’ these days, and I don’t know what I’d think of it now, but the book that the most impact on me was Not without my Daughter by Betty Mahmoody.

We need to talk about Kevin.

The old man and the sea

‘

@ratonastick - you are so right about Terry Pratchett. We listened to ‘Jingo’ with our dc recently and it is hilariously, painfully accurate portrayal of some thinking in the UK at the moment. ‘We don’t want Johnny Klatchian coming over here stealing our jobs...’ etc

His books are incredibly witty and insightful and such a cut above general fantasy which takes itself far too seriously.

Balzac and zola.

Old father goriot and zola.. Nana

Several books you have mentioned I couldn’t get past the first few pages. Must be something wrong with me. My favorite book is Vendetta Stone by Tom Wood

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Read it.

Thanks @lorddenning1 will definitely check out the immortal series. Have you tried David Estes? Worth a look, and the Red Rising series is great too by Pierce Brown I think.

Ready Player One was my stand out enjoyable read of 2018, (very late to the party) by Ernest Cline- didn’t love the film though!

It's an oldie but goodie for me - Coming up for Air by George Orwell. It's so well written and easy to read and I reread it fairly regularly.

The book thief

Not what I was expecting!

*Riders and Rivals - Jilly Cooper.

Lowers tone but they are gooooood*

Nothing wring with that though Poo is my JC favourite. I wonder how many people are trawling the Booker list for a title?
Two of my favourites, can't think of a No 1, are Katherine by Anya Seton and Avalon by Marion Bradley

@MrFMercury I'd love to know which bit made you gasp, there were a few moments like that for me!

Love this string

Rebecca
Shadow of the wind
The book thief
One day
Time travelers wife

Off to read some of these suggestions thank you

A Confederacy of Dunces. Outrageously funny, although marmite.

Glad to see a recommendation for The Diary of a Nobody by Ragnarthe.

@chxm19 just wondering why this is in AIBU? I would be better placed if you asked Admin to move it to a Books category like 'What's you're reading', more relevant users will see it too.

@runningtogetskinny the scene in Central Park was the big one for me. As in real life there was no lead up or anything.
It's just a satisfying book with so many memorable characters. Sometimes it felt like different genres of story but I easily stuck with it all.

The Magpies by Mark Edwards
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes.
Two of my favourite books if you like psychological thrillers.

If you enjoy true life, give, Out of the Darkness a go, by Tina Nash. Be warned though, it's a horrendous story about her and her violent ex.

I am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
The Goldfinch - Donna Tart

Apologies Donna Tartt

Anything by Jill Mansell for a romantic comedy, especially Head Over Heels, I also love a good Stephen King especially desperation.

Ooh how could I forget the flower series by Nora Roberts (blue dahlia, red rose etc)

Practically anything by:
Margaret Atwood
Anne Tyler
Donna Tartt
Barabara Kingsolver
Hilary Mantell
Kate Atkinson

I'm sure there's some good male authors too!

It's a marmite thing, but The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is unputdownable. Just stunning, exciting and satisfying.