Books you wish you could read for the 1st time again

[BusyTraybake]

I am currently in bed recovering from surgery. I can expect to be immobile for 6 weeks and I am already bored out of my mind. I actually had a little cry earlier as I am so claustrophobic already.

I have found reading helps. Please recommend any books you wish you could read again for the first time.

Thanks in advance. In desperate in need of mental stimulation as I have turned to food which is not something I usually obsess over. Probably would be best for my overall recovery if I don’t pile on a pad of weight.

My answer to the question: never let me go, love in a time of cholera and persuasion

Where the crawdads sing.

most, if not all of John Marr’s books. Same with Riley Sager.

The Hobbit.

Three men in a boat (Jerome k Jerome)

All 20 books of Patrick O Brien’s Aubrey/Maturin nautical series. Two wonderful characters, you can sail around the World with them, fight in the battles with them, they fall in love, they have the kind of adventures most folks can only dream about. I have the whole lot as books, but enjoy listening to the unabridged audio books as well. (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was filmed with Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany.)

Wishing you a good recovery.

Oh gosh I'd forgotten the Casual Vacancy - I nearly gave up in the first half because it seemed a bit slow but the later bits properly had me gripped and made me cry, I can't remember any other book doing that. I really don't think I could read it again knowing the ending though.

Life of Pi. I watched the film with DD10 last weekend and it was so exciting seeing her experience the story for the first time.

Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy
Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Fatal Vision by Joe McGuinness
Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly

I'm afraid Life of Pi is another book I definitely cannot read again - maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive!

Currently reading This is Happiness and absolutely loving it. I also second or third or fourth the hearts invisible furies by John Boyne.
Also, East of Eden, the master & margarita, the bad girl and the secret history.

And these!!! I don’t know anyone who has read Strike and hasn’t fallen in love with him the books.
and the Jackson Brodie books too-both series gripping from the start!

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson
The thirteenth tale by Diane Setterfield
Toms midnight garden by Philippa Pearce
The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M Boston

A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
My Family and Other Animals - Gerald Durrell

So many more, but these are ‘happy’ reads that are beautifully written but will cheer you up (though if you read Never Let Me Go and didn’t have nightmares, you must have a strong literary disposition)

Adding to the Kate Atkinson recommendations with Behind the Scenes at the Museum.
Also Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Another vote for The Cazalet Chronicles (Elizabeth Jane Howard).
5 books.
First one is The Light Years.
Absolutly brilliant.

Cujo
The grapes of wrath
All the light we cannot see
Me before you
The concrete blonde
The secret garden (from my childhood)

Agree, Solar is awful.

The Kashmir Shawl
Brixton Beach
The Nightingale
Half of a Yellow Sun
Pride & Prejudice
Love Marriage
The List of Suspicious Things

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine

The Women (Kristen Hannah)

I have also read Pern from when I was a teenager. I found the sons books a bit samey.

I also enjoyed some of her other books, the Ship Who Sang and the Tower/Raven series

The only book I've not enjoyed was Under Heaven and then I didn't bother reading the follow on.

There are times when his books have broken me a little

Nervous conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

she was shortlisted for the booker for the third in the trilogy but I thought the first was wonderful and the second two disappointing!!

Papillon by henri charriere, read it for the first time in college given to me by my boyfriend at the time. Maybe nostalgia of young love but still one of my favourite reads.

Atonement
The Remains of the Day
Never Let Me Go
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Life After Life
Great Expectations
Jane Eyre

Far from the Madding Crowd
Carter beats the devil
Catch 22

Oh also Birdsong

For my great nephews baby shower, his mum asked everyone to bring their favourite childhood book. Mine was The Secret Garden

I loved all three of your examples OP.

How about Robertson Davies? Any of the trilogies. The Salterton is lighthearted but they are all wonderful. I adore all of them and would love the chance to read them for the first time again.