what book had you so gripped...

[AliGrylls]

What book had you so gripped you stopped coming on mumsnet, ignored your DH and generally was so addictive that anyone who didn't know you would have thought you were a bit neglectful of your children.

I am nearly finished the Millenium series and I have noticed all of the above. It will be a sad day when I finish it and I am now trying to string it out.

Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger - couldn't put it down

A Madness of Angels and it's sequel, The Midnight Mayor - wonderful, evocative, scifi - if you liked NeverWhere you'll love it.

Saw the thread title and thought of One Day too. Read it on holiday last week and LOVED it and couldn't pit it down. Is a 'light' easy read but nowt wrong with that.

The Kevin book had me gripped too. Another one that kept me up most of the night was The Handmaid's Tale, really had to find out what happened, read it in one sitting, great book.

Lots of horror novels have had the same effect. I liked the girl who loved tom gordon, cujo and geralds game (read all of these in one sitting), although I enjoy Stephen King anyway. Probably lots more but can't recall any others that really gripped me.

There was one by Whitley Streiber and someone else, called I think, Natures End. I loved that book, it was futuristic (dystopian) kind of in a running man vein.

I shall watch this thread for ideas.

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. I'm reading it at the moment and cannot wait to get vto bed so that I can continue!
here

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time (i'm a bit of a Maniac about them )

notasize10yetbutoneday Tue 14-Sep-10 12:18:00

Anything by Kate Atkinson

What Was Lost- can't remeber author- but my God it was gripping,I couldn't put it down.

• I agree about Kate Atkinson!

What Was Lost is by Catherine O'Flynn. I really liked it as well and couldn't put it down. Re-read it a second time recently when I was in the mood for a good but not too heavy read. She has a new one out but haven't read it yet.

Anyway, I have to add Haruki Murakami to the list (anything by him but especially Norwegian Wood)

The Book Thief. Twas beautiful and heartbreaking. I read until 2am on holiday and cried on a beach in France at the sad bits. V embarrassing.Highly recommend it.

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, loved The Book Thief and also Telling Liddy by Anne Fine and lots of Helen Dunmore.

Also, although it took a while to get into, Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson

Winter's Bone by Daniell Woodrell is a great one - have not been to the film, because I am not sure it can live up to it.

Kevin fans may go for Red Leaves by Thomas H Cook.

Wild Swans (forget the author right now). Only time I ever threw in a sickie so I could finish.

Thrilled to see a couple of brilliant italian books- I'm not scared is brilliant (as is the movie), and Q also gripped me viciously (although I was on holidays, so basically hid away from everyone until I'd finished it!)

Oh yes the Crimson Petal and the White! I actually stayed home on new year's eve while DH went to a party so I could finish it (that was before children, now I stay home by default )

I must be extremely sad because most books I start I end up ignoring my DH. (probably just me miss ignorant)

The Steigg Larson Trilogy (Dragon Tattoo) I was terrible with these books - difficult to get into but once past the first 100 pages that was it. Luckily started Dragon tattoo on a Friday night but nothing was done all weekend (nothing new there then)

To Kill A Mocking Bird

Sarah Waters 'Little Stranger', some of Sophie Hannah's detective novels. Those are the recent ones.

The Poisonwood Bible,
Middlesex,
Lullabies For Little Criminals,
The Way The Crow Flies. This was a bit slow to start, but great.

From years ago,
The Poisonwood Bible
A Fine Balance
Recently,
The Book of Negroes: Lawrence Hill (should be made recommended reading for all Y10/11's!!)
The Help

Oh dear, clearly losing my marbles, already posted that further up the thread!!

Another vote here for C J Sansom's Shardlake series. DH and I have loved reading these. They are seriously well written with really gripping plots.

Mara and Dann by Doris Lessing

Oh God, tonnes!

I have a bit of an addictive personality with regard reading.

Most recently it was Ken Follet's 'World Without End', the sequel to 'Pillars of the Earth'... was up until 2.30 (old time) finishing it last night and my kids have eaten a lot of pasta this week

I just read a book called 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant, I think it is a must for every mother. I have never been so sad to finish a book. :(

Just finished The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. I cried and cried and finished it in a day with 2 under 3 to look after.
I'm either obsessed with reading or a terrible mother...

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. Very funny and couldn't wait to find out why the necklace was so important!

'Lustrum' by Robert Harris, the second book based on the life of Cicero at the time of Pompey the Great and Caesar. Gripping stuff