Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

What's the book with the best twist you've ever read?

77 replies

jayne10b · 10/05/2011 19:04

Well that's the question really!!

My personal favourites for any other twist lovers are:

Fingersmith
An instance of the fingerpost
The murder of Roger Ackroyd

TIA

Jayne

OP posts:
MrsMoppet · 11/05/2011 10:35

A Tale of Two Cities. I read it when I was about 20 and hadn't seen any film adaptations etc. so it was an amazing surprise. Same with Little Dorritt. I gasped - and cried - at the twist in both.

RainbowShite · 11/05/2011 10:38

One day. Hit me like a bus, didn't see it coming at all.

BellaBearisWideAwake · 11/05/2011 10:40

The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler - LOVED that book when I was little.

Agree the Fingersmith and Instance of the Fingerpost.

BellaBearisWideAwake · 11/05/2011 10:41

And One Day - I was completely surprised by what happened, but does it count as a twist? I suppose it was a complete change of direction in the plot, so yes.

FaintlyMacabre · 11/05/2011 10:45

Was also about to say Fingersmith! I have such a bad memory that when I re-read it I gasped all over again. I think by the third time I did see it coming Grin.

Conflugenglugen · 11/05/2011 10:54

Atonement.

gramercy · 11/05/2011 10:58

LOL at FaintlyMacabre being surprised twice!

Yep, another vote for Fingersmith here. Normally I see twists coming from the opening chapter, but that really was a blinder.

SerenaJoy · 11/05/2011 11:04

I've had Fingersmith on my bookshelf for ages now and for some reason have never gotten round to reading it - will have to now to find out what happens!

BoattoBolivia · 11/05/2011 11:09

Another vote for Turbulent term of Tyke Tyler here. Great twist, especially when reading it to a class of kids. Have to be very, very careful when discussing it with them as you read though.

gastrognome · 13/05/2011 15:17

A Prayer for Owen Meany.
Not exactly a twist as such, but every single thread of the storyline was brought together quite beautifully at the end. One of those books that it's really worth persevering with!

FreeButtonBee · 13/05/2011 15:23

The Instance of the Fingerpost. Brilliant twist.

Fingersmith _ I do vaguely remember that but wasn't blown away by it.

Not a twist as such but Cloud Atlas is another one that was brought together at the end so amazingly. Reading the final page, I remember somehow feeling like I'd changed on some deeply personal level. It was more like poetry than prose. Really hard to explain and not something I've ever experienced since. I can't bear to re-read it in case it doesn't touch me as deeply again.

VeryStressedMum · 15/05/2011 13:24

I loved 'Kevin' and didn't see it coming at all.
The best twist (that I can remember) is Londonstani by Gautam Malkani, I remember being a bit gobsmacked by that one.

messybessie · 16/05/2011 09:45

A Prayer For Owen Meany is my favourite book in the world. Beautifully and cleverly written.

Has anyone mentioned Oscar and Lucinda? I nearly wrote Peter Carey a letter, through my tears of outrage Angry that he could end it in such a way.

bleedingstill · 16/05/2011 09:48

me too messy. I never saw the end coming at all. Cried for an hour

alwaysblue · 20/05/2011 12:07

i agree with atonement - i was utterly shocked when i was reading the book. total bolt from the blue. i no way did they capture that in the film

Mummyella · 21/05/2011 17:56

I have to agree with One Day. I sat there totally stunned. I didn't think it was the best book in the world but was reading it happily enough then... a ton of bricks.

I remember Tyke Tyler too. Might try to look that one out for DD

SpringHeeledJack · 21/05/2011 18:00

another one for Kevin, here

it ruined a family holiday in France for me a few years back

(well, that and the awful realisation that my passport was out of date Blush)

justhavintheone · 21/05/2011 18:07

had started owen meany, loved it at beginning, have lost interest at the middle, worth persevering then?

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 21/05/2011 18:12

Owen meany - v overrated imho. Flashes of greatness (the car scene) amongst a lot of v tedious drivel. Interesting ending but I saw it coming.

Haystack · 21/05/2011 20:31

The wasp factory, just extraordinary, can still remember the feeling of the world tipping when I first read it twenty years ago.

Bue · 21/05/2011 20:33

Atonement has a good twist.

I love Owen Meany, my favourite ending of any book ever, but I'm not sure I would say it has a 'twist', does it? I mean, we know something is coming, we just don't know what it is.

Sounds like I have got to read Fingersmith!

Elvisina · 21/05/2011 20:37

I thought 'Fingersmith' as soon as I saw the title of this thread. I ended up reading nearly all night when I got to the twist (despite having work the next day!).

Moulesfrites · 21/05/2011 20:37

Atonement also.

American wife - in the polling booth at the end.

QuickLookBusy · 21/05/2011 20:39

Another one here for Fingersmith.
I have an awful memory so I am going to reread.

There is also a sad twist in A Fine Balance, did not see it coming at all.

DontHassleTheBOF · 21/05/2011 21:22

Jude The Obscure

Swipe left for the next trending thread