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Original poster

Need a 'can't put down'

85 replies

Munzle · 23/06/2011 12:37

You know what I mean... where you pretend that you need the loo loads just so you can go and read your book?! On holiday next week and it's ages since I've read a book that had me furiously turning the pages. Don't like chick/lit, murder/mystery. Last book I read that had me gripped like this was Time Traveller's Wife, and We need to Talk about Kevin. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
nevergoogle · 24/06/2011 19:25

the 19th wife

Pussinflatboots · 24/06/2011 19:27

Another vote for Room (esp as you liked 'we need to talk about kevin'). Also recommend When god was a rabbit.

LillianGish · 24/06/2011 19:36

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie OFarrell. I also loved her Fearful Symmetry - Niffenegger's follow-up to The Time Traveller's Wife. I second those who recommend The Help and I'd add that if you liked that you might also like Mudbound (can't remember the author) - couldn't put it down and neither could DH. Currently reading Falling Angels by Tracey Chevalier and finding that pretty gripping as well.

HippyHippopotamus · 24/06/2011 19:36

I've skim read and i agree with most of the syggestions.

Not sure if it has been suggested already but i just read 'the book thief' in two days whilst looking after two young dcs Blush they may have been a little neglected Blush

HippyHippopotamus · 24/06/2011 19:37

'The tin drum' is good too

mrsravelstein · 24/06/2011 19:38

can't believe nobody has mentioned john irving 'a prayer for owen meany' yet! offficially the best book ever written!

chocolateyclur · 24/06/2011 19:46

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky. Can't recommend it highly enough.

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 24/06/2011 21:36

I thought Room was okay only. The 2nd half is really quite silly imho. Then again, I loved the first half of The Help and thought the second half was stupid too.

Noooooooooooo to Owen Meany. Soooooo dull for so much of it, with little flashes of brilliance.

I liked The Book Thief though. Also one I can't remember who by - is it called White Tiger? That was pretty good.

CelebratedMonkey · 24/06/2011 21:38

Afterwards by Rosemary Lupton is definitely a page turner. Woman in a coma after rescuing her daughter from a fire. Narrates while having out of body experience. Sounds naff (and it is a mystery as she figures out who started the fire), but works and is oddly compelling.

tudorrose · 24/06/2011 21:44

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett. I carried it everywhere, could not put it down.

BitOfFun · 24/06/2011 21:51

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer. Think Kes, but scary and page-turning. If you enjoyed the creepy psychological aspects of We Need To Talk About Kevin, I think this will be right up your street. Read the reviews on Amazon and download a sample if you have a Kindle.

Bandwitch · 24/06/2011 23:04

What was good about owen meany? it was ok.

Bandwitch · 24/06/2011 23:06

I second nevergoogle's recommendation of the 19th wife. David ebershoff? or eversoff? something like that. totally brilliant. off to look up the perks of being a wallflower now.

i'm reading a jonathan tropper now and really enjoyingit. This is where I leave you.

PotteringAlong · 24/06/2011 23:11

Have you read 'the hour I first believed' - wally lamb? Definitely one you can't put down. Or how about a classic? You can't beat 'Rebecca' by du maurier or 'gone with the wind'

BlackandGold · 24/06/2011 23:12

Definitely the Ken Follet "Pillars of the Earth" and "World without End".

Also enjoyed his new book Fall of Giants.

Anything by Jeffrey Deaver is good but a little bit of Jodie Picoult goes a long way!

Shinyshoes1 · 24/06/2011 23:16

The curious incident of the dog in the night time 9/10

The Help was ok, i'd give it a 5/10

Am about to read Steven Tyler - Is the noise in my head bothering you.

Lightshines · 25/06/2011 00:01

mrsravelstein - sorry, that book is totally putdownable Wink
'Into the Darkest Corner' is a page turner

HippyHippopotamus · 25/06/2011 02:20

Is One Day good? I almost bought it the other day but I'm not sure

I second/third Perfume. Amazing.

OP, have you decided what one you're to go for? I'm Envy of your holiday if you get to read lots!

JoleneJoleneJoleneJoleeene · 25/06/2011 08:30

One day is amazing. William boyd books are fab too

TotalChaos · 25/06/2011 08:44

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Seriously!
The Long Song or Small Island by Andrea Levy

yy to Blacklands, White Tiger and Six Suspects

sayanythingRogerjustrogerme · 25/06/2011 09:07

Prayer for Owen Meany is incredible, as is the World according to Garp but in different ways.

The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (sp?)

Under the skin, Michel Faber

chocolateyclur · 25/06/2011 09:24

One Day is AMAZING. Couldn't put it down.

The Kite Runner is good, too. As is 'When I was Five I Killed Myself'. Can't remember authors off the top of my head!

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2011 09:51

Yes to The Handmaid's Tale. After The Flood is decent too. King's The Stand. Yes to Rebecca.

I thought Gone With The Wind was completely unreadable, I'm afraid. Was v disappointed as I'd been looking forward to it for ages.

I've mostly given up on fiction lately, as much of it is so, so bad. But 'This Thing Of Darkness' about Fitzroy and Darwin is amazing.

colditz · 25/06/2011 10:08

A Thousand Splendid Suns

colditz · 25/06/2011 10:15

AND

One door away from heaven, by Dean Koontz

It's surprisingly good