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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:
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2011 13:50

I hated A Thousand Splendid Sons but loved The Kite Runner. Yes - that and one about a blind boy are the only two Dean K books worth reading ime.

PotteringAlong · 25/06/2011 21:39

I'm a bit of a weirdo about 'gone with the wind' I freely admit - I've read it at least 50 times and my copy is currently my 4th as the other 3 fell apart Blush

I thought 'one day' was worth reading.

Am currently half way through 'American assassin' by Vince Flynn and is actually really good!

Original poster
Munzle · 26/06/2011 20:25

Thanks everyone - just spent ages putting loads of those suggestions into my Amazon wish list. I went for 'The Help' as I remember a friend enjoying it on holiday, so will let you all know what I think. Fully agree to some of the suggestions that I've read: Kite Runner, Thousand Splendid Suns (thought was the better of the two), Half of a Yellow Sun, The Slap, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, The Book Thief, Small Island, Handmaid's Tale. Was half-gripped to Her Fearful Symmetry but found it a bit daft and didn't really care about any of the characters. I certainly won't be getting to read lots as we're in Wales - not sunning ourselves near a pool with a kids' club, but am planning to go to bed early tonight as it's my lie-in tomorrow... am going to read instead of sleep ;)

OP posts:
TooManyBrownies · 26/06/2011 21:49

Another vote for the bronze horseman. Fave book of all time. Or anything by Paulina Simmons.

striving have you read the sequels? Tatiana and Alexander and The Summer Garden. Both great.

Taffeta · 26/06/2011 21:51

Just finished The Hand That First Held Mine - excellent. I read Ciatlin Moran's How to be a Woman in three sittings. Blush

Conkertree · 26/06/2011 21:52

I like Christopher Brookmyre books for being unputdownable.

Liked The Help too. Thought One Day was good but a bit overrated. Preferred his Starter for Ten.

Bandwitch · 27/06/2011 18:21

toomanybrownies so is the trilogy in this order 1) t&a 2) the bronze horseman... and 3) ?

Bandwitch · 27/06/2011 18:22

SORRRY! read first then post.

OK so it's 1) the bronze horsman, 2) t&a and 3) the summer garden

Indigojohn · 27/06/2011 18:28

Kate Morton's The distant hours - fantastic, as are all her books.

FreddoBaggyMac · 28/06/2011 20:17

I didn't like The distant hours as much as The forgotten garden Indigojohn - twas still good though.

I'm just coming to the end of Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton and am finding that a real page turner (it's better than Sister imo)... although I nearly stopped reading it at one point because the ideas in it are quite hard to deal with.

I read the Poison tree by Erin Kelly before that and thought that was another good 'un.

Agree with the positive reviews of The help... but am I the only one who thought that The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks was just as boring as it sounded? I read it due to positive reviews on here (I'd never have picked it up in a million years otherwise) but gave up halfway through.

munstersmum · 28/06/2011 22:08

The other Victoria Hislop one about the Spanish civil war.
Crimson China this month's MN bookclub choice is proving a great read.
If you like 'We need to talk about Kevin', I think Lionel shriver's latest 'So much for that' is better than many of her other ones since Kevin.

benning · 29/06/2011 11:15

One Day by David Nicholls. SO GOOD.

Mogmog · 30/06/2011 20:49

The Island by Victoria Hislop; anything by Kate Moreton; The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy; Love Always by Harriet Evans; Millenium by Stieg Larsson; The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson and The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I also loved The Time Travellers ..... so I can 100% guarantee these.

HKgal · 01/07/2011 08:02

Sorry if already mentioned, but I've just finished one of Yrsa Sigurdardottir's - Icelandic crime, who-done-it. Just started 'last rituals' another one of hers (Ithink it's a woman?)

Nefret · 01/07/2011 10:32

Sister - Rosamund Lupton. I just couldn't stop reading that one.

upahill · 01/07/2011 15:31

munstersmum You are mentioned by Victoria Hislop is called The Return. I have just come on to this thread to recommend this.
I have finished it about 15 minutes ago.
I didn't think I would enjoy it but it was amazing. I knew very little about the Civil War but this book brings the human cost right into focus.
Utterly compelling.

I have recently discovered the poet/playwright Lorca and Hislop winds his fate into the book.

Before The Return I read Jar City which is an Icelandic Thriller. Loved it!

munstersmum · 01/07/2011 18:12

thanks upahill I may just have to check out Jar City then Smile

Galaxymum · 04/07/2011 10:56

I took some great suggestions on here for my mum's birthday present today! She may be a little surprised at me buying her Water for Elephants but it sounds excellent (plus erm...I get to read it after!).

I also selected The Passage for our current book club read, and absolutely loving this. Thanks for everyone's great suggestions on this thread.

ahshutupayourface · 04/07/2011 21:10

Munzle, they are two of my favourites ever...so if we have similar taste then (and I can't remember authors!)
The Secret Life of Bees
The Kite Runner
Half of a Yellow Sun
The year of wonders (I think, about the plague)
The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime,
All 3 of Kate Mortons.. The House at Riverton, Yhe Secret Garden, and The Distant Hours
A thousand splendid suns
The Life of Pi
The Island
anything by Kate Atkinson or Charlaine Harris
(and I hope I am not 'outed' by these favourites as I have been known to waffle on about them!
Oh. and Audrey Niffennegar (Time Travellers? has a newish one called Her Fearful Symmetry - not as good but still very readable.
And Kevin and Time Travellers are amazing aren't they!

ahshutupayourface · 04/07/2011 21:13

sorry, didn't realise we were on pg 3 and you've read lots already! I suspect we know each other! xx

ahshutupayourface · 04/07/2011 21:16

mrsraveltine,
Oh yes! Owen Meany is a classic!

starmucks · 04/07/2011 21:17

any human heart: absolutely gripping. I left like I'd lost a friend when I finished it.

small island: beautiful book, and the author has such a gift for voices.

headintheclouds · 04/07/2011 22:23

Cutting for Stone,by someone Verghese-read it on holday recently and couldnt put it down
Also I loved kingsolvers'The Poisonwood Bible'
anything by Kate Atkinson
Currently reading 'Scottsboro'-a novel based on a true awful miscarriage of justice in the 1930s American deep south-its brilliant! (an orange prize shortlist in 2009)

LadyBeagleEyes · 05/07/2011 12:03

Just finished OneDay, loved it though I didn't like the ending Sad.
Love Kate Atkinson and Maggie O'Farrel.

clemetteattlee · 07/07/2011 23:31

Marking my place.
And recommending Forgetting Zoe by Ray Robinson. Better than Room by far.