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Original poster

Mindblowingly good books

80 replies

LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:09

There's so much 'meh' writing out there, and it's such a big, competitive industry, but which book have you found absolutely brilliant?

Not just 'quite good if a little light or contrived' but seriously impressive for whatever reason.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 09/12/2011 17:12

Do you mean novels?

Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:14

Could be. Could be anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:15

Though I did put it in 'adult fiction', I'm not actually that fussy Grin
Just nobody say Labyrinth by Kate Mosse please.

OP posts:
HarderToKidnap · 09/12/2011 17:16

The Crimson Petal and the White, Michel Faber
World War Z, Max Brooks
The Passage, Justin Cronin
Any Stephen King. He just impresses.

candytuft63 · 09/12/2011 17:20

A portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man is the most beautful book I have ever read .It resounded with me emotinally.

candytuft63 · 09/12/2011 17:20

emotionally

Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:21

I have never read any Joyce.
Blush

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CydCharisse · 09/12/2011 17:23

Home by Marilynne Robinson. It is such a tour de force of character, and so moving; beautiful book.

Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips. It's as good as The Sound and the Fury, in my view, and such a powerful book about the value of all lives. So full of hope too.

Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:25

Out of these, I've only read half of The Crimson Petal and the White.
Already my reading list has expanded Grin

OP posts:
bran · 09/12/2011 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlpinePony · 09/12/2011 17:34

Wally lamb's "she's come undone"
Aimee Liu's "flash house"
Robert r mccammon's "swansong"

All three have been read and re-read and will stay with me forever.

candytuft63 · 09/12/2011 17:36

Home is also an amazingly brilliant read I agree with Cyd. I read The Shipping News just after and couldnt decide which I enjoyed more. Loved them both. Also loved Never Let Me Go. Ishiguros prose is so measured and calm, whilst dealing with really emotive issues. The Remains Of The Day made me cry it was so sad and infuriating. I lived in the story when I read it.

peggyblackett · 09/12/2011 17:38

The Secret History - Donna Tart

candytuft63 · 09/12/2011 17:41

LePrune PM me and i will send you a copy of Joyces Portrait for Christmas Xmas Smile

IndigoBell · 09/12/2011 17:41

The Poisonwood Bible

The Red Tent

pommedenoel · 09/12/2011 17:47

Dubliners had a profound effect on me when I did it for A Level.

I would say The Grapes of Wrath, In Cold Blood and anything by Lionel Shriver for things read voluntarily.

Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:49

Candytuft that is rather lovely of you Smile
I know my FIL has everything Joyce has ever written because I tidied his bookshelves once in order to avoid talking to MIL so I can get my hands on it really easily.

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Original poster
LePruneDeMaTante · 09/12/2011 17:51

It was The Grapes of Wrath that inspired this thread - it was on another thread and had clearly made an impression on many.
(Plus Rich Hall did a programme recently about American road movies and the film version was included - I totally recommend him, he's bright and interesting about film, as well as sarky of course.)

OP posts:
suburbandream · 09/12/2011 17:56

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is one of the best books I've ever read.

Prolesworth · 09/12/2011 17:59

another vote for The Remains of the Day

and

The Quincunx by Charles Palliser
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

suburbandream · 09/12/2011 18:21

I've been meaning to read Remains of the Day for ages, I bought it after reading Never Let me Go but haven't got round to it - must do so.

marthastew · 09/12/2011 18:24

Wolf Hall

tummytickler · 09/12/2011 18:26

The Chosen - Chaim Potok
The Wanting Seed - Anthony Burgess
Thinner - Stephen King

MayorNaze · 09/12/2011 18:31

a town like alice

amazing

LaVengeance · 09/12/2011 18:36

Fingersmith -Sarah Waters

Disgrace - Coetzee

Music & Silence - Rose Tremain

Year of Wonders -Geraldine Brooks

Rebecca - Du Maurier

Agree with Grapes of Wrath, Wolf Hall, Never Let Me Go, POisonwood Bible...all superb.

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