enthralling books that draw you in from page 1

[bananacarnival]

Is what I'm after please!

Having a very difficult time emotionally and I find that one way to help me through is getting stuck into a good book.

The trouble is I'm not very patient so the book has to 1.capture my interest from pg 1 and 2. Be easy to read, but not chick lit.

I usually go to the library, pick up a load of books that appeal, take them home, and most end up being returned unread.

These are the kinds of books I've enjoyed : Gone girl, The Help, most Tess Gerritson books, the husband's secret was ok but difficult to get into - almost put it down so many characters ! The kite runner. The Gargoyle is my all time favourite .

Books I've had recommended but couldn't sustain the interest for: The Rotters Club, Captain Correli..., Engelby...My name is Red...can't think of anymore !

If anyone can make some suggestions as to a book you think I might enjoy , please recommend !

It'll help keep me sane.

Happy new year.

I loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette? from page one, ditto Gone Girl. American Wife and The Lacuna brilliant too.

If you like Tess Gerritson, have a look at Karin slaughter and Karen rose.

The hundred year old man. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It's an extraordinary story told in a factual manner with makes it laugh out loud funny.

Just finished reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith/J K Rowling. Did not want to put it down Complete page-turner. Gripped by the story right from the start.

The last real page turner I read (haven't read in ages after having ds in August!) was The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman. Was recommended on here and had me gripped.

Anything by Douglas Kennedy, patrticularly "State of the union". All have great female leads. Ignore the silly girly covers. "A Special Relationship" and "The Pursuit of Happiness" gripping too.

Glad you are feeling excited by reading, it really is a gift in troubled times.

Not sure if you're into fantasy, I'm not usually, but LOVED the Assassin's Apprentice and Tawny Man trilogies by Robin Hobb. Long but easy to get into Imo.

Have you read The Hunger Games? I find lots of teen fiction totally compelling. Will pm you a link to my blog, which has loads of suggestions.

Would also recommend Bill Bryson and HE Bates's The Darling Buds of May series for reading that comforts.

Banana I loved the gargoyle - its in my top 10 best ever books! The most recent books I have read that have got me hooked from the first page are The passage by Justin Cronin, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The lost symbol by Dan Brown, and I've just started The night Circus, and I'm really enjoying it even though I've only got to page 18

Hi OP - I just finished Gone Girl. I read The Help recently too and have just finished the third book by the author of the Kite Runner '"A thousand splendid suns".

You may like "A fine balance" by Rohinton Mistry.
Just brilliant - read it years ago and couldn't put it down.

Really easy to get into books I read last year and would recommend...
Black is the Colour by Helen Howe and Tideline by Penny Hancock.

I second The Quincunx and The Secret History but if The Goldfinch hadn't been on Kindle I'd have thrown it across the room at around page 200. I really hated it.

Bleak House and any David Mitchell, especially Ghost Written and Cloud Atlas.

If you like post apocalyptic Sci-Fi then Adam Baker's Outpost and Juggernaut and Hugh Howey's Wool Trilogy.