What's the last brilliant book you read?

[HoggleHoggle]

I'm very excited to be going to an actual bookshop on Sunday rather than buying online but I'm all out of inspiration! I read a lot and am running out of stuff I'm aware of.

Can anyone tell me the last book they read that they absolutely loved?

Mine was The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Picked up solely because it has an outrageously beautiful cover I'd never heard of it before but it was AMAZING. And the first of a five volume series so that's how I've been spending the last month of my life!

Am interested in novels mostly but also happy to hear about non-fiction. Thank you!

Tin toys by Ursula Holden, about a group of siblings and their wayward mother. Very good.

I absolutely love the Cazalet series, some of my favourite books!

Disclaimer

The Incredible Adam Spark by Adam Bissett. Loved it, DH loved it too.

The Landscape of History by John Lewis Gaddis.

Convergence of 'hard' science and history hits the sweet spot in our house.

Untold Stories by Alan Bennett.

Should have included that one on my list too, Southeast :)

One more I would add is My Life in Houses by Margaret Forster. Finished it this afternoon. It was quite poignant when I realised that she had spent more than half her life living with cancer.

The Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer. Just astonishingly good, beautiful and terrifying and funny and philosophical.

The Sicilian by Mario Puzo. It was trashy as sin, but my God I enjoyed it!

The Martian. Gripping, funny, strangely convincing.

Rubbernecker - Belinda Bauer. I read on seeing it recommended here on MN

"Trust" by Mike Cullen. Two married couples, 40ish, present day London. Funny and realistic.

My Spirit Took You In. Louise Troh.

The Moontsone, by Wilkie Collins, I am really enjoying it, definitely worth reading.

Quog, thanks for the Margaret Forster mention, I haven't read her last few yet.

The first 15 lives of Harry August was amazing, so clever!

Another vote for THe Paying Guests. Could not put it down!

It depends which genre you enjoy the most really! I know lots of us here flit between certain types of of novels

I also enjoyed I am pilgrim and also After the Crash. The theasus Paradox too.

There are some good thrillers too, the Magpies, Judith wants to be your friend, because she loves me, how I lost you....

The secret history and The Golfinch stick with me and Perfect by Rachel Joyce.

Also anything by Maggie O'farrel is always good to read

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple is fresh and hilarious

Whatam I didn't overly like The Secret History so do you think that counts me out for The Goldfinch? I think I just expected something more given all the hype, although that's probably inevitable.

Morris I loved that. I've googled and her first novel has been reissued so might try that.

Has anyone read Hilary Mantel's A Place of Greater Safety? It's been sitting on my shelf for years and I've been put off by the sheer size but usually like her stuff.

Hoggle I enjoyed A Place of Greater Safety. It is a beast of a book and some parts drag a tiny bit but was overall well worth reading.

Glad to see Moving by Jenny Eclair mentioned, I'm saving that for our Easter break ☺

I have just finished The French Lieutenant's Woman and I loved it, highly recommended for anybody who hasn't already read it.

Sister Noon by Karen Joy Fowler. About witchcraft and a mysterious child who turns up at an orphanage in San Francisco in 1800s but really about how independent women were viewed and how they made a life for themselves in a very male dominated society. Really brilliant writing. I love her work.

Hogglehoggle I hated The Secret History and loved The Goldfinch. If that helps.

Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller. It was actually the first book I read this year but nothing else has been anywhere near as good.

Another recommendation for Moving by Jenny Eclair, which I read last year, also her previous book which has vanilla slices in the title!

I actually listened to the secret history so it helped with the length and dullness, if that helps! I'm currently listening to another lengthy and dull novel 'A spool of blue thread' where nothing happens but somehow it's intriguing!

I would still recommend The Goldfinch to read, I loved the main character, but again it's lengthy. Maybe a book to keep in the bag or car for when you're rooted to the spot!!!