Please recommend me a book....

[GlitterBallSacks]

I've hit a bit of a bleak period of reading. I've started two books recently and not been able to get into them so I've gone back to re-reading old stuff, which is fine but I want something new to get my teeth into.

I absolutely love Donna Tartt, Chimanada Ngozi Adiche and Isabelle Allende.
I thought "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara was the best book I've ever read. I also read her other book "The People in the Trees" which was also brilliant.

My kind of "second tier" of writers includes Sarah Waters, Andrea Levy and Karen Maitland. I also liked the Shardlake books by C.J. Sansom and Khaled Hosseini's books.

I loved "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver but I was massively disappointed by all of her other books.

C'mon MNers, which other writers might I like? I'm running out of options!

I like quite a lot of the authors you've listed. I've recently enjoyed Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, Swimming lessons by Claire Fuller and The Power by Naomi Alderman.

Also Sylvia Brownrigg's books.

You’ve mentioned all my favourites, so I know you’d love A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It’s fabulous.

I would try: Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh, set in Kenya and redolent of the era and place (in my review I compared it to The Poisonwood Bible). I am reading Jane Harper and am gripped (The Dry came out early this year and I am now reading an early copy of her second book, which is equally good so far). I agree with @agentprovacateur about A Fine Balance. My personal faves this year have also been The Tobacconist and The Gustav Sonata (if you like one, you will probably like the other).... Hope you find something you like!!

Have you tried any of Kate Atkinson's books?

The Vintners Luck by Elizabeth Knox.

Do not say we have nothing by Madeleine Thein. Tis mostly awesome.

If you like Donna Tart, have a look at Shirley Jackson. I'd perhaps start with We Have Always Lived In The Castle. Nice American Gothic feel.

Or for something really different, have you read any John Le Carre? He's pacey enough to keep you hooked, but intelligent and not trashy.

Marking my spot. I'm having the same problem

Oh and The Memory Stones. Can't remember the author. Caroline someone? Stayed up til 3am to finish.

Nonfiction I just read The Return by Hasim Matar. Still thinking about it. Will read more of his.

Curtis Sittenfeld? I love American Wife and Sisterland.

Also, a different type of fiction from the ones you mention but the Cazalet Chronicles are fab.

I've also enjoyed The Innocents (Francesca Segal) and pretty much anything by Helen Dunmore.

My grandmother sends her regards and apologies
8 months on Ghazzah Street - Hilary Mantel

Oh god, this is brilliant, thank you lovely people!

Annandale See, "Do Not Say We Have Nothing" was one of those that I started reading and just couldn't get into. I got about half way through and gave up. It felt like reading a book for GCSE English rather than for entertainment

southeast I read a couple of her books some time ago. I can't remember which ones now. They were good but I wouldn't necessarily put her on the list of someone to go back to if that makes sense

Aminatta Forna, The Memory of Love, set in post-war Sierra Leone and her memoir The Devil That Danced on the Water
Have you read anything by Kamila Shamsie?

No, but I heard her speak at Edinburgh Book Festival one year. She was great.