Can we have a recommendations thread? In a rut

[BookWitch]

I was browsing Amazon recently, and have also been in an actual book shop and to be honest have got a bit dismayed about the quality of "bestsellers"out there.

So many books about cafes/bakeries/shops by the sea (all look exactly the same with curly font titles) - obviously written to formula.

So many "must read a with incredible twist you will never see coming" thrillers, mostly with three word titles like "I See You"and "Watch Me Now" and etc etc - obviously written to formula

Lots and lots of misery lit - "'Please Don't"and "Nobody's child"

I'm not asking for real classic literature, but who are your favourite, well-written, intelligent and enjoyable authors at the moment?

I have enjoyed:
Americanah
Ken Follet Century Trilogy
The Shardlake Series
Historical fiction
Dystopian fiction

This is a good thread with some decent historical fiction recommendations - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/2907955-Historical-fiction-fans-step-this-way-please

My best holiday reads so far this year are The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin and Little Fires Everwhere by Celeste Ng.

Totally agree about the plethora of psychological thrillers and the titles!

As I always recommend on these threads: Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St Mary's.. time travelling historians. All sorts of fabulous. Starts with Just One Damned Thing After Another. I've converted at least 10 of my friends to the Cult Of St Mary's and several of them have spread the word further, so they are a good bet for a punt. Also, if you like the first one, there's another seven(?) Plus a bunch of short stories.

Thanks, I've read Little Fires Everywhere and enjoyed that.

I've also read the first of the Chronicles of St Mary's but it didn't really grab me. Maybe I should try again.

Was thinking about trying the Outlander series, my friend raves about the TV series, but never seen it.

I'm so pleased someone else thought the same thing when they looked at the shelves! I've never liked those curly-writing summer brain-fluff books, and while I like decent thrillers like the Nicci French Frieda Klein series, I too am sick of that 'plot twist you won't see coming' annoying pile o shite!

Brilliant clever book I read recently: The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. Completely bizarre but wonderful.

Also loved 'Homegoing' by Yaa Gyasi.

LOVE book threads!

People writing now whose books are accessible and decent reads: Linda Grant (some set in the past but all 20th), Xiaolu Guo, Yiyun Li, Sylvia Brownrigg, Dave Eggers, Lydia Millet, Tayari Jones, Robert Harris, Jennifer Egan's latest novel, Sarah Waters; Attica Locke, Alice Munro; Michelle de Kretser.

Have had recommendations for latest by Meg Wolitzer, Diana Evans and Rachel Malik's recent novel.

Was lent first in the Outlander series, think is the 'romance' equivalent of the thrillers with a twist you mentioned. Saw the first series started well, in that interesting on history of Scotland, but degenerated rapidly.

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. She's brilliant. All set in New England. Linked short stories that are so absorbing and just so well written. I also loved her Olive Kitteridge and I'm about to read My Name is Lucy Barton.

Station Eleven is a good dystopian one.

Essex Serpent is good historical fiction.

We've got very similar reading tastes by the look of it, Alec . I really enjoyed those Elizabeth Strout novels, and also recommend the others you mention. I've also got Amy and Isabelle and The Burgess Brothers by Elizabeth Strout lined up to read soon too.

Others I'd recommend - Educated by Tara Westover (currently reading this). Not for the faint-hearted though. There are some tales of horrific accidents.

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
In The Days Of Rain by Rebecca Stott (non fiction, about her upbringing in Exclusive Brethren Church)
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
Sweet Caress by William Boyd
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

I'm recovering from surgery and rediscovering the joy of reading. My sister visited and gave me three books and I'm just finishing the last of them. I wouldnt have chosen ANY of these books for myself but was so bored with TV etc that I read them and its really renewed my (long lost) love of reading. The books were Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby (light but readable)' Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (1950s irish girl goes to Brooklyn, slow and uneventful but beautifully pitched) and Post birthday world by Lionel Shriver (really enjoying that one like well written intelligent chick lit) . Dont know if any of them might suit you.

I keep recommending The Woman in Black - I know it's a film now, but the book is excellent. By Madeleine St John.

The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham is also a film, but the book is so atmospheric, I loved it.

Paul Magrs writes a fantasy series starting with Never the Bride. It's sort of about two older women living in a seaside town, but not. They're funny and clever and unexpected.

I'm currently retreading Laurie R King's Mary Russell series - if you haven't discovered them start with The Beekeepers Apprentice.

Laurie Kjng's Folly is one of my favourite books - it's about a woman rediscovering herself through solitude and house-building.

And a plug for another couple of favourites which are vintage and very vintage now, but still in print.

The Bone People by Keri Hulme is breath taking. You could read it with Folly because there are some cross channels that might be interesting.

And another of my best loved books is Australian writer Kylie Tennant's Ride on Stranger, about a determined young woman coming to adulthood just before the Second World War.

Seconding The Essex Serpent. Also The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and Skin full of Shadows. All good quirky, dark female-led historical.

On a completely different note I’ve been enjoying Arrival, a collection of very thoughtful theory-driven science fiction novellas and short stories by Ted Chiang. If you’re finding your current reads crushingly formulaic it would really shake you up a bit, and the length makes them accessible.

YY to The Essex Serpent.

I am currently reading and enjoying Less by Andrew Sean Greer - gently funny novel about middle-aged writer who travels overseas to avoid having to go to the wedding of his all-to-recent ex-partner.

Conclave by Robert Harris was excellent. It's about the election of a new Pope, and so much more gripping than I can make it sound.

And I almost forgot: it’s the law that any request for “enjoyable” modern fiction on MN must be met with a suggestion of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series.

I like Kate Morton. Especially The Forgotten Garden.
Adhaf Souief - The map of Love. It is brilliant.
I'm reading one at the moment I never expected to like. I had it on my shelves and thought I'd best give it a go before I gave it away, but I'm really enjoying it. Carter beats the Devil. Really surprised I'm enjoying it!
I also really enjoyed Miss Peregrines home for Peculiar children, and I wasn't expecting to. Fantasy, which really isn't my thing but I enjoyed this.

Loved Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller. I hear her latest one's good too

Thanks for all these recommendations.

I have read Little Fires Everywhere - enjoyed that,
have also read the first one of Rivers of London, a bit like the St Mary's series, it was OK, didn't feel the urge to rush and read the next one.

Might give Conclave a go.

I'm so fussy

I’ve recently got into Deborah Moggach. I’ve read Tulip Fever and Something to Hide.
I’ve just finished In The Dark which is my favourite so far. It’s set in the First World War. Not a curly font of cafe in sight. It’s perfect holiday reading. Interesting, intelligent, great characters, very well written but not requiring too much work! The plots crack on at a good pace with a few twists and turns and she’s a little bit racy, which I like!

I second Homecoming, Educated and The Hearts Invisible Furies. 3 of my favourites from the past year!

*Homegoing