What is the most gripping, incredible book you have ever read that you just couldn't put down?

[tripletsandtwins]

I desperately need an incredible book! I'm on bedrest and I'm suddenly finding myself with time to actually read, but no good books!

Currently, I'm reading Harry Potter 7, but I'm nearly finished!

Help!

John Irving is really absorbing too, A Prayer for Owen Meany and Ciderhouse Rules are my favourites. The World According to Garp and Hotel New Hampshire are pretty good too.

I'm going to stop recommending now, or I'll be popping back to this thread all week.

OK, I'm back, but just to say that if you like thrillers Lee Child and Harlan Coben are fab.

On my "I will read again" shelf, I have:

Tuesdays with Morrie
Before I say goodbye
(dying theme, so avoid if necessary )

Foreign correspondence
Song of the Lark
O Pioneers
A valley in Italy
Gonzalez and Daughter trucking co.

This year, I have read and really enjoyed:
Over
On Chesil beach
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
The other side of the bridge
The lollipop shoes

Happy reading!

Foucault's pendulum by Umberto Eco...can't stop re-reading it. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner if you like Sci Fi stuff. Seconded on the Pullman. A bit random, but you might like 'the belgariad' by David Eddings?

I agree with those who've recommended the crimson petal and the white, forever amber and barbara vine. all fab.

Wow! Thanks for all the ideas!

I shall certainly have to work very hard to remain on bedrest so I can read all of them

Thanks again!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

It must be difficult managing bedrest if you've already got triplets, gosh.

Megbusset- Someon else who likes Stone Junction! I love that book! Wow!

I also love Thomas Pynchon- Vineland
Keri Hulme- The Bone People
I will now read your other recommendations, Meg, suggest you read mine. Good Vibes to youxx

You must get the His Dark Materials trilogy (Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) first, they really are superb. And the film of Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) is out next month so now's a good time to read them.

THE LOVELY BONES BY ALICE SEBOLD

AND MOST DOUGLAS KENNEDY BOOKS EXCEPT HIS MOST RECENT

Ooh! Joedar, I've read The Lovely Bones! It made me cry! But it was an excellent book!

I just read Irvine Welsh's 'Bedroom Secrets Of The Master Chefs' and it was thoroughly entertaining, bizarre and filthy as usual.

Top stuff!

YA ITS DEF A TEAR JERKER BUT SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN I READ IT IN A FEW HOURS AS I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN, ITS THE ONE BOOK THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME QUITE SOME TIME, FOUND IT TOUCHED ME SOMEWHERE WITHIN! JUST READ HER OTHER BOOK ABOUT ALICE SEBOLDS LIFE FORGET THE NAME BUT SHE HAD SOME TOUGH TIME!

TRY DOUGLAS KENNEDYS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP OR THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS OR STATE OF THE UNION ALL GOOD READS,

ALSO LETTERS TO MY DAUGHTER IN FRANCE IS A GOOD READ FORGET WHO AUTHOR IS AGAIN.

Bizarre and filthy? Must get that one.

The Bone People - Keri Hulme
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (saw me through long hospital stay)
Tales of the city books - Armistead Maupin
Anything by Douglas Coupland.
Lincoln Rhyme books Jeffrey Deaver (if you like crime books).

Good luck

Try the Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, could not put it down.

Also I love the classics, try Wuthering Heights for size.

I am reading a lot of books in bed atm

I write about them on my blog if you are interested

i have nearly missed my stop(s) on the tube this week due to the riveting Kite Runner

The Bronze Horseman - Paulina Simons, i loved this book and the follow up Tatiana and alexander is fab too.

A love story set in ww2 Leningrad, Unputdownable!!

the magic cottage by james herbert

swallows and amazons by some old dead chap

inkheart and inkspell by cornelia funke

Has anyone read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini? I thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read.
Agree about Northern Lights Trilogy.
The Secret History and The Little Friend by Donna Tart are dark but gripping, really enjoyed Alice Hoffman's writing for a slightly lighter read- Here on Earth, The probable Future- and loads more, Anita Shrieve is good, and agree about Sarah Waters- I liked Fingersmith the best for a good ripping yarn.