Need a Quality read please

[BaconAndAvocado]

Just finished a Val McDermid and a Sophie Hannah.

Both a bit meh and very formulaic.

Really need something with a bit more substance and depth.

My favourite authors are Kate Atkinson, Rose Tremain.
I've recently enjoyed:
A Gentleman in Moscow
The Heart's Invisible Furies
The Goldfinch
The Midnight Library

Any suggestions anyone?
Tia

Middlesex is a fabulous book.

I’ve just finished the Song for Achilles. So beautiful. Not my usual pick

I’m enjoying this thread lots and have added some of the recommendations to my list.

I really enjoyed The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. It helped me out of a bit of a reading funk and I’m back to reading nearly everyday for the first time in years.

@BaconAndAvocado

Charley50 😂now I feel really stupid...

Don't! I thought it was about Middlesex too, before I read it. I actually think the title is why it's not that widely known (well, not mentioned much on MN). It's not the most inspiring place name is it?

Is the Crimson and the Pearl good? Keep meaning to read it.

@ASEAskeptic

I've read and enjoyed a few things on your list OP, and my most recent fab read is Still Life by Sarah Winman. Absolutely loved it

Yep loved this- my favourite summer 2021 read Brilliantly written characters and settings

Mostly placemarking as I’m after recommendations myself.

I loved Circe by Madeleine Miller and also The Song of Achilles by her too.

I’ve enjoyed some Elizabeth Strout too.

It’s years and years since I read Middlesex but I remember really enjoying it.

I have enjoyed many of the books mentioned above; Rose Tremain and Ann Patchett are two of my favourite writers.

Can I also suggest Annie Prouix's The Shipping News and Jane Harris' The Observations. Both are excellent.

And check out Sue Gee, a writer whose work deserves to be more widely known. Earth and Heaven is particularly good.

@Charley50

Is the Crimson and the Pearl good? Keep meaning to read it.

Do you mean The Crimson Petal and The White?? If so, that's a superb book.

Charley50
No and it's definitely not the most inspiring place either 😂

I enjoyed The Rules of Civility and Pirinesi recently.

The Rules of Civility is a fabulous book.

@BaconAndAvocado

Charley50 No and it's definitely not the most inspiring place either 😂

I don't even know where it is and I'm from London 😂

"Do you mean The Crimson Petal and The White??
If so, that's a superb book"

yes that's the one

I literally just finished Piranesi which i really enjoyed.

I think we might be reading twins. Have you read any other Maggie O’Farrell books? I love her stuff.

Loved Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Shinytaps
No, I've only read Hamnett.
Can you recommend any other good MO'F titles?

I have read everything she’s written. I don’t think you can go wrong!

Have you read Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo? I really enjoyed that one this year too.

Shinytaps yes I loved Girl, Woman, Other 😊

Sorrow and bliss

Unbelievably brilliant

Based on the things you've loved, which I also really rated. Have you tried any Tana French? Specifically the Dublin Murders starting with In The Woods. Thoroughly brilliant and quite Secret History vibes.

Heart's Invisible Furies is great. Have you tried Before My Actual Heart Breaks which is fab.

@Saladovercrispsanyday

Sorrow and bliss

Unbelievably brilliant

I really wanted to love Sorry and Bliss, and everyone says it is brilliant. Annoyingly I found it a bit meh in the end and didn't like it as much as I thought. Maybe I was expecting too much from the reviews.

Oh also - if you haven't read A Little Life - it's absolutely fantastic.

Bel Canto by Anne Patchett and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen's - both beautifully written.

Hurricane Season