Can you please please recommend a book….am in a rut….

[dameofdilemma]

I seem to have lost my way with a few books (that are popular with lots of people) that I’ve tried recently and not really liked - Hamnet; American Dirt; Piranesi etc

Books/authors I’ve really liked - Donna Tartt; Sarah Waters; Clare Chambers; Kate Atkinson (but not the crime series).

Unexpectedly I liked The Salt Path and Thursday Murder Club and Magpie Murders. Not my usual style.

Don’t like chick lit type books (Marian Keyes etc). I do read comfort books (Wodehouse, Agatha Christie etc) but in between something more substantial.

Really don’t want something harrowing full of abuse, despair etc.

Have tried a few samples on my Kindle but nothing is grabbing my attention….its driving me nuts! Please someone help….

I really enjoyed How to kill your family by Bella Mackie recently but might be too chick lit for you. And Matt Haig - the midnight library (has a depressing start) and How to stop time.

I'm currently reading a young adult fantasy called Threadneedle for a change. I liked the cover and it's turned out to be good so far.

Midnight library was another one that lots of people raved about and I didn't like....

I listened to the Bella Mackie book on Radio 4 recently and thought it was good so might give that a go, even though I know the story now.

I’ve recently really enjoyed these, mostly non fiction/life writing as I’m into that at the moment- all really good, especially the Seamus O’Reily and the Lucy Easthope.

Excited to see what other people recommend because I want to get back into fiction. I hope one of these whets your appetite.

When the Dust Settles by Lucy Easthope

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

A Village in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Written in Bone by Sue Black

Night. Sleep Death. The Stars. by Joyce Carol Oates

Diary of an MPs Wife by Sasha Swire

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Seamus O’Reily

The Year of the End by Anne Theroux

Sad Little Men by Richard Beard

The Dictionary of Lost Words might be worth a try. Other beautifully written books read recently include The Island of Missing Trees and The House of Glass.

Have you read the Cormoran Strike series? If not, start with The Cuckoo's Calling.

I love John Steinbeck - East of Eden is brilliant if you've not already read it

If you liked The Thursday Murder Club , try Death and Croissants! I've just read it and loved it. It's very funny.

I've just finished Where The Crawdags Sing & really enjoyed it, not my usual style but I liked it a lot

If you don’t mind knowing the plot then I recommend buying the book of any films you really liked. Obviously only if it’s based on a novel.

I have recently read The Power of the Dog, True Grit, and Silence. All very good.

I can second “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “Threadneedle”.
Based on the authors you like I think you might enjoy books by Claire Fuller and Elizabeth Strout.
Other books that I have read and enjoyed this year: “A Town Called Solace”, “Klara and the Sun”, “The Mercies”, “Matrix” - Lauren Groff, “To Paradise”, “Mothering Sunday” - Graham Swift.
”A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” - an old one and a real comfort read.

I love Natasha Pulley "The watchmaker of filigree street" is a favourite.

I also love Elizabeth Strout and have read several of her books.

Also love Madeleine Miller and "Song for Achilles" & "Circe".

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

For a really good story and quite a light read try The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman. It was my choice for our book group and everyone enjoyed it.

Loved where the Crawdads sing and am now reading The Paper Palace which I am loving, it is of a similar style for those that were surprised by Crawdads, as I was.

Andrew Greig has written quite a few, would recommend any, Electric brae was first one I read and so beautifully written can see he's a poet by use of language and how he paints with his words.

The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (find it hard to get into but worthwhile - even harder to get out of!)

Jane Smiley
A Thousand Acres (a retelling of King Lear)
The All True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton (historical novel set in America as slavery is debated & the west settled and sides being drawn up pre civil war)
Duplicate Keys (woman reassesses friendships when one in her group is murdered)

I'm rereading Dan Brown's books - just finished "Deception Point" and lived "Inferno", "Angels & Demons" and of course "The Da Vinci Code".

I do find his books are sometimes a bit heavy on the research/information but that hasn't stopped me rattling through three books in the last week. They are consuming reads and I'm reading them for the second time. 🌹

My suggestions would be
The Sealwoman's Gift Sally Magnusson
The Most Fun We Ever Had Claire Lombardo
We Must Be Brave Frances Liardet

For well written but cosy mysteries Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver series. First one is After The Armistace Ball

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Golem and the Djinni

Have you read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman?

I second lessons in Chemistry, I also recommend The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah and Hungry by Grace Dent

Elena Ferrante 'My Brilliant Friend' quartet. I can't tell you how brilliant the series is. I couldn't put them down. Especially good if you've any connections with the south of Italy but even if you haven't, they're amazing!

Rivers of London series is good!

Patrick Gale - Mother's Boy or A Place Called Winter. There are sad bits but not what I'd call gloomy. Tracy Chevalier is wonderful too A Single Thread and Remarkable Creatures.

Have you read The Absolute Book? I like very similar books to you and I found it difficult at first but once I got into it - wow. It's sort of bonkers but a particular bit was the most tense I've ever been reading a book.