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….

Oooh you have good taste! I was coming on here to recommend the first two in your list and the Dandy Gilver series 😁

I'd also second the rec for The Poisonwood Bible and I enjoyed The Paper Palace.

Have you read any Terry Pratchett OP?

You can't go wrong with William Boyd IMHO.

Have you read any Barbara Trapido? She,c's written some lovely, comic but very touching and clever books.

Also, Clare Chambers!! I've LOVED all of hers - I think they'd be perfect for this brief actually. Small Pleasures was fantastic.

Larchfield by Polly Clark
Fresh Water for Flowers - Valerie Perrin.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Absolutely loved this book.

I was going to suggest the Rivers of London books. If you have a good sense of humour and haven't delved in to Terry Pratchett's Discworld books you're in for a treat. A bit sci-fi but with lashings of observational humour thrown in. I find them a break from the norm but still well written.

Yes to The Giver of Stars

I am reading something completely not me called Dear Committee Members and loving it. Very short and a series of letters of recommendation etc (fiction). It's getting me back in the mood.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Am currently reading the Bella Mackie book and loving it. Have also downloaded a few samples of some of the recs here onto my Kindle. Will report back...

Should have originally said that I don't like fantasy/sci-fi or magical realism anymore.
I read the Terry Pratchett books years ago and liked them and read all the Salman Rushdie/Garcia Marquez etc when that was a thing but just don't enjoy them anymore.

Also, have you read The Appeal by Janice Hallett? Sort of black comedy/mystery set in an English village - very funny.

Was just scrolling through to see if this was mentioned. I am half way through and absolutely love it. It's so different in writing style and so gently amusing. I love the character of six thirty (the dog). It's just so well observed.

@Laquila
Thank you for that kind compliment. I also enjoyed The Appeal by Janice Hallett and her latest one The Twyford Code .

If you like Kate Atkinson, do look at Patrick Gale. Rough Music, Notes from an Exhibition, etc

And Jane Gardam . The ‘Old Filth’ trilogy and others.

(As one really struggling with Piranesi !)

Also:
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Never Anyone But You by Rupert Thomson

After seeings recs on MN I’m currently reading Lessons in Chemistry and really enjoying it. It strikes the balance between moving, meaningful, has depth but isn’t depressing or self consciously high brow. It’s also very very funny.

Also enjoyed Whistle in the Dark - don’t be put off by the subject matter, it isn’t depressing or harrowing. Real insight into teen/parent relations.

And Still Life for a sprawling story, again both moving and funny (I think lots of others might have recommended too).

Then for light relief the Anthony Horowitz Daniel Hawthorne books.