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Recommend some really good books.

78 replies

TooYoungToKnowTooOldToCare · 04/09/2023 01:02

An extended, health-related period of bedrest is looming.

Prior warning: I average 150 - 200 books a year some of them are audio books, even so that's thousands of books. If I reply saying thank you, I have read it' I'm not being ungrateful.

Life is too short pile:
I'm sorry, I don't like sci-fi or fantasy.

With all of the above in mind, please can you recommend your desert island books?

In particular I enjoy mystery/thriller/suspense. I like good family dramas, tear-jerkers, occasionally romances, I mean Marian Keyes, not the Mills and Boon type.
Additionally, I like T Jenkins Reid and other women's genre fiction, though I prefer that kind of fiction with some bite. Dawn O'Porter and Nicholas Nicholls (the One Day author) and similar.

Series, single books, any good ideas (and painkillers) appreciated.

OP posts:
Theoldwoman · 14/09/2023 00:39

Good thread!
Thanks for starting it OP!

Need to find some new ones for upcoming holiday.

Theoldwoman · 14/09/2023 02:59

Oh and I hope your recovery is getting easier x

MsFrost · 14/09/2023 05:45

Young Mungo by Douglas Stewart

highlandcoo · 14/09/2023 08:29

I agree that Young Mungo is a very well-written book, but one of the bleakest I've ever read. Maybe one for later?

Papyrophile · 20/09/2023 17:40

I've just tripped over your thread and would like first to send my best wishes; I hope the latest antibiotics are winning for you.

My best recent new author discoveries have been Joel Dicker (Swiss) and Chris Hammer (Australian noir). Quite different from one another, but if you like complex thriller plots with an easy to read fairly pacy style, this would give you eight or nine longish novels. Both authors are still slightly below the radar in the UK, and all titles are available on Kindle, except the newest by Joel Dicker which hasn't been translated yet.

Tazzzaaa · 20/09/2023 23:31

I hope your recovery is going well.

My book recommendations are:
The Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny
The Eddy Flyn series by Steve Cavanagh
The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman
The Wreckage by Robin Morgan-Bentley
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
How to be a Champion by Sarah Millican
Born Lippy by Jo Brand
This is Going to Hurt/Undoctored/Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay
The Secret Barrister/Nothing but the Truth/Fake Law by the secret Barrister
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Sherlock Holmes definitive collection by Author Conan Doyle - all 72hrs worth for one credit on Audible read by Stephen Fry

If you like comedy then I would recommend anything by:
David Mitchell
Danny Wallace
Jack Dee
James Acaster
Adam Kay
Dave Gorman

Bruisername · 22/09/2023 15:08

I’ve just finished The Master Key by Masako Togawa - really good book and leaves a lot to think about

TooYoungToKnowTooOldToCare · 23/09/2023 12:51

Hey everyone,

Thank you for continuing to add in books you have enjoyed.
I'm glad I started this thread too.

I am taking in all of your posts and looking into them.

Unbelievably to me anyway despite all those antibiotics I had full blown sepsis. I'm still in hospital, I was hoping to go home for the weekend. I'm feeling particularly sorry for myself today, which hopefully means that I am getting better?

Please do keep this thread going, especially happy recommendations Confused.

I've read Adam Kay before, I'm glad I'm not reading it in here! I'm not being ungrateful! This is scary enough. Thank you, those are good authors.

OP posts:
AlwaysFreezing · 23/09/2023 18:28

Oh no, sepsis? You poor bloody thing.

I've enjoyed some more books lately.

Rodham by Curtis Sittingfeld
The Dutch House By Ann Patchett

Hope you're in the mend soon.

Riverlee · 23/09/2023 20:34

@TooYoungToKnowTooOldToCare sorry to hear you’re still poorly and wishing you a speedy recovery.

picture of my dog to cheer you up.

Recommend some really good books.
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 24/09/2023 08:40

Sepsis? You poor, poor thing. I've had it before and ii felt truly awful.

Can you have some nice things in Hospital like done Lavender oil or a pillow spray do it smells less hospitally when you go to sleep. You might be able to have your own Mum on the tea tray if you're lucky.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Flowers

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 24/09/2023 08:41

Oh and do have a recommendation for you. Casanova in London on the BBC Sounds app.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 24/09/2023 08:45

Apologies if these have already been mentioned:

The Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Howard

Exposure by Helen Dunmore

The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer

WhatsMyDream · 24/09/2023 08:48

Audio recommendation - None of this is True by Lisa Jewell. I think it's probably much better in audio than paper as it's based around the making of a podcast

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 24/09/2023 15:11

Just had a look on the BBC Sounds App. I enjoyed The Flatshare when I was feeling poorly last winter and do you like David Sedaris? I always find him funny and Meet David Sedaris is free and on the App Flowers

stayathomer · 24/09/2023 15:16

For light mystery I like T A Williams Murder in … series, also Claire chase. Rom com my go to books Miss Adventure by Geralyn Corcillo, There’s something about a cowboy by Rich Amoii, thriller The Breakdown by B A Paris, Hide and Seek by Andrea Mara

stayathomer · 24/09/2023 15:17

Oh oh and my sisters and me by Lisa Dickenson

TooYoungToKnowTooOldToCare · 08/10/2023 21:29

... and I'm back. Sort of.
I am still in hospital! I'm not loving it.

So they had to operate again to remove the thing they inadvertently left behind last time ffs.
I'm normally fit and healthy, I can honestly say that I have never felt closer to death.

On the positive side, they knew that they messed up badly, so since the sepsis and operating again I have had red carpet treatment. I'm in an NHS hospital.
When I had sepsis, they put me in my own room, in a nicer bit of the hospital (!) which is both nice and a bit lonely at times.

Was hoping to be home this weekend, the problem has been eating. I'm not.
Then they realised that I am allergic to one of the antiemetics.
They were giving them to me to stop me being sick, then wondering why I was more sick.
All of which meant that the antibiotics weren't working as well as they should and the sepsis hung around.

What with one thing and another, it's been quite a month.
My husband looks like a ghost.

Now that I'm not having the drugs I'm allergic to, the antibiotics are working and I am hoping that I feel like eating in a day or two.
Once I have eaten I'm going to go for a wander around the ward, I haven't been on my feet, other than to go to the lav for days, maybe weeks. They only let me go to the loo because I hated the catheter and said that it too ran the risk of infection.

On the plus side, the painkillers are amazing.
Trouble is that I've been so high, look so lousy, and I've watched so many YouTube makeup videos that I've ordered a lot of makeup, it's all at home, waiting for me - oops . When I'm better I'm going to be looking like a new me.

I've had lots of thinking time, that's for sure.

Right, enough of me.

@Riverlee I love your dog, we have a black lab! Is yours pure lab? Is it even a lab? Am I allowed to ask it's name? Ours is called Daisy, she's nearly a year old. Our other dog is a who knows what? Called Nora (as in Ephron), also one of my favourite writers. Not the dog, she can't write.

@AlwaysFreezing yes! Flippin sepsis! I've read Rodham, I thought it was interesting and it did make me wonder how accurate it was. It certainly made me think about the Clinton's relationship, that's for sure. Do you think she'd ever run for president again?

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto thank you, I could start a whole thread about pillow sprays! I have used loads! My friend made me some ginger spray for my wrists and it has helped a little with the sickness.
I've been listening to Casanova in London, I loved it.
I've seen David Sedaris and I met him via a friend, he signed a book - hilariously.

@EmmaGrundyForPM I have already read some of your suggestions, I'm going to read Exposure and The Half Life Of...

@WhatsMyDream great recommendation, I loved it thank you.

@stayathomer your books are all on my list, Hide and Seek is already in my tbr. Thank you.

I'm going to sleep now, thank you for your support, your kindness and your suggestions everyone Flowers

OP posts:
JemOfAWoman · 08/10/2023 21:46

Thanks for starting this thread and I hope all goes well with your recovery ❤️‍🩹

Loved the series by Lissa Evans - Crocked Heart is the first in a trilogy.

Recently read and couldn't put down An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Loved (loved loved) Death and the penguin by Andrey Kurkov

Finally the one I couldn't put down and a debut novel to boot! The coldest place on earth by Kate Barker-Mawjee

Enjoy

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 08/10/2023 21:56

Gosh you really are having bad luck, my heart goes out to you.

I'd love to see David Sedaris in his latest tour but unfortunately he's nowhere near us this time.

Glad you've enjoyed Casanova In London. I loved it.

Riverlee · 08/10/2023 22:22

Sorry you’ve been through the wars, and wishing you continued recovery.

Yes, pure, black Labrador. Lovely but energetic and full of beans. Went to the coast today and he couldn’t wait to get into the sea. He’s fifteen months old, and although is still hard work at times, is also lovely.

Recommend some really good books.
ABCXYZ17 · 08/10/2023 22:29

Any book by Rose Tremain, they’re all brilliant

stayathomer · 08/10/2023 22:35

Op take care and hugs x

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 12/10/2023 20:02

I have another recommendation, although it's not fiction. I've seen The Gift on BBC sounds recommended on a couple of threads and I've binged it.

The series discusses Genetic Testing Kits from to find your family tree tracing companies and each episode focusses on a different type of outcome, for instance solving a crime.

I would really recommend it, I started listening and couldn't stop (almost) Wink

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 14/10/2023 16:07

Just wondering how you are getting in now @TooYoungToKnowTooOldToCare? You really have seemed to have been unlucky Flowers