Best book you've read recently

[petronella23]

I read a lot where I think 'yeah, fine, that was ok' but what have you read recently that made you think 'THAT was a cut above'

So maybe particularly gripping/funny/moving or whatever.

The vaster wilds by Lauren groff

The Last Secret of the Secret Annex - Joop van Wijk-Voskuijl and Jeroen De Bruyn

Story of one of those who helped Anne Frank and her family hide during WWII. Really interesting, wider context, impact on the helper (Bep Voskuijl) and her family.

There's a thread about the best reads of last year.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4963118-books-you-particularly-enjoyed-this-year

I’m reading And Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. I’m finding it very gripping. I’ve nearly finished it in a fraction of the time it would usually take me to finish a book of a similar size. I can’t put it down and it’s been ages since I’ve read a book like that.

Once Upon a River Diane Setterfield
The Earth and Heaven Grocery Store James Mcbride
Very different books but both are well written and full of fascinating characters.

Hide - Nell Paterson - thriller set in a snowy nature reserve.

Hostage - Clare Douglas - another thriller

Three Hours - Rosemary Luton

These are the first three books that have sprung to mind.

Actually, just thought of John Marr books, including Passenger, which are set in the near future so you could believe the scenarios actually happening. The books are linked, but also standalone.

Robert Harris - can’t go far wrong wrong with his books either

Small things like these - Claire Keegan
Superb

I was gripped by this too.

Just finished choke chain by Jason Donald which I saw recommended here. Really well written book, 2 brothers growing up in 1980s south africa, with an explosive ending.

I read The Tattooist of auschwitz by Heather Morris last year a true story and very thought provoking. I have just started Cilka's Journey which is the story of one of the character's in the first book.

That is a beautiful book - well short story really. Best thing I’ve read in a very long time.

@Windthebloodybobbinup - I’m in the middle of that. Beautiful writing but I’m getting a bit restive.

I found it definitely to be a book you have to be in a certain mood for. It's not going to satisfy for anyone looking for a neat resolution and I was tempted to skip a bit towards the end. But the writing is brutally beautiful!

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

Miss Benson's Beetle

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - a page turner that was also literary, and about books/storytelling! Brilliant. Haven't read All the Light... but will definitely be reading this in the future now.

The Five, by Hayley Rubenhold. Really moving.

I've just finished this too! Really enjoyed it.

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-lucifer-effect-9781846041037

People Like Us by Louise Feinn

'Annihilation' by Jeff Vandermeer - fascinating read. Not a new book, but new to me (and worlds better than the pretty awful movie).

I just finished the second book 'Authority', which while a bit plodding, was strangely compelling and now I'm a quarter of the way through the 3rd book 'Acceptance' which is super interesting. Altogether glad I picked this series up.

[[//Demon Copperhead: Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction: Amazon.co.uk: Kingsolver, Barbara: 9780571376483: Books - read this over the summer holidays and couldn't put it down! Really loved it.

Jeff Vandermeer is great. My favourite is City of Saints and Madmen but this trilogy is excellent also. I think I like all his stuff.

currently reading, All the Light We Cannot See, which is very good. My next one will be Hamnet which I never got round to earlier.

A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry

Tom Lake and Miss Bensons Beetle.