Could you recommend me a book?

[Halfmanhalfcake]

I’ve just finished A Little Life. I know it’s got very mixed reviews but I couldn’t put it down, which hasn’t happened to me for a long time.

Recently I’ve liked Small Pleasures and Lessons in Chemisty. Historically some of my favourites are the Secret History, The cheese monkeys, and a big fan of Wolf hall too (although I’m generally not a lover of historical novels).

I feel slightly bereft in the same way as when I finish a box set, so any recommendations would be gratefully received!

Did you read Life after Life a few years ago?

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

If you like thriller type things anything by JP Delaney or Claire Douglas is good. I loved a Little Life too. Magpie by Elizabeth Day also good, and Eleanor Oliphant is doing fine by Gail Honeyman.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. It's very good but lighthearted which I think would give you a bit of a breather after A Little Life.

Did you read Wolf Hall’s two sequels?

My favourite Hilary Mantel remains the brilliantly dark Beyond Black.

I struggled after a little life to find something.

American dirt got me back.

Is that Secret History by Donna Tartt? If yes try The Goldfinch...

+1 for each of American Dirt, Pachinko and (rather lighter) Excellent Women.
i have just finished one of the best books I’ve read - Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams who also wrote Stoner (I mean if you haven’t read Stoner yet - that’s a stone cold classic for a reason!) - a western and a huge story with astonishing adventure but simultaneously a small tale of humanity. I adored it. Am currently on the final instalment of the John Updike Rabbit series which is also great - oh & what about Christopher Isherwood aka Bowie’s favourite - Goodbye to Berlin (what history gcse didn’t teach you about Weimar Germany!)

Something meaty by Barbara Kingsolver! I just reread Poisonwood Bible but Demon Copperhead absolute blew me away.

Thank you so much. These all sound brilliant, I’m going to head to the bookshop tomorrow and stock up! I love this corner of mumsnet, it’s like when you go into a very specialist niche shop and receive the best customer service ever. Thank you!

If you liked 'The Secret History', it was heavily influenced by 'Brideshead Revisited' by Evelyn Waugh, although it's not the best of Waugh's novels.
Donna Tartt was also influenced by Shirley Jackson - she wrote the introduction to an anthology of Jackson's works. 'The Haunting Of Hill House' and 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' are Jackson's best novels.

I also loved Demon Copperhead. Couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards.

Have a look at The Cloisters and Wandering Souls. Also Water by John Boyne. I really loved Tish Delaney's Before my actual heart breaks as well.

The Deptford trilogy is excellent. I chuckle away at the excellent way robertson davies writes.

You might like the hearts invisible furies by john boyne. And maybe a gentleman in moscow. I also liked american dirt, small pleasures, lessons in chemistry and the secret history. And have demon copperhead on my tbr pile!

My book recommendation at the moment is Shadow murderer by Chaz Rose
I enjoyed it after being recommended it by my friend.