If you could only recommend one book...

[TotallyFloored]

what would it be ?

I always find that I read a lot of the same type of stuff (mystery, thriller type things), but the books I recommend most strongly to people are often the ones that are totally different to my usual fare.

I think mine may be Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follet), although it was a close one with Shogun (James Clavell).

The Stand

The Poisonwood Bible

The seventh son Sebastian faulks absolutely brilliant. Pillars of the earth is brilliant too

Witch Light by Susan Fletcher or Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, but that's because I love historical fiction.

@WAGGINGTONGUE I've always had that on my list but never got round to it. I have seen the dodgy mini-series though...
@BarryKentPoet I have downloaded Hamnett actually - may read that one next when I have finished my current one.
I'll check out the other ones though - I'm always looking. Thanks.

Fingersmith by Sarah Walters. I wish I never read it so I can read it again for the first time.

The Island by Victoria Hislop.

Wuthering Heights

I loved Hamnet - a really compelling read.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Cloud Atlas - although it might not be everyone's cup of tea

Often recommend The Poisonwood Bible and Fingersmith - they are both excellent books.

Sherlock Holmes - The Complete Sherlock Holmes.
I think everyone should read it at some point in their lives. There's a reason it's been rehashed over and over again. It has everything you could ever want I think.

Diary of a provincial lady by em delafield.

Be abuse if you are going to only ever read one book make it an acutely observed book that’s very, very funny.

The first of the Cazalet Chronicles.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo...love it!

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. My favourite book of all time. ❤️

A Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain . Everyone should read it .

I'm a really crap reader so don't read anything that's too challenging. My fave book is The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish

Only one book it has to be something big with all human life in it. So probably War and Peace. If you read a chapter a day it takes a year to read which is probably the best way to read it. Each chapter is ~4 pages so not so onerous.

William Boyd: Any Human Heart is the book I recommend the most.

The Grapes of Wrath.

Crime and Punishment - It is Exceptional!

Loved Any Human Heart and it got a unanimous thumbs up from everyone at my book club (rare event)

1984

Crime and Punishment.