The last book that wowed you (take two!)

[CurlewKate]

I have to provide a book each for 6 people. Has to be fiction. All are readers. Aged 23 to 65. All have varied interests-except one, who is a history nut who likes "war" stuff. Two like feminist literature. One like spies.

Not too heavy or too long because they are for reading over Christmas. But not too light either. What's the last book you loved? Oh, and paperback, please...

Strange Sally Dimond was great but doesn't fit any of your categories but was a blinder!!

Just saw the not too heavy bit and Strange Sally Dimind might be classed as heavy issues to be honest!!

The Bee Sting

The Hearts Invisible Furies

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is brilliant, especially if you are over 45 as it's about travelling back in time to when you are in your 20's.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. Short and powerful. It bowled me over. Sad content but still hopeful.

My daughter is 22 and into all things feminist. Books I have bought her for Xmas recently which have gone down very well (and all fairly quick reads) include: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton; Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadino Evaristo; Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson.

Also, for a lovely Christmassy read that everyone in our Book Club enjoyed I recommend the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

War stuff: In Memoriam was a devastating read. But it's definitely not light!! And they have to be comfortable with reading about quite a lot of gay sex...

Cuddy by Ben Myers...is a very strong candidate for the best book I've ever read, never mind the last one...

Recent novels I liked:

Miranda July, All Fours (eccentric, cheery middle-aged crisis road US trip)

Samantha Harvey, Orbital (poetic, collectively-narrated astronauts on space station)

Yale van der Wouden, The Safekeep (set in the Netherlands shortly after WW2, rigid, strange woman’s life disrupted by a visitor to her childhood home)

Charlotte Wood, Stone Yard Devotional (set in a convent in the Australian outback, environmental themes)

LOTE, Shona Von Reinhold (modern researcher fascinated by obscure black modernist poet)

I’ve also just begun Conclave by Robert Harris, having just seen the film adaptation of it with Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini. Political thriller set during the election of a new pope.

Hearts Invisible Furies is great.
Also John Boyne has a series of books called the Elements. They're quite short but not sure if they are in paperback yet. So far he's released Water, Earth and Fire.

I read Water and Earth last week and really enjoyed them.

I loved Orbital - delighted to see it has just won The Booker

The Things They Carried is a good book for the war category. Vietnam war though

All the Light we Cannot See
Once Upon A River
The Bandit Queens
The Covenant of Water
The House of Special Purpose (anything by John Boyne really)
Anything by Clare Chambers

Ghostwritten - David Mitchell
Dark Matter - Michelle Paver

Old Baggage or Their Finest Hour and a Half by Lissa Evans

I'm currently reading, and really enjoying, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. It would tick quite a few of your boxes (feminist, history, conflict).

Lessons in Chemistry was enjoyable

Transcription by Kate Atkinson might be a good choice, it's about a young woman who is recruited as a spy during WWII. I really enjoyed it and it kind of hits feminism, history and spying themes.

For the feminists Jeanette winterson. Her novellas are incredible.

I love 'sexing the cherry' and 'the passion'

Oooh I hadn't heard of this one of hers thank you I'll add it to my Christmas list!!

I agree - great books! Funny, feminist, historical, not too heavy… particularly Old Baggage, which is one of my favourites.

I’d add Crooked Heart, which starts with a slight link to Old Baggage and takes place during the Second World War.

All The Light We Cannot See might tick a few boxes.

And I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes was a good read, but it’s very long (although lots of short chapters with cliffhangers that make you keep reading on).

For thy great pain have mercy on my little pain

Short, feminist, historical. Can't stop thinking about it really.

Another vote for The Bee Sting
Tin Man - Sarah Winman
Demon Copperhead

My favourite 3 reads this year

A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe.

I read a lot and often forget books quite easily but I read this over a year ago and still think of it often.

We have always lived in the castle - Shirley Jackson