What’s the last book you read that you literally couldn’t put down?

[NoNameMum]

When I was younger I was an avid reader, I’ve kind of got out of the habit, but recently I’ve tried a few books and I am really struggling to stay motivated to read them, don’t connect with the characters and I currently have 3 partially read books on the go. I’ve tried a few different genres and I know I hate any kind of fantasy novel. But open to anything else really…

Go ask Alice ..i read this over 20yrs ago and it’s stayed with me ever since

I've got my head in the Echo Chamber by John Boyne at the moment. Great fun and also makes some very sharp observations. I feel annoyed whenever my family expect me to interact with them

There’s a great book about “Go Ask Alice” called, I think, “Unmask Alice” about how it turned out to be fake and how it was used in the war on drugs, etc.

Big cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators by
Rick Minter.

This is an extremely well-researched book by one of the acknowledged experts in the field. Its purpose is not to convince the reader of the presence of Big Cats - Black Panthers, Puma, Lynx, a British Big Cat hybrid - living in the British countryside. Nor is its intention to instill fear. It presents a wealth of field evidence and reliable sightings and leaves the reader to make their own mind up. Since this book was published, DNA evidence has finally been found which proves beyond doubt that Black Panthers are at large in the British countryside. I couldn't put it down!

The anti gravity book

The Nightingale Kristen Hannah

Eliza Clark is from my area and it’s where the book is based so it’s nice to imagine what areas could be where in the book.

Yes yes to the Echo Chamber, and of course his other great one The Heart's Invisible Furies.

Exodus is a great read by Deborah Feldman and two more -
The rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Long Island - Colm Toibin.

I've just downloaded Toibin's House of Names, so we'll see about that one!

The Bee Sting. Read it last year and nothing else has come close since.

Oh yes The Hearts Invisible Furies was a powerful book

Piglet by Lottie Hazell.
Best contemporary novel I’ve read in years

Jumping in to ask where you mostly find your books, is it recommendation, Goodreads, the book pages in the papers or what?

I enjoy bookshops so I see most of mine there, and of course here!, and publicity blurb sometimes.

Yeah, I read that last year. I liked the comparison between food and class.

I don't make it shopping /to the library often because I am disabled, for me it's a mix of : books gifted from family /friends and if I like them I try more.by the same author, book reviews, recommendations from friends or mumsnet and also I use the storygraph app and its recommendations sometimes inspire me too

I used to have a couple of book subscriptions (Feel Good Book club and Reposed) and I loved finding new books that way too but they both stopped. I would love to find a new one but haven't found one that really appeals yet

Weyward by Emilia Hart. Witchy, set in three generations.

I would also recommend Tana French (though it’s not true crime!)

The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells - been meaning to read it for nearly 30 years, so glad I finally got round to it. One of those books that you don’t want to finish because you’ll have to leave the characters behind, and a perfect read in a heatwave. 🔥

I'm getting through the Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard at the moment, the first is called The Light Years.

I'd been put off them by hearing parts of them on Radio 4, but I absolutely love them and cannot put them down.

The first starts in 1937. I love Nancy Mitford, also Barbara Pym and Elizabeth von Arnim. Although the Cazelet books were written more recently, they really capture the period.

Start with a series to get you hooked back in.

Recently discovered Katie Kitamura. I’ve romped through Intimacies and
A Separation.

I also loved All Fours by Miranda July.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Women by Kristin Hannah

Oh dear. Another one for my already ludicrous TBR list 😆

@annzenI always scour charity shops for books when I pass. We have a great one near us that sells books for £1! Not that helpful I know.
other than that I keep an eye on the supermarket shelves. I find the big bookshops overwhelming. I have a couple do fave authors I always keep an eye on too.

@gianfrancogorgonzolai love her books. Will look it up. Thanks

Matthew Perry’s memoir. Very sad, obviously, but a hugely absorbing read.

Marching powder by Rusty Young. True story about an English international drug smuggler who was caught and put in a Bolivian prison. It’s his story of his time in prison and is fascinating. Can’t recommend it enough!