I used to devour books and want this feeling back but did not get on with the Goldfinch like most on here

[delayrepayagain]

I want to spend my commute reading rather than working to improve my work/life balance.

In the 90s I’d devour books, getting through at least 2 a week.

However I’ve tried some recommendations on here eg the Goldfinch and just not got on with it though persevered. Could not get beyond first few pages of Captain Corelli either.

The last book I read which made a impression on me in was All the Light We Cannot See. Over the years I’ve enjoyed travelogues (Lonely Planet did a great series of these back in the day), most of Sebastian Faulkes, Jeffrey Archer (yes, really!). I would always buy Jo Jo Moyes latest books (because of Ship of Brides) but these got a bit samey.

I actually miss not wanting to go to sleep to carry on turning the pages.

Please share with me your page turners.

Could you go back to ones you enjoyed before? Comfort reading? To help ease you back in…

Some suggestions.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (total marmite book!)

I did try this with Memoirs of a Geisha (which I loved at the time) but it just didn’t feel the same. I’ve reread a few over the years too which had same impact.

Only ones I particularly enjoyed again was Bill Bryson, mostly for the humour and ease of reading.

In terms of authors, you might like Lisa Jewell? Also Emily Henry books are quite easy reading. Another author I love but has a bit more depth is Curtis Sittenfeld.

I found American Dirt a real page turner. I also enjoy the Cormoran Strike books.

Thank you for those recommendations. I do like some depth to a book and a good pace too. I’m currently reading Victoria Hislop’s second book as remember enjoying The Island. It’s telling that I can’t remember its name without going upstairs to look.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty was the book that got me back in to reading after a very long hiatus!

I’ve seen her recommended here a fair bit. I think I’ve read some of hers over the years but not that one. It’s on the list, thank you.

My favourite novels of the last year or two:

Still Life, Sarah Winman
The Glassmaker, Tracey Chevalier
How to Build a Boat, Elaine Feeney

Have you read anything by Barbara Kingsolver?

also signature of all things is wonderful and everyone Ive recommended it to has loved it

I was in the same position as you a couple of years ago. I set myself a reading challenge on Goodreads (the first year it was a really modest one) and took it from there. Now I'm back to my old reading ways (almost pre-kid levels, not quite), any spare 10 mins will be with my book. Amongst my favourites have been

Demon Copperhead
Ordinary Human Failings - Meg Nolan
Soldier Sailor - Claire Kilroy
Green dot - madeleine gray
Katherine Heiney books
Anne Enright (everything she's done)

Also I mix it up with a lot of non fiction too....have discovered the essays of Elissa Gabbert which I love, and quite a few political books (love the Tim Shipman ones and Gabriel Pogrund to
Also love book podcasts ... "Weirdos Book club" with Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd v good...always gives me ideas

Have you lost your reading muscles? I spend too much time jumping from screen to screen at work so I have to force myself to read an actual book when I’m on holiday. Once I get past the first 50 pages I am back into the swing of reading but it takes discipline.

Very probably @AlphaApple

I just need that page turning book to get me started again. Lots of ideas here which I’m adding to a list. I’m going to read actual paper books too. I think that’ll help.

I switched back to paper books and that made a massive difference. I have my "to read" pile now and love looking at it (as went as the "want to read " list on Goodreads....so satisfying ticking "read" and seeing the total add up!)

I remember I enjoyed Keeper of Lost Things.

Thank you all for your recommendations. I like the idea of a podcast for ideas. I did wonder about trying audio books too.

I think I need to investigate Good Reads. That’s the plan for the morning commute.

I wasn’t overwhelmed by The Goldfinch either and have never got past page 17 of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.

If you like travel related fiction, you might enjoy Us by David Nicholls which romps its way around Europe. I loved it - but members of my book club felt differently.
I have struggled a bit with reading recently, I alternate easy reads such as Marian Keyes or Thursday Murder Club with trickier fare. I managed to make my through Caledonian Road recently so you could try that.

I recently enjoyed Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törz and Kindered by Octavia Butler.

I think if you enjoyed reading Memoirs of a Geisha I can highly recommend The Tale Of Murasaki by Liza Dalby. (Not sure if it's currently in print, but you can get a ok paperback from places like World of Books)

Oooh I think we have the same reading inclinations.

I so struggled with Goldfinch and loved Keeper of lost things and All the light we cannot see.
Anthony Doerr wrote another book which I’ve yet to read but have purchased called Cloud Cuckoo Land.

The other ones I have read and enjoyed are

Vanishing Half: Brit Bennett
Lucy Foley: Hunting Party
Lisa Jewell: The family upstairs
Beth O’Leary: Flatshare (an easy read)
Claire Douglas: The couple at no.9
Stephen King: Fairy Tale and Holly
Harriet Tyce: Blood orange
Celeste Ng: everything I never told you
Celeste Ng: little fires everywhere
Tayari Jones: An American marriage
Naomi Alderman: The Power
Jill Santapolo: The light we lost
James Swallow: Exile

On my to be read pile are
List of suspicious things
Hunted
Hotel Avocado
The beekeeper of Aleppo

I started the Goldfinch twice and couldn’t get into it - picked it up again in lockdown when I had a lot of time on my hands and once I got passed a certain point I couldn’t put it down.

Have you read “Where the Crawdads Sing”? I got so into this - I was reading it on my lunch break and couldn’t put it down. Was meant to be working from home and just kept reading until I got to the end. Had to stay up to the early hours to finish my days work 😂

I'm currently in rut and looking for a book that will get me back into reading so scanning for ideas 😊

I recently read Educated by Tara Westover - true story where basically her dad was a survivalist Mormon who is paranoid about the government and so the kids don't go to school. She tells the story really well and makes a success of her life despite the enormous challenges.

I didn’t massively rate the Goldfinch

Second American Dirt, try the Taylor Jenkins Reid universe starting with Daisy Jones and The Six

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson seems to match your vibe and The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

This year I’ve really enjoyed both Natural Beauty and Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang both very Black Mirrory though

Oh and to add The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern

I adored The Goldfinch, it’s my favourite novel of all time. Hurry up Donna and write a new book!

My pick for a page turner (and much shorter than The Goldfinch) is the first Jackson Brodie book, Case Histories.

I’ve finally read the goldfinch and it needed some editing but was ok.

Recently, I’ve enjoyed The Women (Kirsten Hannah), Pachinko (Min Jin Lee) and James (Percival Everett). All of these compelling enough to hook me in where my reading muscles are not what they were in my 20s.

if you haven’t read The Poisonwood Bible though, k would highly recommend.

Try Kate Mosse
Kate Atkinson
Maggie O’Farrell
Nina Stibbe
Sarah Waters
William Boyd - Restless
Anne Enright - Actress