Absolutely Unputdownable Books Part 2

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Hope nobody minds me setting up a new thread - other one very long.

Come on ladies - give me your ideas

I am a real saddo but I do like Jackie Collins very easy gossipy far fetched but hey ho.....

One was started - lots of us thought it was a great idea...but...it fizzled out despite good efforts from the founder and good intentions from the rest of us! Contact HQ if you're willing and interested, I think the original coordinator might still be on maternity leave...

Snafu, I thought the book of Bodies was better than the series...why the need to change it to Obs and Gynae? Surely not to provide more heart-wrenching dilemmas?
Also LOVE The House of Sleep, the man is a genius.

If you liked Before I Say Goodbye by Ruth Picardie, I'd recommend If the Spirit Moves You, written after her death by her bereft sister, Justine Picardie - v moving, especially if you have a sister yourself.

I loved Case Studies by Kate Atkinson - much more than her Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

I've just finished Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller and thought it was amazingly good. A book in the same vein which my book group loved (unanimously) was Asylum by Patrick McGrath - tho I think Notes on a Scandal is better.

Notes on a Scandal - gets another vote from me
Curious Case of Dog Night-Time - think someone else has already mentioned this too

I'm glad someone else mentioned Agatha Christie, because about three months ago I dug out all my Josephine Teys (same sort of era, y'see) and devoured Miss Pym Disposes, Brat Farrar and the one about Richard III whose name has completely escaped me for the moment. And they are terrific.

I must try Captain Corelli again - have not managed to get past page three on about four seperate occasions now.

Oooh, so much to reply to... First my books:

The Da Vinci Code - Just read it and loved it
The Collector - John Fowles: About a stalker/kidnapper

Anything Tess Gerritsen for light, but gripping
The Baby Trail - Sinaed Moriarty.

His Dark Materials - Phillip Pullman

Oooh, and so many more I can't think of!!!

Expatkat -The man who mistook his wife... sounds sooo interesting! I'm going to have to go hunting for that I think!!

Whoever said that they knew Harry Potter was sad - my question is why??? They are great stories, easy to read, and suitable for kids and adults. No faults in my eyes!!!

Suzywong - Love love love McEwan!!!

Anyone else wanting to print this thread and lock themselves in a bookshop for a few months???

I've never heard of The Secret History, but its been mentioned so many times I think I need to find that. I printed off The Big Read top 100 when it was done, and i'm gradually working my way through that.

The Josephine Tey thing reminded me of Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh. More unanimous approval from my book group - utterly gripping. I agree about Sarah Waters, also - wish she'd hurry up and write some more.

I have just ordered a whole stack of books from The Reading Group (part of The Book People) and thoroughly recommend giving them a try, I know they've been mentioned on MN before. I got six books (one hardback) for £26, free delivery on orders over £25 and a free book for every 10 you order.

I'd have to put in a plug for the Louis de Bernieres south american trilogy - better than Captain Corelli's Mandolin although I enjoyed that too. I can't remember all the titles, but am pretty sure one is 'The troublesome offspring of Cardinal Guzman'. A wonderful, gripping trilogy, with some magical realism thrown in. They cover 'typical' south american themes like corruption, coca lords and catholicism, and can be shockingly hard-hitting but also wonderfully warm and funny and magical. So many scenes from the books still spring fresh to my mind even after reading them a few years ago.

For a quick light read, hard to beat the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

And if you want a doorstep, try Don deLillo's Underworld. The first 50 pages or so are about a baseball match, and you'll wonder whether to bother, but stick with it because the rest is a wonderful tramp through America in the second half of last century.

How many of you stick with books that you aren't enjoying (like the baseball for the first 50 pages)? I am determined not to be beaten and read pretty much anything, but a lot of my friends only read a few pages, a chapter, or read the last few pages to see if the ending is any good!

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Memoirs of a Geisha is one I return to again and again, love it.

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Oh, I love the baseball bit of Underworld! But then again I love baseball...

flamesparrow, I had to do that with Captain Corelli's Mandolin AND Donna Tartt's The Little Friend, both repaid a slog at the beginning.
tiddlypom, I loved Knowledge of Angels. Jill Paton Walsh is always interesting and readable.
Matonic - The Daughter of Time. I have never been able to accept Richard III had the princes killed after reading that book. Miss Pym Disposes is my favourite of all her stuff, but love all of them. Shame she died so young.

marina, little friend was abandoned some time ago, will return to it (once i've slogged thru the plot against america, philip roth...)

Dh has an animus against Philip Roth and won't have him in the house.. FGS! Is it any good? I do associate him forever with Portnoy's Complaint

2 already mentioned

• but REALLY are unputdownable
• Perfume, by patrick Suskind, and Fingersmith (sarah waters) I was reading this at three in the morning, totally gripping

Flamesparrow, my book shelves are full of books I've started and lost interest in . I am determined to go back and finish them all one day....

Would also like to vote for The Time Traveller's Wife - read it last week for my book club and it was fantastic.

Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - I know it's been mentioned before but it is a truly wonderful book.

Has anyone started a Time Traveller's Wife thread?

The Genesis Code by John Case - had to do everything one handed and with my nose in the book for 2 days as couldnt put it down.

Flamesparrow, I very rarely put a book down after starting it so many times I have been rewarded by sticking with a book, Life of Pi being a great example, first 100 pages were a real slog but it's still the best book I've read in the last few years.

On the nights when I don't collapse on my bed at 10pm and instantly slip into a coma...... I have been reading The DaVinci Code. Very good book, and not what I expected at all!

Babydriver, the other two are "tThe War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts" and "Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord".

Another vote for Afteryou've gone by Maggie O'farrell - just bought her latest so disappointed to hear it was disappointing !

Most unputdownable book for me is Rebecca - absolutely loved it....