I am so bored of my books

[PinkFootstool]

I have a long standing habit of re-reading my library and fall back into familiar old books for comfort.

I got bored recently and picked up some new titles and was even more bored reading them that I've given them to a charity shop.

I need help finding my love for reading again please, so I'm looking for suggestions to rekindle that fire!

Old familiars include authors like John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, James Patterson. I like a series of books where possible and have appreciated young adult things like the Hunger Games or Divergent. And Twilight is a guilty pleasure.

I also adore historical naval fiction like Hornblower or the Patrick O'Brien series of Aubrey and Maturin.

Hate romcom, hate romance novels, hate chick lit, not interested in comedy. And absolutely no "A Child Called It" types.

Like a good autobiography (rather than a biography) of an interesting person - have a range from Billy Connolly to Marilyn Manson to Rory Stewart (but not Nicola Sturgeon).

Like a strong military theme or political thriller perhaps. Absolutely no horror, I'm a wimp. Am not looking to hit up the classics at the moment, I did that a few years ago and I need something else at the moment.

Any suggestions gratefully received! I have a £90 book token burning a hole in my pocket.

Sue Grafton? Harlen Coben? Robert Crais? Lee Child?
all really good, IMO all better than James Patterson.

I'd forgotten about Lee Child, the others are new to me thank you - I'll take a look now...

John Le Carré? Brilliant writing.

I'm reading the mandibles by lionel schriver right now and its so good....

Got it on vinted for £1

If you enjoy historical fiction I can recommend the Wellington and Napoleon quartet by Simon Scarrow.

I’ve just read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. It’s the first of a quartet and I really enjoyed it.

For crime I like the Karen Pirie series (recently made for TV) and the Maeve Kerrigan series.

Oh my Dad loved his books, I'll have a look as well!

Try the Montalbano books by Andrea Camillera. There is a whole long series of them set in Sicily, so perfect for these cool autumnal nights.

Have you read any of the Strike books by JK Rowling? They are brilliant .

Ooh that is very promising, thank you

Can second this recommendation. I read most of my DF’s as a teen and have reread a couple over the last few months. They really are good.

Actually no, I haven't read anything of hers outside HP. Will take a look too...

If you like military stuff try Bernard Cornwell. Obviously Sharpe and The Lost kingdom are pretty well known as they have been on TV but the Arthurian and Harlequin trilogies are very good. As a stand alone Azincourt is excellent.
I went through a stage of reading Louis de Bernieres- Birds without wings is long but well worth it.

If you like naval history, I recommend J.D.Davies. His Matthew Quinton series is set in the reign of Charles II when the enemy was the Dutch, which makes a change from the eighteenth/nineteenth century and the French. J.D.Davies is an academic historian with a doctorate in naval history as well as a novelist - he knows his stuff.
J D Davies - Historian and Author | The website and blog of naval historian and bestselling author J D Davies

For YA fantasy I really like any of the Trudi Canavan series, the Susan Dennard Witchlands series and Alison Croggan's Pellinor books.

All of these have great characters and action without getting bogged down in too much tedious "world building".

Karin Slaughter and Mark Billingham are great writers if you can stomach the violence. If you like twisty thrillers Ruth Ware is good.

For a biography Tina Brown's Diana is amazing - I'm not usually very interested in the royals and don't even know why I picked it up! But it's so well-researched and written and somehow manages to be sympathetic to both sides.

James Lee Burke.. beautifully written thrillers set in Louisiana. Many include lots of historical detail

You might like to look at the historical fiction of Alan Furst.

I second the recommendation of John Le Carre.

Haven't been able to get into a book in ages but just read and was really engaged with Brain on fire by Susannah Cahalan.

The Falco books by Lindsey Davis.
Falco's a private detective working in ancient Rome.

I had fallen out of love with reading, then my friend lent me her copy of verity by Colleen Hoover. Best book I have read in years. I binged it in 2 days and it’s getting made into a movie next year. If you like hunger games etc have you read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I love it and reread it every year.

The Shardlake Books by CJ Sansom. Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel, The Languedoc Trilogy by Kate Mosse.

Brilliant series ❤️

Just coming here to say Shardlake! And if you like the Shardlake series, the Bruno series by SJ Parris is also a must!

Shardlake is a good shout - covering off crime fiction and historic fiction at once.

Michael Conolley’s Lincoln lawyer books are easy reads in the way of Alex Patterson

Karin Slaughter is excellent crime fiction (grant county/will Trent series)