What's the best "random" book you've ever read?

[MrsMuddle]

By random, I mean one that you pick up in a charity shop or one that someone gives you, by an author you're not familiar with.

I recently picked up The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. I'd never read anything by her, and because the book cost 10p at a scout jumble sale, I wasn't expecting it to be such a great read. I've now ordered another couple of books by her.

I love it when a book exceeds your expectations.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I think I swapped another fictional work for this in some south east Asian Hostel (sort of Library scheme...)
Absolutely gripping and really well written. Right form the first page you know a group of students have killed another, and it keeps you questioning right to the end.

Sunset over chocolate mountains by Susan Elderkin - bought from a work book sale as I liked the cover. A great book - don't be put off by the 'drinking own urine' bit in the first chapter!

If this is a Man by Primo Levi.

Was bought for me by a friend and is a true account of a Jewish chemist in a concentration camp.

That kind of thing has never been my cup of tea but when I read it, I couldn't put it down. Very sad and thought provocking but inspiring as well and totally readable.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Hilarious. I don't even know how I found it, but then a few months after I'd read it they made it into a film.

What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn. Picked it up in bookshop when I'd never heard of her, because I liked the sound of the premise. It's become one of my ten favourite first novels ever.

The Arabesk series by Jon Courtenay Grimwood, or Freakonomics.

The Red Tent. Anna Diamant. Brilliant. Have passed it around to most of my reader friends and they have ALL said it was fantastic. (Mostly women) but the one guy who did read it also enjoyed it. )But he's a bit of a bible thumper type (no disrespect meant, I adore him) and he said it was beautiful.

Tales of Malgudi by RK Narayan. Got it because of pink cover. One of the best authors. "Waiting for the Mahatma" makes me cry, every time.

Silk by Alessandro Barrico. Friend bought it me and it's wonderful. There is the most amazing scene that I can't explain without spoiling it but it made me cry.

Zil I was going to say The Secret History too... lent to me by a friend in my book group, I would never have picked it up in a shop and it's now one of my favourite books ever. Soooo gripping, I never wanted it to end!

Possession by A.S Byatt, also lent to me in a 'you'd like this book' way. The length would have put me off in a bookshop but what a great read.

Plus SM had lots of Iris Murdoch and I read all of them when I lived there. Doubt I would ever have picked them up otherwise but The Sea The Sea is a particular favourite.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - just picked it up in a charity shop. It's a story about how a party for diplomats and business men turns in to a hostage situation. I really liked the was it was written and thought she wrote about the relationships very well.

My other charity shop find was What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt which I did love! I bought this as I knew she was the wife of Paul Auster and I'd just finished one of his books. What I Loved has been one of the few books that has made me cry, and I couldn't put it down. It's about two couples who are part of the New York art scene and how their lives unfold.

...the way it was written...

Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley. DH left it lying around in the bathroom when I was maternity leave so I decided to read the first few pages in the bath. I couldn't put it down! Just a ripping good yarn really.

tales of the city.

went on to read most the series.

Hitch-hikers guide to the Galaxy. Picked it up as a teenager* purely because I liked the stripey cover. Then went through the books..then the radio series...then the TV version...then the film.

I haven't got the T shirt yet, but I sure know where my towel is

*thats x years ago, where x is a very big number

DH found a couple of tatty books in his mums's attic that he'd been reading in his late teens & one was

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

I knew of his fiction but wasn't aware of his real-life accounts of social conditions/poverty etc. I just found it fascinating and went on to read 'The Road To Wigan Pier' and his others to do with the Spanish Civil war. He was a brilliant social commentator.

mum's

Didn't realise this thread was still going!

Sobriquet, your post brought back happy memories. When I was a teenager, I'd spend summer holidays at my (childless) aunt and uncle's house. As well as being spoilt rotten, I also got to read all her adult books - Down and Out in Paris and London being a favourite. I must look out for it.

Londonstani by Gautam Malkani (had to look up the author) picked it up in the library, not my usual read it was really good.

Years ago my mum bought me Two Pence to Cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester, it took ages to get around to read it but it was very good indeed, it's her true story of her childhood.

I've got loads more but I can't remember them!

My mum turned up one day with Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon which I think is about the 4th book in a 6 book series. She saw it in a charity shop and thought I might like it. I was a bit but decided to give it go. Well bugger me did I not have to go out and get the other 5 books which I then read avidly. The story is, imo, truly absorbing and also offers a bit of Scottish/American history.

I totally wouldn't have chosen these books from the library/shop (I firmly judge books by their cover ) so am really pleased with me dear old mum for choosing a crap great book

I used to rummage through my mum's old books when I was around 17/18. Discovered 2 random books there- 'Fear of flying' by Erica Jong and 'Almost paradise' by Susan Isaacs. Loved them both (at the time) & reread them a few times... have read all Erica Jong books since (they're all trash to be honest, apart from that first one) and all Susan Isaacs books (most of them brilliant).

"Radio Romance" by Garrison Keillor. Picked it of the shelf in a rented French Villa. It made me laugh out loud. Quite subtle,all about and american radio station and the staff's antics in the 1930's.To show that I am not highbrow,I usually read the top paperback thrillers, Jilly Cooper,Grisham and have just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (very slow first 220 pages-almost gave up, a different book throughout the second half) I also love anything by Douglas Kennedy.