Is anyone able to recommend a book as good as this please?

Another Jane Gardam fan here. Just read Queen of the Tambourine and loved it. Also, The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. It’s a lovely feel-good story, easy reading but not chick-lit (which I don’t like).

I wonder if anyone can help me out? I used to read a lot but I struggle to concentrate these days.

I don't like chic lit or Marian Keys type things but I can't cope with anything too convoluted or heavy.
I like characters, people, stories. I enjoyed The God of Small Things for example.
Can anybody suggest anything please? I have just ordered The Keeper of Lost Things. Thanks in advance.

Several people have mentioned Patrick Gale whose books I really enjoy , but am I alone in not enjoying The hearts invisible furies? I didn't finish it .

I have recommended this book on another thread some months ago. It is one of the best reads I have had this year. It is titled 'Greyhound' by Stephan Piper and is about a young, unaccompanied boy's 2000 mile journey by Greyhound bus across the US.

Yes hear hear! Thanks Alima for the thread. So many good recommendations ?

Blossom I read a version of this many many years ago (+30?) called Walk Across America by David Jenkins. I still have it plus the National Geographic magazine relating to it. I would love to do this. I must read Greyhound.

The Vanishing Act of Esmeralda Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell.
I failed to finish The Goldfinch but really enjoyed A Man Called Ove.
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler.
Loving these suggestions.

Oldbatty I struggle with the type of books I used to love. I still read them but a lot of the time I have to go with something lighter. I have CFS and I am tired a lot and it affects my concentration. My mum stopped reading when she got older which I found sad, as she loved talking about books. I'm determined not to give up. Many of the books recommended on this thread aren't too heavy. All I can suggest is that you read reviews, and also get books from the library. If you aren't enjoying the book after a few pages then stop. At least you haven't wasted money. And quite often if you like one book by an author you will like more. Also if you read a book and forget something its easy to flick back. Not so easy on a Kindle. Keeper of Lost Things is good.

Esme not Esmeralda

Thanks for your ideas.

Loving all the suggestions on here, I’ve downloaded quite a few of them as free samples on amazons kindle books so looking forward to trying them. Some of my favourite authors include Linwood Barclay, John Grisham, Michael Connolly ( Harry Bosch series) and Stephen Leather (Dan Shepherd series). Just finished The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, gripping.

Cavewoman thank you, yes ‘The Little Friend’ by Donna Tarrt, a marvellous book with every human emotion, as they say, in it and beautifully written.

Wouldn't it be great if we could have a page on GN where people list favourite books with a sentence or so about them if they wish, so we could all refer back to this?

Itbis as GabriellaG says a matter of taste. My husband reads a lot of non fiction especially politics. Thankfully his son does too, so they can discuss them together. So not my taste.

Joining in the thread a bit late in the day but I have to agree with the op and say that The Hearts Invisible Furies is a wonderful read and can quite understand how difficult it is to find a really good book to read next. Like others I can recommend Patrick Gale, I’ve recently read his latest book, Take Nothing With You which was good but possibly not his best. I can also recommend Tin Man by Sarah Winman and anything by Kate Atkinson especially her two WW2 novels:Time and Time Again and A God In Ruins.

Love the books by Sarah Walters too.

OldBatty, I read your post about what you like to read and I thought that you might like the Miss Read stories.

I likes Kate Atkinson,that is the right " level" for me. Interesting and short chapters.

Thanks Alexa.

I like Sarah Walters too. Anyone read Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abelwalha? A good family saga.

Our book group read Mornings in Jenin and were all more moved than by any other books we'd read in our many years of reading. I can't recommend it highly enough.

This is a good thread!

ooooh PECS love a saga ,me.

OldBatty, since you love a saga you may like Mazo de la Roche's Whiteoak family saga, as do I.

I have ordered “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” from the library today. Look forward to reading it.

Thank you so much for this thread.