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

(141 Posts)
Alima Fri 05-Oct-18 07:21:47

I have just finished “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne. One of those books you don’t want to end. Funny, sad, wonderful. Feel that Cyril Avery is an old friend. Now feeling bereft and cannot find anything I want to read. Help!

Patsy70 Fri 05-Oct-18 21:44:45

I've had 'All the Light We Cannot See' in my wish list on Amazon for a while now and have just ordered it. I would recommend 'The Tatooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris and 'Theo' by Amanda Prowse.

natasha1 Fri 05-Oct-18 21:03:24

That girl in the letters.

Jane10 Fri 05-Oct-18 20:32:36

jillyblom59- we obviously share the same good taste! Jane Gardam is a wonderful writer.
I recently downloaded Lucy Worsley's 'Jane Austen at home' for 99p. It's excellent. She writes as well as she presents. A clever lady and fun too.

helenmabr Fri 05-Oct-18 19:51:52

Outlander by Diane Gabaldon and the other 8 in the series

Katerina5 Fri 05-Oct-18 19:28:51

The best book I have ever read is The Sojourner by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
And I am a 70 Plus bookworm!

Grandmama Fri 05-Oct-18 19:21:52

'A Man called Ove' is brilliant. A lovely book is 'My Life in Houses' by Margaret Forster - it's about all the houses she has lived in. You might cry at the end - be warned.

I too enjoyed 'Children of the Archbishop' by Norman Collins. Read it years ago along with books by Elizabeth Goudge (try her 'City of Bells'. I re-read and re-read PG Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster stories. Loved Mapp and Lucia and the classic 'Diary of a Nobody'.

Recent books include 'All the Light we cannot see' and Eleanor Oliphant. Didn't get on with Elizabeth Strout's 'Lucy Barton', even though it's much hyped.

1974cookie Fri 05-Oct-18 18:55:13

Nearly forgot. 'Time and Time again' by Ben Elton.
Another book with an ending that takes you by surprise.
I loved it.

1974cookie Fri 05-Oct-18 18:51:39

I love all of the Jodi Picoult books, but her latest one 'Small Great Things' is one of her best. I was absolutely riveted, a real page turner with an ending that takes you by surprise.

Craftycat Fri 05-Oct-18 18:49:59

I run a reading group & the best book we have read for ages if not forever is Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
It will make you laugh a lot & cry a bit. Brilliant book. When I finished it I went back to beginning & read it again.

Telly Fri 05-Oct-18 18:28:24

I have just started reading The Sleeping Beauty by Elizabeth Taylor. I have read other books by her and starting this book reminded me why. She is such a brilliant writer, which these days seem to be few and far between. I also have a collection of her short stories and they are excellent.

Jillyblom59 Fri 05-Oct-18 17:38:11

Have you tried the Old Filth trilogy, by Jane Gardam? I read them with my book club. They are not something that I would have normally chosen, but so glad that I read them, and they are now in my top books of all time.
I too loved A Man Named Ove, and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

katy1950 Fri 05-Oct-18 17:33:20

Loved harold fry cried and laughed

lemongrove Fri 05-Oct-18 17:33:04

Donna Tartt books, although brilliant, seem overlong and could do with some more editing IMHO.I wish I could think of the deep South book title by her, as it was really good.

lemongrove Fri 05-Oct-18 17:30:54

I had forgotten Any Human Heart, I loved that one.smile
I have tried to like The Goldfinch, and I admire her writing, but couldn't get on with it all.
I thought The Secret History was good, and also the one ( forget the title) set in the deep South.
Joanne Harris is a good writer, I like all her books.

hapgran Fri 05-Oct-18 17:29:59

He said She said did have a surprising ending and was a good read. I also enjoyed Light between the Oceans.

Lancslass1 Fri 05-Oct-18 16:35:52

The Personal history of Rahel Du Pre by Ann Weisgarber.is a book was short listed for the Orange prize a few years ago.
A heartwarming and moving story.

Funnygran Fri 05-Oct-18 16:24:06

I'm another Patrick Gale fan. I was so taken with one of his books that I left a comment on his website and got a lovely email back from him to thank me. I also read The Hearts Invisible Furies a short while ago and loved it. I think he wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as well. I'm a big fan of William Boyd and have enjoyed everything I've read of his, including the wonderful Any Human Heart.

Lindajoy Fri 05-Oct-18 16:20:52

Anything by Peter May or Sebastian Faulks!

Framilode Fri 05-Oct-18 16:14:23

Hillwalker 70, I second a Place Called Winter.

TerriBull Fri 05-Oct-18 16:01:25

Oh forgotten that Alima, I loved The Heart's Invisible Furies I always give it a mention if the opportunity arises, hence posting same again today, anyway glad it made the same impression on you.

Yes I also loved Secret History cavewoman, I read it years ago when it was first published wasn't so keen on her 2nd one, but adored the Goldfinch. She doesn't produce many. Hopefully she's working on another good one. Incidentally, they are shooting a film of the Goldfinch. I did read Nicole Kidman is in it, interesting to see whether it lives up to the book.

lemongrove Fri 05-Oct-18 15:13:37

All The Light etc is the best book I have read in a long time.
A Man Called Ove is amusing and moving in equal measure, as is The Unlikley Pilgrimage etc.
I enjoyed Alfred and Emily by Doris Lessing recently.

cavewoman Fri 05-Oct-18 15:08:54

I also loved The Goldfinch" TerriBull. Along with her (Donna Tartt) "Secret History". She must be due another soon?

Jane10 Fri 05-Oct-18 14:54:04

Working with adults with Aspergers, Ove was extremely authentic to me. Very touching. I smiled all the time I was reading it!

cavewoman Fri 05-Oct-18 14:41:23

Another vote for Patrick Gale. Especially "A Place Called Winter"
Have also recently enjoyed "He said /She said" by Erin Kelly
about an alleged rape during an eclipse.In fact the whole story revolves around eclipse chasers.The twist at the end is brilliant.

HannahLoisLuke Fri 05-Oct-18 14:29:52

I didn't like A Man Called Ove either, but will try some of the other suggestions.