A book that has made you think long after you have finished reading it

Two books which continue to haunt me, many years after first reading, are both by Gordon Honeycombe: Neither the Sea Nor The Sand and Dragon Under The Hill. I can heartily recommend.

Two of the books that stayed with me for a long time were both children’s books. Private Peaceful and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but I can’t remember the names of the authors. The ending of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas fair took my breath away.

VOX by Christina Dalcher. Along the lines of The Handmaids Tale. Very disturbing as you could see how it could happen - particularly in Trumps America.
Ragged Trousered Philanthropist.
A Thousand Splendid Suns.
The Ken Follett Century trilogy.

I read the Handmaid's Tale, enjoyed it but felt that it could so easily happen. Paul Auster's 4321, a very long book which I started early in lockdown. I found it hard to put down, superbly written changing from one scenario to another until there is only one life option left. The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan seems almost autobiographical. Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel - beautifully written, clearly well researched. I am currently reading her A Change of Climate.

Nearly all of you have mentioned novels. But a book which had an important effect on me was Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch. I actually read it while breastfeeding my DS (born 1971) and it made me determined to go on with my profession.
I don't think I turned into a rabid feminist, but I stopped thinking the world - or any man - owed me a living.

Delia Owens “Where the Crawdads Sing” ..... brilliant book

How to be Brave by Louise Beech. One of those books you can't put down, can't wait to finish but then don't want it to end as it is so good. Very cleverly written, linking World War 2 survival story with a child being diagnosed as diabetic and how she and Mum struggle to cope in the present day

coastalgran

The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins. It is one of the first books written after WWII that deals with a man's mental health, a loss of a child, a bedridden wife because of this, an unforgiving mother-in-law, the war, dealing with unrequited love, class and people with disabilities. This is set in Scotland so the description is fabulous yet the story is tragic all because people didn't listen or help.

I like the sound of thatCoastalgran but it does sound sad. Have not long finished "Shuggie Bain" so maybe wait a bit but I think it would be my taste.

The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins. It is one of the first books written after WWII that deals with a man's mental health, a loss of a child, a bedridden wife because of this, an unforgiving mother-in-law, the war, dealing with unrequited love, class and people with disabilities. This is set in Scotland so the description is fabulous yet the story is tragic all because people didn't listen or help.

I found The Outcasts of Time by Ian Mortimer and The Radium Girls by Kate Moore really struck a chord with me and stayed with me long after I had finished them. Also The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Tom's Midnight Garden.

'Many Lives Many Masters' by Dr. Brian Weiss. The true story of a psychiatrist, a young patient, and past-life therapy. This book stays with you and may change everything you believe.

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
Alive by Piers Paul Read

Both set in the Andes and are about the struggle to survive against the odds. Even though I read them both a long time ago they left such an impression I have never forgotten them.

Mrswoo
Absolutely adore The Good Companions.
Would have loved to be part of a concert party.
Shame I haven’t got any talent!

Rosina The Loving Spirit was the first “grown up” book I ever read and I have lost count the number of times I’ve re-read it. I did have quite a few copies that I “rescued” from charity shops and jumble sales but I now only have it on Kindle.
I must confess the last time I read it I found the language just a wee bit “flowery” but it still remains a very unforgettable book.

'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon - I was given this book and had no idea what it was about until I started to read it. Read it right through in one sitting because it fascinated me so much. I'm reminded of it every time I empty the dishwasher and count the bits of cutlery I remove ? I didn't know that was a weird thing to do until my OH said he didn't do it.

Sarah1954, thank you for commenting, good.

A surprising book suggestion is: Barefoot Soldier by Beharry VC, may be enjoyed as a riveting surprise, you may find yourself experiencing being in amongst bullets but doing what you can in spite of, courage and comradeship.

Quite a few of the books mentioned on this thread are in my “unforgettable” list. Notably, A Little Life - which I loved and intend to read again. Birdsong and The Hearts Invisible Furies - I have read both books twice.
I’ve not read the Mitch Albom books mentioned but The Five People you meet in Heaven is another “unforgettable”.

I would add A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson to the list, also Schindlers Ark (or Schindlers List -it’s the same book whatever it’s called) by Thomas Keneally and The Good Companions by J B Priestly because it is describes a lost England “between the wars” and I’ve read it so often that I feel I know the members of the travelling concert party!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Twopence to Cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester: a desperately deprived childhood that haunts me years after having read it, mainly because the author was so non judgemental.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Magic Cottage by James Herbert. I got quite absorbed into what the house was doing and got lost into the 'what ifs'

Another Anita Brookner fan here, so many sad and lonely people.
Carolpaint
I struggled to get into Testament of Youth, the subject was interesting of course, but I found it very dull to read.

We Must Talk About Kevin was something that really hit home. I was in a position where I was being undermined all the time about behaviour from someone who revelled in being the favoured one. Recently, the postnatal depression experienced by the mother which has led to the compromised relationship between mother and son has become more personal too.
When I was a teenager, I read Go Ask Alice which was about a teenager who descended into drug addiction, pulled herself out of it with her parent's help and then died of a drug overdose. It made me really think about the drugs my friends were starting to experiment with and I made a vow that I wouldn't ever, ever touch anything nor would I ever accept it in a partner. Sadly, it never occurred to me that anybody in my family would ever become an addict and although my brother didn't go through the homelessness or destitution in the same way, he did end up in the same position as Alice. I am so glad I read that book and was influenced by it.

'Six Years' by Harlen Cobin. Funny, intriguing, interesting characters, kept you guessing almost to the end. Brilliant.

I am fascinated by the tales of shipwrecks and my most recent and favourite was Michael Palins account of the loss of the nineteenth century HMS EREBUS which has also been a TV series.

Another vote for The Group!
Also for me anything by Anita Brookner. I love the introspection of her characters and her depiction of how lonely people live and feel. Years ago I saw Hotel du Lac on tv with Anna Massey and Denholm Elliot and that prompted me to read all her books.

Many of the aforementioned books made me shudder and will not fill my head with their misery again; but how about Testament of Youth, or Cannery Row plus of course Down and Out in London and Paris. Vera Britten, John Steinbeck and George Orwell respectively.