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Books/book club

Books which one can’t put down, but how to cope with the ‘emptiness’

(76 Posts)
JennyCee Mon 17-Feb-25 09:33:31

“All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. A wonderful book and couldn't stop reading it, but what to do at the end of the book?
Nearing the end of “Riding The Iron Rooster” byPaul Theroux.
the iron rooster is one of the trains he ‘rides’ all over China in 1988 post Mao. Its almost as if he is personally speaking to his reader.

LadyGaGa Wed 19-Feb-25 13:06:02

At the end of The Forsyte Saga series by John Galsworthy. Soames dies and I actually shed a tear. The characters had become part of my life! Same when Rabbit (Harry Angstrom) dies at the end of John Updike’s Rabbit books.
I love a flawed protagonist.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 19-Feb-25 11:54:47

Goldieoldie15

The Cazalets - 5 volumes -
Elizabeth Jane Howard. Unputtable. Wonderful stories and exquisite writing.

Yes I did enjoy them, but weirdly I read the authors life story, and she had quite obviously based the cazalets on that, which somehow lessoned them for me.

But they are still good.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 19-Feb-25 11:53:14

MaizieD

MayBee70

A Thousand Splendid Suns wasn’t an easy read but it was one of those books that made me want to suffer from amnesia so I could read it again for the first time.

I couldn't bear to read it again, it was so harrowing. I even gave away my copy.

I find most fiction unputdownable because I'm always dying to know what happens in the end grin

So agree. It was utterly gripping but utterly harrowing, and I will never re-read it.

Goldieoldie15 Wed 19-Feb-25 10:05:23

The Cazalets - 5 volumes -
Elizabeth Jane Howard. Unputtable. Wonderful stories and exquisite writing.

BlueSapphire Tue 18-Feb-25 20:32:17

The Stand by Stephen King; was unable to put it down.
Also The Far Pavilions by M K Kaye; I love all of her books, mostly set in colonial India; this one starts with the Indian mutiny, and is the love story of a British army officer and an Indian princess who first meet in childhood.

Greyduster Tue 18-Feb-25 18:50:58

Mollygo I read The King Must Die and followed it immediately with The Bull from the Sea, which takes that story forward. It is an exquisite and tragic love story that you can’t fail to be moved by.

mrswoo Tue 18-Feb-25 18:25:48

grannybuy I agree with you about A Little Life, I enjoyed it too - it was both wonderful but harrowing.
I'm another huge fan of Still Life by Sarah Winman. I've read it 3 times and really do miss the characters
each time I finish the book. Years ago I read The Good Companions
by JB Priestly and felt exactly the same way about the characters in
that book too. I always hoped for an update on their lives as I felt so involved with them! It makes me sound a bit strange but I do love a book with a strong "cast" of characters.

grannybuy Tue 18-Feb-25 17:58:39

A Little Life - by Hanya Hanugihara

It seems strange to say I that enjoyed it, as it was harrowing, and I don’t know if I could read it again, but I never once considered giving up on it.

NanKate Tue 18-Feb-25 17:38:59

‘A rip through time’ Kelley Armstrong. Found her by chance a week or so back. I’m usually a slow reader but am now on book 4 and book 5 doesn’t come out till May! They are exciting, funny, macabre with great characters.

It’s a timeslip but 99% is in Victorian Edinburgh.

She is as good a writer as Elly Griffiths imo.

Clawdy Tue 18-Feb-25 17:28:21

Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Such a lovely read.

MayBee70 Tue 18-Feb-25 17:19:45

I’m reading The Dark is Rising. Have been reading children’s fantasy literature as an escape from the horrors of the current news. I was reading up on Mark Twain today and had resolved to read some of his books ( A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of my favourite films).I was surprised to read that, although he was anti imperialism, pro emancipation for women and against slavery, he loathed the Native Americans which has turned me against him somewhat.

Daffonanna Tue 18-Feb-25 17:18:50

I agree Romola , Still life is a beautiful book. It took me a while to get into something else because I wanted more time with all the characters , particularly the parrot! Another is
A terrible kindness Jo Browning Wroe . A book club choice that I almost refused to read because it began with a traumatic historic event of the 1960’s . I would have missed a beautiful life affirming book .

Ktsmum Tue 18-Feb-25 17:10:13

I've recently been re reading some childrens classics, Treaure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Gullivers travels, as a change ftom.more serious novels. I recently read Huckleberry Finn which was darker than expected, but now I've started with more serious novels again, I've nearly finished Wuthering Heights. As I come to the end of a book I always try to have the next one planned, to look forward to.

dogsmother Tue 18-Feb-25 16:45:32

I must find the Abraham Verghese book as I swear Cutting for Stone is my favourite book ever after A Thousand Splendid Suns and Kite Runner.

Romola Tue 18-Feb-25 16:27:40

Most recently, Still Life by Sarah Winman

It's about people finding happiness.

She777 Tue 18-Feb-25 15:45:01

Dragonfly 46
I’ve just read that, I love Evie’s books.

She777 Tue 18-Feb-25 15:43:59

I have a TBR pile so as soon as I finish one I’m on to the next. I’m guilty of getting so engrossed in a book that I’ve stayed up until I’ve finished it…..thats when I know its a good one.

Mollygo Tue 18-Feb-25 15:37:39

The King Must Die by Mary Renault-made me want to read it again. I wonder if Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix will have the same effect. I’m gripped so far.

pascal30 Tue 18-Feb-25 15:35:30

Chocolatelovinggran

I'm with Maybee- A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Kite Runner were so powerful that I felt sad that I had left the characters behind when I closed the books.

I found those incredible and moving too.

Also Any Human Heart.. in fact any William Boyd

I also like any of the biographies of the Monks and Nuns who managed to escape Tibet

Dearknees1 Tue 18-Feb-25 15:19:58

‘The Bronze Horseman’ by Paulina Simmons. Got to to the end then went straight back to the beginning and read it again!

knspol Tue 18-Feb-25 13:36:13

'The City and it's Uncertain Walls' the latest Murakami novel, brilliant, best yet!

MaggsMcG Tue 18-Feb-25 13:35:07

I just start reading another one straight away. Eventually I will start a book that I don't particularly get i to at all and that slows me down a bit. I refuse to give up on reading something I've started. Just recently I've treat myself to some childhood favourites Enid Blyton and Noel Streatfield and they can help me recover from a book I've struggled with. I've also joined a Book Club and the first two books I struggled with but I did finish them.

Hobbs1 Tue 18-Feb-25 13:34:07

Absolutely loved A Thousand Splendid Suns. Not my usual read, but I found it impossible to put down.

Jazzhands Tue 18-Feb-25 13:31:23

With all Elif Shafak's book I had this feeling of emptiness. She takes me to worlds I will never experience irl. I like to alternate more gritty books with lighthearted ones. Can you believe I'm a Granny but have only just started reading Terry Pratchett's books. At bedtime, I try to just read only one chapter at a time so that they last longer ... silly I know.

sundowngirl Tue 18-Feb-25 13:08:05

surfsup

Many, many years ago when I was about 20 I was bereft when I finished Forever Amber.

Me too. I loved that book