Amira Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm looking for a good book. The type that sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn't let you stop till you've finished the whole thing at 2 AM. What are your favorites like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Books I have read in the past few years that I could not put down........ The Spellman Files (Lisa Lutz) - the whole series is fabulous The Nevada Barr series Anne Perry's William Monk series Feed (Mira Grant) The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom (Christopher Healy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Night Film by Marisha Pessl. Psychological thriller--completely sucked me in and would not let go. Not my usual genre, but insanely good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 wow..it's been a long time since I read a book that grabbed me from the very beginning. I had a few that captured me after a chapter or two and then I couldn't put down...but nothing that was as fast and furious as that. I'm going to follow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Not everyone's taste, but I recently read Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. It's the sequel to The Shining. The main reason it was so interesting to me was that the character is a recovering alcoholic, and there's a lot of 12 Step stuff interwoven in the story. I hadn't known that SK is a recovering alcoholic, and was an active one when he wrote The Shining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Timebound recently sucked me in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink&bluemommy Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I think anytime there is a book thread I recommend these, but Edenbrooke and Blackmoore both by Julianne Donaldson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Pretty much anything by Brandon Sanderson. I am a huge Sanderfan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I've read two books in the past year that grabbed me at the beginning and didn't let go - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Now, neither one was a feel-good-at-the-end-of-the-story kind of book, but I just HAD to keep reading and find out what was going to happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series - Still Life is the first in the series. My favorite series of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The Golem and the Jinni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki Both of these recently made me a very tired person at work because I'd stayed up too late reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Not everyone's taste, but I recently read Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. It's the sequel to The Shining. The main reason it was so interesting to me was that the character is a recovering alcoholic, and there's a lot of 12 Step stuff interwoven in the story. I hadn't known that SK is a recovering alcoholic, and was an active one when he wrote The Shining. Speaking of Stephen King...many years ago I read The Green Mile. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I believe it was written as a serial novel, so the chapter ending were written as cliff-hangers intended to keep us reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 If You Find Me http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Find-Me-Novel/dp/1250033276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409797933&sr=8-1&keywords=if+you+find+me Just finished this one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Books I have read in the past few years that I could not put down........ The Spellman Files (Lisa Lutz) - the whole series is fabulous The Nevada Barr series Anne Perry's William Monk series Feed (Mira Grant) The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom (Christopher Healy) I'd like to add to Anne Perry's "William Monk" series the "Thomas and Charlotte Pitt" series. I also have a great time reading and rereading the Amelia Peabody series. The one with everything, suspense, clever humor, romance and a good ending is "He shall thunder in the sky." But if you have not read the other ones, you need to start at the beginning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kidlets4me Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 What Alice Forgot I read that in about 6 hours. Another vote for Life After Life as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Unbroken. (Biography of Louis Zamperlini) The Help. I finally read it, was a good, quick read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Unbroken. (Biography of Louis Zamperlini) You beat me to it. I stayed up all night to finish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Summer Book by Tove Jannsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Not everyone's taste, but I recently read Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. It's the sequel to The Shining. The main reason it was so interesting to me was that the character is a recovering alcoholic, and there's a lot of 12 Step stuff interwoven in the story. I hadn't known that SK is a recovering alcoholic, and was an active one when he wrote The Shining. It's been a long time since I've read any King, but I really thought that nobody made it out of the end of The Shining. So I'm wondering how there's a sequel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose in BC Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 You beat me to it. I stayed up all night to finish it. Yup Unbroken. Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The last thing that really sucked me in was The Goldfinch. The book that I think of as having epically sucked me in was A Suitable Boy, which I started on a plane ride back from Asia and was so into that I had to keep reading for like three days even though I was epically jetlagged. I read a lot of YA and I find it's often light, finish fast and quick, which is one of the nice things about it... In the last couple of years, Code Name Verity sucked me in. And also Fangirl. And The Fault in Our Stars, though there's no one who hasn't read that yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripley Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. The boys are strong readers, competitive athletes history buffs, and from military families. It sounds right up their alleys, but the more negative reviews said the book got wordy and long-winded. My question is more about the writing style. I know they'll love the background and story. Thank you for the recommendation - I always get great ideas from these kinds of threads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Anything by Barbara Kingsolver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Seconding The Golem and the Jinni. Also The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin, The Foundling's Tale series, Steelheart, and - no laughing - The Rise of Renegade X, which is even more embarrassing when you consider the fact that I stayed up past 2 reading it despite having read it easily half a dozen times before. That book contrives to be a lot better than you expect! (Seriously, no comments on that last one unless they're positive. This is confessional time, right? No judgment?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I could not put down Dee Henderson's O'Malley series books. Literally standing at the stove cooking with the book in one hand and stirring spoon in the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 These are all non-fiction -- the (only) 3 books I've literally stayed up all night reading b/c I couldn't put them down: Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt We Die Alone, by David Howarth Peace Child, by Don Richardson (he spoke at our church, and you could have heard a PIN drop) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I second The Help and Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, my son devours his books so I imagine they're all like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I find it hard to put down any of my Amish fiction. My mom was super into that for awhile, care to share your favorite author? I think I may give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Giving up the Ghost, by Hilary Mantel. It's her autobiography. It's a beautiful picture of a (not entirely beautiful) childhood, followed by a completely horrifying description of the mismanagement of her medical condition (because she was a silly woman and must be imagining her symptoms, or must be mentally ill) leading to over a decade of extreme pain. During which she became an author. Extraordinary. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. The boys are strong readers, competitive athletes history buffs, and from military families. It sounds right up their alleys, but the more negative reviews said the book got wordy and long-winded. My question is more about the writing style. I know they'll love the background and story. Thank you for the recommendation - I always get great ideas from these kinds of threads! I didn't notice anything wrong with the writing style, I was too in to the story for that. Perhaps those readers just aren't as much into biography/history/military in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. The boys are strong readers, competitive athletes history buffs, and from military families. It sounds right up their alleys, but the more negative reviews said the book got wordy and long-winded. My question is more about the writing style. I know they'll love the background and story. Thank you for the recommendation - I always get great ideas from these kinds of threads! Yes! Your boys would love it. The main character just died recently, this summer I believe. It covers a lot of the classic POW story that other books do not, such as the post-release ramifications on his mental health. Really worth it for that alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 It's been a long time since I've read any King, but I really thought that nobody made it out of the end of The Shining. So I'm wondering how there's a sequel? Spoiler Alert for The Shining Danny and his mom both survive. Dr. Sleep is about a grown up Danny. I really, really loved it. Some of my friends wonder how I can read King--I think I kinda gloss over the horrific parts and just glean the redemptive parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. The boys are strong readers, competitive athletes history buffs, and from military families. It sounds right up their alleys, but the more negative reviews said the book got wordy and long-winded. My question is more about the writing style. I know they'll love the background and story. Thank you for the recommendation - I always get great ideas from these kinds of threads! I thought it was well written. It's just looooong. Also thought of another one I liked recently: These Broken Stars. It's a YA sci-fi romance survival story. What's not to love? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. My sons enjoyed this book immensely. They were 15 or 16 yo and older when they read it. It might be too much for a 12 yo. I'd say it's more appropriate for the mid to late teens. You could pre-read since so much depends on the individual child, and you know your own child. I'm another who couldn't put it down. eta: This is interesting -- a young adult version. I'd not seen this before. (eta again: I guess I hadn't seen it because it's not out yet.) http://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-Young-Adult-Adaptation-Olympians-ebook/dp/B00JNQIYGY/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409836436&sr=1-16&keywords=unbroken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I recently read the autobiography I Wish I Could Say I Was Sorry, and honestly could not put it down. It is about the British author's growing up years in Kenya, and all the craziness she endured. http://www.amazon.com/Wish-Could-Say-Was-Sorry/dp/1484955951/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409840758&sr=1-1&keywords=wish+i+could+say+i+was+sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Unbroken. (Biography of Louis Zamperlini) The Help. I finally read it, was a good, quick read. Unbroken, the movie, is coming out on Christmas Day. I think it looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Coast Sue Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I loved Unbroken too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Thank you for the early Christmas gift! This thread is awesome! Did I ever mention that I LOVE books recommended by home school moms??? If you like YA romance The Breathing Series If you like post apocalyptic Wool For memoirs Wild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Unbroken. (Biography of Louis Zamperlini) The Help. I finally read it, was a good, quick read. Both excellent and ones I had to finish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apennieformythoughts Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The Red Tent by Anita Diamant- I just read this book recently, and DEVOURED it. It tells the story of Jacob's daughter Dinah, but it is really a fascinating look at women in ancient history and how powerful we really are. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King- I second the recommendation for this. I don't classify the sequel as a horror novel, it seems so much more deeper than that. Scary things happen, but it's really more about the ghosts of our past and how we battle them. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult- I will admit that Jodi Picoult is my favorite author. I don't know why. She just is. I've read every single one of her books, but this story of a Nazi war criminal living in our midst and how they want to make amends was very powerful to me. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley- What can I say? I just love this book. I've read it so many times I've lost count. The story draws me in from the first page, and also stemmed my love affair with the movie "Merlin." Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers- I don't read much Christian fiction, and I haven't liked any other books of Francine Rivers, but I love this book. Maybe it's because I can relate to how the main character feels about herself, and what it's like to have that mindset, that lot in life. I couldn't put it down. New York by Edward Rutherford- Another book I couldn't put down. This book tells the story of New York from the 1600's when the fur trade was alive and well all the way to modern times. It starts and ends with a Native American belt, and it's amazing how the author weaves and connects the story together. None of these books are short, so it probably would take more than a day to read them. But they are all books that have a permanent spot on my shelf (I do try to pare down books at times, by bringing some to the half price bookstore or donating them) and that I actually have read over and over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Reading Daniel Silva's The Heist right now and I have been waiting impatiently through this school day til the kids are in bed and I can read. Page-turner for sure. Seconding Code Name Verity. Found myself dwelling on it for quite some time afterwards. The next book is good too. Can't remember the name of it right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 So Far Away The Yellow House Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApronMama Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr For fun, the Vish Puri detective stories by Tarquin Hall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I'm in the midst of a historical fiction phase at the moment, I just listened to an audiobook called A Mad, Wicked Folly about a young woman in Edwardian England who gets involved with the suffragists. It's marketed as a YA novel, I think. I got so into it that I resented having to sleep or work, because I really just wanted to keep listening. After finishing it on my drive home today, I went immediately to my computer to look up more books by the author, only to discover that this is her first novel. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite book of last year was Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Just read this and LOVED it, and it is fairly short. It could easily be consumed in a few hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I want everyone who reads something recommended on this thread to report back in a month or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I adore A Suitable Boy and never have heard anyone mention it! I was speaking in rhyming couplets for weeks after reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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