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Hello everyone,

 

the past two or three years, I've noticed how few really good books I've read. I have no idea why this is and was wondering if any of you could help me. I'm looking for books like:

 

- Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides)

- The Collector (John Fowler)

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
- Special Topics in Calamity Physics (Marisha Pessl)

- The Casual Vacancy (JK Rowling)

- White Teeth (Zadie Smith)

- Room (Emma Donoghue)

- The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)

- Mailman (J. Robert Lennon)

- The Journal of Dora Damage (Belinda Starling)

- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer)

 

If any of these books remind you of other books in the same style/genre you've enjoyed, please let me know! Also welcome are any books to do with libraries or love for books.

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I realise it's a tough crowd, but I'm not necessarily looking for books better than that (if those exist) - just books in that kind of genre. I think I'm generally so tired of reading mediocre to downright bad books that I really want to find a gem again.

 

I've heard so many good things about "The Shadow of the Wind" - I'll definitely give it a go! Is that part of a trilogy?

Edited by Alexander the Great
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I realise it's a tough crowd, but I'm not necessarily looking for books better than that (if those exist) - just books in that kind of genre. I think I'm generally so tired of reading mediocre to downright bad books that I really want to find a gem again.

 

I see... This is getting very interesting! :) I mean, it seems like we have a rather similar consensus of what constitutes a great read...

 

I've heard so many good things about "The Shadow of the Wind" - I'll definitely give it a go! Is that part of a trilogy?

 

It is the first book in a trilogy, but when I read the book, there weren't any sequels to it yet. So you can most definitely read it as a stand alone book :yes: It's one of my most favorite reads ever! :wub:

Edited by frankie
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  • 4 weeks later...

If you enjoyed Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, then you could try The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.  I read these two quite close together and remarked on how they had a similar feel to their writing, and then found out later that they are actually husband and wife which struck me as an odd coincidence!

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Apart from Three Kings- One Throne that I am delecting myself with, can anyone recommend any good novels ? Frankie ?

 

What kind of novels are you looking for? :shrug::)

 

 

chesilbeach, I'll definitely put that one on the list. Many thanks for the suggestion :)

 

I've finally my hands on Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" and I have to say it's a great way to start 2014!

 

That's a great novel :yes: A great start for the year indeed! :D

 

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Because I've loved these

 

- Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides)

- The Collector (John Fowler)

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)

- Room (Emma Donoghue)

And really enjoyed these

 

- The Casual Vacancy (JK Rowling)

- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer)

And because three of the other novels on your list are on my wishlist, I couldn't help but be drawn to this thread again. I'm now taking the liberty of going through my own personal recommendations list and I will give you the very best of the best -list, which you can mull over and think about, if you like.

 

 

Irvine Welsh: Trainspotting

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities

Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse Five

Donna Tartt: The Secret History

Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

Patrick Süskind: Perfume

Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Shadow of the Wind

Sarah Waters: Fingersmith

Mark Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Vikas Swarup: Q&A

Michel Faber: Under the Skin

Garth Stein: The Art of Racing in the Rain

Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird

Michael Chabon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Dai Sijie: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

William Goldman: The Marathon Man

Alex Garland: The Beach

David Mitchell: Black Swan Green

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And because three of the other novels on your list are on my wishlist, I couldn't help but be drawn to this thread again. I'm now taking the liberty of going through my own personal recommendations list and I will give you the very best of the best -list, which you can mull over and think about, if you like.

 

 

Irvine Welsh: Trainspotting

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities

Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse Five

Donna Tartt: The Secret History

Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

Patrick Süskind: Perfume

Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Shadow of the Wind

Sarah Waters: Fingersmith

Mark Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Vikas Swarup: Q&A

Michel Faber: Under the Skin

Garth Stein: The Art of Racing in the Rain

Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird

Michael Chabon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Dai Sijie: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

William Goldman: The Marathon Man

Alex Garland: The Beach

David Mitchell: Black Swan Green

 

Thank you so much for this list! I actually own a few of them, and a couple I've read. 

 

I own:

Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five

Donna Tartt - The Secret History

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Shadow of the Wind

Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

 

I've read:

Patrick Süskind - Perfume

Sarah Waters - Fingersmith (a couple of times, actually)

Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

 

So I hope I'll enjoy reading:

Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five

Donna Tartt - The Secret History

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Shadow of the Wind

Irvine Welsh - Trainspotting

Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities

Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair

Vikas Swarup - Q & A

Michael Faber - Under the Skin

Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the Rain

Michael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Dai Sijie - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

William Goldman - The Marathon Man

Alex Garland - The Beach

David Mitchell - Black Swan Green

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thank you so much for this list! I actually own a few of them, and a couple I've read.

I've read:

Patrick Süskind - Perfume

Sarah Waters - Fingersmith (a couple of times, actually)

Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

Did you enjoy these books? Just to get an idea if my suggestions are the kind of thing you're looking for.

 

 

So I hope I'll enjoy reading:

Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five

Donna Tartt - The Secret History

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Shadow of the Wind

Irvine Welsh - Trainspotting

Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities

Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair

Vikas Swarup - Q & A

Michael Faber - Under the Skin

Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the Rain

Michael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Dai Sijie - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

William Goldman - The Marathon Man

Alex Garland - The Beach

David Mitchell - Black Swan Green

I hope so, too! :D:readingtwo:

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