I'm in the mood for some proper escapism fiction, the kind of book that you burn through because it has you so hooked.

The last great book I read was 11.22.63 by Stephen King. For me it's up there with his best, and I read it in a few days

What's the last book that did that for you?

Try the Ben Hope series by Scott Mariani.

Unputdownable.

Something to Live For by Richard Roper. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Something-Live ... 1409185591

Funny, moving, nostalgic, a real page turner.

A man tells a 'little white lie' that he has to live with.

I'm sure this will be made into a film soon.

GandalfsBeard wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:24 pm

I'm in the mood for some proper escapism fiction, the kind of book that you burn through because it has you so hooked.

The last great book I read was 11.22.63 by Stephen King. For me it's up there with his best, and I read it in a few days

What's the last book that did that for you?

Love that book. King’s best for me.

Just read The Evening and The Morning by Ken Follett. It’s the fourth novel in the Kingsbridge series (Pillars of the Earth) was the first and they’re all excellent historical fiction.

Broken Hero - by Mike Smith.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Highly recommended. Also just read Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier, a bit intense but I enjoyed it.

If you've not read it before, I would also suggest The Sea The Sea by Iris Murdoch. One of her best.

I’m loving Don Winslow at the moment. I’m on the final book of his cartel series at the moment which is more of an epic than a page turner. The Force was a real page turner though, crime fiction about a corrupt NYPD detective.

I’d say it’s his immersive style of writing which really gets me hooked as much as the storylines.

I've got through a shedload since March when lockdown started."A Man Called Ove" is a great read, especially for people on the wrong side of 50! I also really loved "All the Light We Cannot See" and "Mudbound", but my all time favourite is still "The Devil All the Time" (avoid the recently made film as with most such films it doesn't do the book any justice!)
P.S."The Devil's Sanctuary" is good too!

Barnaby Rudge. Not one of Dickens most famous but its fast moving and there are numerous twists in the plot.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:38 pm

Try the Ben Hope series by Scott Mariani.

Unputdownable.

Yes, they are very good

Mick Herron - the Slough House/Jackson Lamb series - there's about 10 of them - you can read them in any order still equally enjoyable as going first to last

Kind of M15 meets The Sweeney - very well and intelligently written

Does everyone use GoodReads? It’s like the IMDB for books and is perfect for adding books to your ‘to read’ bookshelf. I’ve added a few of the recommendations on here so thanks!

“BFC TRANSFER NEWS SUMMER 2020(MUST CONTAIN LINK)”

Slow to start, picked up in the middle, fizzled out towards the end.

Not sure the sequel penned for January will be worth reading.

ClaretEngineer wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:45 pm

“BFC TRANSFER NEWS SUMMER 2020(MUST CONTAIN LINK)”

Slow to start, picked up in the middle, fizzled out towards the end.

Not sure the sequel penned for January will be worth reading.

The epilogue hasn’t been written. Don’t write it off yet.

GandalfsBeard wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:24 pm

The last great book I read was 11.22.63 by Stephen King. For me it's up there with his best, and I read it in a few days

I'm not doubting you or anything but how the hell is that possible? According to Amazon the paperback is 752 pages?

Conn Iggulden, really enjoyed his books but thought the Emperor series and Conqueror series excellent, with Genghis Khan & beyond, in the Conqueror series was the best, not a last page turner but a "I can't wait to start the next book in the series read".

I have never used GoodReads but will have a look thank you.

If you haven't read The Imajica by Clive Barker then give it a go.

It's his personal favourite of all the books he's written, and it's top 2 for my personal favourites.

Don't know what got me there but working my way through the Wallender books, surprisingly good reading, a bit like Rebus.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Still read it every year or so, great film... I read the whole thing when I was about 18 in a day

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:53 pm

I’m loving Don Winslow at the moment. I’m on the final book of his cartel series at the moment which is more of an epic than a page turner. The Force was a real page turner though, crime fiction about a corrupt NYPD detective.

I’d say it’s his immersive style of writing which really gets me hooked as much as the storylines.

I've just finished them as well. Was a bit disappointed with the last one tbh. Felt like there was almost too many characters and too much going on to keep up with in the end.
I agree that the Force is a brilliant read though, couldn't put it down. One of the best things I've read in a long time.

The undead series R Haywood

EarbyClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:25 pm

Mick Herron - the Slough House/Jackson Lamb series - there's about 10 of them - you can read them in any order still equally enjoyable as going first to last

Kind of M15 meets The Sweeney - very well and intelligently written

You beat me to it. I loved this set of books

Spiral wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:49 pm

I'm not doubting you or anything but how the hell is that possible? According to Amazon the paperback is 752 pages?

Ha I'm not normally that quick but I had a week off work and just got completely sucked in. The chapters are quite short and there's always a hook to keep you moving on, so it was gone before I knew it.

Another vote from me for Mick Herron's Slough House series.....starting with Slow Horses these are great books, intelligent, well-plotted and very funny at times too via the dialogue and descriptions. Charles Cummings is another good espionage writer and, of course, there is the master..John Le Carre.
Also a fan of Don Winslow who has been mentioned above...The Winter of Frankie Machine and California Fire and Life are two great books of his which haven't been mentioned, both of which I "burned" through. The Cartel series is a touch brutal !
Ian Rankin's Rebus books have got better and better as he has gone on and George Pelecanos is a great American thriller writer with a social conscience...he is to writing what Springsteen is to music.

Best book I have read this year has been The English Passengers by Matthew Kneale.....not the sort of thing I'd normally read as it's set in the 19th Century and concerns a voyage of exploration to Tasmania to "find" the Garden of Eden. Might not sound tempting based on that description but it's an absolutely great read and educational too.

V2 by Robert Harris.
Listened on Audible so no pages were turned but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Spiral wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:49 pm

I'm not doubting you or anything but how the hell is that possible? According to Amazon the paperback is 752 pages?

In fairness my wife read it recently and she did exactly the same. Said it was absolutely brilliant, couldn't put it down and was through it in no time. Despite her entreating me to read it I haven't started as yet because I can't lift it!!

One-Two-Three-Four by Craig Brown. It’s a collection of short stories about the Beatles from people around them.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:27 am

I've just finished them as well. Was a bit disappointed with the last one tbh. Felt like there was almost too many characters and too much going on to keep up with in the end.
I agree that the Force is a brilliant read though, couldn't put it down. One of the best things I've read in a long time.

I’ve enjoyed the third one so far but I’m only about a third of the way through. The series has been a little too long to describe as a page turner. I also preferred The Force, which had me far more invested. As did The Winter of Frankie Machine and his latest book Broken.

Spiral wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:49 pm

I'm not doubting you or anything but how the hell is that possible? According to Amazon the paperback is 752 pages?

It's not difficult tbh when a book is that good, I've read that one and it's so engrossing that you won't want to do anything else.

I've read bigger books in a similar timescale.

tarkys_ears wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:08 am

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Still read it every year or so, great film... I read the whole thing when I was about 18 in a day

Very good book. Have you tried the other Bill Bryson books, they're pretty good too?

They are absolute nonsense, but for an easy read, you can't go wrong with the Jack Reacher books, just suspend disbelief.

KateR wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:49 pm

Conn Iggulden, really enjoyed his books but thought the Emperor series and Conqueror series excellent, with Genghis Khan & beyond, in the Conqueror series was the best, not a last page turner but a "I can't wait to start the next book in the series read".

I have never used GoodReads but will have a look thank you.

Have read a few on Conn Iggulden books( a work colleague used to call him Colin Ignorant), if you enjoyed those try Simon scarrow eagles series of books, if you haven’t already, Ben Kane and Robert Fabri are very good as well

agree with darkcloud .....all the light we cannot see by anthony doerr ..also max wolfe trilogy by tony parsons .....the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafon

Conroysleftfoot wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 8:58 am

Very good book. Have you tried the other Bill Bryson books, they're pretty good too?

Yeah all of them. Notes from a Small Island is my 2nd or joint favourite.

The non-travel ones are interesting but can be a bit tedious

Boardroom Bruiser by C.Holt

Bigvince wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:20 am

Have read a few on Conn Iggulden books( a work colleague used to call him Colin Ignorant), if you enjoyed those try Simon scarrow eagles series of books, if you haven’t already, Ben Kane and Robert Fabri are very good as well

thank you, will have a look

I'm another who's read loads since March I suggest Tombland by CJ Samson the latest in the excellent Shardlake series alas maybe the last one as the author is sadly terminally ill.Also one I acquired by having a job lot of books dropped on my doorstep the Devil's own by Gary Douglas Killworth the first in another series of books set in the Crimean war with a main character called Sergeant (Fancy Jack) Crossman proper boys own stuff and not something I would normally read but I will be hunting the rest of the series out

I've always read a fair bit, but have read an awful lot more since March 23rd. I've just taken a picture of my "read" pile(s) since that date, but I've no idea how to post it.

I've got through a few! All these since March 23rd!!

Erasmus wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:44 pm

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Highly recommended. Also just read Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier, a bit intense but I enjoyed it.

I read the flight of the falcon by du maurier during lockdown and enjoyed that - as i usually do her writing. The book I most enjoyed in the last 12 months, though, was probably "Christmas pudding" by Nancy Mitford. Never thought I'd read anything written by her in my life, but it was a lovely diversion for the winter break.
I enjoy a lot of those British library murder mystery types to relax, currently have graham Norton's holding on the go on the middle floor and a lengthy tome on organic chemistry on the top floor.

Technically two books, but The Blade Artist & Dead Men's Troosers by Irvine Welsh.

Frank Begbie...

Bigvince wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:20 am

Have read a few on Conn Iggulden books( a work colleague used to call him Colin Ignorant), if you enjoyed those try Simon scarrow eagles series of books, if you haven’t already, Ben Kane and Robert Fabri are very good as well

Definitely recommend the Scarrow books!
Very engrossing.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:27 am

I've just finished them as well. Was a bit disappointed with the last one tbh. Felt like there was almost too many characters and too much going on to keep up with in the end.
I agree that the Force is a brilliant read though, couldn't put it down. One of the best things I've read in a long time.

I'd agree with that, the third book just felt unnecessary and seemed more written to express his views on current politics.

I know it’s a bit off topic and the book is not really for adults, but a customer of mine has just had a book published. So any of you with kids or grandkids or even great grandkids, the book is called Stuck in Time and the Author is Dave Johnson, as I said, it is for children. Has almost a five star review.

Dave is a top bloke, unfortunately he is a Liverpool fan, but don’t hold that against him.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48686

This.

Couldn't turn the pages quickly enough

Mystery and imagination by lurker and Perry ..

The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie.

Just finished the 8th book in the universe.

Has anyone tried Lord of the Rings? I'm not the most avid of readers and I am finding it tough. I struggle to focus with all of the landscape descriptions but at the same time I can't stop! I am just starting book three of 6 (or at least that's how my version is broken down)