Looking for a new book to read

[yeknomyeknom]

Failing to find inspiration. Just read Girl in the Read Coat, that was ok. Liked Girl on the Train. Loved Gone Girl. Actually prefer books set in Amaerica, a bit of escapism. Anyone read anything excellent and not too intellectual or depressing recently?

[Bellenden Belle]

Peter Swanson - The Kind worth killing.

Great American escapism - very much in a league with Gone Girl and not as domestic as Girl on the Train which left me feeling a bit grubby, I think partly due to its London/ suburbs setting.

[yeknomyeknom]

Well bb I agree with your summation of girl on a train so I think your recommendation will suit. Thanks!

[Mustard]

Have you read any Anne Tyler? Ladder of Years, and the Accidental Tourist I particularly liked.

Also Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries and Happenstance amongst others.

Lorrie Moore, writes short stories but some novels, inc. Who will run the frog hospital?

Emily Prager - A Visit from the Footbinder, is a collection of short stories, but check out her novels. Lots available for 1 pence on Amazon.

Bobbie Ann Mason - In Country

Josephine Humphreys - The Fireman's Fair, Rich in Love, Dreams of Sleep.

[suzplum]

I just finished reading Mrs Hemingway which I really enjoyed :)

[Crokes]

The Rosie Project is very entertaining (a rom-com in a book), I thought it was brilliant.

[sanity girl]

The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - set in New York in the 1930s - quite F Scott Fitzgerald-esque

Also the Paris Wife by Paula McLain - a fictionalised account of Ernest Hemingway's first marriage from his wife's point of view

[Lochie]

If you like American literature then you might like Curtis Sittenfeld - her books are real page turners - I especially loved American Wife and Sisterland.

Just finished reading Brooklyn by Colm Toibin which is beautifully written and has a lot of focus on a young Irish girl's life in New York in the 1950s (if you haven't seen the recent film!). It is a very gentle book and a little bit sad so probably not best if you want something uplifting, but I would still recommend it...

If you can brave 900 pages then Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch is amazing.

Joyce Carol Oates 'The Falls' is riveting and again a page turner...

[Bellenden Belle]

Lochie Wrote:

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> If you like American literature then you might

> like Curtis Sittenfeld - her books are real page

> turners - I especially loved American Wife and

> Sisterland.

This, a hundred times over. Absolutely love Sittenfeld (new one out in May this year - I'm counting) and yes, those two are particularly good.

[Dodo1]

The Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling) books are excellent! Just started the latest one and her/his knowledge of London is excellent. Feel sorry for the residents of Catford- that's all i will say!

[tomskip]

Not set in the US but my favourite book of last year was The House I Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell. A page-turning family novel (not a thriller) but just wonderfully constructed with absolutely believable characters and a fast paced storyline. Fantastic portrait of a dysfunctional family. But not depressing, just intriguing and engaging.

[KestonKid]

Tyler, Shields and Moore are wonderful. But add Alison Lurie to the list. Foreign Affairs is terrific.

[Mustard]

KestonKid Wrote:

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> Tyler, Shields and Moore are wonderful. But add

> Alison Lurie to the list. Foreign Affairs is

> terrific.

Yes, agree. Fun to discover all her books.

[KestonKid]

Loved Carol Shields's Larry's Party. It was the book of the year for many critics back in whenever it was, and re-reading it the other day I was as mesmerised as ever.

[lillyanginger]

I just read and absolutely loved loved loved 'All the lights we can not see' by Anthony Doerr. Beautifully written!

[Mustard]

Elinor Lipman's books. The first one I read was The Inn at Lake Devine. She has published many books.... The Way Men Act is another good one.

Also, A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley. Enjoyed the movie too.

[LouLouMoving]

Love that moment when you can't wait to return to your book!

I second the Goldfinch by Donna Tart.

A bit depressing and dark at times but one I couldn't put down last year was A Little Life.

For something very casual and light which you can dip into I'd recommend by current read, Caitlin Moran 'How to be a Woman' which is pretty darn hilarious.

[LVWT]

Kate Atkinsons two most recent have been good...life after life and a God in ruins.

The minaturist by Jesse Burton (maybe) has gone down well with lots of people.

[yeknomyeknom]

Ok, have read Peter Swanson - The Kind worth killing as recommended by bellenden belle. It's good. So if you are looking for something akin to the first books I mention, it fits.

Lots of lovely recommendations on here but I'm not sure if they are people's fave books or books similar to the sort I like. Regardless it's nice to have a thread about the books we enjoy. Any more recommendations for books like gone e kind worth killing etc much appreciated.

[KestonKid]

Quite a number of recommendations for "Books set in America" as requested though!

[Jessie]

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie had me gripped over Christmas. Also a book called The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens was perhaps one of the best books I read last year - I literally couldn't put it down: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22856128-the-mountain-story

Edited to say another huge favourite of mine in 2015 was A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - it's massive, and it's very, very dark but by god, it swallowed me whole.

[yeknomyeknom]

Yes. I meant books of the type I like, set in America. The family thread is often kinder than the others re specifics so I was lax. Will do better next time. Thanks Keston Kid.

KestonKid Wrote:

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> Quite a number of recommendations for "Books set

> in America" as requested though!