Please recommend a really engrossing book

[Anonymous]

Hi, I recently received a cancer diagnosis and I’m waiting on more information/appointments. I’m finding that a really engaging book is helping to keep my mind off things. Can you recommend some?

I recently finished the Neapolitan quartet and loved it. I’m in the middle of wolf hall and it’s a struggle. I’m open to anything!

[Anonymous]

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

I'm loving Geraldine Brooks right now. Caleb's Crossing took me to the 1600s. Horse. March. Wonder. Enjoy her expert historical research and stories and you go back in time.

Also, the Maisie Dobbs series. Lovely and engrossing. The first book is the best. Delightful. I sent the whole series (17 books) to my aunt during her cancer treatments (successful by the way), and she enjoyed and loved them.

Sending you support and good wishes for health.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to toss out some random books I personally found grabbed me with descriptions and hope something appeals to you.

Starter Villain - fun quick read about a guy who inherits his uncle's supervillain business

Pompeii - Robert Harris, tells the story of the Pompeii eruption from the perspective of an aqueduct engineer. If this one works for you I'd also recommend his Cicero trilogy. Really brings the Roman setting to life.

The Night Circus - magical duel involving a traveling Circus, very vivid imagery

The Thief Series - Margaret Whalen Turner, technically YA, story of a thief hired to steal something from a fairy tale. Very vivid world building.

Murderbot Series - novellas from the perspective of a sarcastic security robot. First one is All Systems Red

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I will check these out!

[Anonymous]

Second Murderbot. If you like sci fi, fantasy, check out Naomi Novik's takes on old fairy tales: Uprooted and Spinning Silver

Also Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar was engaging (she also wrote Shadow and Bone which I have not read yet). The Familiar is about a Jewess during the Spanish Inquisition

[Anonymous]

Sending you good thoughts! What do you normally like?

Some ideas:
-Piranesi
-Bunny
- The Bright Sword
- The Magicians (first book of trilogy, loved all 3)
- Great Circle

[Anonymous]

Oldie but greatie: Possessiin by AS Byatt

[Anonymous]

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo? I can’t remember the exact title but it was a page turner for me!

[Anonymous]

A book I really loved recently was HORSE by Geraldine Brooks. Partially set in DC at the Smithsonian. But so much more than that.

For something lighter, what about The Wedding People. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

And for even lighter, but uplifting and poignant, I loved How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. I don't even know how I found it. But it made me happy.

[Anonymous]

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

The Czar of Love and Techno, stories by Anthony Marra.

[Anonymous]

Last Hundred Years trilogy by Jane Smiley. Three novels about generations of a midwestern family—I read them all in a week and loved them.

[Anonymous]

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami

Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo

[Anonymous]

Do you like mystery/crime novels? Michael Connelly's books are so so good! There are a couple of series: Harry Bosch, the Lincoln Lawyer, and Renee Ballard. All of the characters intersect.

On a lighter note, Katherine Center writes are very well done romance-ish books. And I love all of Dolly Alderton's books.
Sending good thoughts for your recovery!

[Anonymous]

I’m sending you good vibes! You get a big thumbs up for channeling your anxiety and not letting it overrun you!

My Murder - good mystery. Great if you like or want to reflect on true crime culture. (See also Bright Young Women, but less mystery there.)

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby - if you like British class issues and/or Oxford

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels and the Examiner - great Agatha Christie style whodunnits. Must like the epistolary style, stories are told through documents.

The Centre - very suspenseful, magical realist premise (a mysterious way to magically learn any foreign language) is transporting because it’s removed from everyday life without being full on fantasy.

The Ministry of Time - I remember feeling propelled by this one, but it might have started slow, I can’t remember.

Counterfeit - light but smart, suspenseful

Red Sparrow - dark but engrossing spy thriller. If you like it, there are two sequels.

Something in the Water - good mystery plot, very light read

Thinking of you!