UK Book Club discussion

I have quite a few reading challenges to complete and one of them is to read 20 books recommended to me by friends! Kindle or paperback versions. So can you recommend a really good book for me that grips from the first page and doesn't want to let you put it down? I need 20 please!

It really depends what you're into, but I found The Shadow of the Wind totally gripping.

One Day was brilliant.

I loved Delver Magic Book I: Sanctum's Breach by Jeff Inlo You can download the series for free from manyboos.net.

Here's the link http://www.manybooks.net/authors/inlo...

For me The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins were hard to put down. The Mitch Albom is v. short too so imagine that would be helpful if you're reading 20 books!

I loved by Monique Roffey

I have to admit I was disappointed with The Five People You Meet in Heaven I thought the concept was brilliant but it was not unputdownable. I thought No Time for Goodbye was excellent and would highly recommend it and I was pleasantly surprised by the fast paced Jake West: The Keeper of the Stones which I have just completed and reviewed. Have also just started A Game of Thrones which looks as if it's going to be good.

I'm an author Sharon, so I'd obviously suggest my books; but it really depends on what you like to read. have a look at 'stay in Touch', 'Look After Each Other ' and 'Sofia's Legacy' and I'm giving 2 copies of 'Sofia's Legacy' away on the Giveaway page.

As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could definatly be described as 'gripping'.

Susan wrote: "As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could definatly be described as 'gripping'."

I'll second that!

If there is one book I would recommend, it would be Frederick Forsyth's 'Avenger'

I've recommended The London Pigeon Wars by Patrick Neate elsewhere, and I'm happy to do so again! Actually I'd also recommend Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, but people tend to look at me with disgust when I do, so I won't :)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The whole series of these are fantastic thrillers ~I couldn't put down. They are even better than the movies.

Bitter Chocolate Is a story following the lives of two friends as they leave Haiti and their loves and tragedies. Is was an unexpected treasure!

A Million Little Pieces A Million Little Pieces is the true story of one mans battle against addiction. Highly addictive - no pun intended

Zandra wrote: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The whole series of these are fantastic thrillers ~I couldn't put down. They are even better than the movies.

Bitter Chocolate[bookco..."

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is on my shelf at the moment. I haven't read it though. In fact it's not even mine.

But everyone rates it highly. I'm looking across and wondering whether to give it a go...

I was recently gripped by The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, couldn't put it down!

Robert - The series is definitely worth a read - although they are long and very involved, as are most conspiracy theories. They're not for the weak hearted either as there are some really violent chapters.

Littlebearstories wrote: "I was recently gripped by The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, couldn't put it down!"

I have that on my shelves so will have to dget on and read it soon!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Littlebearstories wrote: "I was recently gripped by The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, couldn't put it down!"

I have that on my shelves so will have to dget on and read it soon!"

I definately recommend it. I just got The Lacuna by the same author which I can't wait to get into.

I just read Spying in High Heels - it's not high literature but it's a lot of fun and I read it in one sitting (on a flight). The bonus (and what led me to it) is that it's free on UK Kindle store at the moment :)

Littlebearstories wrote: "Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Littlebearstories wrote: "I was recently gripped by The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, couldn't put it down!"

I have that on my shelves so will have to..."

I have Lacuna too!

On Winsley Hill by Alan Richardson



In Different Skies by Rebecca Wilby

...both thoroughly gripping novels!!!!

Robert wrote: "Zandra wrote: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The whole series of these are fantastic thrillers ~I couldn't put down. They are even better than the movies.

[book:Bitter Chocolate|..."

They are fantastic books. Dragon Tattoo was a little hard to get into for me at first but by the end, I was itching to start the next. Great books.

True Grit by Charles Portis is another gripping read.

I thought the Dragon Tattoo series was great and got better as you went on as the 2nd & 3rd were more about Lisbeth and less about Mikael

Susan wrote: "As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could definatly be described as 'gripping'."

Just spotted this comment. Wow. Really glad you enjoyed it. Gripping, eh? I LIKE that! Maybe you might try my new one Dark Horizons sometime.

Dark Horizons is on my wish list for my birthday - hoping to get some book vouchers from Waterstones so I can get the ebook to go with the other one!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Dark Horizons is on my wish list for my birthday - hoping to get some book vouchers from Waterstones so I can get the ebook to go with the other one!"

I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Dan, I downloaded Dark Horizons to my iPad the day it was published, and will be reading it soon....looking forward to it.

Susan wrote: "Dan, I downloaded Dark Horizons to my iPad the day it was published, and will be reading it soon....looking forward to it."

Fantastic - thanks! Let me know what you think.

Sheneise wrote: "One I found strangely gripping that stayed with me long after I read it was The Road by Cormac McCarthy."

I agree. The Road is a great book.

Just bought The Road and already gagging to read it

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was brilliant, and I loved 2 and 3 even more. As for The Road it was good, but I prefer No Country For Old Men.

Dan wrote: "Susan wrote: "As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could definatly be described as 'gr..."

After an excellent response amongst the group to Dry Season I was excited to find copy whilst rummaging in my local charity shop & will read forthwith!

However it seems to be an 'uncorrected bound manuscript' and talks about distribution to the public as a 'violation of the law'... Will you be sending the rozzers round?? I promise to be nice in my review... :)

Sorry Dan if a charity purchase doesn't boost the royalties, but it was for charity & if suitably gripping I will certainly invest in Dark Horizons.

I'm not quite half way but I'm completely gripped by You're Next, a psychological thriller.

For a YA Novel with a new twist go for this:

Strey wrote: "Dan wrote: "Susan wrote: "As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could definatly be desc..."

Just got off the phone to the rozzers and . . . no, it sounds like you've got hold of a 'bound proof' of the book. There are one or two floating around. The manuscript is bound and sent to reviewers along with a press release before some of the final checks - it means there might be the odd typo, and that it doesn't have the retail cover, but everything else is the same.

Atually someone came along to a signing the other day and asked me to sign a bound proof of Dark Horizons, so here are some of those around, too.

Anyway, it's great to hear that you're reading it and I hope you enjoy it as much as others have!

I've been saying for the past year how good a writer Dan Smith is. Glad to see he's getting some of the accolades he deserves even if he isn't an 'Indie'!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

Here's something completely different, if you like non-fiction and are interested in where we, [the human race] came from, what we are and a load of other profound questions, check out Michael Meacher's book, 'Destination of the Species'.
I met him at the Winchester Writers Conference, and got a copy. I know, oldgeezer reading philosophy takes a bit of believing! It was one of the most, I was going to say gripping books I have ever read. 'Gripping' isn't quite the right word, but I couldn't put the darned thing down! Consequently little has got done around here since I've been home, the wife is glad I've finished it as, according to 'she who will be obeyed' a question has been met with a grunt and 'yeah sure, if that's what you want luv'.
I'm now worried as to what I've agreed to!
It is difficult to describe the book briefly, It starts of in a Steven Hawking style but easier to understand than say, 'A Brief History of Time' and goes on to follow the eventual emergence of man, religion and modern society. It doesn't do the book justice to be so brief, but the conclusions drawn are profound and understandable. So, if you have any interest in 'the greater scheme of things' this is a 'MUST READ', in that respect I suppose you could describe it as 'gripping'.
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

F.A. wrote: "For a YA Novel with a new twist go for this:

Hi FA - you may get a better response if you join in with the group (see Dan and Paul above as good examples) rather than just use the group as a means to post a link to your book and then disappear

Dan wrote: "Strey wrote: "Dan wrote: "Susan wrote: "As the author Dan Smith is a member of U.K. Book Club, I decided to download and read his book
It was very good, and could def..."

Thanks Dan - I'll stop packing the suitcase for a moonlight flit!!

Credit where it's due, it is a fantastic read! I have said in my progress note: Loving this book so far...a sort of Lee Child meets Steinbeck on a Sergio Leone film-set and so much more.

I hope you don't mind comparisons..and I'm not even half way through!

...and when you are an internationally acclaimed author, penning your fiftieth eagerly awaited novel... I will be proud to flourish my "uncorrected bound manuscript proof" always looking behind for the long arm of the law of course!

Glad to hear you're enjoying DRY SEASON, Strey. Let me know how you get on with the rest of it. Maybe I could even persuade you to put a review on?

And that fiftieth novel? I'm looking forward to writing it already!

Dan wrote: "Glad to hear you're enjoying DRY SEASON, Strey. Let me know how you get on with the rest of it. Maybe I could even persuade you to put a review on?

And that fiftieth novel? I'm looking forward to..."

Hi Dan. Have finished it and will do. If the fifitieth is as good as number one, then I shall look forward to that and each one of the 48 in between!

I'll keep on writing 'em even if no one's reading 'em!

Aha! Not sure the publishers will be so indulgent...but I don't think you'll be short of readers - even if it's just the reprobates of the UK Book Club!

Dan wrote: "Glad to hear you're enjoying DRY SEASON, Strey. Let me know how you get on with the rest of it. Maybe I could even persuade you to put a review on?

And that fiftieth novel? I'm looking forward to..."

Review done. Dark Horizons has a lot to live up to!

Thanks very much! I'll stick my neck out and say you'll enjoy Dark Horizons - it's quite different. And just you wait for the next one!

Dan wrote: "Thanks very much! I'll stick my neck out and say you'll enjoy Dark Horizons - it's quite different. And just you wait for the next one!"

You're very welcome. I can't wait!

All books are gripping or we would drop them HEHE!
Sorry very bad joke

The Road really was amazing! I've studied it twice in my educational life so far, and still love it! It's just so rich in imagery, and I love that the cause is never revealed (although apparently the author has commented on it).

Also, I would recommend The Gargoyle, by Andrew Davidson (unless you are particularly squeamish).

JUst read the Gargoyle, it's excellent. Don't think I could watch it, someone gets badly burnt.

Hi, I would have to second the earlier posting regarding Delver Magic, by Jeff Inlo, plus the rest of the series (5books in total) amazing story and added bonus first three currently free on kindle. I would also recommend Trouble in Mudbug, by Jana DeLeon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trouble-Mudbu.... A lovely light reading comical bit of chick-lit mystery. Also free on kindle at the moment.