Hello!

I need advice, please.

I am an avid reader and I am going through some tough times and want something to read that will grab me and really not let me put it down.

I tried and bought new, The Last Surgeon, and that didn't do it.  I prefer books without vile language.  I've read all of Val McDermid's books and Jean Auel's many times.  I am reading the life of Ingrid Bergman now.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Barbara, I'm going to recommend 2 books I discovered through PBS, so maybe you know of them... Water for  Elephants, and Ahab's Wife. Both are enthralling. Ahab's Wife is long, & you never want it to end. I checked your wish list & think you will love it.

Happy Reading.

I'm not Barbara (obviously!), but the thought of a book that would "carry me away" sounds awfully appealing right now! I read Water For Elephants and adored it. I just ordered Ahab's Wife...so thanks for suggesting it.

Barbara...I can't recommend Water For Elephants highly enough!

Carole

Barbara..The Help....Those Who Save Us....Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt are ones that come to mind for me..All real page turners!!!

Due to multiple recommendations by PBS members I read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins last night.  I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done.  I was even reading at long stoplights!  I know it has a long wishlist but I got it from the library and hopefully will be out sometime soon in paperback.  It is YA but didn't really come across as YA nor am I really someone who reads much of that.  It is probably characterized as a post-apocalyptic novel.  I am waiting on the second one in the trilogy from the library now!  

May I recommend The Physician by Noah Gordon.   Another book that grabs you and doesn't let go is Shogun by James Clavell.  If you haven't read these, they are great and absorbing reads.

I second Pamela's "The Physician".  It takes place in 1035 and is engrossing and you don''t want it to end.  I am now reading "Shaman" the second book in the series.  Great reads.

Water for Elephants. The Help, and Those Who Save Us are all excellent!

I don't know if it is your type of thing or not; when I want a book to take me away like calgon, I tend to choose books that transport me to a very differant setting, a differant time and place. I love the No. One Ladies Detective Agency of Botswana Africa for this reason, but it is a more relaxing read, for me anyway, than a grabbing one.

the last book that grabbed me that hard was The Secrets of Jin-shei by Alma Alexander. I checked it out from the library. It is a great book for that kind of excape because it is so long. I had to check it out till I used up my renewals, take it back and do it again and I still wasn't finished, and then I MOVED, and couldn't find it in my new library, so I ordered it from here! I truly loved it, though.

Beyond the sea of Ice- The First Americans.- Sarabande.  The story is set in the Ice Age and tells the story of a clan of the first americans.  This is a series of books that I loved.  I saw that you read Jean Auel's books and these are similar.  There are at least seven books in the series.

The Widow's War by Sally Gunning. Historical fiction.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I did not want to put the book down. You will be carried away to an English Channel island called Guernsey. The odd name of the book made we think twice about reading it, but the story behind the name is really clever and the entire book is an enjoyable, quick read. One warning, the entire book is composed of correspondence via letters to and from the characters, but I loved this writing style in this book.

The Woman in White by Wilke Collins. Unbelievable.

Got to agree with Karen.  I work in a bookstore & recommend Guernsey Literary... to anyone who asks for a good book to read.  Danger: you will want to visit Guernsey when you are done.

 Also John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany. It's been around for a while but still one of my favorites.

Hello!  I'm new to this forum, but I have a few books that I just couldn't put down.  They are:

1.  Don't cry it's only thunder.  This will make you cry, but it is a true story of one soldier's experiences in Vietnam.

2.  The Admiral's Daughter - Hard to find, but it is by Victoria Fydrova(or something like that) great story about a love story in WWII between an American soldier and a famous Russian actress and their daughter's life.

3.  Not Without My Daughter - Betty Mahmoody.  Great Book!!  Recent history and one woman's courageous fight to get out of Iran with her daughter.

4.  Jane Eyre - Charoltte Bronte-.  Just about everything is perfect with this one.  Who doesn't love the poor tragic dark Mr. Rochester? *SIGH* Read this then watch the Masterpiece Theatre adaptation with Toby Stephens. (I cry EVERY TIME)

Edited to correct the umlaut that won't show up on Bronte

THE WOMAN IN WHITE by Wilkie Collins

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White.  Following conviction for bank fraud, White spent a year in a minimum-security prison in Carville, La., housed in the last leper colony in mainland America.  I stayed up all night reading this book.  I'm a sucker for a good story and this book fills the bill..