40 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down
JulieYou know that book. The one you read in one or two sittings. The one you practically swallowed whole. What an exhilarating experience –– to be so captivated by a book that you cannot bear to do anything until you get to the last page!
I polled our ~3,000 HPB Bibliomaniacs around the country about which books they devoured. And they had much to say on the topic. So, if you've never read them, give these books a try. Without further ado, here are 40 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down.
There seems to be something for everyone on this list -- mystery, romance, biography, contemporary literature, classics, even paranormal. So, did your favorite quick read make the list? Add yours to our list by making a quick comment below.
-- Julie
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Reader Comments (300)
Anything by Pat Conroy - brilliant writer!
We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
East of Eden - Steinbeck
The Help
The Shack
Perks of Being a Wallflower
To Kill A Mockingbird. I have to read it once a year!!!
After the first two chapters, I couldn't stop reading BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. KITE RUNNER is another one... any time I put it down, I would have my nose back in it within the hour.
Great collection of books.
I'd add Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"
forumpink
Several on the list I loved. I guess "The Help" was probably my favourite quick read.
Would add "One Day" by David Nicholls as another un-put-downable!
I personally think the girl with the dragon tattoo and those following it, were extremely boring and hard to read. They just didn't flow at all.
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss.
Still laughing at "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" Jenny Lawson
Jack Kerouac "On The Road"
John Steinbeck "Grapes of Wrath"
Harper Lee "To Kill A Mockingbird"
Norman Mailer "Executioner's Song"
The Silmarillion by Tolkien and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison are two of my favs, this is a great list! Great job!
Francine Rivers - A Voice in the Wind!!!!!
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
Once I got into it there was no putting it down - fascinating read.
Thanks for this list and for giving me a few new book titles to go a check out at the library. I appreciate that you put Ender's Game on the list as even though I am not a huge Sci-Fi fan, this in definitely in my top ten. TY.
I have devoured most of these, but was surprised to find that American Gods - Neil Gaimen didn't make the list. It really is a fun, fast, intriguing read. Also surprised that Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk didn't make the list either.
Believe it or not, my all time favorite book is Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait to Get to Heaven. I've read it countless times. Hysterical and thoughtful. I second (third?) Prayer for Owen Meany + Cider House Rules by John Irving.
Also The Poisonwood Bible....
I love Water for Elephants.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is my most recent fave.
I agree with so many on the list but need to add my all time favorite, All Over But the Shoutin', by Rick Bragg.
I'm shocked that NO Stephen King books were even on this list!!! I agree with others who mentioned 11/22/63. A fabulous book and a must read with great characters. But if you want a book with great characters and something that really brings you into the world of the book you simply can't leave out Stephen King! Several of his books with short stories have been turned into amazing and well known movies, such as The Body (aka Stand by Me) Shawshank Redemption, and one of my favorite books The Green Mile. Not to mention The Stand, one of the greatest good vs. evil books of all time! And if you like The Hunger Games, check out The Running Man (Stephen King under the name of Richard Bachman) and you'll find that he wrote about reality TV and killing long before reality TV was even around. One of the most amazing authors and he should be included on every list of must reads!
This is a great list,
I would add:
The Other Bolyen Girl by Philipa Gregory
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
I Believe that the Shades of Grey series is a MUST read right now. I read all three books in a weekend and feel that I will be hardpressed to find a book that compares in anyway. All the characters in the books are mulit-dimensional and simply amazing.
Wuthering Heights
-Emily Bronte
I have to add The Mitford Series by Jan Caron. I reread those books last summer and loved them even more the second time. Also I love Taylor Caldwell. Her books--Testimony of Two Men. Great Lion of God. Dear and Glorious Physician. Sometimes it is a little hard to get into her books, but it is so worth it once you do.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson was a book I will never forget!
Very interesting, informative and intriguing.
/Ella Enchanted/ by Gail Carson Levine. For those who watched the movie and hated it, the book is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING like the movie. I've read my copy so many times it's starting to fall apart. Most, if not all, of Gail Carson Levine's fairy tale retellings are fantastic, but then again, I'm a huge fan of fairy tale remakes. Robin McKinley has 2 fabulous retellings of Beauty and The Beast (One called 'Beauty', the other 'Rose Daughter') and another for Sleeping Beauty (Spindles End). Donna Jo Napoli has a brilliant retelling of Rapunzel called 'Zel'.