Need a good '5-star' book!

[ficbot]

I just read my first '5-star' book since November (The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker) and after closing it up, I scanned my Kobo for my next read and found nothing but Grisham and other 'filler' stuff. This does not seem like what I want to read after reading such a magical book that felt like it transported me to another world Can anyone recommend another truly magical read for me? What I liked about this one was the element of mystery combined with the historical detail and well-drawn characterization. The new book doesn't have to be fantasy; any genre will do. I just want something that will sweep me away again...

Here is my Goodreads profile if that helps...

[jgaiser]

Recommending 5 star books is like recommending my favorite microbrew. Tastes are different.

Recent 5 stars for me:

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
How Dark the World Becomes by Frank Chadwick
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

[meeera]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Recommending 5 star books is like recommending my favorite microbrew.

Or my favourite colour.

Nevertheless, unless you think YA is icky, check out the blurbs on:

Akata Witch
Cashore's Graceling trilogy
The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
When We Wake
A Corner of White
the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series
The Scorpio Races
Bitter Greens
All Our Pretty Songs
the Split Worlds books
Seraphina
Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen
Pretty much everything by Diana Wynne Jones, but maybe start with the Chrestomanci Chronicles
Yolen's Briar Rose

[pinklotus]

Thank you for recommending The Golem and the Jinni, sounds really interesting. Some books that have swept me away are below, if you care to check them out:

- Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
- The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
- Night Film by Marisha Pessl
- Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Hope you find a great new read!

[elemenoP]

I looked at your books and I think we have similar tastes (and I can't wait to read The Golem and the Jinni, I was already thinking of reading that on a trip next week).

Here are my suggestions, these are not new, so I don't know if you've read them already:

The Art of Racing in the Rain
Cloudstreet
The Golden Compass
The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time

and a newer one:

The Round House

[EndlessWaves]

Have you ever read any China Mieville? His Embassytown was my last five star book (it wanders about a bit to begin with though) and before that I really liked Perdido Street Station and The Scar.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Cannery Row. End of thread.

You'd be disagreeing with at least three members on MobileRead if you don't give it five stars.

[tilia]

Father and Son by Larry Brown, just beautiful.

The Death of Sweet Mister by Daniel Woodrell, (or Winter's Bone)

Postcards by Annie Proulx, I found it to be a bit depressing, but very good (finishing it in the middle of the night may have something to do with how bleak my outlook on the world was after the end of the book...).

For fantasy I second Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I listened to the audio of this, and it was magical. For me the narrator was just right. Especially the parts set in Prague was such a delight to listen to that the insta-love and Romeo and Juliet theme didn't bother me.

I loved The Killing Moon(first in The Dreamsong Duet) by N.K. Jemisin when I read it last summer.

[Lynx-lynx]

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. Perhaps you've seen the movie or already read the book?

From memory the book won the Booker prize and the movie won a number of Academy awards.

It's only a short book - 207 pages - and wonderfully written.

[drofgnal]

My latest 5 star reads:

The Physician by Noah Gordon (and sequel Shaman)
Both books by Ellen Marie Wiseman The Plum Tree and What she left Behind.

[pdurrant]

Some highlights from my past four years of reading:

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Eight Million Gods by Wen Spencer
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Heaven by Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen

[VictoriaP]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Recommending 5 star books is like recommending my favorite microbrew. Tastes are different.

Recent 5 stars for me:

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
How Dark the World Becomes by Frank Chadwick
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Three Parts Dead was a five star here as well. The sequel, Two Serpents Rise, was a 5+. I don't give out fives often; most years, I don't find even one. Those two simply blew me away in a way that probably hasn't happened in the last 3-4 years of reading. I think either can be read as a standalone, they're in the same universe, but not set at the same time or with the same characters.

I'll also back Cannery Row as my favorite all time classic.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by VictoriaP

Three Parts Dead was a five star here as well.

Added to my wishlist. In the UK Three Parts Dead is currently only £2.23 at the Kindle store. And at the Kobo UK sore. And couponable. But I'm already over budget for Jan/Feb this year. I hate it when this happens.

[VictoriaP]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Added to my wishlist. In the UK Three Parts Dead is currently only £2.23 at the Kindle store. And at the Kobo UK sore. And couponable. But I'm already over budget for Jan/Feb this year. I hate it when this happens.

It's been "on sale" since at least December, so don't fret too much. At this rate, it may very well still be at that price come March.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by VictoriaP

It's been "on sale" since at least December, so don't fret too much. At this rate, it may very well still be at that price come March.

I won't be back in budget until June! If it's still available at a good price in June, it's currently at the top of my list. It does sound fun.