Just finished “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara. Blown away… what a book. As one of D1’s friends said, “Don’t read the last 300 pages in public because you will be crying.” Actually only the last 100 pages for me… but you get the idea.
It is long, but so elegantly written and has such wonderfully drawn characters. I really couldn’t put it down. I want those friends. But it is achingly sad, too.
It is what “The Interestings” (which I found pretty shallow and uninteresting) should have been.
@intparent, D1 read “A Little Life” and promptly bought copies for me, her sister, and her best friend. I read it and loved it, too. I don’t know if D2 has read it yet. Best friend started to read it, and D1 read the rest to her, out loud, while they were driving from here in the Midwest to the east coast.
I read “A Little Life” also. The writing is beautiful, the characters skillfully developed. But I found myself wishing I hadn’t read it. So much pain, not enough redemption to counterbalance it, IMO. It definitely haunted me.
In the “too much pain” category, I would also place “Our Endless Numbered Days.” This one eviscerated me, and not in a good way.
“Just Mercy”, Bryan Stephenson.
Be ready to sob and be ashamed of how hateful and uncaring folks can be. But it is important to know what is in this book. We must do better for our fellow man and ourselves.
I just finished listening on CD to A Man Called Ove based on the recommendations here. At first listen, I thought I wasn’t going to like it but after about the fourth chapter, I was completely drawn in and by the end of the book I didn’t want it to stop! It was so good. I wish they would make the movie In the US. I know they made a movie in Sweden, but it seems that it is unavailable in English. Darn. I would totally watch with subtitles. Thanks for the recommendation everyone!
Agree @cakeisgreat- “A man called Ove” took a few chapters, and I’m sure many abandon the book in those early chapters, and that is exactly why I recommend to select people.
I just finished My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. I really liked this one, it had the feel of a book about nothing, but is the story of a writer and her looking back on her life growing up in poverty, her relationship with her mother, and her kids.
I just finished “The Flood Girls” by Richard Fifield. Funny, a little dark, and full of heart all at the same time. Picked it up by chance, and I totally recommend it. Starts slow, but well worth keeping going.
Preparing for vacation so loading my guilty pleasure mystery/thriller books for the beach on my Kindle. Will start Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series to see if I like it. For more serious reading I am looking forward to reading The Illegal by Lawrence Hill which is about illegal immigrants in LA and spill simmer falter wither recommended from here on the thread. Just finished The Girl In The Spider’s Web. I enjoyed it. I am also in the middle of listening to My Brilliant Friend on Audible. Hoping to finish it on the plane. I love picking out beach reads! 
@GoldenWest – I finished “Did You Ever Have a Family” over the weekend. It was not what I was expecting and it’s not usually the kind of book I read, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. (More than the reviewer from the NY Times liked it – good grief, what an obnoxious review.) I liked how the different stories and voices intertwined, and I liked the emphasis on family and loss.
I see where the book was nominated for the Man Booker prize.
The Man Booker is what I based my interest on…I am glad you liked it and I need to move it to the top of the pile! I regret my Hilary Mantel recommendation above; I did not notice until later that it was a sponsored FB post. I did buy the book, so I will be really unhappy if it is terrible; I hope she is not trading her highly respected name to be paid for “sponsored” recommendations.
^^ “The Fishermen” is next on my reading list - it, too, is on he Man Booker shortlist.
Ohh i like this thread!! I just finished reading ‘A rose for the crown’ by Anne Easter. It’s a good 10 years old but i loved loved loved it. It’s good for anyone who likes historical books based in 15th century England. My favs!! 
I read a new book by Joyce Mayard called Under the Influence. Really good little psychological drama type story
Reading a fascinating book - Marie-Therese, Child of Terror - The fate of Marie Antoinette’s daughter by Susan Nagel. I’ve always been fascinated by MA - who got a bum rap in history - and this follows the (true) story of her daughter who survived the imprisonment and attacks on Louis XVI, MA and the Dauphin (prince). Meticulously researched.
Ohhh thanks Pizzagirl. Love anything historical. Putting that on my list
Other recommendations -
The Man Who Wasn’t There - Anil Ananthaswany - about neuroscience and the definition of self. Somewhat technical but accessible (I have no neuroscience background)
Am starting on In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri - written in dual Italian and English (not that I know Italian!)
Just finished Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs. Thanks to those here who recommended it. Insightful, even-handed, and well-written portrait of a fascinating man.
I’m currently halfway through The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. It’s a YA book, a coming-of-age story set in a dystopian near future and tackles some of the big issues of our dystopian present-day. Good reading.
I recommended Steve Jobs to someone just this morning, right after I touched a Mac for the first time (seriously!).
I’ve been a PC/Android girl since the beginning, but after reading that book, I think I’ll start my tablet search with Apple.