GreenMetropolis.com

Girls
Lori Lansens

What books have kept you thinking, long after you've finished them?

I'd suggest 'The Girls' by Lori Lansens - a story about conjoined twins which manages to be thought-provoking, without being patronising.

Secret River
Kate Grenville

Also, The Secret River about the colonisation of Australia. Uneasy reading at times, but well worth it.

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas very thought provoking

hi
depends what you want to think about!?
but i would unhesitatingly recommend
the fiction of alan furst.
mostly set in the largely unknown,
to us in britain that is, world of
eastern and central europe in the 1930
and concerning the hidden struggle to
frustrate and resist hitler.
fancy living in somewhere like poland
or romania, and knowing that sometime
in the near future the nazis were coming
to your nation and people!!!
these books make you think, and are
well written
recommend
the world at night
kingdom of shadows
night soldiers

We Need to Talk About Kevin
Lionel Shriver

Without a doubt one of the most thought provoking books I have read.

I agree with desperate bookworm, I changed my mind several times reading the book as to whether it was nature or nurture that caused Kevin to do what he did. Very thought provoking!

Me too sooz2. I'd like to read it again and maybe study it a bit more. Amazing that it was writtne by someone with no children too.

Skallagrigg
William Horwood

One of the few books that made me cry!!

Road
Cormac McCarthy

Read this recently and it scared me silly, it's a post-apocolyptic type of book, perhaps not the most cheering read in the current climate, but very thought provoking. Don't stay up reading it in the early hours like I did though!

Hi Elizabeth, the Road is a brilliant book, I read it in one sitting as I had to reach the end of the road with them. It stayed with me for a very long time and is one of the few books I would read again. The writing style is so clever, few words that say so much.

Cloud Atlas
David Mitchell

Hi Elizabeth, I'd agree with We need to talk about Kevin - very disturbing book.

I also found Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell very thought-provoking - a real reflection on society that made me wonder if this was a prophetic book in the same way as 1984 is.

Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood

This one made me shudder - also The Road and Cloud Atlas I agree are very thought provoking

Thanks for the recommendation lunar, Oryx and Crake has been sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read for far too long, it has now been moved up the list!

I'd agree with that. Oryx and Crake left a lingering sense of uneasiness after I'd finished reading it - but definitely worth it. I'd also reccomend other books by Margaret Atwood - Alias Grace and the Blind Assassin were also good.

Blind Assassin is also on my book shelf waiting to be read. I can't stop buying books! I wish I could find the time to read them all!

Quantity Theory of Insanity
Will Self

Will Self is a pretty tough author. He novels lways seem to get a bit too crazy at one point or another, but his short stories are perfect I think.
This ones gets you thinking about life and death, amongst other 'big' things. I'm sure he said something along the lines of "I write about ideas rather than plotlines" so his writing should be quite thought-provoking!

Five People You Meet in Heaven
Mitch Albom

I agree with 1984 too. At the time I was reading it, it slightly washed over me, but it's a book that continues to come back to you, you see bits of it everywhere now - stories on the news, things politicians say and do, documentaries etc will sometimes bring it to mind in a terrifying way.
Another book that made me think in a different way was The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. The idea that no matter how insignificant we think our lives are, they do matter, is an idea which I try and keep with me. I picked up his other book For One More Day in a charity shop last week but sadly it will probably be a while before I can get round to reading it.

Hoolit, Im not sure if you have read it already but... by far the best (and most commonly 'name-checked' - although deservedly so) Mitch Albom book is 'Tuesday's With Morrie'. Im not a 'crier' on real life things farless books but this did make a tear trickle - partly because its based on a true story and partly because it is such a simple fact of life, common occurrence and touches everyone.

A few have touched me recently; including the kite runner and a thousand splendid suns, the kommandants girl and The Bielski Brothers.

I've just heard that a film is being made of Cormac McCarthy,s The Road, it's such a brilliant book I hope they don't make a complete hash of the film

Hi All
Can I join your thread? I'm new to the Forum. Some really good suggestions here - although I'm not sure about "We need to talk about Kevin." We had a really good discussion about it at my book group and were divided about how real it seemed to us. As some-one who has suffered from post-natal depression I didn't find the account in the book very convincing, but I do accept that everyone's experiences of depression are different. I suppose the fact that I have a clear memory of the book and its impact on me means that - by definition - it is one that made me think.

When reading your post the book that immediately sprang to mind was The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I devoured this, refusing to come out of my sleeping bag or tent (we were camping! it's not just a strange quirk of mone) until I had finished. I then couldn't begin another book for several days.

Others which lingered in the memory were The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Attwood (I haven't read Oryx and Crake, recommended in an earlier post, but will put it on my list), Precious Bane by Mary Webb, Frankie and Stankie by Barbara Trapido and The Northern Lights trilogy by Philip Pullman. I know that the Pullmans are children's books but I was totally gripped by the idea of the parallel universes and the way that a mind like Pullmans must work.

Jodi Picoult can range from dire to thought provoking. The first one of hers that I read, My Sister's Keeper, was good, as was her most recent Change of Heart.

AlisonAK - I've not read Tuesdays with Morrie Yet, it's also on my list but only for times when I have a box of hankies and a good supply of chocolate at the ready! One of the only books I've been in floods at was A Child Called It. It's a shame because I think everyone should read it, but it's become one of those cliched family trauma books, even though I think it was probably one of the first.

I love mitch alboms books. I always get annoyed that they are never on offer in waterstones or avilable on here when they are brand new out. £16.99 always seems a lot to pay for a tiny book that you can read in an afternoon!

But as soon as I see a new one in the shop I have to buy it straight away. I read them the same day and they sell on here really quickly too.

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon

An interesting insight into people with Aspergers Syndrome (a brand of autism). And difficult in a way to refute some of their "logic". The "narrative voice" is that of a AS sufferer, which gives the book an extra dimension. It raises an intriguing question as to who is "normal". It certainly kept me thinking long after I had finished reading it.

Engleby
Sebastian Faulks

I read this over January, it's told from the perspective of the psychologically troubled Mike Engleby. The context in which it's set may be dated, but the themes are universal. Powerful, emotive and disturbing - by far Faulks' best since Birdsong in my opinion.

I agree that this is a fab book. I really enjoyed it. Promoted great debate at my book group about the nature of bullying etc, the rights and wrongs of boarding school etc.

Quoted from hoolit View Post

I agree with 1984 too. At the time I was reading it, it slightly washed over me, but it's a book that continues to come back to you, you see bits of it everywhere now - stories on the news, things politicians say and do, documentaries etc will sometimes bring it to mind in a terrifying way. Another book that made me think in a different way was The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. The idea that no matter how insignificant we think our lives are, they do matter, is an idea which I try and keep with me. I picked up his other book For One More Day in a charity shop last week but sadly it will probably be a while before I can get round to reading it.

Quoted from Offshore Alan View Post

An interesting insight into people with Aspergers Syndrome (a brand of autism). And difficult in a way to refute some of their "logic". The "narrative voice" is that of a AS sufferer, which gives the book an extra dimension. It raises an intriguing question as to who is "normal". It certainly kept me thinking long after I had finished reading it.

Quoted from AlisonAk View Post

Hoolit, Im not sure if you have read it already but... by far the best (and most commonly 'name-checked' - although deservedly so) Mitch Albom book is 'Tuesday's With Morrie'. Im not a 'crier' on real life things farless books but this did make a tear trickle - partly because its based on a true story and partly because it is such a simple fact of life, common occurrence and touches everyone. A few have touched me recently; including the kite runner and a thousand splendid suns, the kommandants girl and The Bielski Brothers.

Quoted from Desperate Bookworm View Post

Without a doubt one of the most thought provoking books I have read.

Lovely Bones
Alice Sebold

The Lovely Bones...by Alice Sebold.
Haunting. By the time I understood the title I couldn't read for the tears. vivid and thought provoking.
If you love this book, get on itunes or gretchenpeters.com and check out her gorgeous song, by fluke written at the same time as The LB, called 'This used to be my town' just stunning.
Also mary Chapin Carpenter's 'My heaven' - that was I believe inspired by the book.

One Child
Torey L. Hayden

All by Torey hayden a special ed teacher....I work with EBD children and she makes me believe we can get through!
One child was the first and possibly most powerful....

Cathy Glass books....she is a foster carer and her books REALLY make you think....she's an amazing woman....not unlike Torey Hayden in her attitude....

Sewing Circles of Herat
Christina Lamb

The Sewing Circles of Herat - Christina Lamb....
wow - talk about an evocation of opression in Afghanistan...awesome writing.

Testament of Gideon Mack
James Robertson

Some interesting reccomendations, which make me want to buy more books, despite the pile waiting patiently in the book case to be read!

I can also reccomend 'The Blind Assassin', by Margaret Atwood, and really want to read 'A Handmaid's Tale', as I've read most of her other books (also highly reccomended!)

I'm currently reading 'The Last Testament of Gideon Mack', and finding that it poses some interesting questions on sanity, religion and faith.

Shack
William P. Young

The Shack,
wasn't sure what to expect and din't really like the storyline as such, but good heavens does it make you think.....about a lot of things....

Digging to America
Anne Tyler

Digging to America
Almost finished in 2 days, will be finished in bath soon!
Anne Tyler's best, I think

Quoted from LN View Post

Some interesting reccomendations, which make me want to buy more books, despite the pile waiting patiently in the book case to be read! I can also reccomend 'The Blind Assassin', by Margaret Atwood, and really want to read 'A Handmaid's Tale', as I've read most of her other books (also highly reccomended!) I'm currently reading 'The Last Testament of Gideon Mack', and finding that it poses some interesting questions on sanity, religion and faith.

Quoted from Hellie24799 View Post

Wasn't quite sure either way about this one....

oh god! so many!
the wind up bird chronicle- haruki murakami
to kill a mockingbird- harper lee
the little friend- donna tartt
birdsong- sebastian faulkes
is it wierd there seems to be a bird theme?!
also an evil cradling is one of the most powerful books i've ever read.

Quoted from BookwormLaura View Post

oh god! so many! the wind up bird chronicle- haruki murakami to kill a mockingbird- harper lee the little friend- donna tartt birdsong- sebastian faulkes is it wierd there seems to be a bird theme?! also an evil cradling is one of the most powerful books i've ever read.

Girl with a Pearl Earring
Tracy Chevalier

Lots of great suggestions on this thread which I have made a note of. I like books written about the future: Handmaid's Tale was one I loved and Cloud Atlas sounds like my kind of book, too. The one I'm writing is set in a parallel universe. Any other suggestions in a similar vein? I also loved 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' by Tracy Chevalier. The film was also excellent, all in the colours available to Vermeer at the time. I had loved the painting for years, too.

Shantaram
Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is i think my all time favourite book. It has everything in spades! Good plot, well written, living breathing characters. i actually felt berieved when i finished it. Also it has an underlying philisophical theme that really made me think.
I carried this book around in my head for weeks and it is still influencing the way i think & respond to situations. i would love to share any one elses thoughts on this great story.

Island
Aldous Huxley

Caromel -Oryx and Crake is set in the future, which you might like.
Have you also tried 'The Island' by Aldous Huxley? That's set in a parrallel /future reality and has some interesting philosophy underlying it.

Mr.Golightly's Holiday
Salley Vickers

Goodness! I've not looked at this thread for ages and my first thought was "Life is too short!" Lots here I've read and others that I'd like to.

One surprising one for me was a book I picked up as a 'light read' after The God of Small Things, Mr.Golightly's Holiday by Salley Vickers. I'd read and enjoyed Miss Garnett's Angel, but this one stayed on my mind for quite some time as the ending was not what I'd expected.

May I recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein?

I'm not recycling this one yet, though!

Two Lives
Vikram Seth

Wow - so many of these books I have read and enjoyed - Tyler and Attwood being amongst my favourite authors. Then oh so many more to read. The book that has made me think the most this year is Vikram Seths Two lives - the biographies of his Great Uncle and his wife. One Indian and one German - fascinating and horrofic - funny and heart warming. Bridge parties in Hendon - their war stories with all that entails. Seths own take on the stories and his writing make this and excellent and thought provoking book.

Quoted from genavive View Post

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is i think my all time favourite book. It has everything in spades! Good plot, well written, living breathing characters. i actually felt berieved when i finished it. Also it has an underlying philisophical theme that really made me think. I carried this book around in my head for weeks and it is still influencing the way i think & respond to situations. i would love to share any one elses thoughts on this great story.

Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger

'Catcher in the Rye'. A book I read because of the John Lennon link (and i never understood why), but one which i always remember, probably because the main character has such a strong and interesting personality and take on the world. Made me think a lot about people, and that here not always what they appear to be on the outside.

This is a book from way back can anyone else remember The Chariots of the Gods. It was all about intelligent lifeforms from outer space being around for thousands of years, it compared cave drawings that showed flying objects and men in weird clothes. I remember at the time being really spooked by it and I am still a bit suspicious that we are all being watched by something out there, and I don't mean those CCTV cameras that are eveywhere!

good grief I didn't realise the problem was bigger than I thought I used one very small innocuous expletive and was censored by GM. I am going to sit on the naughty chair for a while

Quoted from Elizabeth View Post

Read this recently and it scared me silly, it's a post-apocolyptic type of book, perhaps not the most cheering read in the current climate, but very thought provoking. Don't stay up reading it in the early hours like I did though!

Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini

Quoted from genavive View Post

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is i think my all time favourite book. It has everything in spades! Good plot, well written, living breathing characters. i actually felt berieved when i finished it. Also it has an underlying philisophical theme that really made me think. I carried this book around in my head for weeks and it is still influencing the way i think & respond to situations. i would love to share any one elses thoughts on this great story.

Canal Bridge
Tom Phelan

Don't know if anyone else has come across 'The Canal Bridge' by Tom Phelan - accurately described on the jacket as 'a visceral, lyrical evocation of the physical and emotional devastation of the First World War', centred upon young Irish soldiers during and after the War. Very thought provoking, and extremely good

Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini

a thousand splendid suns,have just finished it and it nearly had me in tears which takes some doing especially as I'd just read the kite runner before that

I haven't read this thread for a while, but these book reccomendations are tempting me to buy more...!

I agree with 'The Road' comments - definitely not one to read late at night!

Sand Daughter
Sarah Bryant

Quoted from Karen0212 View Post

a thousand splendid suns,have just finished it and it nearly had me in tears which takes some doing especially as I'd just read the kite runner before that

I admit this is probably a weird one but The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy. I first read it when I was about 9/10, not long after my Mum died. The girl in the story was a similar age, maybe a little older and her Mum was found in the lake. As the story developed it turned out her Mum had left the family for another man and had set up home in London. For years I was convinced that my Mum had left us for another man and I would 1 day bump into her again!

On a slightly more cheery note - The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert (sp?) opened my eyes to the war through the eyes of the German civilians... It opened up a whole new style of writing and stories that I dip in and out of quite frequently.

Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro

This one is still on my mind over a year after reading it. Definitely worth a read

Quoted from genavive View Post

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is i think my all time favourite book. It has everything in spades! Good plot, well written, living breathing characters. i actually felt berieved when i finished it. Also it has an underlying philisophical theme that really made me think. I carried this book around in my head for weeks and it is still influencing the way i think & respond to situations. i would love to share any one elses thoughts on this great story.

Odd isn't it? Shantaram lost me very early on - maybe I should give it another try!

The Kite Runner left me shattered, I don't think any other book has had quite that effect. I think it was to do wiht the fact that although it was fiction, it was a very real and recent setting and one which we would all dread having to face. The Cellist of Sarajevo (can't remember author) was similar.

for me books that have made me think include some of the above like we need to talk about Kevin but others were-

The memory keepers daughter. Kim Edwards
The castaways Elin Hilderbrand
The last lecture Randy Pausch
Charlotte grey Sebastian Faulkes

am sure there are more but these easily spring to mind

Help
Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
I found it hard to grasp that attitudes like that were as ingrained and hard faced as late as the 60s.

I also recently read The Help -some aspects of it really shocked me due to the deeply ingrained racial attitudes displayed. I've studied the racial tensions in America at A Level but I couldn't believe that they were still around in the 60s. The film is coming out later this year, but it really did make me realise how difficult life was for certain groups in America.

The Book Thief? Incerdible

We Need to Talk About Kevin
Lionel Shriver

We need to talk about Kevin - absolutely overwhelmed by this book. I found it so interesting, disturbing and provoking. I've re read it a number of times and it does not fail to continue to amaze me. The most surprising thing for me, is that when all is said and done, I found myself being sympathetic towards Kevin, as the only honest protagonist in the book. I found that quite shocking. Brilliant book. Just phenomenal

Also, the house of the spirits by Isabelle Allende, I first read it aged about 10, and have re read it and leant it out to people countless times, it is so evocative and the interweaving of the political story within the almost fairytale like aspects of the lives of the family is so clever.