I really liked Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo. It has characters that you will care about.

Have you read Cynthia Harrod-Eagles? She has a detective series that is available at my library and has also written about 30 historical novels set in England, collectively called the Morland Dynasty, none of which is in my public library, but they are all excellent.

Good hunting!

Recent winners at my house:

Lady Macbeth Susan Fraser King

Silent in the Grave Deanna Raybourn

Thread of Grace Mary Doria Russell

and some old favorites that pull me in even though they have been reread more times than I can count:

...and Ladies of the Club Helen Hooven Santmyer
In This House of Brede Rumer Godden
Little Women Louisa May Alcott

Peace Like a River was that "wow" book for me recently. Old favorites like CC mentions include The Good Earth and Watership Down. What, btw, was your fabulous book?

Unfortunately determining which will books make a striking impact on the reader is intensely personal. I think many readers can agree that a certain book is well written and worth reading. For some that book will strike deeply and echo in the mind for a long time, while others will take only a mild enjoyment and a pleasant memory from it.

If you tell us what books you have loved, we can probably recommend other books that appeal to your taste, but "wow" books are pretty much a matter of luck. It's not too different from the old saying that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.

Rosefolly

"Shadow of the Wind", "The Thirteenth Tale" and embarrassingly enough "Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows" were last year's favorites for me.

My mom is recommending "The Widow's War" by Sally Gunning. Anyone read that?

It seems like when I am in the book store looking for books and I read the jacket/cover description it sounds so great and then I read it and it is just ok. Like the "Time Traveler's Wife", that sounded like such a great idea for a book and I was so disappointed in it.

No doubt in my mind, try The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was swallowed up by this book, totally absorbed. The day after reading it, I picked it up and read it over again, slowly, page by page. Don't be deterred by the fact that it is found in the Young Adult section. In Australia, it is considered an adult book.
I just finished Grass by Sherri Tepper--a very absorbing and complex science fiction novel. I really enjoyed it, too.
Kathy

Wig and Veronica read The Widow's War over on the "Where are you?" thread.

If you liked "The Shadow of the Wind" (as I did), you might enjoy Elizabeth Kostova's "The Historian." Long as it was, I could not put it down.

I too loved The Book Thief and sadly my niece borrowed it from me and I never got it back...I would like that one to stay on my bookshelves so will have to buy another. I also read The Widow's War and enjoyed it, it was a gentle, slow read, but not what I would consider a 'wow' book. I also recently read The Good Earth for my bookclub and loved it as well.

I think Rosefolly made a good point in that books are so personal this may be a difficult way to go at it. Given that I also think if you shared the kind of books you enjoy that would help narrow down the recommendations.

I almost bought The Historian last week but purchased "The Rossetti Letter" instead. I think I'll go back and get "The Historian". I checked on "The Book Thief" that sounds good too. I haven't read a scifi in awhile so it might be good time to read Grass.The Bridge of Sighs, the Morland Dynasty Series, Thread of Grace Mary Doria Russell all sound very promising. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks, guys.

Silent in the Grave Deanna Raybourn

I would second (third? fourth?) The Book Thief. Just a lovely book.

Sorry you didn't like The Time Traveller's Wife - that jumped into my mind as a "try this - you'll love it!" type of book! Oh well.

Just shows - there isn't a book written that everyone will like. (Though I suspect that To Kill a Mockingbird is the closest that anyone will ever come!)

The Book Thief is the last one I read that did that to me. I am surprised that it would be considered YA fiction, though. Whilst not unsuitable for that age group, I think it is very much an adult book.
I also put high on my list Small Island by Andrea Levy, the Morland series, and The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Hosseini, although the latter two do have some violence, albeit not gratuitous.

I should have mentioned A Thousand Splendid Suns-my entire book club loved it-and that NEVER happens!

Follwing everyone else, I fifth or sixth The Book Thief.

Here at RP I have found that several others have tastes that parallel my own, and if they like a certain book, I very well might like it too. The monthly thread is very useful for this. As you become more familiar with the regulars, look for those who have read and enjoyed the same books as you have. I have RP to thank for most of my "wow" books by using this simple method.

I wholeheartedly seventh The Book Thief. It is one my favorite books of all time and one of the very few that actually made me cry.

If you liked Harry Potter, you might consider trying The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's the first in a fantasy trilogy, with the second installment due out next spring. I read it earlier this year, and it was one of the most engrossing stories I've read in a long time. I have no doubt it'll be close to the top of the list of the best books I've read this year.

Looks like I'll be purchasing the "The Book Thief", thanks everyone and also I'll get "The Name of the Wind".

Did you ever read "House of Sand and Fog"? (later made into a movie)

Pammyfay-

I'm too much of a wimp to read a book like that. I still have nightmares from ghost stories we told as kids! LOL!

Isn't that the book about the woman who loses her home due to a clerical error at the tax office, and her fight to reclaim her home from an immigrant family who innocently bought it at the auction?

Deborah...I absolutely enjoyed The Widow's War. It is set in 1700's Cape Cod. Although I knew that women weren't allowed to vote, to own property...those were the facts. The effect on a woman, especially a widow - more than facts. The facts left out the human aspects of these restrictive laws...that a widow was entitled to be allowed to live in one room of the house that had been her marital home. The heroine of the book fights to maintain her property, her dignity and her friendships and loyalty. I read deep into the night, even when I had to get up at 5:30 to go to work.

Re House of Sand and Fog,

>Isn't that the book about the woman who loses her home due to a clerical error at the tax office, and her fight to reclaim her home from an immigrant family who innocently bought it at the auction?

Yep... that's the one. Dramatic, not scary, and an interesting exploration of different cultures pitted against one another. I haven't read the book, but recently watched the film.

House of Sand and Fog makes a great book club book with plenty of "issues" to discuss. I had a lot of trouble drumming up any sympathy for the character who lost her home since her own actions (or lack therof) compounded the errors made by the tax office. Not ghostly at all. Andre Dubus' new book is my book club's selection this month.

Deborah, I enjoyed Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book recently. Maybe not a "wow" book but still, a very good story.

Sometimes I get ideas from some of the literary awards. Have you looked at the list for the 2008 PEN/Faulkner award (see link below)? There are some interesting titles on there, I thought.

Another very discussable book is Sarah Hall's Daughters of the North (UK Title: The Carhullan Army). It won this year's Tiptree Award. I didn't really like it, but... it's very discussable, in the same vein as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, for example.

Here is a link that might be useful: 2008 PEN Faulkner Awards

Deborah -- I just got one of my regular e-mails from Amazon and I thought about this thread immediately. This book sounds like a keeper ... but you never know. If you read it, please let us know what you think.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

That book has been mentioned over on the "June Reads" thread too.