Frances, I enjoyed Frozen in Time tremendously -- of course, it's right up my alley. When I found out The Terror was about the Franklin Expedition and Francis Crozier, particularly, I knew I would read it and either be enthralled or I would want to stomp on it. Turns out I that I was enthralled between the stompings! Yep, it made a BIG impression on me.

For some reason The Crimson Petal and the White has stuck with me, although I really don't think it was very good in some ways (e.g., too many anachronisms). I guess it's the main character, a prostitute named Sugar, and her skin condition (she spent a lot of time in bathtubs to alleviate it) that made an otherwise mediocre historical novel memorable.

A very unlikely book for me to have read was Karen Joy Fowler's Sarah Canary; but thanks to our very own RPer "Sarah Canary," who led a discussion of it, I find myself thinking about the characters and story quite often.

Blindness by Joseph Saramago.

A stunning book, which I would never have read if I hadn't heard about it here. Mind, I don't think I'll ever read it again - it's a most unpleasant book, too!

For me it was The Road by Cormac McCarthy. For me this beautifully written novel was not only profoundly disturbing but also persuasive. After reading it I spent the next six months half convinced that the end of the human race was imminent. Eventually I worked my way into a more functional frame of mind, but I still shy away from thinking about the book in detail out of concern that I'll slip back into that way of thinking.

Rosefolly

I completely agree about "The Road" and "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle." I will never forget McCarthy's futuristic novel with its frightening details.

Others which have made a profound impression on me that I first heard about at RP are:

"The Historian"
"Austerlitz"
"Rings of Saturn"
"Kristin Lavransdatter"
"The Go-Between"

I have been a member of RP for only three months but already I have read several RP-recommended books that I think will leave lasting impressions. I happened to mention one of them, "The Sheltering Sky," on its designated thread, and how I did not think I would like it. The jury is still out but after a month I am still thinking about it.

Two others that I will be thinking about for a while are "The Little Stranger" by Waters and "The Stranger" by Camus.

My book to add is Ransom by David Malouf.
A wonderful journey into mythology and its magic.

A most unusual donkey named Beauty, she can not help but win your heart.

My unlikely one on thinking back was a paper back and very old of Wuthering Heights from a secondhand shop. My first real read of the classics, it was wonderful since then I have delved into a few of Charles Dickens, this has opened up a new type of reading for me.

It is very interesting to see the books that have made lasting impressions on readers. I will need to check out some of these -- most likely skipping Blindness and The Road, however. I've had The Crimson Petal and the White on my TBR shelves for ages, as well as The Historian.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (recommended by Martin) was discussed here, and I would never have ever picked it up otherwise. Talk about unlikely -- I was stunned by that book. Both the stories and the structure were fascinating and unexpected.

My book to add is The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch. I first read about it here. It was the first time in years that a book got me to slow down and savor the language as well as the story.

PAM

The book that has left me with a very lasting impression was 'Boy in Striped Pyjamas' John Boyne. When I finished the book it left me stunned. Whenever I think of the book I remember the last scene with the two little boys, so beautifully worded and so so sad.