Fiction

Pere Goriot by Honore d Balzac by Pere Goriot. "It really is not that heavy, in English at least!" This novel marked the true beginning of Balzac’s towering project La Comédie Humaine, his series of novels and short stories depicting the whole pell-mell of civilization.

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. From Amazon: “An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.”

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda.  "A great psychological thriller about a journalist, Leah, who needs to get out of Boston due to an article she wrote that ruined her career.  She moves to a small town in rural PA and becomes a teachers and lives with a woman she briefly lived with in college.  The small town has tons of secrets and there are several intertwining story lines and so many twists and turns!"

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind. Several of you recommended this one. "Well written, but too horrific for me. My sister thought it was fantastic!" Book Description: An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Suskind's classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man's indulgence in his greatest passion—his sense of smell—leads to murder.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. "Never read the original before – FABULOUS, and the illustrations, to die for." A mischievous boy who can fly and never ages, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang, the Lost Boys, interacting with mermaids, Indians, fairies, pirates, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside of Neverland.

The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller. A fantastic and fantastical coming-of-age tale of a young man who dares to go against prevailing social mores and do what's in his heart. It's a feminist book, in many ways, with a male lead character. Miller creates an imaginary world that is consistent and works to shed light on how, when norms are challenged, society will go to many lengths to preserve the status quo... but talent will not be denied.

The Photograph by Penelope Lively. A story of betrayal discovered after the death of the betrayer.  A narrative about beauty, rivalry, marriage in crisis and the cost of professional 'success.'

The Piano Teacher: A Novel by Janice Y.K. Lee. "Part love story, part war story (yea, I know, been there, done that) but set in Hong Kong during Japanese occupation. Some different characters, even though I certainly didn’t like all of them, weave their lives and their loves through this amazing time."  (NB: This isn't the book they made the movie out of.)

The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason. "Historical fiction about a British Army officer living in Burma who sends for a Piano Tuner from London. Story revolves around the officer, the Shan rebellion, life in a British Colony and independence while the officer searches for love."

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. "Almost 30 years since I last read this book and it was well worth the re-read. The classic quotes alone, such as "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." (Ch. 1, Lord Henry, to Basil.), make this re-read fun."