Sorry this isn’t a book suggestion, but I thought it’d be kinda fun - I have a tradition of giving my pets punny writer names. Currently I have F. Scott Fishgerald and Margaret Catwood (Maggie for short). I’m getting a new kitten, a boy, and he doesn’t have a name yet! Best ideas I’ve had so far are…
The Giver is an excellent book and yes, while I was introduced to it as a child and its perfectly acceptable book for kids to read, the messages and lessons in the book go far beyond that of a child or teenager will understand. Looking back it is a profound book that should be read and understood…
So I watched Wheel of Time on Amazon and I was hooked immediately. Then Amazon had 50% off the collected box sets this weekend and I bought all of them for super cheap. I started reading it last night and before I knew it I was at page 178. I couldn't put it down. And this is just me reading what…
I want y'all to tell me a situation where you said a word out loud and learned later (or immediately, to your embarrassment, if someone corrected you on the spot) that it is actually pronounced differently. And of course you must have learned this word from a book. I'll start: So back when I was…
Just listened to the audio version of Danny Trejo's autobiography "Trejo". He self narrates the audio book which is really cool. He's not the greatest narrator, but one you get used to the way he talks, it's overall better that he's telling his own story. He lived a crazy violent life in the…
As a user of Goodreads for years, I have very mixed feelings on the platform. It should be a goldmine of information (millions of ratings and reviews, book recommendations, interactions with authors), but I often find it underwhelming in practice. A few things that stand out to me: Most books have…
Tl;dr Charles Dickens made me smart Ever since David Copperfield was assigned as reading in my first year of high school, I have devoured his works and revisited them on an annual basis. His style of writing has elevated my language, speech, and vocabulary to such degrees that colleagues and…
This sounds weird, but online I keep seeing people say that they “rented” a book from the library, and this feels weird to me. I’d usually say “borrowed” or maybe “checked out.” In my mind renting implies payment, but I think more so it’s just weird because I feel like I’ve never heard “rented” used…
My wife and I got married young, and over time we have grown apart as people quite a bit. I love her very much and accepted the differences between us but she doesn't love me anymore, and is no longer happy, so we're splitting up. I've moved out already. The whole thing is very sad for me but we are…
Let me tell you, the Libby app has been a total game changer for me! But perhaps maybe I am just late to the game! Before moving overseas, I was always at the library borrowing books, I could go through multiple books a week. Once I moved, books, especially English ones are just not as available,…
I just wanted to gush a bit. The writing is beautiful, the characters are amazing, and the ending was satisfying. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve read a book that left me satisfied on the last page. I love the sweet blend of fantasy and realism and man oh man the suspense!! I was on the…
just WOW what a good read. Reasonably short but absolutely full to the brim with story, the descriptions were intricate and poetic, the letters were so fun it was really like reading correspondence between two soldiers/lovers, I've never been one for time travel story with how confusing things can…
Bonus points if it portrays late 90s/early 2000s.
As audiobooks have allowed me to greatly increase the number of books I consume, I've been branching out into new areas and a gave Murder On The Orient Express a try. I didn't love the narrator but I can get past that and enjoy the story for it's merits. The set up was good and the ending was…
Ive been meaning to read something related to assassins, but im unsure what’s good and what’s not. (Action/Fantasy whatever comes up)
Back when I was in jr high, I used to read a lot of books. Mostly Science Fiction and some random Stephen King. But sometime during high school I got out of the habit, and literally haven't read an actual book since then. Got into computers and programming in college, so I ended up filing my free…
So, I’m in shock. This was a rough experience. It was the first true crime book that I’ve read, but I was totally immersed in the story. Yes, the whole thing is distressing and unpleasant, but following the story from so many different angles is an interesting reading experience. There’s no way to…
The thought just hit me that I'm probably impaired in this regard, for lack of a kinder word. Whenever a book starts going into describing how a city is structured, to the left of the church is a river that runs through x y and z. On the other side is a hill that towers over... And etc and etc. I…
I am often blindsided by twist endings in books. So often, especially with popular books, people ask "oh, did you figure out the twist?" and almost always, I did not. The thing is, unless it's a legit "whodunit" type mystery (ie, The Hunting Party), I don't even really try. Literally three times…
Look, I’m 24 years old and I pretty much think I have problems with ,growing old’ and would like to read a book which gives me advice how to handle that time between childhood and adulthood. Like for example preparing me, that my parents will actually die in a couple of years. Or giving me advice,…
Over the past year (probably longer), I've been struggling with depression and enjoying a lot of things I previously enjoyed. Video games, movies, music, reading. I was getting back into reading after getting my kindle around 2 years ago and was able to read some older sci-fi I enjoyed, and new…
A few months back, I read Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. I first picked it up because I was intrigued by the time travel aspect. As I read it, it definitely got me thinking about aspects of racism and slavery that I never considered before. I really wonder why this hasn't been adapted into a film…
I've read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, and since then I have become amazed by the prose poets are able to write. The way they convey their thoughts and feelings is, to me, out of this world. Don't mind me, I love poetry, but seeing these artists take on a novel length project…
He's arguably one of, if not the best science fiction writer/s. He also does absolutely fantastic fantasy as well. He's got a very dense style that can be difficult to get into, and his books are meant as rereads. Give them a try though, you won't regret it. His work on The Book of the new sun…
I have a couple books that I can read over and over again, yet never get tired of. The Harry Potter series is one for me because the story is so wonderful and I always pick up on new things and hidden references. Plus, it’s kind of nostalgic. The Virgin Suicides is another one. I adore how the book…
I'm uninitiated, but I assume that a poetry book can't be tackled like a regular book, or is it? I don't think I would enjoy the book if I had to read the same page over and over again without a specific strategy. What kind of method do you use, or with your experience, what works best to extract…
This book was BRILLIANT. I really loved Evelyne as a character and it was fascinating to read about her life. She was so real, like a friend. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you for weeks after you’ve read it. The author really did it! Have you read it? Are you planning to? What did you…
I'm rereading The Expanse series. The loving descriptions of large amounts of coffee consumed by the crew have this espresso shooter craving big, steaming cups. I may not have a spaceship or deadly missions on the edge of what's known, but I can sip for a while and ponder the universe. How about…
Good morning everyone, I'm getting interested in philosophy and I'd like some books to start. Since I'm quite young I'd start with some easy books, but I don't mean high school books, even some university ones would be good to start. I spend almost all my free time thinking (also OVERthinking) so…
Finished it 20 mins ago... Well, it was an awesome listen, the narrator was outstanding in the majority of the book because of how much enthusiasm and excitement is conveyed. Although, the last chapter is what got me especially with how much self-conflict I've been going through. I doubt a lot of…
I saw a post about books from your youth that you reread and realized they didn’t age well. On the flip side, what’s a book that you loved and read at a young age that you reread recently and still loved? I want to hear all about your books that stood the test of time and were still just as good in…
I let you define difficult. For me, difficulty may concern the subject matter, word usage, complexity of a story...or never-ending sentences, as this example from Woolf's To the Lighthouse shows: "She was now formidable to behold, and it was only in silence, looking up from their plates, after she…
I know everyone who likes mythology has probably heard of Percy Jackson but there’s a continuation of the series called Heroes of Olympus that not as many people seem to know about. I actually prefer this series to the Percy Jackson’s and want more people to know about it The books still include…
I know the movies pretty well. Being that they’re so long I can’t decide if knowing what will happen next will taint the reading experience.
I haven't felt this ecstatic after reading a book since "The Secret History". 3 days ago. I found a reddit link [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/the-best-books-of-2021/] leading to "Penguin Random House" 's list of 2021's best books. I had just finished a few books and was looking…
I was having a discussion with some friends about how a lot of the books we read as teens or our early twenties just did not age well. It was interesting how we each had a book that we use to love and now looking back at it we don't know what the hell we were thinking. For me it was the Perfect…
And it is one of the best novels I've ever read and probably the best in the historical fiction category. It might just be the best story ever told. Never before has a book gripped me this much. It contains all these devious, entertaining, bloodthirsty and incomprehensible and unpredictable…
I mean an objectively bad book: poorly written, with weak characters, bad plot, etc. or a badly conceived non-fiction book that, for some reason, changed your life in a positive way. In my case it was (supposedly) non-fiction: Chariots of the Gods. I read it as a teenager and even at that time I…
Pulitzer Prize winner. I didn't think this one would appeal to me but I decided to give it a chance and I'm so glad I did. It takes place in the period of the rise of Hitler to the bitter defeat. Both at times darky disturbing and touching tracing a young German boy and a young French blind girl…
I really wanted the book to end by the time I was starting the third part. But after a couple of chapters in, I really fell in love with the book once again. But the last couple of chapters were really heartbreaking. I didn't realize that the characters had become my friends and it would be this…
It was incredibly emotional, detailed, and just so good. I’m not gonna lie, I cried at the end, just because the storytelling is so powerful at explaining the grief, guilt and sadness that Patroclus has, and the pain that Achilles goes through. It so damn good. My experience was enhanced by…
Hi ppl! What are your TOP 3 books you would like to re read before you die? I've never really been a reader in my life but I want to change that. Could you recommend anything awesome? anything is fine! any genre!
Ok, so I recently watched the movie and I quite liked it. I know the book series is huge, and I've never really read any book series before, so that's something to take into consideration. To help with the suggestions, my favorite books are Steppenwolf, One Hundred Years of Solitude and the…
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/24/books/best-book-vote.html You can vote for up to three books from their list of 25, which were selected from reader nominations. The 25 are: * 1984 * All the Light We Cannot See * Beloved * Catch-22 * The Catcher in the Rye * Charlotte's Web *…
I haven't read anything by him so please recommend me something for a first timer like me. Thank you!
Just looking for a sci-fi book, preferably with a male main character, and a well developed romance that ties into the main plot but doesn’t overwhelm it. I feel a lot of books neglect romance for the central plot and vice versa so I’m looking for something with a healthy balance of each.
I loved the books cause it showed characters with flaws. Nathaniel was too brash and tried to be too clever. I love the world building cause I like reading about Jinns, such an elusive race. Bartimaeus is a pretty good character and so is Kitty Jones. In all honesty, it would have been another list…
It feels like I am not yet ready, and I am really scared. Its making me anxiousss. Please suggest a book that can make me confident, ready to take action, organized, and proper really fast huhu
Honestly going into the series I wasn't expecting much, just hoping for good little detective adventure. I wasn't expecting for the series to top my personal list. Dresden is possibly one of the most relatable characters I've ever read. How the author laid out Dresden's thoughts, feelings, and…
TLDR: I have realized that I have really small weird specific book themes/tropes that will automatically make me a give a book a try or put it down and I'm curious if other people have them. If so, I'd love to know what they are! I haven't read a TJ Klune book yet (even though I own House in the…
Catcher in The Rye, To Kill A Mocking Bird, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, The Hate You Give are some titles I enjoy.
This is my favorite book ever. The way it was written was so good and the interview format was perfect. I was scared for a lot of the book and a few times I cried. The image of the battle of Yonkers will forever be in my brain. 10/10 The concept of the Quislings was really intriguing and I found…
I am looking for something about social issues in the countries, especially about the role of women
Hey all, I am in a kind of a reading slump, not able to go past the first page of any of my TBR books. So was hoping you guys can help out. Any genre welcome. TIA
I really like vampire books, but the ones I've read in the past treated vampires like weird members of society and not like actual monsters. Then I read The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires and it was like the clouds cleared and the sun shined down on me as the idea that vampires could…
Welcome readers, We're coming up on the end of the year and that means various "Best Books of 2021" lists are being released! We'll be using this thread to collect these "Best of" lists and awards into one place and will be updating it as more lists and awards are released. Without further ado,…
edit: spoilers below I say this as someone who used to claim that 1984 is one of my favorite books. While I can't confidently say that BNW is a better written novel than 1984 (the controller's discussion at the end of the book is a little heavy handed), I think it's a much better dystopian novel…
I just got mad. I'm from Bulgaria, English isn't my main language so forgive me if I make mistakes. I was at work and I saw an opportunity to read. I was reading Malazan Book Of The Fallen by the brilliant Steven Erikson and a colleague came and saw the fat book (Memories Of Ice, book 3 in the…
Hey guys, I just finished Dune and I liked it a lot. Do I continue the dune universe or do you guys have any other suggestions for me. I'm big into sci-fi and fantasy novels. There's just so much to choose from. Edit: I’m really appreciating this guys . Keep em coming!
I find this book completely enthralling from front to back. What are your thoughts on Ignatius and where do you think he would be in todays culture? I suspect he would be bed ridden with fear of “big brother” and plotting a very counter intuitive series of journals to keep himself protected until…
As a Father, I find the story of Frankenstein amazing! My interpretation is that of a young man caught up in passion creating life but neglecting it. Then facing the horrible consequences of what his negligence created. Dr. Frankenstein is a young man in college who created life. Much like…
I've read a lot of classics I'd say. I've noticed a lot of the books have people who get sick a lot, or simply get sick from shock. A lot of the novels from the 1800s seem like the characters go pale because of the slightest of problems (there are a lot of people going pale for all sorts of reasons,…
... getting a hold of a really good book & then realizing from context clues that it must be part of a series? So, then you went to the library / bookstore / thrift store where you picked it up & you found all or some of the other books in the series. But, for some unfathomable reason, the…
The way Roald Dahl paints a full story, with clever twists and interesting characters in just a few pages is honestly a talent very few writers have. I was wondering what some of your favourite writers are that possess that same ability. Any suggestions?
I posted last week about how I finished book one and was so confused. Most (if not all) of you told me to keep going and it would get better, my questions would be answered. You were right! The Drawing of the Three was soo much better. I sped through it. The only problem is I now have about a 6 week…
I mean this in either a good or bad way. I just finished reading The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (thanks to the readers of this sub recommending it). And I don't even know where to put it genre wise. Is it sci Fi? Is it urban fantasy? Is it both? It had me mentally exhausted, in a good…
Hi everyone, My husband and I have a Christmas tradition where we give each other new pajamas and a book on Christmas Eve and spend the evening reading. I’m at a loss for what book to get him. He loves YA, especially Percy Jackson. He’s read pretty much everything Riordan has ever written. He’s also…
Holy shit downright the scariest story I've ever read! It's the second Tolstoy story I've read after 'family happiness' and I'm amazed with how accurately and and realistically Tolstoy describes the human experience. As someone who has high anxiety and is quite afraid of death combined with having…
As i neared the end of this book, I went on Google and searched "saddest books ever" and was not surprised to find A Little Life in the first position of multiple lists. Its such a heartbreaking novel. The story follows four college classmates initially and later becomes the story of two.…
I didn't particularly "love" this book, but I did like it. A lot of the things were really intriguing to me in the story. The part where Mildred is talking to her friends about how they just stick their children in front of the TV to avoid trouble makes it hard to believe this was written back in…
tl;Dr - book was fucked in the best way possible. Subverts expectations without sacrificing anything important. Okay so a couple of things to mention before I rant. 1, I have no book friends for the most part - at least none who've read this. And 2, read the book first and I'll probably check out…
I'm curious to see if anyone else had a book they really didn't like (if not straight up hated) for one reason or another, but continued to read anyways. I can be an incredibly picky reader and if I don't like something as vague as the writing style of the author I will entirely forego reading a…
For months I’ve been perusing GoodReads in search of good sci fi books. Recently I got a library card and started using the Libby app. If you’re not doing this, you should. I’ve found that about 80% of the audiobooks I want to listen to can be rented there for free with a library card. That being…
I could probably narrow it to just two or even one book, which is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace for the simple reason that I could’ve never recovered from addiction without it. When I first read it I was astonished by how much advice it actually has on recovery, and the sections on suicide…
Any book recommendations to help me start feeling more positive and make a change in my routine and also to decide what i want to do in life and what career i should pursue in order to become happy and successful( you can also suggest any books other than this that you think i should read) Thank you
Im 14 years old so i dont know a lot yet and i might have a hard time understanding hard books. Im intrested in things such as the universe natural science. Philosophy. I dont know where to get started with books on any of these subject. Can someone suggest me what to read first about the universe…
Nothing wrong with Twilight, it's just that I already know about it so it would be pointless suggesting it to me. I'm planning to write a vampire series for my Wattpad so I'm doing a little research. I'm looking for some good vampire novels, especially novels that really expand on the vampire lore…
Much to the bewilderment of other visually impaired people, I love to collect hardcovers of my favorite books. Something about being surrounded by the tangible evidence of the stories I love so much is beautiful and intoxicating, regardless of if I can read them that way. I bought a signed copy of…
I am thoroughly jealous of anyone who hasn’t read All Good Children by Dayna Ingram. The reveal totally sucker-punched me. I didn’t see it coming. When I read the book again, I was still affected, albeit not as strongly. It is not a deus ex machina twist and I still can’t see it coming even though…
I am scared of losing my parents, especially my mom. When I think about it, I start feeling very sad and alone. I know that everyone dies at some point, but sometimes it's hard to accept the reality. I already lost my elder sister a decade ago. Still, I miss her a lot. I know the pain of losing…
I read a lot everyday. Sometimes I am reading all day long. I always have several books on the go so, at any given time, I am reading between 2 and 5 books. I read each for a few hours and then change to another one. I told one of my friends and he was slightly offended. Like if I was bragging or…
What are the next three books on your to read list? I’m interested to hear your answers and maybe some of these books are actually on my list. The first one for me is one of Us is lying by Karen McManus. On my huge list I have a lot of murder mysteries and this is the first one I’m going to read.…
I just saw on tv that there's a new remake of West Side Story coming out. This got me thinking what if books also got the same treatment as movies did. What if every 20-25 years a classic got rerelease but also rewritten by a different author? Would the new release be better? What changes would…
I've never met anyone who agrees with me that Elizabeth Bennet is the worst. Maybe it's because I'm not a romantic person but I just HATE how Austen has framed it where Elizabeth's mother/ best friend are shallow in their pursuit of security over romance and the only way to mark a "good person" is…
What a Rollercoaster. I am a fan of emotional auto biography already. And this book doesn't fail to deliver. Trevor noah talks about his early life. And It was quiet a read. I was hooked from the first few lines. I am lost for words as i JUST finished it like few minutes ago. And i still need to…
Something recently published would be preferred. Female lead or at least prominent female character is preferred. I love everything Naomi Novik has written, I love Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (which honestly could have been marketed as an adult novel), Brandon Sanderson, Holly Black, Neil Gaiman,…
who the fuck says "sockfeet"? I have never heard that expression in my life, and I'm no spring chicken, and it was used in that book 1/2 a dozen times. Do people say that in Texas? Anyhow, that's not really a complaint, I liked the way it was written and found it to be really interesting and…
I never thought I'd read a book written by the Fresh Prince. "Will" is a very well told celebrity coming of age story, it's probably the best autobiography I've read. I highly recommend the audio book, he narrates it himself and it's one of the best produced titles that I have ever listened to. For…
No book I have read has ever managed to hit me as hard emotionally as The Art of Racing in the Rain.
Wow. I consider myself pretty well read; I read all different genres and subjects - but I have to say that this book tore me apart unlike any other. The writing style is not incredibly elegant or complex, as Garth Stein seems to prefer simplicity, from what I can tell. But man, this book just hit…
Looking for a book with a lesbian romance (ideally not very steamy, not looking for erotica. Kind of along the lines of PG-13 sex can happen but I just don’t want a huge explicit detailed account of sexy bits because I tend to read while on the go and it creeps me out reading full on erotica in…
Well I had this conversation with someone who doesn't read much and asked me what I liked so much about reading regarding it's only words and no image. Their argue was that movies provide you with the picture too. Then I told them that when I'm reading I actually "see" the picture in my mind and…
…and really loved it. Any recommendations for similar books?
So, I’ve read the first book in this series that’s been on my radar for a while. I hated it. Every word. As I finished each chapter, I wanted to tear the pages out and use it to wipe my butt. HATED it. I’m not going to name the series, because it’s not the point of this question; and, also, I’ve…
I've been waiting for this since I was 15. "The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend." It took 20+ years to get through the books and I'm so excited to get home tonight and watch this series that has been with me longer than almost all of my relationships.…
So I recently heard of Kafka and that he is supposed to be a literary genius or something, so I picked up a couple of his books, Metamorphasis, and the Trial. I read both and yes I think he is a genius. My take on his stories was that it was a comedy, it was a comedy showing the absurdity of human…
I mean I know they're out there, but it doesnt seem like the genre is as robust as it is in film. Theres the Parker novels but those are from the 60s. With how many books are detective mysteries, it seems it would be equally appealing for an author or reader to spin a web of complexities with a…
I’m fairly new to reading for fun (as an adult, I used to read all the time as a kid) and oftentimes have trouble opening up to others about what I’m reading. It might be in part because most of my friends don’t read much, but I always feel shy about what I’m reading. Especially if it’s not…
I usually don't have the time to get through long books, so I thought I'd make use of quarantine to read one. So I'm looking for books that will take me a week to get through, but will be worth the effort.
What’s the best book series that you’ve ever read in your life? And I’m talking about the best characters,the best plot,best romance,etc.
The way that the characters are written so deep and such a wonderful story with a lot of good and bad moments. I felt that Pierre was almost my alter ego I never related so much to a character like him. Sorry if I sound a bit too excited it's because this book is so good. If you guys want to let's…
I was one of those kids who loved reading growing up, specifically fantasy and sci fi, and then after high school pretty much stopped entirely, but this year in January I got super deep into warhammer 40k and found it has so much lore that enthralled me to no end, and I as I happened to start a new…
Hi everyone - broad request - recently I bought the book of a film I saw on Netflix. I’m wondering if anyone has any book recommendations which tie in with any other films or series on UK Netflix. All fiction genres welcome. Thanks in advance!
So Im sure you all know that there has been a lot of talk about banning books and censoring books. It has gotten to the point where even bills are being drafted right now to "deal" with this issue. However, i feel there is something a lot of people miss which is a lot of these books that get…
I've been reading a lot of books like Sharp Objects, Silent Patient, The Woman in the Window, etc and while I love that genre, i'm looking to venture out into other page turners of different genres. I can get bored easily if the plot isn't engaging / making me wonder what's about to happen. I…
I bought the book a year and a half ago but I never got around to reading it. I finally decided to read it last night and I finished it in one sitting. I seriously think this book changed my life, like I can’t stop thinking about Mariam and her story. I cried so hard by the end of the book and even…
Exhalation is a collection of short stories but the titular short story it contains "Exhalation" is a study in sheer, nihilistic beauty. It's like the elements of magical realism intersected with hard-core science mixed with existentialism. As I read this story, which was heavily centric on…
I just put down The Tattooist of Auschwitz, 70 pages in. I'm realizing I shouldn't even pick up books taking place in the holocaust. It could be a great book but the holocaust just makes me too upset. I also put down The Color Purple earlier this year because I was disturbed by the treatment. I…
There are many theories as to why GRRM hasn't published the 6th book in his epic series from being lazy to having other projects but one I don't hear enough about is that it might be impossible to actually finish. After book 3, when there were still many plots and sub plots dangling, rather than…
As suggested, I finished The Lies of Locke Lamora today and really just want to talk about it! For me, it's one of the only fantasy books I've read where our central characters aren't magic users. Yeah, they use magic for their disguises and ploys, but they themselves are just some ordinary…
My dad is letting me use his phone for this. He is being annoying about it but he said that you would have good ideas. I liked Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Fortunately the Milk, The Machine Stops, Interview With The Robot, the Discworld for Kids series, Norse Mythology by Neil Gayman, the…
It seems like it is a pretty standard part of school reading curriculums, but for some reason it wasn’t a part of mine growing up. I decided I wanted a change of pace this summer and wow, I did not expect what I read. The book itself is noticeably flat, but that’s not to say boring. Each…
I run a book club and I’d love to find a fantasy novel that is not the first instalment of 3 or more books in a series. Is there such a thing for fantasy novels anymore?? Help!!
So I'm reading a series of kids books (everworld). They're probably around 15 years old and I would guess they're aimed at 13-14 y/o. For reasons unimportant here 3 guys and 1 girls (aged 16-17) go through all the gear, items and equipment they have on them. One of the items mentioned is tampons. A…
I’m reading Project Hail Mary because I love science and sci-fi, but it’s a struggle to continue. Weir’s writing style is juvenile and painfully unfunny. Some examples from the first few pages: “You…be quiet.” “Okay. I think it’s time I took a long gosh-darned look at these screens!” “And that…
Just finished the first three books of the Vorkosigan Saga - what a ride! I wish someone had told me about them a long time ago, I don't think the series is getting nearly the attention it deserves. At first blush they are breezy, page-turning, character-driven sci fi, but there is so much happening…
Below is the mentioned opening paragraph which says: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the…
I'm a really slow reader and it takes me multiple times to focus on lines because my mind wanders. I also don't really have a big vocabulary so I have to look up words when I don't know them. I don't know why I'm really typing this but I guess I just want to ask if it's normal to read at a slow…
Yeah, so as the title says, I want something absolutely terrifying but not in a cheap horror sense. A book that made your blood freeze, remained in the back of your mind and didn't let you sleep at night. Horror, thriller, psychology, whatever you've got.
I can't believe it's over. Took me almost 2 years to read. On one hand, such an incredible series and on the other it was such a slog. I knew that if I started another book I wouldn't get back into this one so I persevered and it was totally worth it. The character arcs, the detail, it was all…
I was recently listening to an audio recording of The Thanksgiving Day Murder by Lee Harris. The book was published in 1995 and relies heavily on telephone landlines, pay phones, and calling collect to advance the communication among the characters. It got me wondering: Does this constitute…
I was just thinking about this the other day. Because of the nature of reading you both have to actively think "this is the mountain region of this country" but you also passively imagine the area or have to passively keep the setting in mind. Setting is an easy one but even with vocabulary, each…
I have been kind of down recently. A lot of things happening and I don’t know where I’m going with life. But I just recently started reading eye of the world (the first wheel of time book) and I have so much excitement to pick it back up every time I have to put it down. I love books with lots of…
"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."
Nothing too deep in this post but I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of technical writing in it but I think it added to the immersion of the story. And Mark (main char.) was so easy going with everything and took his situation in stride. I won't spoil anything although I will put a tag just in…
I honestly feel like the His Dark Materials trilogy was the first work of art that made me truly understand and feel romantic love. When I read it as a 12 year old boy the last volume introduced me to feelings that I had never felt before and that went much deeper than lust or infatuation. I…
It wasn't that the ending was sad, I was just sad because I was saying goodbye to all the wonderful characters I got to know throughout this book (and yes I know there's more books). Daniel, Fermin, Julian, Nuria, the watchmaker, the school teacher, everyone...they all embodied such a strong and…
I'm rereading the Anita Blake vampire hunter novels and I swear Anita is just a sad submissive simp with Stockholm syndrome. It's not a reverse harem... I want my female characters to be very independent and strong willed if they are trying to protray a reverse harem... Not some sad chick who is…
The book was about 600 pages long but I honestly did not want it to end! Donna Tartt has such a way with words that her prose has left such a big impression on me. Even her describing foliage and environment was beautiful, like each word was carefully picked to hold up a sentence. I completely get…
I haven't finished the book yet, and I have no idea who the murderer is. I like it enough to start over to try and work it out, but only if there are enough clues in the text. I've avoided reading anything about this book (I'm familiar with the trope/stock storyline), so I'm not even fully certain…
Looking through bookstores, I always hear my grandmother's voice in my head saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover. There could be much more to it." I later realize that, while I love my grandmother, she was absolutely wrong in this case. You should judge a book by its cover, but not because that…
I'm feeling like I'm running out of time to do things, especially read. There are like 8 books I want to read right this moment, but I know that if I do that, I won't be able to truly experience any of them. I'm feeling as if I should have the wisdom of those books as soon as possible so that I can…
On paper it seemed as if e books would have turned copies of physical books into the next radio shack. I mean, you can ten books on you in a slim, portable, backlit device. With real books the more you carry the heavier they are, you need sufficient light and if you get too many you might have to…
Book Returned to Montclair Public Library 43-Years Overdue [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/montclair/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/book-returned-to-montclair-public-library-43-years-overdue] By NATALIE HEARD HACKETT PublishedNovember 8, 2021 at 1:02 AM Last UpdatedNovember 8, 2021 at…
I was bored so I actually ran though a sequence of Goodreads profiles and complied these covers [https://i.imgur.com/HDO2Rut.jpg] to make a point. I'm a grown man. I rarely read YA, I've read about 5 of these and enjoyed maybe 2. But even the other ones just keep looking really enticing to…
I loved it. I've never felt/thought such thing while reading a book, but I loved every single sentence of it. By that I don't mean I loved the whole book as a whole piece (but obviously I did), I mean I loved every single sentence of it, one by one. Sometimes I read one sentence over and over again,…
Such a great mind bender. Have you read anything that reminds you of this show?
Most of my friends have collections of books they’ve read, or have a small library in their homes. My family only ever buys books on holidays, so we get 90% of our books from the library. When I am done with a book thats been purchased, and I don’t think il read it again, Il usually donate it or…
i had this book on my reading list for the longest time, so i finally caved in and bought the book around two weeks ago and i’ve finished it last night, and after having organised my thoughts, i decided i want to discuss it. i’ve read many other books in the past year, covid made me retake the…
I hear a lot of times that a lot of readers were reading fanatics when they were younger. Although I wasn’t much of a reader in elementary school (i simply did not have the focus to finish a book), I was a reading fanatic in middle school. My favorite series at that time was The Lunar Chronicles by…
And what a roller coaster. I’ve seen the 80’s version a few times, so I new most of the big beats going in, but you know how things change when they get adapted (or are buried in tainted land). I was fascinated by the descriptions of the pets not being quite right after they came back, and how…
"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" is a sci-fi piece by Ted Chiang [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Chiang]. I've always enjoyed Chiang's work but this is the first time I've come across this particular story. It may be my favorite work from him to date. It made me feel more human and alive,…
Just finished part one, and don’t wish to have it spoiled but just need a place to let out what I feel so far. This is truly the greatest novel I have ever read and I’m glad I waited till now that I’m in my later 40s. I feel as though I can appreciate it more. I’m amazed at how Tolstoy is able to…
Hey Fellow Bookworms, I’m here for a specific request today. I’m a college student. It’s my dad’s birthday and he LOVES reading. He was a stay-at-home dad and he was just absolutely wonderful. When I was a kid, he would go out of his way to get me any book I asked for and he would always read to me…
What is that one book that feels fresh every time you read it, no matter how many times you read it?
There are some books that feel fresh no matter how many times you read it in the past. You see a plot twist coming, yet you approach it with the same amount of enthusiasm that you had back when you read it for the first time. For me, any one of the Harry Potter series makes this list. The…
I was on a flight, talking to a woman who grew up in Paris, France. As a traveler, I'm always interested in what people around the world were assigned to read in high school. She gave me this list: * Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant * Germinal and L'Assommoir by Émile Zola * Les Misérables by Victor…
I am a longtime reader of Philippa Gregory and a history teacher. I know that she flubs the history or completely makes things up and while it makes me grit my teeth, I can get over it. But seriously, what I can't get over is her insane obsession with incest. That's what makes things bad for me,…
I'm currently reading Time Out of Joint and really enjoying it. It also reminds me a lot of the film the Truman Show, and parts of WandaVision where there's strange things happening and the characters are slowly being suspicious of their reality. Looking for similar books, bonus points if it's…
I [33f] recently went on a date with a guy [35m] who seemed cool and that we have a bunch in common. When we started talking about books and what we've been reading, I said I mostly love nonfiction and detailed a few of the books I've recently read about the history of WWII, Churchill, Bad Blood by…
I mean, shouldn't you read at your own pace? Why the big hurry to finish a book or anything in particular? I actually learned how to stop subvocalizing and sometimes chunk the words. However, reading too fast puts strain on my eyes. Currently reading Harry Potter and why should I speed read through…
I haven't read a book in a very long time, I'm so glad that I decided to start with Giovanni's room. It was so captivating and sensual. It has a woken me from a deep slumber and I am just so happy to have read it. James Bladwin taps into humanity of obligation and self-sacrifice in such a poetic…
I used to NEVER not finish a book. Now I feel like I do it all the time, like half the books I've started in the last few months. I just lose interest or I'm not motivated to pick it up and eventually it has to go back to the library. I'm not sure if this is because I'm less willing to waste my time…
I could be in the mood for a good adventure, mystery, sci-fi, or mythology type genre. Or leadership, how-to, history, outdoors, various world views…you get the picture. Pretty much anything?
I didn’t like history very much when I was younger. But I have recently discovered I enjoy it a lot when it’s narrated as a novel and I’m looking for suggestions. PS: preferably not English history, I already have lots of suggestions on that topic.
I thought Keyes did a fine job on developing pathos for pre-treatment Charlie, but once he had the treatment (Charlie, not Keyes), he turned into a thoroughly unlikeable person. The slide back to his former self restored some part of the pathos, but it felt mawkish, perhaps gratuitous. There didn't…
When I started reading, I was greatful for having the original edition (not the American one that the film is based on), but when I finished it, I felt that the ending lacks the organic structure of the previous chapters. It was an amazing book with characters who weigh in on the main character,…
...and I don't know if it is appropriate to post about the narrators on this sub, but I just have to say, Thandiwe Newton has done a stupendous job! I am still not done with it, in fact I only just finished the first part (her life in Lowood). I was listening to it on my way to work and the…
Suggest me some of your favorite reads of 2021! Some of mine have been Project Hail Mary and Piranesi
I knew nothing about Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" before picking it up. It is well written, great characterizations, plot pace is perfect, the work of a fine writer at her best ... I had to stop and put it away, half-unread. Her depiction of collapsing America, riven by dissention as…
I've always loved how K-dramas present romance and the way that many of them seamlessly blend elements of fantasy into their modern world, some of my favorites are Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon, Drama world, and Black. I would love any recommendations!
I liked Lost, I liked everything about it besides the damn end. Are there any REALLY good books similar to Lost out there? Thanks! (I don't care if it's Horror, Thriller or Mystery) EDIT: I meant literally the lost on an island with mystery things going on part :D
Every year on this day I'm reminded of Kurt Vonnegut's musings on the day from the novel Breakfast of Champions: > So this book is a sidewalk strewn with junk, trash which I throw over my > shoulders as I travel in time back to November eleventh, nineteen hundred and > twenty-two. > > I will come…
I majored in literature, and I often joke it's part of the reason that I "don't read literature." That is not entirely true, I do find that I tend towards genre fiction, young adult stuff, fantasy adventure, light novels, paranormal romances and stuff that puts entertainment over academic merit. At…
One of my all-time favorites. I know the movie was pretty close to the book, but I think it failed to really capture a lot of the subtlety. There's something about the way Hunter wrote that invited a certain slowness for me. More than once I stopped to try to understand references, people, that…
This book was so deep and it just plays with human emotions.The characters are so well written and this story just questions if there is any humanity left in this world.i can't stop my tears running down my cheeks while u get into the last 100 pages.i learned a lot about afganistan from this…
I joined the Harry Potter train late. I first saw the movies and was impressed by them. They are well made entertainment with a lot of heart. I later read the books and found them even better than the movies. The movies breeze past you because they cover a lot in a short span. Whereas the books,…
Hello, I'm looking for books that start out normal, and slowly get completely nuts by the end like House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Fanged Noumena by Nick Land. Bonus points if the text itself becomes incoherent!
Unseen Academicals: Sometimes people fool themselves into believing things that aren't true. Sometimes that can be quite dangerous for the person. They see the world in a wrong way. They won't let themselves see what they believe is wrong. But often there is a part of the mind that does know, and…
It’s not hard to see why Jane Eyre is considered a masterpiece. The first that becomes apparent is the author Charlotte Brontë’s deeply beautiful command of the English language throughout the novel, with descriptions of vengeance like: > Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time. As…
If you're one of those people who "used to read for hours at a time" when you were a kid but now struggle to do even 15 mins straight, consider seeing an optometrist and having your vision checked. Many people's eyesight starts to degrade in their 30s or 40s. You might not notice it in your day to…
Just finished Jane Eyre and it blew me away! The best part of the book is honestly her character because the boldness of her spirit, her passion, and agency really struck a chord in me — it felt so modern for a book set in that era. I can imagine how groundbreaking this must have been. I can totally…
Just not in the mood for anything dark or edgy right now. Edit: My grandma passed away and I just want a warm hug of a book to distract me while I travel to the funeral.
All I could think about while reading these books is what I would do if I had to try and raise my family in one of these countries that are ravaged by the drug trade. The fact that the books are based off of real life events make my soul hurt. I knew it was bad but these books really give you…
i just finished this novel for the first time yesterday and i’m devastated. that ending well and truly killed me off and i don’t think i’m ever going to recover. it’s been such a long time since i’ve connected with a book this much and it’s such a nice feeling, but now everything in my life can’t…
As an Asian, I want to read some books not set in Western countries. Some of such books I really liked, * Shogun by James Clavell (Set in Japan and one of my favourite books ever) * Tai Pan also by James Clavell (Hong-Kong) * A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (I know Russia is considered to…
It is really hard to explain why and I am not sure how to write about it. However, I would like to express my gratitude toward the person who recommended it here in the comment section of r/books [/r/books] a couple(?) of weeks back so I made this little post to maybe make others aware of the book…
I've been trying to look for a book that would at least help me heal. Thank you.
We tend to favor things that leave a good first impression, and as such I think we're more likely to run into things that leave us feeling let down. But what's a book where you've had the opposite experience? Where you started out distinctly not liking it. Perhaps the story took it's time moving…
A while ago I got bored and picked up the first book in the series, Written in Red. I'm not really sure why since it's not the type of book I usually read at all and I assumed it was a werewolf-esque romance (no shame if you like that, it's just not my thing) but it wasn't. It was absolutely amazing…
So, in my mid 40's I finally got around to reading Pride and Prejudice. I have to admit I was very pleasantly surprised by the book. It pulled me in. Never have I been so tempted to Google a book or read the last chapter so that I could find out what happened faster than reading could get me there.…
I don't have a favorite dedication - although I'm sure there are some great/creative ones out there - but my favorite epigraph is the from Steve Koll's Directorate S (2018), which chronicles "The CIA and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001-2016" with a focus on the role of…
Hi guys, I'm looking for a book with a detective/macabre crime theme that also deals with reality and deep philosophical insights into Nietzsche and Marquis de Sade and toxic masculinity. I really liked this show but have never read anything like this. Love the HP Lovecraft influence while still…
The Iron Dream is about a hero who finds himself drawn into an epic struggle against an evil empire of mind-controlling mutants who seek to destroy the forces of good. After rooting out one of the mutants, he gets in a fight with a bunch of rogues and wins a powerful, mystical weapon of old that…
A while ago, I read The Only Good Indians by Stephan Gram Jones that was recommended to me by an employee at my local book store. I bought it because it looked interesting and because she said it was good, and I didn't bother finishing it even though I was a hand full of pages left from finishing…
A little background. A while ago, someone posted here asking for advice on how to combat his ignorance through reading. There was comment that really struck a chord with me and inspired me to start reading to increase my understanding of the world and also to value books beyond just for being…
I've recently been hard core binging the outlander series, and I'm looking for other romances that are similar in style. Basically that it's got a plot beyond the steamy stuff, and that the steamy sections are as well-written as the rest of the book. It's real frustrating to be into a romantic/sexy…
I was on r/AskMen [/r/AskMen] this morning reading a post about male stereotypes people feel are untrue and found it very interesting. As someone who’s currently in therapy dealing the the repercussions of certain masculine stereotypes being forced at a young age, I’d be interested in finding a…
For context, I was born in 95 so I was there for the Harry Potter, Twilight & Hunger Games craze, and to be honest I miss it. The closest I can think of would be the mid 2010’s Game of Thrones phenomena, which was due in large part to the very successful HBO show. I know that the world was pretty…
The movie just came out. Part of me wants to wait until I have read the book. I know the Frank Herbert novel is often considered one of the best science fiction books of all-time. But I have also heard some mixed opinions about it. EDIT: To be specific, I only mean the first book.
Not the magical fantasy type though. The super power type. I know this also know this sounds cliche, but I also like the plot where there is one person who is more special than everyone else for some reason (like they might have more powerful abilities, or someone is hunting them for some reason, or…
It's just lazy. I dont care how down to earth or likeable a main character is. When the perspective comes across like every woman they encounter is either lusting after them, or being sized-up and put into different categories of dream-girl archetypes, it turns the otherwise relatable main…
I have read David Copperfield quite a few times so I enjoy reading it before bed. Why? Because I've read it before so there are no surprises. I've tried reading new books but they keep me up because I get excited about what happens next. Then I tried reading boring books and of course then I lose…
Looking for good books where a small town is a big part of the story, almost like another character. Genre doesn’t matter, any good reads???
is how much I like Dolores' character archetype. I absolutely love reading about sassy, bratty, filthy, wild, and naive and yet precocious little girl characters (though I sure don't appreciate the sort in real life all that much). There's something really compelling about these characters in…
Quoth Siddhartha: “What should I possibly have to tell you, O venerable one? Perhaps that you’re searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don’t find the time for finding?” [...] “When someone is searching,” said Siddhartha, “then it might easily happen that the only thing his eyes…