List as many or as few as you like!
You must log in or register to comment.
Lord of the Rings just about saved my life in high school. Possession by A.S. Byatt. Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, though I’ve yet to read the sequels. Atonement by Ian McEwan. Just about anything by Geoff Ryman, Ali Smith, José Saramago, or Sheri Holman.
Your taste seems like exactly the sort of thing I’d enjoy, do you have any specific suggestions for someone who absolutely loves Eco’s metafictional novels in particular and metafiction in general? (Aside from Possession, which I’ve never heard of but is going directly on my to-read list)
I recently read How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu, which I really liked. It is science fictional, though, but maybe not…maybe more surreal. Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, David Markson. I started Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavić many years ago, got interrupted, and haven’t got back to it, but I definitely need to because it was so intriguing in form.
So, for me, the cliche answer is Lord of the Rings. But another book that I’ve always really loved, is East by Edith Pattou. It’s a very simple fantasy story, but I read it when I was much younger and it’s always just felt very comfy and cozy whenever I read it.
I’m putting east on my TBR list! Thank you for sharing!
I really hope you’ll enjoy it! The sequel, West is also good, though a bit weaker than East. I don’t often reread books, just because I would rather spend my reading time with a book I haven’ yet read, but East is one of the few books I’ve made an exception for; I must have read that book four or five times by now.
a few of importance to me:
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Guards! Guards!
Piranesi
The Scar
Probably the one I re-read the most with fond memories is Hellspark by Janet Kagan.
A series I enjoy because I felt it captured the sheer horror of the xeno-menace the best was called The Vang series by Christopher Rowley, in particular book 2 always gives me the heebeejeebee’s.
For more modern books, the Cradle series by Will Wight that just wrapped up has been a fun time for me and I re-read my favorite sections often.
The Gospel Singer by Harry Crews. It’s a masterpiece of grit lit. If you’re not one to shy away from themes like religious obsession, violence and racism, I can highly recommend it.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I had no idea writing, even fiction, could be so ridiculous and non-traditional. It really shaped my imagination from a young age.
The Void Trilogy from Peter F. Hamilton read the books and listened to the audio books several times already.
It’s sci-fi and fantasy in one stunning epos.
I really didn’t read much for a bunch of my life. Now that I’m out of school I’m finally trying to read a bunch of stuff. I recently did all the cosmere stuff so I guess for now I’d have to say stormlight, and war breaker. Just love those books a lot. I’m sure my opinions will change as I keep reading a bunch though
Really anything from Brandon Sanderson I’ve come across has been amazing. I think I first found out about him when he wrote a short story/book in the Infinity Blade game universe.
If you like Brandon Sanderson, have you tried the red rising series? They felt really similar to me
I have not, but have heard it recommended. I’m sort of in a reading lull lately, but I’ll add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion!
Yeah! I think that connection to infinity blade was part of why kelsier ended up being a Fortnite character lol
I’ll use a few categories for my favorites.
For my most nostalgic book series, I’d choose the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques. It was one of the first series I got seriously into, and at one point I had all of them collected (I think they’re in a box in my parents’ house right now). Sure, they get formulaic and samey after a while, but they’re comfy reads for me.
For my favorite recent read, I’d probably choose Bunny by Mona Awad. I’m a huge fan of the “weird book” genre and this book came up over and over as a suggestion so I picked it up. And oh boy is this book a wild ride. I enjoyed it, but I’d add a caution that I would proceed with caution if you are prone to psychosis, because at the end it made me feel like reality itself was unwinding.
One of my favorite authors of all time is Akaweke Emezi, and my favorite of their work is The Death of Vivek Oji. Reading it fully tore my heart apart, and then taped a few pieces back together.
it’s three books, but i got Kim Stanley Robinson’s Three Californias Triptych in a one-book volume (the volume is huge) for $20 and that’s probably pound for pound the single best book purchase i’ve ever made. his writing may not be for you, but if it is he’s kind of one of a kind as an author. i don’t know anyone who writes quite like he does
Oh, this looks cool. I am a sucker for stories that take place only a few years into the futute, that slice of life sci fi drama.
Tenously related, The Nexus Trilogy by Ramez Naam is dope as hell. Probably my favorite science fiction that takes place 20 minutes into the future.
I will throw down for Pride and Prejudice. It is 95% shade.
- the colour purple by Alice walker
- the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’m a sucker for books that have the main character fight so hard for who they are and who they want to be. To see their transformation and growth into the people they stand proud as at the end of the day? 🥺
And yes the MCs are both queer!
(Feel free to drop a reply/pm to rec books like this!)
motorcycle diaries by che guevara
i don’t necessarily think it is a masterpiece, and i’m aware che is quite the controversial character, but the book struck all the right cords for me. adventure and history are some of my favorite themes, which was an immediate plus, but what had me hooked were the encounters with common folk. can’t quite put into words why, frankly.
Well, not sure if Light Novels are accepted, but Mushoku Tensei by Rifujin na Magonote is unquestionably my favourite. Whilst it’s understandably critiqued for it’s choice of unsavoury topics, it’s the only book I’ve ever read that tells the story of a person genuinely learning from, and reflecting upon the mistakes they’ve made in the past.
Also Holes by Louis Sacher is pretty neato.
Neuromancer is still a solid favorite.
EDIT: Forgot to add, now that I wandered over to my little bookshelf, I have quite a bit of Raymond Benson’s work. Along with the Metal Gear Solid novel adaptations.
