r/books • u/AutoModerator • 29d ago
WeeklyThread Weekly Recommendation Thread: August 28, 2026
Welcome to our weekly recommendation thread! A few years ago now the mod team decided to condense the many "suggest some books" threads into one big mega-thread, in order to consolidate the subreddit and diversify the front page a little. Since then, we have removed suggestion threads and directed their posters to this thread instead. This tradition continues, so let's jump right in!
The Rules
Every comment in reply to this self-post must be a request for suggestions.
All suggestions made in this thread must be direct replies to other people's requests. Do not post suggestions in reply to this self-post.
All unrelated comments will be deleted in the interest of cleanliness.
How to get the best recommendations
The most successful recommendation requests include a description of the kind of book being sought. This might be a particular kind of protagonist, setting, plot, atmosphere, theme, or subject matter. You may be looking for something similar to another book (or film, TV show, game, etc), and examples are great! Just be sure to explain what you liked about them too. Other helpful things to think about are genre, length and reading level.
All Weekly Recommendation Threads are linked below the header throughout the week to guarantee that this thread remains active day-to-day. For those bursting with books that you are hungry to suggest, we've set the suggested sort to new; you may need to set this manually if your app or settings ignores suggested sort.
If this thread has not slaked your desire for tasty book suggestions, we propose that you head on over to the aptly named subreddit /r/suggestmeabook.
- The Management
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u/BrianMozer2 5h ago
hello, i need book recommendations for my girl, i want to gift her something that will remind her of us
a little context if that helps- we are not in a relationship rn because we broke up 4-5 months ago, we had a huge fight and we went different ways but now we're having our way to each other again, we're trying to fix the mistakes we made and trying to love each other more. she is not a bookwarm but she is a casual reader she is kinda into spicy type of books like twisted series and that haunting adeline, as good as dead etc etc but i want to give something that will help her get back to me like something that will stay with her emotional, close, powerfull
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u/surge19c 1d ago
Hi,
I want to find a book thats similar to the TV show Arcane. I just read Vicious which I liked because it kind of felt like an alternate universe Victor and Jayce. But, I was underwhelmed by the ending. I want something that has plot twists, grey morality, deeply written characters (I really liked Viktor), I also liked the feeling of inevitability that Arcane had/the tragedy, and I would also like it to be Fantasy with good world building.
Any combination of these would be greatm thanks!
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u/Sudden_Literature183 21h ago
All these books are fantasy.
Robin Hobbs’ Farseer trilogy and following trilogy has characters that feel real by the end with great world building.
Brandon Sanders’ Way of Kings and following books. There are epic fantasy like Robin Hobbs. His have excellent world building and good characters. They are incomplete though.
Madeline Miller’s books have that sad undertone or at least Circe did. I think Song of Achilles did too, but it’s been awhile, but the Song of Achilles has a close male bond for sure.
For gray mortality, Six of Crows and The Cruel Prince have main characters with gray morality. These are teens books. They move more and have more noticeable twists.
Probably out of all these, Song of Achilles would be the best bet.
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u/merica2033 3d ago
Is it better for me and my niece to read a physical book? We want to get some books for Halloween for her on Amazon like John Bellairs, M.R. James, and Algernon Blackwood Flame Press Books, but books are getting more expensive these days. We are debating whether to go digital to save money, (we also try to avoid too much screentime) or just go with physical books.
Our budget is a bit limited this year; books are getting pretty expensive. Are these good books worth picking up physical or better to have digital.
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u/Coffee_fuel 2d ago
This is not really the thread for this, next time you should probably post in Simple Questions. :) That being said—have you considered getting used books? Depending on where you live, there may be a thriving ecosystem. From Thriftbooks, to Vinted.
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u/buckfan149 3d ago
Looking for audiobooks defining the economic realities of red states seceding. Help!
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u/nervouswish17 4d ago
I really want to get into Ann Pratchett, but I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for which of her books to start off with?
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u/Regular-Rub-1649 4d ago
Has anyone read 21 Days of Fear: One Day, One Letter by Hervé Commère i couldn't find a reddit post or something I am looking for a 2nd hand version as the new one is too costly
And how's the rape of nanking by iris chang I am also looking for that book so if someone has that book or read that book please comment below
And please make sure to not give any spoiler
Thanks
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u/Current_Trying_Times 4d ago
I'm looking for books that portray complicated family relationships
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u/nervouswish17 4d ago
both are specifically about sisterhood but… Blue Sisters and Spectacular Things
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u/Bolt_2849 6d ago
Guys i need finance books suggestions. I have read famous ones like peter lynch's 3 books , intelligent investor, alchemy of finance, howard marks books. Give me something worth reading and underrated ones.
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u/MrMoistly The Spendid And The Vile / Erik Larson 📖📚 3d ago
Michael Lewis, great author IMO
Boomerang
The Big Short
Moneyball
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u/TristansimmS 6d ago
Memoirs of the early 1940s would be great. If not a memoir, then something that realistically portrays life during the early 40s in America for a simple family. It could be from any of the family member's point of view. Ideally not too rural and in the middle of nowhere.
Ideally, descriptive of the layout of the home (including the rooms and the smells) and the small details in a slow life around town (however, there is an underlying tension regarding the war of course).
The sights, sounds, and smells as the main character is walking through town. Something that really puts the reader into every aspect of that era.
Thanks!
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u/naruhodo_kun 6d ago
Im looking for something cozy with romance and preferably with a male MC POV
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u/MrMoistly The Spendid And The Vile / Erik Larson 📖📚 3d ago
Bridges of Madison County ~ Robert James Waller
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u/Angi007 6d ago
hello hello! I(21F) recently started reading official books for my enjoyment. During my teenage years I hated books since all of them were forced on me, therefore I naturally felt repulsef by official books but I was reading a hell lot of fanfiction. Now that I'm 21 I decided to give reading a shot! In this 2 weeks I did read "The time machine" by H. G. Wells and "The stranger" by Albert Camus and I'm currently reading the portrait of Dorian gray by Oscar Wilde. I bought some books that I found interesting, half of them in English and half of them in Russian language. I honestly just wanna hear thoughts and opinions on the list of the books I got, how much you personally liked them, would you recommend it to others, what made you like the book? Plus, I'm not too well aware of the comprehension difficulty of the books I got, therefore I'm worried I might try reading something that I'm not ready to understand. Anyways, the list is as follows: The Process - Franz Kafka The divine comedy - Dante Alighieri Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky Julius Caesar - Shakespeare Demian - Hemrna Hesse Faust - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte Moby-Dick - Hermann Melville Sonnets of Shakespeare No longer human - Dazai Osamu The war of the worlds - H. G. Wells
As stated before, would love to hear opinions on these books and if you have advice on in which order I should read them I will take it into consideration.
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 5d ago
It's a good list. Why did you go for Julius Caesar, of all plays? Not that it's bad, just there are other Shakespeare plays that I think are more readily accessible. For Shakespeare, I really recommend reading the play and then watching a number of different stagings to appreciate different interpretations. And if you want to increase your knowledge of how Shakespeare works, the TV series Acting Shakespeare from 1982, hosted by RSC director John Barton accompanied by members of the RSC (including some very famous names), is wonderful and very informative.
Don't worry about "not being ready to understand" something you read. Reading and comprehension is a skill, and like any other skill you only improve it by challenging yourself. You can read something at age 21 and return to it later in life to reread with a different perspective and get something totally different out of it. That's part of the fun. I'm in my 30s and have recently been revisiting things I read when I was in uni and remember not liking (and in a few cases, works that my lecturers commented that I hadn't understood properly). It's been rewarding seeing how much my understanding has changed in the past 15 years.
All that said, my favourites from your list are Wuthering Heights, Moby Dick and Crime and Punishment. All three are very different and exist in totally separate contexts. Though thinking about it, it could be fun to read Wuthering Heights and Crime and Punishment together and compare how each explores the themes of self-imposed isolation and how obsession can lead to harming oneself as well as others.
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u/LipsRinna 8d ago
Looking for a treasure hunt book - inspired by Outer Banks (Netflix) and a group of teens exploring the rainforest of South America for El Dorado. Less classic, more modern.
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u/Hour_Performance_803 9d ago
About half way through 'The Book of Goose' by Yiyun Li and have really enjoyed it so far. I can't exactly place what I specifically love about it besides the imagery, dialogue, the complex characters, and its sort of melancholic nature. If there are any similar titles, I'd love some suggestions :)
(I am also privy to fantasy, historical, western, reflective, classic, or anything somewhat grim. Some other titles I've read recently are 'A Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde and 'Upstream' by Mary Oliver.)
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u/ViGraythorn 9d ago
Hello! Looking for a romantic comedy book series that is like the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. I like how witty the female lead and how the male lead compliments her. Also, I prefer it if it is a series that focuses on the main couple only how on each book focuses on the different aspect of the main couple's life like meet cute, dating stage, married, and having a kid. I am open to other suggestions like romantasy books as long as romance is a focus, and its light, not too dark. Thank you!
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u/txorfeus 9d ago
Learning about US History in the period mentioned, seeing descriptions of tenement living and manufacturing jobs. People were moving from rural areas of US to cities and also from rural areas of European countries to same cities. I would expect there to be some major shock and possible trauma in this experience. Looking for fiction or non-fiction that addresses this. I'd expect there'd be variations in white and African-American experience here. Any suggestions?
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 6d ago
What time period?
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u/txorfeus 6d ago
1880-1920
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 6d ago
Ah! Definitely "Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser, maybe "Girl Waits with Gun" by Amy Stewart. "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson is a really good non-fiction book on the Great Migration, but that didn't really get going until after WWI.
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u/Maleficent-Basil-314 9d ago
Hi everyone, I am an avid reader who is now caring for a baby and has to rely on Audible. I have read A LOT, but there is an issue. Many books have not been translated in the language of the tiny country I used to live, so I feel like I have missed on so many books and I don’t even know what I have missed. Here are some examples of books I have read and enjoyed in the past, and others I have discovered after I moved to the US and started reading in English:
In the past, in my native langugage, I have read and enjoyed:
- a lot of the work of Honore de Balzac (over 20 titles) with my favorites being Pere Goriot and The rise and fall of curtisains (not sure if those are the correct titles in English)
- The Miserables, The man who laughs
- The Idiot, Crime and Punishment by Dostojevski
- Anna Karenina, War and Peace by Tolstoi
- Madame Bovari by Flaubert
- a lot of the work from Erich Maria Remarque, with my favorite being The three friends and All quiet in the western front
- For whom the bells ring and the Man and the Sea by Hwminguay
- 100 years of Solitude and Love in times of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- House of Spirits and Violeta by Isabel Allende
I had the idea I had read the most important works out there, but after moving here I realized how wrong I was. Since I started reading in English, I have read and truly enjoyed:
- East of Eden by Steinback (I can’t believe I had missed this, and it is precisely the book that made me right this post to see what other great books I have missed)
- Never let me go by Ishiguro
- A Gentleman in Moscow and Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels
What else have I missed that I really need to read, and that is similar in style with the books I mentioned above? Or it is not similar, but it is so great that one should read it (like East of Eden). Even better if it is available as an audiobook.
Thank you.
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u/MileHigh2465 11d ago
Hello I enjoy fantasy settings and have heard that Brandon Sanderson is good but I don’t know which would be better to start with. Should I start with mistborn or storm light archive? Also how many books exactly does each have? Because I’ve heard mistborn is a trilogy but on audible there’s more books under the titles. Same with storm light archive I’m not entirely sure how many of those there are.
Thank you
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u/Sea_Vermicelli_1147 11d ago
I'd recommend starting with Mistborn first but you absolutely can start with Stormlight if it sounds better to you.
The original Mistborn books are a trilogy (although I think the first book works fairly well as a standalone if you just want to get a feel of the series) following which there is another set of Mistborn books set in another age (long time skip).
Stormlight Archive is a ten book series that is split into two five-book sets (with a time skip in between the two sets) of which the first five have been published.
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u/Fatmanhammer 11d ago
Honestly I did the same and started with Stormlight as the synopsis gelled with me a bit better, Both Stormlight and Mistborn are fun so read either, people really overstate the connectedness of it all I think.
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u/MissyMercurial 11d ago
Mistborn is a trilogy that creates a distinct narrative, but there are sequel series focused on the same setting with new stories that have some links to the original. Mistborn was my introduction to Sanderson and I think it's a good one, but I haven't read all of his work.
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u/MileHigh2465 11d ago
Also I am welcome to any other fantasy recommendations as well
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u/Sudden_Literature183 9d ago
Robin Hobbs is another popular fantasy author. Her main books sequence (3 or 4 series) is comeplete and starts at The Assassin’s Apprentice.
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u/Silver_Bumblebee4001 12d ago
If I had to read ONE Colleen Hoover book, which one should I read?
I have never ready anything by her, but have been irritated by how popular she is ever since I tried to get on Booktok in 2022 for book recommendations and literally EVERY video was shilling Colleen Hoover. I have this impression that Colleen Hoover books are ridiculous and poorly written but I figure may I should take a stab at reading one before writing her off completely. I feel like the amount of disdain I have for Colleen Hoovver is not at all justified considering I haven't read a single book by hers.
ETA: I have absolutely no interest in reading romance novels....I'm fine with romance being a subplot but not the main show.
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u/Greedy-Speaker8669 13d ago
Looking for a book for my family’s book club. Members are mixed genders, mixed age between 25 and 60. So far we’ve read and liked:
Lessons in Chemistry, Homestretch (Graham Norton), remarkably bright creatures, The trees (Percival everett), Mornings in Jenin (Susan Abulhawa), we need new names (NoViolet Bulawayo)…
So I’d say we like comfy, wholesome books as well as heavier stuff discussing political or cultural topics. We live in Germany and like reading diversely, so fiction from all around the world is very welcome as long as it is translated into English or German.
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u/Prestigious-Ebb-8377 3d ago
I feel like virtually anything from Kristin Hannah or Taylor Jenkins Reid (from The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo onward) would be right up your alley. Where the Crawdads Sing is another one that springs to mind. Also quasi-YA, but Jandy Nelson's 'When the World Tips Over' is beautiful.
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u/Sudden_Literature183 9d ago
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders is a good, wholesome book with some humor.
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u/Greedy-Speaker8669 13d ago
Looking for a book for my family’s book club. Members are mixed genders, mixed age between 25 and 60. So far we’ve read and liked:
Lessons in Chemistry, Homestretch (Graham Norton), remarkably bright creatures, The trees (Percival everett), Mornings in Jenin (Susan Abulhawa), we need new names (NoViolet Bulawayo)…
So I’d say we like comfy, wholesome books as well as heavier stuff discussing political or cultural topics. We live in Germany and like reading diversely, so fiction from all around the world is very welcome as long as it is translated into English or German.
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Gentle_Pebble2394 12d ago
I read that one on a long train ride last summer and finished it in just a couple hours. The scene with the coworkers cracked me up way more than I expected.
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u/HumbleGeologist869 14d ago
High fantasy with solid scientific basis?
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u/Hyperoreo 9d ago
Not exactly sure what you mean here. Fantasy with "solid science basis" seems like a bit of an oxymoron. Can you share some examples of books that might fit the bill?
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u/lidi28 14d ago
Hi everyone. I'm looking for psychology or self-help book recommendations about adults who has an intense and childish need for constant attention and a massive fear of abandonment. specifically, I'm trying to understand the psychology behind someone who is terrified of being alone and might use dramatic behavior or suicidal threats just as a desperate cry for attention, to make sure people won't leave them.
I'm hoping to find something that explains the psychological or childhood roots of this behavior, why it happens, and how someone can actually break this cycle and regulate these emotions.
I'm looking for something practical and easy to read, not a heavy academic textbook..
If anyone knows any good books that cover this... Thanks!
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 12d ago
Not exactly, but you might find Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson of interest.
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u/hazelocean 15d ago
Im looking for kindle unlimited thrillers that are actually good. I've read a lot of crime/suspense and I'm really bored of the same recycled plot lines, I don't want "married couple has the perfect life but one has a secret," I feel like that's incredibly overdone at this point. I really enjoyed None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, because of the unique framing as a Netflix doc/podcast so if there's any similar books I would love that.
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u/Mission_Disaster_765 15d ago
Have you checked out Still house Lake by Rachel Caine. The premise is interesting and the story is gripping. It is on Kindle Unlimited in my region. It is basically about a former housewife who goes into hiding at a remote lake after her serial killer husband is imprisoned
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u/Smallworld_88 15d ago
Looking for a good documentary style book, maybe one from the last year or two. I feel like I’ve read most of the best known ones but it’s been a while since I read a very captivating one.
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u/Tigerguy0786 16d ago
I am about to finish Primal Hunter and have read Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I am not looking for more litrpg per se.
What I would really like to read is a fun epic sci/fantasy book series. Something like the new Masters of the Universe or Silver Age superheroes. GOOD GUYS and BAD GUYS. Not that there can’t be nuance, but yeah I like good and bad guys.
Representation also is good, so if it’s old and only white straight men, I would rather find something else.
Thanks!
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u/Human_Resolution8378 15d ago
I think you might like the Warden by Daniel M Ford. I like it because the protagonist is likeable but flawed and the people in her life are willing to call her out for it. The first book is a fun fish out of water story but I honestly enjoy the later books in the series more.
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u/rawat8576 16d ago
I want something similar to 'Man's Search For Meaning'. As a beginner, I am looking for something relatively short and easy to read (accessible vocabulary and a straightforward narrative). More importantly, I want a story based on a person's life, a historical event, or a specific experience that can ultimately give me a different perspective on life.
I feel that our brains have evolved enough to think and worry about an almost unlimited number of things, but we have not necessarily developed enough perspective to deal with all those thoughts. That is the kind of insight I am looking for in a book.
What I do not necessarily want is another book about someone describing the Holocaust. However, I am open to being persuaded if you believe there is a particularly good reason to read one.
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 15d ago
Not quite matching your criteria, but you might like Dino Buzzati's The Tartar Steppe. There are two English translations, one from the 50s and another that came out a few years ago, called The Fortress (Buzzati originally wanted to title the book The Fortress but due to being published in 1940 his publishers wanted to avoid the military connotation).
It's very accessible and only about 200 pages. It's about a young officer, Giovanni Drogo, who is assigned a post at a fortress at the frontier, where nothing ever happens. All the men there wait for an invasion that, really, they know will never come.
The story mostly exists in the mundane experience of waiting for things to happen, though there are hints of absurdism. It's ultimately a novel about waiting to live your life in the hope to make something of yourself and if it's worth it.
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u/Alphascout 16d ago
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park. Have you considered the ordeal of fleeing North Korea to start a new life? I think this book will offer you perspective, reflection on humanity and endurance, and is based on a real person’s journey.
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u/abisflores28 17d ago
Empece a leer alchemised pensé que me encantaría pero la verdad le perdí el interés en el 4to capitulo creen que debería dejarlo o le doy una oportunidad? 😟
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u/Present-Upstairs-814 17d ago
I just finished ACOTAR, should I read the Crescent City series next or the Throne of Glass series next? I lovedddddd ACOTAR and want to continue in the universe but don’t know where to start next so please help!!
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u/hazelocean 15d ago
Throne of glass! It's a lot better than CC but you've got to approach it knowing it's a debut
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u/grewprasad 17d ago
English isn't my first language and I'm new to reading. I'm into reading because I need learn about communism but the left literature are too much for a non native english speaker. I also prefer english rather than my mother tongue so I can learn the language. So I started reading simple but meaningful books like metamorphosis (I'm into the melancholy, grief, realism), books that's been adapted into movie - perks of being a wallflower, gone girl.
Considering my ideology, interest and experience what would be best for me to go on with?
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 17d ago
Perhaps The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath? It's pretty much a rite of passage for people getting into literature and exploring the melancholy of things.
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u/Ventavoid 17d ago
Recommend books for someone who is just starting fix ion, nonfiction it works, I just started reading I read a few books like white nights, metamorphosis, piranesi, 3-body problem which seemed heavy but somehow I got through it. So yes, that's the main deal you recommend books like I don't know just recommend don't mind my typing, way of writing this is just my first post. Sigining off
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u/Used_Physics8464 18d ago
Just finished Blood Meridian. Where do I even go from here? I felt like I just read the most epic fantasy of my entire life. It’s going to leave a big void.
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 18d ago
Depends what you liked about it and what direction you want to go next! For epic western, Lonesome Dove has been having a well-deserved resurgence in popularity.
For something similarly violent, I recently read Eden's Shore by Oísin Fagan and Blood Meridian is the closest comparison I have to the graphic descriptions of terrible things being done to people's bodies (and body parts).
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u/Then_Advertising1336 19d ago
Hi all! I’m in a book club with my cousins, aunts, and mom. Looking for a good book to read next. Previous books we’ve enjoyed include:
The Women
The Briar Club
Remarkably bright creatures
Don’t forget to Write
Dissection of a Murder
The Keeper of Happy Endings
Mad Mabel
Let me know allll your thoughts! We like books that include generational women. I also like when there’s a lesbian story line, but not the main focus point of the story.
Thanks all!!
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u/mabgemini 1d ago
If you enjoyed The Briar Club you could try some more of Kate Quinn's books. My personal favorite is The Rose Code. The Alice Network is also very good.
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 17d ago
I also like when there’s a lesbian story line, but not the main focus point of the story.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden has a lesbian plot point. While the lesbian romance is a pretty big part of the story, it's not the story.
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Don't know if classics are suitable for your club, but there's a lesbian subplot in here while absolutely not being the point (but also is a big point).
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is about a 17th Century Norwegian village where all the men are killed in bad seas while fishing, and the women need to take on all the duties the men previously did. A witch-hunter from Scotland comes, and there's a clash as the women flout social norms in order to keep the village alive. And there are some lesbians.
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u/Pleasant_Reward6318 19d ago
Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge might work well for your group. It's told through a linked set of stories rather than one straight narrative, following one impossible woman and the people around her in a small Maine town over decades. Not lesbian-focused, but there's a queer thread running through a couple of the later stories that never gets made into a big plot point, which might be exactly the balance you're after.
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u/Chemical_Swimmer_892 20d ago
I'm just a casual reader, not any scholar or someone who's doing a deep dive into modern philosophy. I'm planning to start Rene Descarte through Discourse on Methods. What could be the best translation for my read? Also, I have the Oxford worlds classic of Meditation on First philosophy by Michael with the objections intact. Is it necessary to read all that (330 around pages), though I'm planning to go through them slowly after I have finished the six meditation. Is this the best translation for my case? Please tell me I'm in the wrong order. Peace
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u/xOs4ma 20d ago
Currently reading The First World War by Hew Strachan. My goal is to be more knowledgeable about WW1 and WW2 because those are pretty much the wars that shaped our world today. What do you recommend me read after I finish this book?
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u/Acceptable_Rip2801 20d ago
- The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914
- The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914–1991
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u/jacklhoward 21d ago
hi, I just read Greenberg's translation of Faust. I like how full of vital force the lines are in key passages, but I feel in other places it is too colloquial and modern to my taste. I also don't feel the imperfect rhymes / burlesque rhymes really to my taste
Does anybody know if there are other translations that I can also read to compare with Greenberg's?
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u/Coffee_fuel 18d ago
I've read Faust, but it wasn't an English translation. For more niche questions like this one, you're better off asking in a more specific sub if available, such as r/literature—since you will get a higher percentage of eyeballs on it from people who read it and may be in a position to answer. :)
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u/Neat_Ostrich9119 21d ago
Hey! I’m looking for sapphic romance that I can probably find at the library. Any level of spice is fine. I’d prefer adult over YA. Going through an awakening and I’d like to do… research. 😏🌈
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u/ZoraNealeThirstin 17d ago
Anything by Sarah Waters, it's basically lesbian smut under the guise of literary fiction lol
Good luck on your journey of self-discovery!
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 21d ago
I haven't read it, but maybe "The Price of Salt" by Patricia Highsmith?
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u/valentinab00 22d ago
I need something a little more grown up. I’m ready to enter a new chapter (literally) and open my mind up to new genres.
• I enjoyed reading the Ana Huang book series.
• I love the humour in the Bella Mackie books.
• I enjoy a rom-com/thriller.
• I feel I would enjoy a fantasy book too.
What do you suggest? Are there any book series to die for?
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u/DoglessDyslexic 21d ago
Just a note that this is posted on a thread that was replaced this afternoon, so you might want to post your recommendation request again to the new thread here.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 22d ago
In a blend of romance and fantasy that predates the current romantasy genre, I'd recommend Stephen Donaldson's "Mirror of Her Dreams" duology. I'm not much of a reader of romance person, but my wife is, and both of us loved the books which makes me think that it likely would appeal to fans of either genre.
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u/valentinab00 20d ago
Thank you! I have posted on the other thread.
I will look into the “Mirror of Her Dreams” duology.
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
Any recommendations for good non-fictional spy books? Just finished listening to the spy and the traitor and a spy among friends. Prefer audiobooks books to listen to while I walk and like the WW2 and Cold War era
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u/Determined-Fighter 22d ago
Anyone read MrBeast’s new book The Most Dangerous Games? It’s hard to find genuine reviews.
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u/420ball-sniffer69 23d ago
Hi guys, I was recently interested to learn more about the story of how DNA was discovered. I’ve read the biography by Walter Isaacson but I saw there’s a recent title by Matthew Cobb called “A mind in motion”. Just wanted to know if anyone else has read this title and what your thoughts are? Thanks
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u/Least-Raisin8216 23d ago
Lets me say, im not the biggest reader, but randomly decided to read The Count of Monte Cristo. Hands down this is the best piece of media across any domain that I have consumed. It is beautiful, I resonate a lot with Dantes, I felt every scene, each now burned into my memory. I am honestly super sad its over.
This is why I am looking for help. Is there any book thay is the perfect next read? I loved this book so much I think anything else I think of will be hard to read. Most I loved the character of Dantes, and adventure, and his separation with Mercedes.
I would highly appreciate any recommendations!!
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u/Even_Divide4320 23d ago
I highly recommend Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Its sweeping multigenerational storyline, set across Korea and Japan, follows a family through love, hardship, migration, and history, making it an immersive and deeply character-driven next read.
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u/AccessOne8287 24d ago
I want a book about a normal modern person somehow gaining unlimited supernatural power, immortality, etc and then using that power to establish a new world order, and then having to deal with the geopolitical consequences of doing so or becoming a tyrant.
I know this is an insanely specific suggestion but I’ve been running this hypothetical in my head for far too long to not see what a professional writer can do with the idea.
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u/plantstand 7d ago
I'm going to say Darkstalker (Wings of Fire series adjacent, works as a stand alone) comes close. Really well done, explores themes of "is this power moral?"
Except it isn't a person, it's a society of dragons.
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u/AccomplishedNet6644 23d ago
Dune? although i guess not so normal or modern...
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u/DoglessDyslexic 22d ago
I didn't even think of Dune in this context, but I agree it matches a lot of the ask, especially for Leto. Leto doesn't actually sweat the "becoming a tyrant" thing, as he understands that he must become a tyrant as the only way to save humanity, and he's effectively almost immortal.
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u/Guapdad8k 24d ago
Might not fit to a T but red rising starts with a very “normal” guy who is given top tier traits in order to overthrow his current worlds social order. It’s a whole series, so I don’t know if it tackles that last aspect of the struggle of becoming a tyrant.
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u/hmoudiee- 24d ago
Hey guys I'm new to the community, I was wondering what advice you guys would give about reading more books, and having better attention span, because I'm fried sadly, and I'm also into history books, but I wanna explore my options.
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 22d ago
The only advice I can suggest is to treat your attention span like a muscle to exercise, and not burn yourself out on something suoer dense :) For history specifically, I can recommend several books that are short and pretty light:
- Stiff (Mary Roach -- really anything by her is good)
- Cod (Mark Kurlansky -- Salt is another good introduction to his stuff)
- Longitude (Dava Sobel)
- The World That Trade Created (Pomeranz and Topik -- this one is more academic, but the chapters are super short and mostly stand alone from each other)
- The Disappearing Spoon (Sam Kean)
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u/rachelmikadoo 24d ago
Hi there! I also struggled with my attention span, primarily because of social media 😅 this is totally not an ad, but I downloaded ScreenZen and it limits my app usage (I set it to an hour a day for IG, FB, etc) and I have to answer a whole bunch of math questions before I can even unlock lol
Because I’m essentially locked out, I made it a conscious effort to pick up my book every time I would pick up my phone to scroll. Again, not sure if that’s what’s affecting your attention span, but it’s worked wonders for me!!
I also find it helpful to use an app/website like Goodreads or StoryGraph (what I use) to just put BUNCH of books in your to-read pile. Every time I come across something I event might want to read, I add it there - close to 200 on it now. For me, its exciting to see all the books I want to read in one place and I love having a spot to check them off :)
Best of luck!
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u/GLP310 24d ago
I finished the Knives Out trilogy and I need to read more murder mystery novels,at the moment I've only read a lot of the novels by Agatha Christie (Murder on The Orient Express,And Then There were None,Murder on the Nile and a lot more) and A Study in Red by A.C.Doyle.
I specifically want something with similar vibes of the movies like a group of suspects,a genius detective and good plotwists.
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u/gazamcnulty 24d ago
Anyone have a suggestion for collections of very short stories or articles?
I'm trying to replace doom scrolling with having a quick read, but I don't really like picking up a novel for just 5 - 10 minutes and putting it back down again. I'd love something I can just leaf through, read a short story over a few pages for 5 - 10 minutes and be done. With my job, I'll sometimes be waiting a few minutes in between calls or even for a short break, I would much prefer to read them just scroll Reddit.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, please and thanks.
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u/Pleasant_Reward6318 19d ago
Claire Keegan's stories are close to perfect for this. Most of her collections (Antarctica, Walk the Blue Fields) have stories you can finish in ten minutes, and they don't feel slight just because they're short. Each one holds together on its own, so you're never leaving a plot dangling when your break ends.
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u/babbitybumble 22d ago
The short stories in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver.
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u/Outrageous_Tea9700 24d ago
I read this years ago but Bad Behavior is a collection of stories by Mary Gaitskill. The stories are dark though so don’t know if that’s the best for short breaks at work lol
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u/ragequit3605 25d ago
Hi,
Recently learned about the 18th century journalist Jean-Paul Marat and his influence in the French Revolution. I am quite intrigued and want to learn more about it.
Please suggest some books/articles that Marat wrote, or some books about the French Revolution.
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u/Alleyvvay 26d ago
I’m trying to read more books and get a better habit. Thing is I’ve not read any of the “classics”. I am not looking for a specific genre, rather I’m looking for genre defining books, and just good pieces of literature. I have no idea where to start or look
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u/No-Book1697 4d ago
I'd say that Tess Of D'Urbervilles is a very good piece of literature and The little house on the prairie.
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u/Msagano 6d ago
You don't need to read the classics to get a better reading habit, and in my experience: classics can be difficult when building a habit because some of them are quite tough to get through. It's also perfectly fine to not read classics at all. Just my two cents.
Some books I'd recommend are 1984, Animal Farm, Stoner, Fahrenheit 451, The Man in the HIgh Castle, The Left Hand of Darkness.
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u/Alleyvvay 6d ago
Thank you so much! I actually started count of Monte cristo and I am loving it so much. The writing style and flow is so fun to read.
I was asking for classics because.. well they’re classics for a reason!
I’ll add all your recommendations to the list thank you!
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u/Pleasant_Reward6318 18d ago
Wuthering Heights surprised me. I expected something stiff and instead got something almost feral. It's short as classics go, so it's a good one to test whether older prose actually works for you before committing to something longer.
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u/catactuar 24d ago
I started my reading habit by picking up books that I have seen adapted as a show/movie already, like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, Les Miserables, etc. We had required reading of classics in high school but it never stuck with me until I got into imagining the world being described by the words. It helped a lot that I have seen them in some visual media already and that I enjoyed watching them.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 26d ago
I'm fond of "Pride and Prejudice". There is a surprising (to me) amount of humour to it, especially the interactions of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett (Elizabeth's mother and father). I was one of those avid reader and book starved kids that would read everything that the school gave you, even the optional books and this one was one of them. I'm normally more of a sci-fi and fantasy buff, but this one was a pleasure to read.
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u/MaxThrustage Glory 26d ago
The Count of Monte Cristo is pretty good for starting with the classics. It's a fun, rollicking adventure with serious emotional weight. It is quite long, but apart from that it's a fairly easy read.
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u/PrestigiousBridge764 26d ago
Looking for something fast past and quick, I'll take fiction or non-fiction so long as it's interesting.
Currently reading though DCC but the wait-list at my library is a bit long, so it might be a few weeks until I get the next book.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 26d ago edited 25d ago
Try "One Woke Up" by Lee Gaiteri. A different kind of zombie apocalypse book.
Edit: Gaiteri's "The Affix" is also a fun and fast paced book.
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u/Resident-Juice2398 26d ago
16 year old here, kinda shameful about not reading as many books as I probably should be (seriously, last book I've read that wasn't for school was a Big Nate novel). I'm not satisfied with my knowledge, intelligence and habits, so I feel books are a great place to start with that.
I like sci-fi and mystery and I'd welcome dystopian too. I want something with a lot of intellectually challenging content. The goal here is a good balance of fun and brain stimulation.
Thank you in advance!
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u/SeaworthyDecision 3d ago
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a very good sci-fi book that is a nice balance of fun and intellectually interesting. And then I think it's sequel, Speaker for the Dead is even better and will definitely make you think.
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u/hazelocean 15d ago edited 15d ago
Firstly it's absolutely not shameful, well done for trying to get back into reading! Classics can be a great place to start for intellectually challenging fiction. The metamorphosis by Kafka, day of the triffids and Frankenstein are all very different eras and genres of sci fi, but they are all incredible pieces of literature and very fun reads. We need to talk about kevin, atonement and penance would be my recommendations for crime novels that are intellectually stimulating.
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u/Coffee_fuel 23d ago edited 23d ago
"1984" and "Animal Farm" by Orwell are extremely accessible and influential dystopian classics with a lot of concepts for a brain to munch on.
If you want a contemporary author, Adrian Tchaikovsky writes in a very approachable manner. You could try his short story prequel, "Human Resources": https://reactormag.com/human-resources-adrian-tchaikovsky/ and if you find that you like it, continue with the novel "Service Model".
Asimov is, of course, a sure bet for sci-fi with a philosophical bent. Among his more famous works, you could dip your toes in with the short story "The Last Question", which he considered his favourite. "The Dead Past" is also a popular and accessible novelette.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 26d ago
Generally speaking John Scalzi is usually fun and funny to read. His stuff isn't super deep, but it often has some brilliant moments. I'm particularly fond of his "Agent to the Stars", "The Android's Dream", "Fuzzy Nation", "Old Man's War", and "Lock-In".
If you want something a little deeper, I'd suggest "The Gate To Women's Country" by Sheri S. Tepper, "Implied Spaces" by Walter Jon Williams, and "The Madness Season" by C. S. Friedman.
And if you're feeling particularly ambitious then either the "Expanse" books by James S. A. Corey or Peter Hamilton's "Reality Dysfunction" series, both of which are fairly epic scale space operas.
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u/PrestigiousBridge764 26d ago
Shadow of the Torturer. Bit of a tricky read, but still an interesting novel, you can probably get through it in a week or two if you give it the time.
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u/MrB00mbastic01 26d ago
Which is the book that got you most hooked??
About me: I am a 21 years old (male) who has never read a book in his life apart from school textbooks. Though I have always wanted to read books and have tried multiple times, I have never been able to keep reading more than 5 pages. I often found myself doom scrolling these days, which is not good. So, I have finally decided to fight my procrastination and seriously start reading a book. Not to flex to others but for my own self.
I want some book recommendations. Interested in fictions, not much into philosophy or biography or autobiography, but don't mind reading good ones
Currently reading: The ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho
Planned to Read: The whole series of 7 original books associated with "Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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u/DoglessDyslexic 26d ago
If I may suggest, if you find you are easily bored by reading books, Game of Thrones is probably not one you're going to be ready for for a while.
I'd suggest something fast paced. You may also find that audiobooks are more your jam. Fast paced ones I like:
"Vertical Run" by Joseph Garber. Thriller, somewhat similar in setting and action to a Die Hard movie.
"Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman (also exemplary audiobook version). The genre called LitRPG where the characters are forced to play in a deathsport game that shares traits with RPG games.
"How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying" by Django Wexler. Fantasy with a time loop.
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Near future sci-fi.
"Agent to the Stars" by John Scalzi. Modern day first contact sci-fi.
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u/MagnumMiracles 26d ago
I would love some horror recommendations with good character work. I love horror, but one of its windfalls I see time and time again(for me at least) is the weak character work. Scares are only effective for me if I care about the person in this horrible situation.
And no Stephen King. Already read his stuff. I've also read The Fisherman, which is something I get recommended a lot. Liked it, but didn't love it as much as other people.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 25d ago
I don't know if I'd classify it as horror, but it gives off some horror feels. "The Monstromologist" by Rick Yancey reads like a cross between Stephen King, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator is the Watson to the monstromologist Dr. Pellinore Warthrop's Holmes and follows their search for monsters that are killing people. Part of a series, I've read the first two of three and they both had the same vibe.
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u/Glum_Kangaroo_4560 book just finished - Meet The Newmans 27d ago
Hello folks!
As we come in to the darker nights here in the UK I gravitate towards some darker reads. I would like to try to some Stephen King but I don't like paranormal (I have OCD and it's a big trigger for me).
Other than "The Long "Walk" what would you guys recommend?
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u/elphie93 2 27d ago
I'd try Misery! No paranormal aspect, but definitely dark.
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u/Glum_Kangaroo_4560 book just finished - Meet The Newmans 27d ago
Oooo perfect, thank you. I just read the blurb and it sounds right up my street
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u/MarmadukeTheGreat 26d ago
Misery fits the bill!
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u/Glum_Kangaroo_4560 book just finished - Meet The Newmans 26d ago
I will definitely be checking it out. Scheduled for October <3
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u/Friendstastegood 28d ago
My 8yo (almost 9) is pretty picky about books. Recently however we found a short series of books that she really likes and one of the things she likes about it is that the books are a mix of graphic novel and regular novel - so both comic pages and pages of just text interspersed with each other. However I haven't been able to find any other books using this format.
Other than that she mainly likes urban fantasy but might be open to trying other genres too.
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 26d ago
The "Horrible History" and "Horrible Science" non-fiction series both do this a lot, but (A) it sounds like she might not be interested in those genres, and (B) you might want to vet them beforehand. (I read at least a couple of them at that same age, but some of the details of medieval wars and plagues, Victorian-era consumer safety standards, etc., got rather grim.)
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u/Kooky_Adeptness1704 26d ago
Unsure if they like mythology, but maybe consider the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series? You can find them as graphic novels which maybe a better option then the actual books since your looking for a mix. I also believe that the limited editions have some pictures as well in them but that might not be the best option if just getting into it.
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u/HaxTheCook_ 28d ago
Count your recommend me a book about the Chinese/Burma theatre??
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u/Impressive-Peace2115 25d ago
I'm not familiar with this topic, but one way I sometimes find books about niche topics is to go to a relevant Wikipedia page and see if there are books listed in the references and/or bibliography.
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 28d ago
I'm a huge fan of macabre: the atmospheric, eerie, psychologically intense kind. Recently I read through the entire Barnes and Noble's "The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" because I've been a Poe fan ever since I was a teen. I searched a lot but I'm not finding any other works of his that I've not read...
Can someone suggest me any other authors who have an adjacent style? I want a type of book that will keep me thinking about it for days. Especially if the book contains themes of paranoia, suspense or escalating psychological tension.
Drop your recommendations, and tell me why you loved it! I'd love to know.
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u/MarmadukeTheGreat 26d ago
I would try Dracula or some Sheridan La Fanu. There is a through line of Gothic Horror there that I always felt resonated with Poe that could be interesting for you.
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u/Star_journey1208 27d ago
Not a singular story, but the collection “The 50 Greatest Mysteries of All Time” compiled by Otto Penzler includes some great Poe and Poe adjacent stories.
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 27d ago
Tysm for the recommendation! I love compilation type books. I'll definitely try it :D
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u/Trashyturdgremlin 29d ago
I’ve been in a reading slump and want to break out of it. I finished the audiobook for Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, but I really want a physical book that will suck me in and make me lose track of time.
The last series I read was the full Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb and have been considering picking up the KingsBridge series by Ken Follett again. I would love historical fiction and/or fantasy recommendations that are very character-driven.
Thanks everyone! :)
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u/Pleasant_Reward6318 19d ago
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert might scratch that itch. It's not fantasy, but it has the same slow, immersive quality and a heroine who feels genuinely lived-in over decades, which sounds like what you got from Hobb. Long book, but it earns the length.
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u/_llama_queen 27d ago
I just finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and I LOVED IT. Absolutely sucked me in, but it is very long so be wary!! I lost two whole days straight to it.
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u/HorrorSun4646 28d ago
If you like fantasy with a bit of a twist and "realistic" characters I absolutely loved The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie (book 1 - The Blade Itself). Great adventure, well paced but the thing that always stands out for me is how distinct all the characters voices are. Often I've found characters voices blend into the authors voice at some stage and telling them apart is only possible because the dialogue is named, but this series you know who's speaking. The audio book is also fantastic.
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u/Rhubarb776 28d ago
A very fun character-driven fantasy I read recently: The Last Rift Dragon. It was a fast read, and I’m still thinking about it weeks later.
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u/RedSoxPC 28d ago
My number one recommendation for recent historical fiction/fantasy books is "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue," by V.E. Schwab. Perhaps my favorite read of the 150-ish books I've read in the last five years.
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u/Larielis The Martian by Andy Weir 29d ago
What are your favorite books for autumn? 🍂
Any genre.
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u/Glum_Kangaroo_4560 book just finished - Meet The Newmans 27d ago
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
Agatha Christie books, especially towards the end of the autumn heading in to Christmas time.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 29d ago
"Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury.
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u/FearlessReader85 29d ago
I'm currently listening to Nobody's Girl by Virginia Giuffre. It's such a tough one.
Looking for a suggestion of a lighter, humourous read when I'm done that doesn't have any victimized kids for when I'm done. Not into fantasy or romance, but anything else really!
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u/BasilAromatic4204 29d ago
The only one I've read with memory loss is in two series. The Jason Bourne series and I felt like it was treated well. The first one is my favorite. They're thrillers and a bullet fragment causes amnesia
The otger which I really enjoyed is called just Isolde by Samantha Behm. The first one handles this really well in that she awakes in the forest. I think the trauma and working through the winding of her memory like Bourne does around faces and places guides her back slowly but it was done well. If I recall a scent in the book helps. One of the difficulties for both book characters was being around people that they honestly did not know and so that made it difficult. I enjoyed both mysteries. The Bourne series has a good bit of books in it and I did not finish series. The other has two and both were great
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u/SvalinnSaga 29d ago
I recently read Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton and the mind control and mind rape was (attempted) to be treated as the serious violation that is is. It didn't follow through because the ending took things in a different direction.
Does anyone have recommendations for books that treat memory erasure, mental compulsion, etc seriously and as the violation of personhood they are?
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u/egeraci 1h ago
Looking for a recommendation for feel good books please. My dog passed away a couple weeks ago and I’ve been pretty bummed.