Book reader community.
here are a few of my favorites
Oryx and Crake
The Lathe of Heaven
Great list. Piranesi was also a very fast read for me. I loved the way she painted pictures with her words.
Some great books there, that reminds me I need to read some Susanna Clark.
The Kingkiller Chronicles is a series by Patrick Rothfuss. The first book is The Name of the Wind. Definitely one of my absolute favorites
Be forewarned that the author has not released the third book and last I checked there’s no release date on the horizon
Such a good series! So ready for number 3.
I scrolled all the down the comments and didn't see Discworld by Terry Pratchett. Don't listen to anyone and just start reading it. There's no right or wrong way to do it.
Maybe the wrong way is to start with Book 1. I'd say try 'Witches' first, as I found the first book a bit offputting.
Not sure if your into light novels, recently I've been addicted to Acendence of A Bookworm.
The expanse. I'm on book 8 right now and it's been going fast. The world building is so good. It makes you wish you were there with them. If you're into hard scifi, then you'll love this series
A Short History of Chinese Philosophy by Fung Yu-Lan. I spent pretty much all of my time off work reading it. I found it insanely interesting since I knew almost nothing about Chinese philosophy, and the book is written specifically for people like that. The way their schools of thought developed through the ages and were influenced by each other constantly as one became dominant was very fascinating.
I read almost exclusively fantasy and sci fi. Here's a few favourites.
Sci fi: Red Rising Trilogy Bobiverse The Martian and Project Hail Mary
Fantasy: The First Law Trilogy (my absolute favourite of everything I've read) Brandon Sanderson (literally any of his stuff. If you're looking for a trilogy, start with Mistborn and if a stand alone, Warbreaker). Don't be overwhelmed by his Cosmere world, if you only read mistborn era 1 it wraps up in a nice bow. Robin Hobbs first trilogy is a nice introduction to her series. If you don't love it it wraps up nicely after the first trilogy.
Dystopian: Unwound by Neal Schusterman Arc of the Scythe by Neal Schusterman
Gibson's sprawl trilogy when I read them back in '89. The fact that it had many short chapters made it easy to consume in quick bursts of reading
I love all of Gibson's books, have you read anything by Pat Cadigan? Fools may be the most mind bending book I've ever read, in a good way
@Evolone The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers (anything by Becky Chambers, really). Also anything by Gail Carriger.
It's probably been said, and is not exactly a hidden gem, but 1984 is something special. I read an excerpt of the first chapter and was hooked.
Every time I buy the new Alex Delaware novel written by Jonathan Kellerman I read it straight through in one seating. I own the entire collection in hardback.
Bobiverse series (science fiction).
I'd add Artemis too, or really anything Andy Weir writes.
I didn't read Artemis due to its mixed reviews. But Project Hail Mary was another great one like the Martian. I remember losing sleep reading the Martian because I could not put it down.
Hyperion. And that book was fucking heavy.
I feel like I have read quite a few books that I felt that way about, but it's always hard to bring them to mind when someone asks. That said, the first few that popped into my head:
Absolutely love cradle. Sad that it's over now
If you love The Martian, you are going to love Project Hail Mary. The audiobook is really good as well.
The Bobiverse (series)
4th book was such a disappointment.
Overall message too, somehow went from "we are the avantgarde of transhumanism and the universe is our playground" straight up to something like "i wish 50's back". Every single Bob turned to either flat meme or boomer.
+1 for Cradle, I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I was going to
My two favorites so far this year are Babel by RF Kuang and The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
Seconding Babel. Such a powerful read for me as I grew up in a former British colony. Some of the parallels to the real world colonial system and how it affects locals are so relatable, even today!
This is a hot take, but Street Lawyer, by John Grisham.
A few books that kept me captivated recently
Here's some I have even reread.
Love the Murderbot series too.
Very recently, Mrs March by Virginia Feito. I was just gripped, I finished it in a day. It was compulsive, I just had to know what the main character was going to do next and how it was all going to unravel.
Already mentioned, but Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. I’m not sure if I read it in one sitting or two.
Camino by Anya Niewierra. She's Dutch so I'm not sure if the book also exists in English.
Before that, Ready Player One. Later on I heard there is some criticism/toxicity around genders, right elitism and the like, but I never noticed that when reading it.
The Anthropocene Reviewed is the coziest book I’ve ever listened to. John Green reads it himself for the audio book and you can really feel his emotions and charm through it.
Lilith by george mc donald
Imajica by Clive Barker.
Reading this right now, and a little over halfway through. Enjoying it, but it took a long time for me to really sink my teeth into it. It's a very long book and a slow burn.
It’s so intricate and intimate - I just disappeared into the book and isn’t that what we need sometimes?
I actually read it in 2 weeks. It gripped me in a way that any free time, I was reading it. Every meal, break and bathroom trip 🤪 I sometimes struggle with fantasy stories because it's hard for me to picture the world they are set in. Clive has a way of creating worlds that when you're done reading the book, it takes a while for me to process that world doesn't actually exist somewhere.
Weaveworld is another great one! Actually any Clive Barker book is great to me. Mister B. Gone it's probably my favorite quick read by him.
Yes another great book that seems so bizarre when you read the summary but is just so well written and believable!
Not knowing what you have read...
The Farseer Trilogy is NOT what you think. It drew me into reading the next few (and really long) trilogies... an awesome journey. LONG but not long enough...
I'm actually reading a book like right now, The Bourne Identity, it's phenomenal!
For some chill, positive vibes that had me up rather too late flipping pages, I'd recommend either or both of:
They're basically the novel version of a slice of life comic/manga. L&L is more high fantasy, while Very Secret Society is here on Earth if witches were real. It feels like there's a sub-genre of these kinds of stories popping up post pandemic and I'm all for it.
For something more action-packed, this one was incredibly engaging:
Here's some I have even reread.
Love the Murderbot series too.
Here's some I have even reread.
Love the Murderbot series too.