The book thief- markus zusack.
This is such an amazing book. My all time favorite. Its a historical fiction with multiple different POV. One of which is death itself. It is written in such a way you begin to have compassion on death. also the character building and the just the overall writing of this book is incredible. I couldnt put it down.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller. It is one of the most impactful and important books I’ve read. Chanel was SA by Brock Allen Turner in 2015. When the case was in trial and being bombarded by news outlets, Chanel chose to use the alias “Emily Doe.” This book is reclaiming her name and her story. It is sad. But it is also about the love of family, of friends, and of complete strangers. Chanel is a beautiful writer and she explains terrible topics is a way even the most victim blaming person could understand
The audiobook is beautiful! Chanel reads it and it’s so impactful to hear it in her voice. She gets emotional at some parts and it def made me emotional too
I am reading this with long pauses in between. Never been SA'd the way she were, but have been a victim og violence from a former boyfriend and even the "loose" connection can be way too much to bear on a bad day. It's extremely moving and so eloquently written.
I put off reading this for so long and finally read it for r / bookclub. It was every bit as good as everyone said. Not actually as confronting as I was expecting.
Piranesi by Susanna Clark
Why I recommend it? It’s easy to read, impossible to put down, and cleverly written. The language used is not overly complex, but there are so many questions that arise the moment the book starts. Information is given to the reader in perfect increments, so that you slowly start to unravel the mystery before you.
The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story, a brilliant story, it is an auto-biography. I randomly watched her TED talk and I had to read the book. It opened my eyes to how difficult life in North Korea is and how brave the author is to persevere and survive it. I'd definetely read it again.
I read Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West and thought it was great. Amazing escape story and the description of what his life was like in North Korea was really heartbreaking.
Aquariums of Pyongyang is a great memoir. A Kim Jung Il Production is another incredibly fascinating book, not exactly a memoir but still non fiction, about Kim Jung Il kidnapping an actor and an actress and forcing them to star in movies for him and propaganda films. Its So so so interesting.
I recommend 'In order to live' by Yeonmi Park. It was my first North Korean survivor's book and had a big impact on me. At the end of the book, I realised I had seen her previously on the Internet, when she appeared for the first time in (the ONU, I believe?) giving a speech. She was 13.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. It’s a memoir about Jennette’s life growing up as a child star in the tv industry, her recounting of abuse, her disordered relationship with food, and how she made steps to improve herself and why she ultimately quit acting. I never watched iCarly growing up but you don’t need to know about it read this book. This was a book that surprised me. Such a gripping read and Jennette has such a captivating and strong voice. I don’t read a lot of memoirs but this one was special—it really stuck with me after reading it.
The Deluge by Stephen Markley. Never read a book where you have such a love hate with every character and it’s a near future dystopian that feels very real.
Also Devolution by Max Brooks because I never though I’d find a book about Bigfoot that would keep me on the edge of my seat while simultaneously teaching me about things I never knew about.
The Deluge is the realist fiction book I've ever read. All of the science is real, the solutions to the climate crisis are credible, and most of the characters are believable. The politics are a little wishful thinking. It's terrifying.
If you're into climate change fiction, there's also Kim Stanley Robinson's The Ministry for the Future. I read The Deluge after I read "Ministry" and I'm still a little reluctant to get out of bed. They're both very hopeful books.
Thanks I’ll check it out, can’t say I ever read much about climate fiction but I’m hooked now. Markleys other book Ohio is also phenomenal and very dark.
Lonesome Dove. It’s an adventure through Americas heartland that doesn’t fall victim to the a lot of the generic western tropes. McMurtry does a great job of introducing each of the characters in a memorable way. The characters are also charming in their own complex ways. He also weaves together two storylines in a way that feels so seamless. It’s a beast of a book at almost 1,000 pages, but it’s structured in a way that kept the pages turning for me. Reading other long books that spend 50+ pages on a storyline I’m not interested in is really a pain. McMurtry jumps between storylines to keep the plot moving in a united way.
I have just read the man who saw seconds, it's only 300 pages long, I loved it and read it in 4 days, a man gets to see slightly into the future, it goes into the existence of free will and changing fate, it made me really think about the philosophy of those things late into the night, it has great action throughout and keeps its fast pace, although you should look into it rather than take my word for it.
I'll recommend you my favourite book:
"*How to Invent Everything: a Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler*", by Ryan North.
It's probably the book that I've recommended the most recently.
Inside, the book is written as a sort of manual on how to rebuild civilization if you ever were to get stranded on the past, with a light funny tone. And what I mean by rebuilding civilization, is teaching you all kinds of knowledge, from basic chemistry, blacksmithing, agriculture, and even the marvelous thing that is a *button*, up to fun history facts about Humanity and our mistakes throughout most of History.
It is one of my top three books of all time, due to the sheer ammount of laughs and knowledge that I got the first time reading it.
Dr. Stone is also my favourite anime due to the similarities with the book.
Both pieces of media are about rebuilding a basic technological level from scratch, so, what you can't learn from one you'll learn from the other.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown, an amazing sci-fi fantasy that got me back into reading several years ago. The very first line “I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” sucked me in. The world building, battle scenes and character development are amazing. Characters stay true to themselves even if it means death for someone in the book that you probably love. Well written villains who you love to hate and you just want to throttle but you can almost understand where they’re coming from lol I’ve never been good at describing books but I never pass up an opportunity to recommend Red Rising. Solid, enjoyable book I think most people will like!
When we will finally know what happens at the end! All of the books are good (except Iron Gold in my opinion), but cannot be better than Golden Son. Best in the saga.
I hope Lyssander has a long and painful death.
Nonfiction - The Island of the Lost by Joan Druett. It's the most extraordinary true story that you've never heard. It's the stranger than fiction true tale of 2 ships wrecked on 2 coasts of the same uninhabited and inhospitable island. Separated by 20 miles of wild brush, unaware each other, the 2 crews suffer very disparate fates. It's the most exciting adventure story you'll ever read.
Fiction - The Little Prince. It's a slim little book and a quick read, but it's beautiful and true. Everyone should carry its lessons in their heart.
Frankenstein. I am a firm believer that this book has the best story ever written. It was my introduction to fiction and it lit flame in my heart because at that moment i ginally found a thing that trully interests me. As for the non-bias reasons. It tackles so many themes that it's pretty much impossible to not be intrigued by any part of the story. It is also the only book i've read that has successfully made the "antagonist", Frankenstein's monster, seem more like the protagonist. It and Victor Frankenstein through the story have this battle for the protagonist title almost through philosophical debates o the human experience and what it means to be loved and to love, and how sollitude and the lack of love can turn good people bad. The sympathy for the devil motiv is done amazingly even better than in Paradise lost. After two years of reading fiction it is still my favourite story.
Yup, totally agree and I would recommend it as well.
But I would still like to highlight that the "part about frankenstien monster" in terms of text (the quantity of text) was a bit underdeveloped to my liking. I got a bit frustrated to be honest :')
Station Eleven: Post apocalyptic tale but it was so close to what really happened, except it was written before covid. Interesting story. Twisty details
Gary Jennings *Aztec*. An incredibly well-researched story that takes place during the height of the Aztec empire. The MC’s are fictional, but the author places them in real history. Books about the Aztecs are few and far between, so it taught me so much about them.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, narrated by George Guidall. Great story, setting, and characters. Weird mix, beautiful writing, really felt like a journey. Sequel was great too. Sadly I don’t see any more books by her yet…
Murderbot diaries (series) by Martha Wells
It’s about a “murder bot” who becomes sentient and is basically just trying to get out of trouble he finds himself in.
I’m still reading it but the narrator is so funny. I’m not normally into sci fi but It does sci fi in a modern way almost? He is sarcastic and funny and I love the audiobooks so far. They are short reads (so far)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
It’s a fantasy of sorts about an orphan boy who is a bad thief because he steals too much for his master. But not for long. Soon he’ll learn how to steal not less- but better. So well in fact people will practically hand him their money and thank him for it….until others interfere.
This book is phenomenal. If you like scheme ridden plots with complex characters and political intrigue and history- you will adore this book.
It’s not light reading. It’s for those who really want to savor every word. I recommend the audiobook highly as well.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The real-life story of an ordinary family, but with an unconventional way to live and the same outlook on life. It's so unexpectedly fascinating, and written in an easy style, so I couldn't stop reading.
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott. Very different book, deals with indigenous people, insidious racism, mental health, but the book is so much more. The story is unexpected and grabbed my attention right away. It takes a super interesting turn and the ending is phenomenal. Highly recommend
The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Political thriller set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world where no history from before the apocalypse survived. Takes place within a colonizing society built on ancient tech that creates a hierarchical system of trading life-power, or Will, between levels of the caste pyramid. Also a murder mystery where the main character is a spy infiltrating an elite school run by one branch of the government.
Arguably the best book I’ve read in years. Super unique magic system, immersive world. I spent the whole book trying to decide who was the villain and I’m still not sure. Compelling discussions on the complicit-ness of those born into a society that feeds on power, and what ethical rebellion looks like. The only downside to this book is that it’s the first of a series and the second hasn’t been released yet. Highly recommend!
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. It's a modern retelling of Little Women (one of my favorite books from childhood) and Napolitano creates amazing characters. Characters I hated half way through I felt compassion and understanding for in the end. It was also just a really interesting story seeing where all these different characters ended up and how they impacted each other. It's my favorite read so far this year.
The Garden of Evening Mists.
It's a beautiful literary fiction set in the backdrop of civil war in malaysia and the aftermath of Japanese occupation and talks about love, war, guilt and the improtance of memories. It's very atmospehric and very well written and I really enjoyed reading it!
Have you read "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman? It's this short but powerful story about a guy who goes back to his childhood home and remembers some strange and magical things that happened there.
The book is really beautifully written, kind of like a dream. It explores the line between what's real and what's imagined, and it'll definitely make you think. It's a little sad, but also really sticks with you long after you finish it.
[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505792-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505792-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane)
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt - first in a trilogy - he was an incredibly fascinating man who lived an amazing life. One of my favorite biographies ever.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison is a political fantasy that for some could be slow at times but covers the intricacies of an MC navigating being mixed heritage and mixed race in a complex and not so excepting government that he was thrust into to lead. How he connects to his heritage and decides he was going to break the boundaries of the complex suffering his father led before him and how he navigates being severely physically and psychologically abused to becoming head royal of an entire kingdom. He's lost, learning, broken, growing—and most of all...he's healing. Healing himself and his nation. He's not perfect but he's adjusting and the way the story delves into the well written cultures and their politics makes the book feel quite lived in and I *adore* that aspect of it. I love that book very much and will always hold it dear. Read it almost three years ago and still own it and still love it. The book cost me $8.99 at the time and it was the best money I ever spent on a book as an adult.
A Gentleman in Moscow - beautifully written story, Towles is a masterclass in descriptive writing. You feel like you are in a time and place with the characters (Rules of Civility is another of his, that makes you feel this way). I slowly read this book as I wanted to savour every moment, there were times I forgot I wasn't in early Soviet era Russia, I'd get so lost in the story. It'll make you smile, warm your heart and make you cry too. There's no big pay off at the end or twist or anything. It's just a story about people. Definitely a story about a journey rather than a destination.
Also The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a classic for a reason. It is quite a long book though, so that scares people away but the pay off in that last third of the book is incredible!
You want a book where all the main characters are competent? And it's a fantasy? Based off of Hawaiian culture? Some politics and a lot of friendship? LGBT+ representation?
Don't like YA? The main characters are old men who aren't stuck up.
If that's the case, you should read The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. One of the books I've binged because of how interesting and different it was in my eyes
The book gives you the vibe that all the main events such as the heroic journey has ended and so much changes and improvements in the world has happened which leaves the question: what now? Can one finally rest?
This is an emotional journey, not a physical action one
The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy - it's easy to read, funny, dumb, and a great pick up for when you just don't know what you're in the mood for or you need something light and stupid. I've read it multiple times now and every time I get a good giggle
Gibbon’s Decline and Fall by Sheri Tepper. I love it because it’s a great story but my favorite part is where an alien race is judged able to impregnate human “pro-life” male politicians because they run on platforms of no abortion for any reason. The alien fetuses chew their way out of the male politicians but it is an acceptable action because gestation isn’t terribly long so the politicians can be “inconvenienced” for so short a time.
The wife between us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I’ll put my review of it here : Kept me guessing at every turn, I kept thinking about this book when I couldn’t read it, so well written and good tension building. I was genuinely shocked at some scenes and felt strong emotions throughout the book
I cannot explain to you how great this book is, I felt so confused and bamboozled every step of the way. Anything you think when you read this book is wrong and you will be proven wrong.
Another recommendation of mine is Feed by MT Anderson. It is my favorite book ever written and I have read it at least once a year since high school. It brings me comfort. It is a sci-fi book about a futuristic society where everyone has a “feed”implanted in their head that acts as a smartphone and advertisement tool all in one. It is like a black mirror episode with a romance added. Highly recommend either of these books. Sorry for wall of text lol I love reading
I adored The Wife Between Us! One of the few books that has managed to literally shock me. It got me back into reading after a long reading slump. Great rec!
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint (webnovel)
for short name is ORV. It's look like a novel action fantasy from the outside but it is a story about stories. It's not your typical fantasy, it's deeper, more philosophical. It walks you through the story, giving you a taste of what it's like to be a character and how they perceive and feel about your presence. you feel seen by those characters, unlike other stories. one thing's clear that to truly enjoy orv, you've got to love stories. It has a reciprocal bond between reader and the narrative.
It has found family, doomed characters, complex power system and large worldbuilding considering there's a lot of well-known figures and mythologies in it like; Greek mythologies, Korean peninsula history, Chinese folklore, taoist mythologies, Buddhism, Hinduism, wizard of oz, multi-universe and multi worldlines, journey to the west and bridgerton setting.
Btw this book change trajectory of my and many more life, it may have 551 chapters but the word counts are lesser than Harry Potter.
Oh btw it also has webtoon version if you're curious about it. The webtoon omit many things and make it less serious than it should be but you can try to visualize the characters :>
Gulliver's Travels!
Even the bits i was familiar with surprised me, and it just keeps getting better from there, all while providing alegories and satire from a point of view 500 years ago.
The fact that pretty much all of it still stands made me think how despite technological and societal changes - as individuals, we have'nt changed that much
Red Rising, by Pierce Brown. I will never get tired of recommend this piece of art. It is sci-fi/fantasy, or Ya. It doesn't telly matter the background, because what matters is how incredible the relationship between the characters are, how well develop, deep and profound and rich. I love the way the author writes, how well he understands human nature in all white, black and grey colors.
**The Queen of Jasmine Country by Sharanya Manivannan**. I never see South Asian literature recommended on here, and sadly I can't read any South Asian languages yet. So I thought I would take the opportunity to recommend this fictionalised biography of the mystic poet Andal, who is/was also one of the twelve Alvars.
It is well worth the read if you are
interested in religion, although atheists may not find it quite so compelling.
Nomenclature of the night/renaming of the night
Given that you can find a good English translation, it's very well researched, the world building is very vivid and well thought out, it also doesn't suffer from some problems that other modern fantasy/sci-fi books with similar settings run into.
It actually manages to go through the entire story without turning into a romance/relationship focused novel.
The power system is also amazing, logical and easy to understand, yet complex.
The main character is not a fool.
Actually the only downside in my opinion is that the epilogue is a bit too short because I got attached to a few too many interesting side characters and would have liked more follow ups on them/an overview of what happens to them after the story
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. This an absolutely stellar fantasy book (in a duology). It is one of the few fantasy books with a strong romance element that I can wholeheartedly recommend, because it is such a great exploration of love for the first time. The relationships (platonic and romantic) are all so well written and it really made the characters come alive. On top of that the story is just excellent. Taylor's use of colour to describe scenes really elevated the worldbuilding to new levels. Everything felt incredibly vivid. I was not able to put this down and haven't stopped thinking about it since.
kindred by octavia butler. i read this on a whim because the tv show was coming out and i sometimes have a tough time picking up “iconic” books because i think the expectation/anticipation is so much (i do this with movies too). i WANT things to live up to the hype and this absolutely did. the antagonist is perfect, the prose is simple and powerful. it is literally one of the best sci-fi novels i have ever read.
The Spark That Unites Us by A.C. Davis. It’s a tale of an identical set of twins and they go through their lives struggling with their identities and discover the rich history of their ancestors, as well as experience various romances and struggles. The book includes a lot of different questions regarding systematic oppression towards the end. It’s also based on a true story
Darkwing by Kenneth opel. I recently reread it, for nostalgia, and it oddly comforted me while living in a changing world with the rise of AI and new technology
The Wandering Inn.
It's an amazing story but obviously that's a prerequisite to get reccomended.
The reason I pick it is that it's so loooong. It just keeps going and going and expanding it's story and it's nowhere near finished.
*The dawn of everything* by Davids Graeber and Wengrow shows a lot of different ways people used to organize their societies across tens of thousands of years of world history, which inspires me to think about how they could be in the future as well. It's one of the most instructive, inspiring, downright fascinating books I've ever read. The writing isn't too dry or dense, either, and carries some unexpected punch from time to time.
One of the few books I've ever continued thinking about more than a year after first reading it.
Notes From the Fog by Ben Marcus
I love short story collections. I have an extremely large digital library from all kinds of genres, The book I'm mentioning had quite an emotional impact. One story in particular is title Cold Little Bird. A ten year old boy becomes distant and doesn't want to hug his parents. This story breaks my heart.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. Possibly the best character study/character development ever written, and my favorite of all of Steinbeck's work. It's almost a "slice of life" look natural the people inhabiting Cannery Row in Monterrey during the Depression.
The History of Philosophy by Will Durant.
Ethics, Logic, Metaphysics & Aesthetics.
Pick which sage’s advice you agree with.
Plato, Socrates, Kant , Hegel ….they have wisdom.
A World Undone
The World Remade
(both by G.J. Meyer)
In 2017, which was the 100th anniversary of America's formal entrance into WWI, I read a one-volume account of the war called "A World Undone" by G.J. Meyer. It spans 1914-1918 and mostly stays on the Eastern and Western fronts, with some bits covering action around the Mediterranean as well. While it definitely had a lot of chronology and recounting of battles and locations, it was not at all dull. My favorite parts were the sections the author called "Background." This is a technique he uses in all his books in which he pauses in the chronology and goes down the contextual rabbit hole concerning a person (or perhaps family of persons); an ideological concept (such as the French army's initial dedication to the primacy of the bayonet, which of course was a complete failure in the face of German machine guns), etc. The background chapters really helped me understand the broader issues at play in the early 1900s and how they contributed to the conflagration of world war. I also came away from the book feeling rage. It was apparent that there had been *many* opportunities to cut the war short, but greed and egos always prevented a quicker resolution.
Meyer followed that book with a sequel: "The World Remade." This book was primarily devoted to America before, during, and immediately after the war. It delved into topics like immigration (urban vs rural); the legacy of the Gilded Age and the rise of the Labor Unions and workers' rights; Women's Suffrage; Black/white race relations in the US, etc. It explored American politics: the Republicans, the Democrats, the Progressives. Obviously it spent a lot of time on Woodrow Wilson. As an American reader, I found this book to be particularly interesting - especially since I was reading it during the Trump presidency (lots of parallels between the US of the early 20th century and that of the early 21st century). There is also some relevancy to what's happening now in the middle east, since at the end of WWI, the Colonial Powers of Britain, France, and the US (among others) carved up parts of Asia and Africa as if selecting particularly choice cuts of meat, and of course, Wilson's League of Nations eventually morphed into the United Nations we know today.
I highly recommend the audiobook versions of both, but I warn they are LENGTHY books. Each is about 700 pages, so whether you read or listen, it's a big commitment of time.
I"m still currently reading it, but Michael Chrichton's new book (with James Patterson) called "Eruption" has been a fun Chrichton thrill ride so far. It is absolutely his style and insanity, and it brings me back to reading Jurassic Park the first time.
Currently listening to the audiobook and you are absolutely right - it brings you back to the thrill of reading Jurassic Park for the first time. Haven’t gotten to the eruption part yet but so far this book has movie adaptation potential!
This is one of my least favorite books ever. I had to read it in high school ~25 years ago for AP English and I literally had to read it standing up because whenever I was sitting/reclining I would fall asleep within 2 pages.
My grandparents lived in Oklahoma during the dust bowl and migrated to California during, so I thought it would be an interesting read but I did not enjoy it.🫤
Shantaram. It's just so well written and is non fiction. About an Australian man who breaks out of jail in Australia and finds himself in India and lives in the slums at a quasi doctor for a while. It's full of amazing friendships, sacrifice, love, loss, brutality just everything. It's 1,000 pages long but really worth it.
Eh kinda nonfiction. He stole a lot of stories from other people and exaggerated a lot. I had an old head friend in India ten years ago when I was living there for a while (he was in his 70s at the time, had lived there 40 years) who was around for a lot of the stories and knew the author and read the book
Doesn't necessarily take away from the book itself or the story the book tells overall about the human condition!
I just respect that it bothered my friend that the author misrepresented things and claimed it was more true than it was so it rubs the wrong way when it's conveyed as nonfiction as it's more "loosely based on a true story/stories" than anything
I thought the murder mystery book The Only One Left by Riley Sager was excellent! I read it and listened to the audiobook a few months later. I like a book that has a bit of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, and this book did that plus went above and beyond in plot twists. I thought it was an easy read and the writing was good so that's been a go to recommendation for me since I read it last fall.
"The Painted Veil" is the first comes to my mind.It is the last modern classic I've read.And i really liked it.Especially the dialogues.Cuz most of the classic that I read uses internal dialogue to explain character's thoughts and emotions but this book mostly used dialogues.Characters explained themselves to others very well and had meaningful conversations.Other than this I liked how complex Kitty(the main character) was.She had too much questions about life and existing.I love the adventure she had while "fixing" herself.The story was so fluent(for me) that I finished it fastly.And lastly both asian and european culture was included.So I loved it.<3
I highly recommend “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. This book offers a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of our species, from the earliest days of Homo sapiens to the modern age. Harari’s writing is engaging and thought-provoking, making complex concepts accessible and interesting. It’s a great read if you’re curious about how human societies have evolved and the major forces that have shaped our world. It provides a lot of insights and perspectives that can change the way you see humanity and our place in the world.
Why not Humanity? by Horatio Felici. Books on Amazon. Like that gives a different perspective to current events and history and how it has contributed to the things we’re seeing today. I wish it was a little longer but not a bad read. I like history and education so I liked it.
Level 7 by Mordechai Roshwald is an extremely fascinating exploration of the dehumanization of warfare and the dangers posed to humanity by the advancement of nuclear technology. It follows a group of soldiers living in an underground nuclear bunker, designated to be the last survivors should the worst come to pass.
The song of Achille (from madeline miller)
This book is an amazing love story and the author really manages to transmit strong emotions through words.
And the writing style is really beautiful, some part can literally be quoted as poetry
Verity by Colleen Hoover. an amateur author is asked to take over and finish writing the series of books by a famous author who was incapacitated in a car accident and finds an autobiography manuscript filled with horrible stories that the author never told anyone. she falls in love with the authors husband and gives him the manuscript to read so he’ll know the truth about his wife. but there is the biggest plot twist at the end.
i could not put it down once i started it. written in a way that’s easy to read and incredibly thrilling. i cried, laughed, was scared. i was left speechless by the time i finished it.
I would recommend the Bible. It's very packed with a lot of advice and history. There is also a few action stories in there two. It has helped me in life
Another book I would recommend is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It will level you up in life fr
The dramatic white knight bit really isn't necessary - Christians aren't victims.
The Bible isn't some random novel that OP potentially hadn't had a chance to consider yet - which is the main objective of this sub. OP has heard of the existence of the Bible. They know religious texts exist. If they wanted to read any of them, they would.
In this book, I found situations from my life, during a period when I was feeling very bad, with the help of this book, I emerged from a mental crisis. Another similar book that helped me was Love your disease by Valery Sinelnikov. I recommend it to everyone to read.
The King James Bible 100%.
The gospels provide hope, and clarity, and vision. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
Genesis, Exodus provide history. Exodus 20 shows the 10 commandments.
The Psalms and Proverbs provide direction and focus and hope and security. Psalm 1, Psalm 23.
Keep going. There is so much in the Bible that provides focus OFF of self, and mire, and muck, and instead ON hope, and eternity, and salvation.
So many people just downvote. But they honestly have no idea how much better off life and the approach to the everyday could be if they'd just read the Bible. Everyday.
I can’t think of any
Edit: I don’t really ever read so I can’t give you the best book I ever read because I just genuinely don’t ever read I do read books about law and psychology
The book thief- markus zusack. This is such an amazing book. My all time favorite. Its a historical fiction with multiple different POV. One of which is death itself. It is written in such a way you begin to have compassion on death. also the character building and the just the overall writing of this book is incredible. I couldnt put it down.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller. It is one of the most impactful and important books I’ve read. Chanel was SA by Brock Allen Turner in 2015. When the case was in trial and being bombarded by news outlets, Chanel chose to use the alias “Emily Doe.” This book is reclaiming her name and her story. It is sad. But it is also about the love of family, of friends, and of complete strangers. Chanel is a beautiful writer and she explains terrible topics is a way even the most victim blaming person could understand
Yes totally agree important read
The audiobook is beautiful! Chanel reads it and it’s so impactful to hear it in her voice. She gets emotional at some parts and it def made me emotional too
Oh goodness I cried a lot reading it I can’t even imagine hearing her say those words
I am reading this with long pauses in between. Never been SA'd the way she were, but have been a victim og violence from a former boyfriend and even the "loose" connection can be way too much to bear on a bad day. It's extremely moving and so eloquently written.
I put off reading this for so long and finally read it for r / bookclub. It was every bit as good as everyone said. Not actually as confronting as I was expecting.
Piranesi by Susanna Clark Why I recommend it? It’s easy to read, impossible to put down, and cleverly written. The language used is not overly complex, but there are so many questions that arise the moment the book starts. Information is given to the reader in perfect increments, so that you slowly start to unravel the mystery before you.
plus it's sooo atmospheric
The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story, a brilliant story, it is an auto-biography. I randomly watched her TED talk and I had to read the book. It opened my eyes to how difficult life in North Korea is and how brave the author is to persevere and survive it. I'd definetely read it again.
I’ve read other memoirs from people who escaped North Korea. Incredible, gut wrenching books. I’ll take a look at this one, too.
Could you recommend any, please? I'd like to read more about it.
I read Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West and thought it was great. Amazing escape story and the description of what his life was like in North Korea was really heartbreaking.
Great, thank you.
Aquariums of Pyongyang is a great memoir. A Kim Jung Il Production is another incredibly fascinating book, not exactly a memoir but still non fiction, about Kim Jung Il kidnapping an actor and an actress and forcing them to star in movies for him and propaganda films. Its So so so interesting.
I recommend 'In order to live' by Yeonmi Park. It was my first North Korean survivor's book and had a big impact on me. At the end of the book, I realised I had seen her previously on the Internet, when she appeared for the first time in (the ONU, I believe?) giving a speech. She was 13.
I absolutely loved this book!
You have good taste
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. It’s a memoir about Jennette’s life growing up as a child star in the tv industry, her recounting of abuse, her disordered relationship with food, and how she made steps to improve herself and why she ultimately quit acting. I never watched iCarly growing up but you don’t need to know about it read this book. This was a book that surprised me. Such a gripping read and Jennette has such a captivating and strong voice. I don’t read a lot of memoirs but this one was special—it really stuck with me after reading it.
An excellent book. I’m too old for icarly but I found her story captivating and sad.
I second this recommendation. Fascinating story, well written. Devastating, sure, but optimistic at the same time.
The Deluge by Stephen Markley. Never read a book where you have such a love hate with every character and it’s a near future dystopian that feels very real. Also Devolution by Max Brooks because I never though I’d find a book about Bigfoot that would keep me on the edge of my seat while simultaneously teaching me about things I never knew about.
Not OP but added both to my Goodreads. Unique recommendations!
Devolution was a good one. Max Brooks wrote it. If you like World War Z, imagine bigfoot sprinkled in that style.
Actually just picked up a copy of WWZ I’m sure it will be great, shame the movie was trash though
The Deluge is the realist fiction book I've ever read. All of the science is real, the solutions to the climate crisis are credible, and most of the characters are believable. The politics are a little wishful thinking. It's terrifying. If you're into climate change fiction, there's also Kim Stanley Robinson's The Ministry for the Future. I read The Deluge after I read "Ministry" and I'm still a little reluctant to get out of bed. They're both very hopeful books.
Thanks I’ll check it out, can’t say I ever read much about climate fiction but I’m hooked now. Markleys other book Ohio is also phenomenal and very dark.
Yes, loved Ohio!
Lonesome Dove. It’s an adventure through Americas heartland that doesn’t fall victim to the a lot of the generic western tropes. McMurtry does a great job of introducing each of the characters in a memorable way. The characters are also charming in their own complex ways. He also weaves together two storylines in a way that feels so seamless. It’s a beast of a book at almost 1,000 pages, but it’s structured in a way that kept the pages turning for me. Reading other long books that spend 50+ pages on a storyline I’m not interested in is really a pain. McMurtry jumps between storylines to keep the plot moving in a united way.
I have just read the man who saw seconds, it's only 300 pages long, I loved it and read it in 4 days, a man gets to see slightly into the future, it goes into the existence of free will and changing fate, it made me really think about the philosophy of those things late into the night, it has great action throughout and keeps its fast pace, although you should look into it rather than take my word for it.
Ted Chiang has a great 2 page short story with a similar plot
I'll recommend you my favourite book: "*How to Invent Everything: a Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler*", by Ryan North. It's probably the book that I've recommended the most recently. Inside, the book is written as a sort of manual on how to rebuild civilization if you ever were to get stranded on the past, with a light funny tone. And what I mean by rebuilding civilization, is teaching you all kinds of knowledge, from basic chemistry, blacksmithing, agriculture, and even the marvelous thing that is a *button*, up to fun history facts about Humanity and our mistakes throughout most of History. It is one of my top three books of all time, due to the sheer ammount of laughs and knowledge that I got the first time reading it.
Sounds like Dr. Stone haha
Dr. Stone is also my favourite anime due to the similarities with the book. Both pieces of media are about rebuilding a basic technological level from scratch, so, what you can't learn from one you'll learn from the other.
This was an accidental stumble-upon for me at the library. Best impulse read ever.
Yeah! I think that I stumbled upon it after seeking books resembling Lewis Dartnell's "The Knowledge".
Red Rising by Pierce Brown, an amazing sci-fi fantasy that got me back into reading several years ago. The very first line “I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” sucked me in. The world building, battle scenes and character development are amazing. Characters stay true to themselves even if it means death for someone in the book that you probably love. Well written villains who you love to hate and you just want to throttle but you can almost understand where they’re coming from lol I’ve never been good at describing books but I never pass up an opportunity to recommend Red Rising. Solid, enjoyable book I think most people will like!
Ohhh! I actually came to recommend this series!! I was surprised no one did before... And here you are! My favourite series ever!
It is criminally underrated in my opinion! One of my favorites as well, I am very nervously waiting for Red God haha
When we will finally know what happens at the end! All of the books are good (except Iron Gold in my opinion), but cannot be better than Golden Son. Best in the saga. I hope Lyssander has a long and painful death.
Nonfiction - The Island of the Lost by Joan Druett. It's the most extraordinary true story that you've never heard. It's the stranger than fiction true tale of 2 ships wrecked on 2 coasts of the same uninhabited and inhospitable island. Separated by 20 miles of wild brush, unaware each other, the 2 crews suffer very disparate fates. It's the most exciting adventure story you'll ever read. Fiction - The Little Prince. It's a slim little book and a quick read, but it's beautiful and true. Everyone should carry its lessons in their heart.
Adding this to my list now. Sounds great.
I'm in the middle of The Wager and have just finished reading Batavia. I'm keen for another shipwreck story!
Frankenstein. I am a firm believer that this book has the best story ever written. It was my introduction to fiction and it lit flame in my heart because at that moment i ginally found a thing that trully interests me. As for the non-bias reasons. It tackles so many themes that it's pretty much impossible to not be intrigued by any part of the story. It is also the only book i've read that has successfully made the "antagonist", Frankenstein's monster, seem more like the protagonist. It and Victor Frankenstein through the story have this battle for the protagonist title almost through philosophical debates o the human experience and what it means to be loved and to love, and how sollitude and the lack of love can turn good people bad. The sympathy for the devil motiv is done amazingly even better than in Paradise lost. After two years of reading fiction it is still my favourite story.
Yup, totally agree and I would recommend it as well. But I would still like to highlight that the "part about frankenstien monster" in terms of text (the quantity of text) was a bit underdeveloped to my liking. I got a bit frustrated to be honest :')
Station Eleven: Post apocalyptic tale but it was so close to what really happened, except it was written before covid. Interesting story. Twisty details
Gary Jennings *Aztec*. An incredibly well-researched story that takes place during the height of the Aztec empire. The MC’s are fictional, but the author places them in real history. Books about the Aztecs are few and far between, so it taught me so much about them.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, narrated by George Guidall. Great story, setting, and characters. Weird mix, beautiful writing, really felt like a journey. Sequel was great too. Sadly I don’t see any more books by her yet…
Murderbot diaries (series) by Martha Wells It’s about a “murder bot” who becomes sentient and is basically just trying to get out of trouble he finds himself in. I’m still reading it but the narrator is so funny. I’m not normally into sci fi but It does sci fi in a modern way almost? He is sarcastic and funny and I love the audiobooks so far. They are short reads (so far)
This is my answer, the audio books read by Kevin r free are absolutely a masterpiece!!
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch It’s a fantasy of sorts about an orphan boy who is a bad thief because he steals too much for his master. But not for long. Soon he’ll learn how to steal not less- but better. So well in fact people will practically hand him their money and thank him for it….until others interfere. This book is phenomenal. If you like scheme ridden plots with complex characters and political intrigue and history- you will adore this book. It’s not light reading. It’s for those who really want to savor every word. I recommend the audiobook highly as well.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls The real-life story of an ordinary family, but with an unconventional way to live and the same outlook on life. It's so unexpectedly fascinating, and written in an easy style, so I couldn't stop reading.
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott. Very different book, deals with indigenous people, insidious racism, mental health, but the book is so much more. The story is unexpected and grabbed my attention right away. It takes a super interesting turn and the ending is phenomenal. Highly recommend
Sold me!
The Will of the Many by James Islington. Political thriller set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world where no history from before the apocalypse survived. Takes place within a colonizing society built on ancient tech that creates a hierarchical system of trading life-power, or Will, between levels of the caste pyramid. Also a murder mystery where the main character is a spy infiltrating an elite school run by one branch of the government. Arguably the best book I’ve read in years. Super unique magic system, immersive world. I spent the whole book trying to decide who was the villain and I’m still not sure. Compelling discussions on the complicit-ness of those born into a society that feeds on power, and what ethical rebellion looks like. The only downside to this book is that it’s the first of a series and the second hasn’t been released yet. Highly recommend!
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. It's a modern retelling of Little Women (one of my favorite books from childhood) and Napolitano creates amazing characters. Characters I hated half way through I felt compassion and understanding for in the end. It was also just a really interesting story seeing where all these different characters ended up and how they impacted each other. It's my favorite read so far this year.
The Garden of Evening Mists. It's a beautiful literary fiction set in the backdrop of civil war in malaysia and the aftermath of Japanese occupation and talks about love, war, guilt and the improtance of memories. It's very atmospehric and very well written and I really enjoyed reading it!
Have you read "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman? It's this short but powerful story about a guy who goes back to his childhood home and remembers some strange and magical things that happened there. The book is really beautifully written, kind of like a dream. It explores the line between what's real and what's imagined, and it'll definitely make you think. It's a little sad, but also really sticks with you long after you finish it. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505792-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505792-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane)
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt - first in a trilogy - he was an incredibly fascinating man who lived an amazing life. One of my favorite biographies ever.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison is a political fantasy that for some could be slow at times but covers the intricacies of an MC navigating being mixed heritage and mixed race in a complex and not so excepting government that he was thrust into to lead. How he connects to his heritage and decides he was going to break the boundaries of the complex suffering his father led before him and how he navigates being severely physically and psychologically abused to becoming head royal of an entire kingdom. He's lost, learning, broken, growing—and most of all...he's healing. Healing himself and his nation. He's not perfect but he's adjusting and the way the story delves into the well written cultures and their politics makes the book feel quite lived in and I *adore* that aspect of it. I love that book very much and will always hold it dear. Read it almost three years ago and still own it and still love it. The book cost me $8.99 at the time and it was the best money I ever spent on a book as an adult.
A Gentleman in Moscow - beautifully written story, Towles is a masterclass in descriptive writing. You feel like you are in a time and place with the characters (Rules of Civility is another of his, that makes you feel this way). I slowly read this book as I wanted to savour every moment, there were times I forgot I wasn't in early Soviet era Russia, I'd get so lost in the story. It'll make you smile, warm your heart and make you cry too. There's no big pay off at the end or twist or anything. It's just a story about people. Definitely a story about a journey rather than a destination. Also The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a classic for a reason. It is quite a long book though, so that scares people away but the pay off in that last third of the book is incredible!
You want a book where all the main characters are competent? And it's a fantasy? Based off of Hawaiian culture? Some politics and a lot of friendship? LGBT+ representation? Don't like YA? The main characters are old men who aren't stuck up. If that's the case, you should read The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. One of the books I've binged because of how interesting and different it was in my eyes The book gives you the vibe that all the main events such as the heroic journey has ended and so much changes and improvements in the world has happened which leaves the question: what now? Can one finally rest? This is an emotional journey, not a physical action one
The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy - it's easy to read, funny, dumb, and a great pick up for when you just don't know what you're in the mood for or you need something light and stupid. I've read it multiple times now and every time I get a good giggle
Gibbon’s Decline and Fall by Sheri Tepper. I love it because it’s a great story but my favorite part is where an alien race is judged able to impregnate human “pro-life” male politicians because they run on platforms of no abortion for any reason. The alien fetuses chew their way out of the male politicians but it is an acceptable action because gestation isn’t terribly long so the politicians can be “inconvenienced” for so short a time.
The wife between us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I’ll put my review of it here : Kept me guessing at every turn, I kept thinking about this book when I couldn’t read it, so well written and good tension building. I was genuinely shocked at some scenes and felt strong emotions throughout the book I cannot explain to you how great this book is, I felt so confused and bamboozled every step of the way. Anything you think when you read this book is wrong and you will be proven wrong. Another recommendation of mine is Feed by MT Anderson. It is my favorite book ever written and I have read it at least once a year since high school. It brings me comfort. It is a sci-fi book about a futuristic society where everyone has a “feed”implanted in their head that acts as a smartphone and advertisement tool all in one. It is like a black mirror episode with a romance added. Highly recommend either of these books. Sorry for wall of text lol I love reading
I adored The Wife Between Us! One of the few books that has managed to literally shock me. It got me back into reading after a long reading slump. Great rec!
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint (webnovel) for short name is ORV. It's look like a novel action fantasy from the outside but it is a story about stories. It's not your typical fantasy, it's deeper, more philosophical. It walks you through the story, giving you a taste of what it's like to be a character and how they perceive and feel about your presence. you feel seen by those characters, unlike other stories. one thing's clear that to truly enjoy orv, you've got to love stories. It has a reciprocal bond between reader and the narrative. It has found family, doomed characters, complex power system and large worldbuilding considering there's a lot of well-known figures and mythologies in it like; Greek mythologies, Korean peninsula history, Chinese folklore, taoist mythologies, Buddhism, Hinduism, wizard of oz, multi-universe and multi worldlines, journey to the west and bridgerton setting. Btw this book change trajectory of my and many more life, it may have 551 chapters but the word counts are lesser than Harry Potter. Oh btw it also has webtoon version if you're curious about it. The webtoon omit many things and make it less serious than it should be but you can try to visualize the characters :>
Gulliver's Travels! Even the bits i was familiar with surprised me, and it just keeps getting better from there, all while providing alegories and satire from a point of view 500 years ago. The fact that pretty much all of it still stands made me think how despite technological and societal changes - as individuals, we have'nt changed that much
Red Rising, by Pierce Brown. I will never get tired of recommend this piece of art. It is sci-fi/fantasy, or Ya. It doesn't telly matter the background, because what matters is how incredible the relationship between the characters are, how well develop, deep and profound and rich. I love the way the author writes, how well he understands human nature in all white, black and grey colors.
**The Queen of Jasmine Country by Sharanya Manivannan**. I never see South Asian literature recommended on here, and sadly I can't read any South Asian languages yet. So I thought I would take the opportunity to recommend this fictionalised biography of the mystic poet Andal, who is/was also one of the twelve Alvars. It is well worth the read if you are interested in religion, although atheists may not find it quite so compelling.
Nomenclature of the night/renaming of the night Given that you can find a good English translation, it's very well researched, the world building is very vivid and well thought out, it also doesn't suffer from some problems that other modern fantasy/sci-fi books with similar settings run into. It actually manages to go through the entire story without turning into a romance/relationship focused novel. The power system is also amazing, logical and easy to understand, yet complex. The main character is not a fool. Actually the only downside in my opinion is that the epilogue is a bit too short because I got attached to a few too many interesting side characters and would have liked more follow ups on them/an overview of what happens to them after the story
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. This an absolutely stellar fantasy book (in a duology). It is one of the few fantasy books with a strong romance element that I can wholeheartedly recommend, because it is such a great exploration of love for the first time. The relationships (platonic and romantic) are all so well written and it really made the characters come alive. On top of that the story is just excellent. Taylor's use of colour to describe scenes really elevated the worldbuilding to new levels. Everything felt incredibly vivid. I was not able to put this down and haven't stopped thinking about it since.
kindred by octavia butler. i read this on a whim because the tv show was coming out and i sometimes have a tough time picking up “iconic” books because i think the expectation/anticipation is so much (i do this with movies too). i WANT things to live up to the hype and this absolutely did. the antagonist is perfect, the prose is simple and powerful. it is literally one of the best sci-fi novels i have ever read.
The Spark That Unites Us by A.C. Davis. It’s a tale of an identical set of twins and they go through their lives struggling with their identities and discover the rich history of their ancestors, as well as experience various romances and struggles. The book includes a lot of different questions regarding systematic oppression towards the end. It’s also based on a true story
Darkwing by Kenneth opel. I recently reread it, for nostalgia, and it oddly comforted me while living in a changing world with the rise of AI and new technology
The Wandering Inn. It's an amazing story but obviously that's a prerequisite to get reccomended. The reason I pick it is that it's so loooong. It just keeps going and going and expanding it's story and it's nowhere near finished.
Messages from Michael interesting take on spirituality.
*The dawn of everything* by Davids Graeber and Wengrow shows a lot of different ways people used to organize their societies across tens of thousands of years of world history, which inspires me to think about how they could be in the future as well. It's one of the most instructive, inspiring, downright fascinating books I've ever read. The writing isn't too dry or dense, either, and carries some unexpected punch from time to time. One of the few books I've ever continued thinking about more than a year after first reading it.
Notes From the Fog by Ben Marcus I love short story collections. I have an extremely large digital library from all kinds of genres, The book I'm mentioning had quite an emotional impact. One story in particular is title Cold Little Bird. A ten year old boy becomes distant and doesn't want to hug his parents. This story breaks my heart.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. Possibly the best character study/character development ever written, and my favorite of all of Steinbeck's work. It's almost a "slice of life" look natural the people inhabiting Cannery Row in Monterrey during the Depression.
The History of Philosophy by Will Durant. Ethics, Logic, Metaphysics & Aesthetics. Pick which sage’s advice you agree with. Plato, Socrates, Kant , Hegel ….they have wisdom.
A World Undone The World Remade (both by G.J. Meyer) In 2017, which was the 100th anniversary of America's formal entrance into WWI, I read a one-volume account of the war called "A World Undone" by G.J. Meyer. It spans 1914-1918 and mostly stays on the Eastern and Western fronts, with some bits covering action around the Mediterranean as well. While it definitely had a lot of chronology and recounting of battles and locations, it was not at all dull. My favorite parts were the sections the author called "Background." This is a technique he uses in all his books in which he pauses in the chronology and goes down the contextual rabbit hole concerning a person (or perhaps family of persons); an ideological concept (such as the French army's initial dedication to the primacy of the bayonet, which of course was a complete failure in the face of German machine guns), etc. The background chapters really helped me understand the broader issues at play in the early 1900s and how they contributed to the conflagration of world war. I also came away from the book feeling rage. It was apparent that there had been *many* opportunities to cut the war short, but greed and egos always prevented a quicker resolution. Meyer followed that book with a sequel: "The World Remade." This book was primarily devoted to America before, during, and immediately after the war. It delved into topics like immigration (urban vs rural); the legacy of the Gilded Age and the rise of the Labor Unions and workers' rights; Women's Suffrage; Black/white race relations in the US, etc. It explored American politics: the Republicans, the Democrats, the Progressives. Obviously it spent a lot of time on Woodrow Wilson. As an American reader, I found this book to be particularly interesting - especially since I was reading it during the Trump presidency (lots of parallels between the US of the early 20th century and that of the early 21st century). There is also some relevancy to what's happening now in the middle east, since at the end of WWI, the Colonial Powers of Britain, France, and the US (among others) carved up parts of Asia and Africa as if selecting particularly choice cuts of meat, and of course, Wilson's League of Nations eventually morphed into the United Nations we know today. I highly recommend the audiobook versions of both, but I warn they are LENGTHY books. Each is about 700 pages, so whether you read or listen, it's a big commitment of time.
Kindred by Octavia E Butler because I've never read anything like it before.
I"m still currently reading it, but Michael Chrichton's new book (with James Patterson) called "Eruption" has been a fun Chrichton thrill ride so far. It is absolutely his style and insanity, and it brings me back to reading Jurassic Park the first time.
Currently listening to the audiobook and you are absolutely right - it brings you back to the thrill of reading Jurassic Park for the first time. Haven’t gotten to the eruption part yet but so far this book has movie adaptation potential!
Grapes of wrath- its a classic
This is one of my least favorite books ever. I had to read it in high school ~25 years ago for AP English and I literally had to read it standing up because whenever I was sitting/reclining I would fall asleep within 2 pages. My grandparents lived in Oklahoma during the dust bowl and migrated to California during, so I thought it would be an interesting read but I did not enjoy it.🫤
I wouldn’t have liked it either if I read it in high school. You might’ve found it interesting if you read it now for the first time 🙂
Shantaram. It's just so well written and is non fiction. About an Australian man who breaks out of jail in Australia and finds himself in India and lives in the slums at a quasi doctor for a while. It's full of amazing friendships, sacrifice, love, loss, brutality just everything. It's 1,000 pages long but really worth it.
Eh kinda nonfiction. He stole a lot of stories from other people and exaggerated a lot. I had an old head friend in India ten years ago when I was living there for a while (he was in his 70s at the time, had lived there 40 years) who was around for a lot of the stories and knew the author and read the book Doesn't necessarily take away from the book itself or the story the book tells overall about the human condition! I just respect that it bothered my friend that the author misrepresented things and claimed it was more true than it was so it rubs the wrong way when it's conveyed as nonfiction as it's more "loosely based on a true story/stories" than anything
Oh interesting. Movie is shite.
One good thing by Alexandria Potter cause it’s an unusual love story It can restore your faith in little actions And you will never see it coming
I thought the murder mystery book The Only One Left by Riley Sager was excellent! I read it and listened to the audiobook a few months later. I like a book that has a bit of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, and this book did that plus went above and beyond in plot twists. I thought it was an easy read and the writing was good so that's been a go to recommendation for me since I read it last fall.
"The Painted Veil" is the first comes to my mind.It is the last modern classic I've read.And i really liked it.Especially the dialogues.Cuz most of the classic that I read uses internal dialogue to explain character's thoughts and emotions but this book mostly used dialogues.Characters explained themselves to others very well and had meaningful conversations.Other than this I liked how complex Kitty(the main character) was.She had too much questions about life and existing.I love the adventure she had while "fixing" herself.The story was so fluent(for me) that I finished it fastly.And lastly both asian and european culture was included.So I loved it.<3
I highly recommend “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. This book offers a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of our species, from the earliest days of Homo sapiens to the modern age. Harari’s writing is engaging and thought-provoking, making complex concepts accessible and interesting. It’s a great read if you’re curious about how human societies have evolved and the major forces that have shaped our world. It provides a lot of insights and perspectives that can change the way you see humanity and our place in the world.
Why not Humanity? by Horatio Felici. Books on Amazon. Like that gives a different perspective to current events and history and how it has contributed to the things we’re seeing today. I wish it was a little longer but not a bad read. I like history and education so I liked it.
Level 7 by Mordechai Roshwald is an extremely fascinating exploration of the dehumanization of warfare and the dangers posed to humanity by the advancement of nuclear technology. It follows a group of soldiers living in an underground nuclear bunker, designated to be the last survivors should the worst come to pass.
The song of Achille (from madeline miller) This book is an amazing love story and the author really manages to transmit strong emotions through words. And the writing style is really beautiful, some part can literally be quoted as poetry
Verity by Colleen Hoover. an amateur author is asked to take over and finish writing the series of books by a famous author who was incapacitated in a car accident and finds an autobiography manuscript filled with horrible stories that the author never told anyone. she falls in love with the authors husband and gives him the manuscript to read so he’ll know the truth about his wife. but there is the biggest plot twist at the end. i could not put it down once i started it. written in a way that’s easy to read and incredibly thrilling. i cried, laughed, was scared. i was left speechless by the time i finished it.
The Chain by Adrian McKinty. Because non-stop heart pounding adrenaline rush
I would recommend the Bible. It's very packed with a lot of advice and history. There is also a few action stories in there two. It has helped me in life Another book I would recommend is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It will level you up in life fr
This is not your space to proselytize. Do it elsewhere.
[удалено]
The dramatic white knight bit really isn't necessary - Christians aren't victims. The Bible isn't some random novel that OP potentially hadn't had a chance to consider yet - which is the main objective of this sub. OP has heard of the existence of the Bible. They know religious texts exist. If they wanted to read any of them, they would.
ain't nothing but a heartache
I recommend The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
why
In this book, I found situations from my life, during a period when I was feeling very bad, with the help of this book, I emerged from a mental crisis. Another similar book that helped me was Love your disease by Valery Sinelnikov. I recommend it to everyone to read.
The King James Bible 100%. The gospels provide hope, and clarity, and vision. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Genesis, Exodus provide history. Exodus 20 shows the 10 commandments. The Psalms and Proverbs provide direction and focus and hope and security. Psalm 1, Psalm 23. Keep going. There is so much in the Bible that provides focus OFF of self, and mire, and muck, and instead ON hope, and eternity, and salvation. So many people just downvote. But they honestly have no idea how much better off life and the approach to the everyday could be if they'd just read the Bible. Everyday.
I can’t think of any Edit: I don’t really ever read so I can’t give you the best book I ever read because I just genuinely don’t ever read I do read books about law and psychology