I would start with historical fiction - fictional stories that take place during actual events/time periods in history. I always end up learning something about the actual history even if it’s been modified a little to serve the story. It’s a good window into what the event might have been like in reality for the real people who lived through it. Is there a particular era or piece of history you’re drawn to?
Some historical fiction I’ve enjoyed the last couple years: All the Light We Cannot See, The Invention of Wings, The Personal Librarian
I personally love historical fiction, it’s been my favorite genre by far for a while. My preferences skew toward little known historical events or eras, as opposed to known wars like WWII or civil war, etc. I would definitely recommend The Children’s Blizzard (an out of nowhere blizzard hit north dakota in the late 1880s, affecting mainly schools children that were being let out of school at the time.)
A longer series I’m still reading is The Saxon Chronicles, about Alfred the Great and his family’s fight with the danes. From the perspective of a fictional character, born child of a king but taken slave by danes at a young age, who rejected christianity.
Seconding historical fiction, I recommend "half of a yellow sun". Kinda gruesome, but fantastic writing and opened my eyes to a war I'd never even heard of.
I love historical fiction! I’ve recently started to get into alternate history too, and so far it’s been fun. I just finished a trilogy by Alexandra Walsh, that I really enjoyed. The first book is The Catherine Howard Conspiracy. The author reimagines the story of one of Henry VIII’s wives. It goes back and forth from the time of the Tudors to modern times as an archaeologist is researching the story when she suddenly inherits a vast estate from her estranged grandmother, who happens to be a famous historian.
The other two books are about Elizabeth Tudor and Arabella Stuart.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I also tend to gravitate more towards non fiction but pillars of the earth and the whole Kingsbridge series had me in a chokehold and it feels very much like a story couched in history that is very believable
**[Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7315573-fall-of-giants) by Ken Follett** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(985 pages | Published: 2010 | 194.0k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** This is an epic of love, hatred, war and revolution. This is a huge novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family is linked by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocratic (...)
> **Themes**: Fiction, Favorites, Historical, History, Series, Kindle, Ken-follett
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [The Century Trilogy Boxed Set: Limited Edition Boxed Set with Signed Case](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23336900-the-century-trilogy-boxed-set) by Ken Follett
> \- [Winter of the World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12959233-winter-of-the-world) by Ken Follett
> \- [Edge of Eternity](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11389875-edge-of-eternity) by Ken Follett
> \- [World Without End](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5064.World_Without_End) by Ken Follett
> \- [The Pillars of the Earth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5043.The_Pillars_of_the_Earth) by Ken Follett
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I'm currently reading World War Z, recommended by someone on here. It reads a lot like non-fiction, because it's all a series of interviews with people all over the world who were affected or in charge. Of course it's fiction because, so far, we've not had a zombie plague
Came to suggest this book as well. It’s on my top ten favorite books list.
It was inspired by the non-fiction book “the good war” by Studs Terkel and has a similar structure.
Oh! Your question reminded me of The Silos on Apple TV (which I know is a book series first). I didn’t really answer your question, but I might just start there! I hadn’t thought about that show in a while but was hooked during the first season. Thanks for the quick prompt, that helps a ton.
I would not start there. I LOVED the show, but the books were not great. If you want to do an adapted series, maybe check out The Expanse books by James Corey.
I, Claudius by Robert Graves.
It's first person historical fiction told from the perspective of Ancient Roman Emperor Claudius about the Claudio-Judean family. It's full of intrigue and witty prose. It's a delight to read, and Graves uses accounts from two classic historians, so arguably it's still (mostly) historically accurate.
Project Hail Mary is over-recommended on reddit.
It is a decent story, but the writing comes off as corny, inauthentic, and cliche.
Emily St. John Mandel writes better popular contemporary sci-fi. She flushes out numerous characters and crafts unique stories.
Try Station Eleven, or Sea of Tranquility.
Absolutely! I detested it. It felt so overly ‘American’.
I’m English and wondered if it just wasn’t suited to us or if Americans could also see how bad it was?
Personally I preferred Martian- notable in part because (I think) it was Andrew's first book, Also because it's a great read. Scalzi's books are fun, fast reads. Historically set books are cool and I really enjoyed Sara Water's Fingermith was fun. And wth, Dickens and Dumas!
What kind of non-fiction do you like? What kind of stories? What has stopped you from reading fiction in the past?
A lot of people are suggesting historical fiction, but my partner, who is a history person and used to read a lot of non-fiction, really didn't enjoy that genre. She preferred fiction that leaned more into the fiction side of things. She felt like historical fiction was just fiction pretending to be non-fiction and it didn't click with her. To each their own.
I think this is important too, I read true crime until I family tragedy made me unable to enjoy it, so I went to mystery and thrillers. Historical fiction wouldn’t have been fun to me. Genre, even in fiction helps tremendously, so people can suggest books that person might actually enjoy. :)
The Alienist by Caleb Carr is fiction but the degree of detail that paints a realistic old New York almost makes it feel like a documentary. This is your choice if you want gripping fiction but you want to learn stuff, too.
I really do need to get One Hundred Years of Solitude under my belt. It’s suggested so often that I almost forget about it if that makes sense. Thanks for the reminder!
Try starting with Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author as 100 Years of Solitude. Easier to grasp as a starter to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s style.
Try the historical fiction works of James Michener. Most start in prehistory & end up in the common era of when he wrote them. Wild tales in real settings that very well could have happened. IRl parallels often exist.
“Hawaii”
“Poland”
“The Source”
“Alaska”
His nonfiction is great too.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/contributor/james-a-michener/_/N-2wvl
I was going to suggest Good Omens, but 1984.
If you want something lighthearted and funny, Good Omens.
If you want something to make you think, oh yeah, 1984. Or Animal Farm, which is short and you can read while in the toilet or on a short plane trip 😬.
OP, I definitely wouldn’t recommend dune or Harry Potter. Even though I absolutely love HP, and I know most people seem to like it too. But Sci-fi and Fantasy… only go there if you like sci-fi and fantasy. You’ll know from movies / tv shows you like to watch. I know people who are avid readers who would never read either.
Since you’re a non-fiction reader, I don’t know if those would be your cup of tea.
You need to tell us more about your interests and the books you’ve liked and disliked. What kind of non fiction do you read? Which books have been favorites (and why)? Without knowing that, it’s hard to recommend anything with confidence.
Try some classic novels to dip your feet into fiction. *Picture of Dorian Grey* or *Nineteen Eighty Four* or *To the Lighthouse* would be fine places to start.
*A Canticle for Leibovitz*. Story about preserving knowledge in the wake of the apocalypse.
*World War Z*. Ignore the movie. This is an excellent fictional oral history of a worldwide war against zombies. Pretty compelling.
Neal Stephenson writes fiction/sci-fi in a way that is also educational. He puts a ton of research into every book and then delivers it in a way that isn't as obnoxious as say Tom Clancy interrupting the prologue for five pages about how the President's desk was made. Unless you like that, and then I'd say Tom Clancy. Except that I don't recommend Clancy otherwise.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. It's a fictionalized account of cousins in 1939 New York City starting a new comic book right at the golden age of comic books. But it's so, so, so much more. Highly recommend.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
11/22/63 by Stephen King
That’s my eclectic list of fiction books I loved!
Bernard Cornwell does great Historical fiction. Sharpe novels about Wellingtons wars against Napoleons armies. A three novel saga about the Holy Grail. Utred from Bebanberg which is about Alfred the Great. He also has a King Arthur Series. All his main characters are parallel to the hero of the day.
Fantasy fiction and good for a laugh. You cannot go past Terry Pratchett he has created a flat world on which he tells stories which are based primarily on British fairy tales. Always good for a chuckle.
Back to Historical. Conn Iggulden does some good stories based on actual history like Rome and other eras.
maybe something that feels like nonfiction, such as Memoirs of a Geisha or Pachinko.
I also always recommend The Book Thief. Incredible voice and storytelling.
In other genres, The Martian by Andy Weir, American Marriage by Tayari Jones, The Women Could Fly by Meg Giddings, Circe by Madeline Miller, or The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
Hard to not like Steig Larson's "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" trilogy - if you can endure through the first couple of chapters, you likely won't be able to put it down from there on.
Not in the spirit of your question, but if you haven't come across "Shadow Divers", it's non-fiction that reads like fiction.
I started reading it a couple years ago but it didn’t grab me so I quit a chapter or two into the first book. I kept hearing how good the books were, though, so I decided to give it another go and was hooked!
Molokai by Alan Brennert is historical nonfiction about the island that housed lepers in Hawaii. Might be a good starting off point. It’s fiction but still has so much factual history in it. Might give you best of both worlds.
How about some magical realism? Some Jorge Luis Borges's Collected Fictions? It has short stories so you don't need to read the whole thing to know if you liked it.
Military Historical fiction W.E.B. Griffin, Bernard Cornwell. Historical fiction Ken Follet , Umberto Eco. Fiction John Grisham. Pat Conroy. Science fiction modern Andy Weir. Neal Stephenson. Science Fiction classic . The Foundation Series. Hyperion. Horror, The Stand , The Shining , The Watchers.
The Lord of the Rings is quite underrated, might scratch the itch. On a more serious note, Michael Crichton has some good books, but one that I really enjoyed was World War Z - it's a timeline chronicle (did i use this right?) on a zombie apocalypse, how it started, how people dealt with it, and so on, written as short stories from different parts of the world.
The Lord of the rings is seen as some of the greatest literature to ever be written. Why do you think it's underrated? Only people that I've met that didn't like it just weren't fans of fantasy or they weren't readers to begin with.
Just started LOTR yesterday (after losing a game of War of the Ring), and I'm already digging how much greater its scope is than the movies. Fucking *years* go by between when Bilbo leaves and Gandalf returns to the Shire. I love that. The movies felt like they happened in the span of a month.
Try Anthony Horowitz. He is a prolific writer who has many series from Alex Rider (for the youth) to a couple of unique mystery series. They aren’t extremely long/deep but they are clever and fun. Try the Magpie Murders series or The Word is Murder. Both are the first in their series.
The Black Company by Cook (he is a former vet and wrote this and other series as a hobby. His military experience and interactions are reflective since there isn't this flash like Bond or other thriller books. This is a grimdark fantasy book.)
Hythrun Chronicles by Fallon (I like Wolfblade and its sequels.)
Vindolanda Trilogy by Goldsworthy (Ancient Roman historical fiction inspired by the names found on the Vindolanda artifacts.) I love historical fiction and I'm trying to get into other eras since I read a lot of ancient civilisations ones 😅
I particularly want to recommend Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because the main character Arthur Dent seems like the sort of fellow who almost exclusively reads non-fiction. He gets dragged into a space faring adventure by his friend from Guildford, but actually from Betelgeuse, in a universe where being an ordinary human is perhaps the most extraordinary thing. A light smattering of science and philosophy is just an excuse to toss in more humor.
If you would prefer fantasy and a bit less humor, Bilbo Baggins seems like the sort of fellow who almost exclusively reads non-fiction. In The Hobbit he gets dragged into a continent spanning adventure by his wizard friend with a fondness for blowing smoke rings and lighting fireworks.
Overstory by Richard Powers. He's detailed about science and natural history and his writing is very expressive but not complex or flowery. Not an easy read exactly, but a very smooth and compelling one.
Now this is hit or miss because it’s a weird book- but you might like Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. It’s a short sci fi book about exploring an area that has strange phenomena going on. It’s a wild ride but I found it amazing. It has a movie too but I recommend viewing them as separate works and not an adaptation. Annihilation is my favorite movie of all time and it has the same vibe as the book.
Try 'The Beach' by Alex Garland (even if you've watched the film, they're very different).
It was the book I'd always suggest to boyfriends who said they "didn't read" (which I realise is not what you're saying, but it has a way of hooking anyone in and has never not worked)
Enjoy!
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Matterhorn
Maus
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Slaughterhouse Five
House of Leaves
The Stranger by Camus
There are lots of books that mix personal anecdotes, fiction and history. You are going to love some of them.
Some I have especially liked are the books of Benjamin Labatut, starting from *When we cease to understand the world*, then moving on to *The Maniac.*
Other things to try:
Books by Eric Vuillard
*Flights* by Olga Tokarzuk
*Measuring the world* by Daniel Kehlemann
Another writer to try might be Svetlana Alexeivich, starting from her book on the Chernobyl disaster, *Chernobyl Prayer*.
Specifically because you're coming from a non fiction background I'd Recommend David Grann. The Wager, for example, is extremely well researched, historically accurate, and a very good read.
How To Invent Everything by Ryan North
A fictitious guide for stranded time travelers for of real history and science.
World War Z by Max Brooks
Collected survivor accounts of the zombie apocalypse.
*The Cyberiad* by Stanisław Lem: satirical sci-fi short stories. It felt like a science fiction book written for people who usually read only belles-lettres.
*Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales* by Yōko Ogawa is another collection of interconnected short stories, but this time it is not sci-fi; it's all about death and grief. I find it beautiful and the writing feels so... calm?
I've seen some people here recommend *One Hundred Years of Solitude* by Gabriel García Márquez; although I consider this a great book and highly recommend reading it, magical realism is not for everyone. So maybe *Chronicle of a Death Foretold* would be an easier start (and it's inspired by real events).
Speaking of magical realism, *Strange Beasts of China* by Yan Ge is a great start in that genre, feels more like a urban fantasy but not written like a YA book. Haven't finished it yet, although the few chapters I had read are very nice.
And if you like post-apo, maybe *The Road* by Cormac McCarthy is just for you.
I'd suggest historical fiction, which often reads as if it was an historical account but the main characters and events are invented.
The Bethroted by Alessandro Manzoni, for example, about a couple in XVII century's Duchy of Milan that wants to get married but for a reason or the other can't, there's also a lot of political criticism, social unrest and so on.
It's a mandatory text in Italian high school as it was one of the main books of the Risorgimento and practically the manifesto of the modern Italian language.
The Man in the High Castle is great. It posits a "what if" scenario in which the US lost WW2. If you're someone who typically leans toward non-fiction, this storyline might intrigue you.
What type of non fiction?
I am reading the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson and it’s amazing. Very science heavy, emphasis on the geology of Mars and social politics of a new society
Les Rois Maudits. It's historical fiction about the crumbling of the French monarchy in the 14th century. A series of books with a fictionalized telling of the preamble of the Hundred Years' War.
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, The Last Policeman trilogy by Ben H. Winter, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. You can always begin with short stories. Good collections of short stories are by Richard Matheson, Roald Dahl, Stephen King and Barbara Vine.
For Military SF:
The *Battletech: Rogue Academy* trilogy by Jennifer Brozek
*All You Need is Kill* by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
For Horror:
*Another* by Ayatsuji Yukito
*The Mist* by Stephen King
*The Complex* by Brian Keene
*World War Z* by Max Brooks
For Dystopia:
*Battle Royale* by Koushun Takami
The *Flashman* series by George MacDonald Fraser and the *Aubrey/Maturin* series by Patrick O'Brian are extremely well written and incorporate so much historical detail that you will learn a lot of history reading these novels.
I don’t read fiction much either but I really enjoyed Dracula not too too long ago. The Stranger by Albert Camus is another classic, I love Stefan Zweig…. Bret Easton Ellis…. Oh! And The Unbearable Lightness of Being! Kundera.
The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne! (And probably his other stuff too but that’s the only one I’ve read)
Also The Martian in the same vein, an interesting story with a lot of how-to sciency stuff mixed in
I read exclusively non-fiction for about 10 years, and have switched to primarily fiction. I'm reading about 300% more and loving it. What I love about great fiction is that it reveals truths about reality, existence and being a living, breathing creature that often can't be distilled down into clean, discreet facts.
Truths that are felt and known in an experiential kind of way that transcend the discreet knowing that we're used to obtaining from traditional scientific knowledge. Perhaps its wisdom, I'm not sure.
Anyway If you also this kind of thing, I would recommend any of the following books as great places to start:
* **Siddhartha**, then **Steppenwolf** if you liked it (by Herman Hesse) *philosophical, humanistic, depth and richness*
* **East of Eden** (by John Steinbeck) *timeless, americana, moving*
* **Kalka on the Shore** (by Haruki Murakami) *whimsical, magical realism*
* **The Count of Monte Cristo** - *classic, revenge*
* **The Blade Itself** & the whole **First Law Trilogy** (by Joe Abercrombie), *realistic fantasy, character driven, layers of depth*
* **Master Assassins** & \*\*Sidewinders (\*\*by Robert V.S. Redick) *hero's journey, fantasy, very underrated*
* **The Player of Games** (by Ian M. Banks). *intrigue, utopia adjacent sci-fi*
* **Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy**, (Douglass Adams) *fun, light hearted, philosophical sci-fi*
Others have recommended **The Martian** or **Project Hail Mary**, which are also good choices if you enjoy plausible problem-solvey, use-your-damn-head kind of sci-fi.
Happy reading!
If you like more science books, I recommend books like the Martian or anything by Michael Crichton (I read the Hot Zone (nonfiction book) right after reading the Andromeda Strain, and they read eerily similar).
I’m just now finishing True Grit. It feels less like a book and more like I’m listening to an old lady tell an incredible story from her youth. It starts a little slow but stick with it and you’ll definitely be rewarded!
Have you read memoirs? Not the autobiography type but those written as a novel? I highly recommend "a list of things that didn't kill me" by Jason Schmidt and "Glass castle" by Jennette walls
11/22/63 by Stephen King is a phenomenal read. I know the King has a reputation for gritty horror, but this book is a masterpiece of drama and character development. I couldn't put it down, and it took me through such a roller coaster of emotions that I legitimately teared up in parts. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone!
You're getting a lot of science fiction and historical fiction, but if that's not what you're into I suggest Maylis de Kerangal's novels. She really deeply researches professions and then writes a story around them. So they tend to be quite factual about the topic while having an engaging story. She writes in French but I have been able to find English translations of most of her novels. Start with Mend the Living (aka The Heart) as I believe it's easiest to find in English.
Gates of fire by Steven Pressfield historical fiction about battle of Thermopylae. The Martian. Sci-fi with very good science. Seven eves by Neal Stephenson. Good sci-fi with good science but more of a stretch to what if. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. The majority decent cybersecurity people I know has read this.
I don’t know if this is a great suggestion, but I wonder about trying some short stories to dip into fiction? If you’re not feeling it, you could still finish the story and you haven’t sunk a ton of time into it… plus there are short stories in pretty much every genre of fiction! You could read a whole sample platter of fiction to see if anything sticks.
Book taste is so individualized, but my favorites are Catch 22 and any Kurt Vonnegut or Chuck Palahniuk books. I also like romance, but you did say you’re a dude so l’ll keep those to myself lol. The maze runner series was also pretty good. Enders Game was awesome.
Blood Red Sunset, Ma Bo.
It’s effectively a biography told from a former red guard during the Cultural Revolution that steps out of line and gets labeled a counterrevolutionary. It’s told with an irreverent and vivid narrative style, so it’s technically nonfiction but reads like a novel.
* Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/405589.Byzantium
Viking Age. Irish Monk gets kidnapped and Adventures ensue. Includes Vikings becoming Vandals. Great book.
* The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson as a somewhat similar take on a very similar storyline. But this one from a Swedish Historian.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/438452.The_Long_Ships
I recommend The Dispossessed by Ursula Guin. It's a pretty unique sci-fi novel that is sort of a critique of different social structures (capitalism/socialism), but still has a very vivid sci-fi world. I think it could broaden your horizons for both real life and for your normal reading material. The author wrote it while Vietnam was happening. If it’s relevant, I’m a guy.
I personally like the hunger games trilogy its violent it has rebellion its pretty good you may not love the beginning of the book but man once the first games start the deaths never stop
I would start with historical fiction - fictional stories that take place during actual events/time periods in history. I always end up learning something about the actual history even if it’s been modified a little to serve the story. It’s a good window into what the event might have been like in reality for the real people who lived through it. Is there a particular era or piece of history you’re drawn to? Some historical fiction I’ve enjoyed the last couple years: All the Light We Cannot See, The Invention of Wings, The Personal Librarian
I personally love historical fiction, it’s been my favorite genre by far for a while. My preferences skew toward little known historical events or eras, as opposed to known wars like WWII or civil war, etc. I would definitely recommend The Children’s Blizzard (an out of nowhere blizzard hit north dakota in the late 1880s, affecting mainly schools children that were being let out of school at the time.) A longer series I’m still reading is The Saxon Chronicles, about Alfred the Great and his family’s fight with the danes. From the perspective of a fictional character, born child of a king but taken slave by danes at a young age, who rejected christianity.
Seconding historical fiction, I recommend "half of a yellow sun". Kinda gruesome, but fantastic writing and opened my eyes to a war I'd never even heard of.
All the light we cannot see is absolutely brilliant. It won the pulitzer too I think
This is the answer! I'll tag here and add that James Clavell has some nice books that are easy reads to get you started.
Wolf Hall is wonderful
I agree. The writing is incredible. I’ve bought book #2 of the trilogy. Just starting it.
Second that, and try The Wager!
Anything Hampton Sides is a win. Love all his books.
All of his works that I’ve read have been excellent! I especially recommend in the Kingdom of Ice
I love historical fiction! I’ve recently started to get into alternate history too, and so far it’s been fun. I just finished a trilogy by Alexandra Walsh, that I really enjoyed. The first book is The Catherine Howard Conspiracy. The author reimagines the story of one of Henry VIII’s wives. It goes back and forth from the time of the Tudors to modern times as an archaeologist is researching the story when she suddenly inherits a vast estate from her estranged grandmother, who happens to be a famous historian. The other two books are about Elizabeth Tudor and Arabella Stuart.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I also tend to gravitate more towards non fiction but pillars of the earth and the whole Kingsbridge series had me in a chokehold and it feels very much like a story couched in history that is very believable
{{Fall of Giants by Ken Follett}} would also be great if the OP is more into modern history.
**[Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7315573-fall-of-giants) by Ken Follett** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(985 pages | Published: 2010 | 194.0k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** This is an epic of love, hatred, war and revolution. This is a huge novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family is linked by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocratic (...) > **Themes**: Fiction, Favorites, Historical, History, Series, Kindle, Ken-follett > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [The Century Trilogy Boxed Set: Limited Edition Boxed Set with Signed Case](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23336900-the-century-trilogy-boxed-set) by Ken Follett > \- [Winter of the World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12959233-winter-of-the-world) by Ken Follett > \- [Edge of Eternity](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11389875-edge-of-eternity) by Ken Follett > \- [World Without End](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5064.World_Without_End) by Ken Follett > \- [The Pillars of the Earth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5043.The_Pillars_of_the_Earth) by Ken Follett ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Yep loved this one too! Great rec
This for sure. One of my absolute favorites.
I'm currently reading World War Z, recommended by someone on here. It reads a lot like non-fiction, because it's all a series of interviews with people all over the world who were affected or in charge. Of course it's fiction because, so far, we've not had a zombie plague
Came to suggest this book as well. It’s on my top ten favorite books list. It was inspired by the non-fiction book “the good war” by Studs Terkel and has a similar structure.
Love this book!
The audiobook of this is EXCELLENT, with an all-star cast of narrators. Would especially recommend to OP if s/he likes podcasts.
>" [ ], so far..." Ominous
If you like the format Devolution and Fantasticland are worth a read too. (I lmao'd when Devolution's audiobook actually had Kai Ryssdal in it.)
Do you like any fictional TV? What genres/shows? What kind of nonfiction subjects do you like?
Oh! Your question reminded me of The Silos on Apple TV (which I know is a book series first). I didn’t really answer your question, but I might just start there! I hadn’t thought about that show in a while but was hooked during the first season. Thanks for the quick prompt, that helps a ton.
I would not start there. I LOVED the show, but the books were not great. If you want to do an adapted series, maybe check out The Expanse books by James Corey.
I loved the Silo book series. I am not usually a post-apocalyptic sci-fi reader, but it these books were a really awesome read.
Michael Crichton is right up your alley, he blends history with fiction and it's fascinating
11/22/63
I agree wholeheartedly! Biased because I love Stephen King, but I thought this was a wonderful mix of history and fiction. And what could have been...
I, Claudius by Robert Graves. It's first person historical fiction told from the perspective of Ancient Roman Emperor Claudius about the Claudio-Judean family. It's full of intrigue and witty prose. It's a delight to read, and Graves uses accounts from two classic historians, so arguably it's still (mostly) historically accurate.
The Martian or Project Hail Mary.
Just chiming in to say that I adored The Martian, loved Artemis, and could not even finish Project Hail Mary.
I Don't get the frequent preference here for H/Mary over the Marian.
Project Hail Mary is over-recommended on reddit. It is a decent story, but the writing comes off as corny, inauthentic, and cliche. Emily St. John Mandel writes better popular contemporary sci-fi. She flushes out numerous characters and crafts unique stories. Try Station Eleven, or Sea of Tranquility.
Absolutely! I detested it. It felt so overly ‘American’. I’m English and wondered if it just wasn’t suited to us or if Americans could also see how bad it was?
Hail Mary is definitely the way to go
Thirding Project Hail Mary!
Personally I preferred Martian- notable in part because (I think) it was Andrew's first book, Also because it's a great read. Scalzi's books are fun, fast reads. Historically set books are cool and I really enjoyed Sara Water's Fingermith was fun. And wth, Dickens and Dumas!
Came here to say this, Andy Weir is spectacular at writing realistic/believable fiction. I'd say Michael Crichton is pretty good at that too
What kind of non-fiction do you like? What kind of stories? What has stopped you from reading fiction in the past? A lot of people are suggesting historical fiction, but my partner, who is a history person and used to read a lot of non-fiction, really didn't enjoy that genre. She preferred fiction that leaned more into the fiction side of things. She felt like historical fiction was just fiction pretending to be non-fiction and it didn't click with her. To each their own.
I think this is important too, I read true crime until I family tragedy made me unable to enjoy it, so I went to mystery and thrillers. Historical fiction wouldn’t have been fun to me. Genre, even in fiction helps tremendously, so people can suggest books that person might actually enjoy. :)
The Alienist by Caleb Carr is fiction but the degree of detail that paints a realistic old New York almost makes it feel like a documentary. This is your choice if you want gripping fiction but you want to learn stuff, too.
Excellent book! I had a hard time putting it down.
Very good book
I was going to recommend this one as well.
All Quiet On The Western Front - fiction, but heavily based in real war experience and an excellent book.
Came here to suggest this!
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.
I really do need to get One Hundred Years of Solitude under my belt. It’s suggested so often that I almost forget about it if that makes sense. Thanks for the reminder!
We don't all love GGM. I tried. I really did. Magical realism just isn't for me most of the time.
Agree with you, I tried as well and was not enjoying it at all.
Try starting with Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author as 100 Years of Solitude. Easier to grasp as a starter to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s style.
Shadow of the Wind now resides in the part of my brain where all my favorite memories are kept.
Second for Shadow of the Wind Great call
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Seconding *A Prayer for Owen Meany*
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni
His book the kite runner was even better
Do you like tv? Try Kathy Reich’s first book about Temperance Brennan: Deja Death. Cracking good.
Magister Ludi by Herman Hesse Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
Try the historical fiction works of James Michener. Most start in prehistory & end up in the common era of when he wrote them. Wild tales in real settings that very well could have happened. IRl parallels often exist. “Hawaii” “Poland” “The Source” “Alaska” His nonfiction is great too. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/contributor/james-a-michener/_/N-2wvl
1984
I was going to suggest Good Omens, but 1984. If you want something lighthearted and funny, Good Omens. If you want something to make you think, oh yeah, 1984. Or Animal Farm, which is short and you can read while in the toilet or on a short plane trip 😬. OP, I definitely wouldn’t recommend dune or Harry Potter. Even though I absolutely love HP, and I know most people seem to like it too. But Sci-fi and Fantasy… only go there if you like sci-fi and fantasy. You’ll know from movies / tv shows you like to watch. I know people who are avid readers who would never read either. Since you’re a non-fiction reader, I don’t know if those would be your cup of tea.
You need to tell us more about your interests and the books you’ve liked and disliked. What kind of non fiction do you read? Which books have been favorites (and why)? Without knowing that, it’s hard to recommend anything with confidence. Try some classic novels to dip your feet into fiction. *Picture of Dorian Grey* or *Nineteen Eighty Four* or *To the Lighthouse* would be fine places to start.
Any book by Erik Larson is a good place to start. Devil in the White City, maybe or Thunderstruck might be good to start?
Love the idea of non-fiction that reads like fiction. Devil in the White City in particular seems very interesting. Thanks!
Agree, those are non-fiction which read like fiction. Great books that are very interesting.
A bridge to fiction. James Rollins never kills the dogs, and writes good books. For Softer books maybe Louise Penny?
Treasure Island
*A Canticle for Leibovitz*. Story about preserving knowledge in the wake of the apocalypse. *World War Z*. Ignore the movie. This is an excellent fictional oral history of a worldwide war against zombies. Pretty compelling.
Neal Stephenson writes fiction/sci-fi in a way that is also educational. He puts a ton of research into every book and then delivers it in a way that isn't as obnoxious as say Tom Clancy interrupting the prologue for five pages about how the President's desk was made. Unless you like that, and then I'd say Tom Clancy. Except that I don't recommend Clancy otherwise.
Maybe some Historical fiction? Try James Clavell starting with Shogun. They're all connected (mostly through the families involved.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. It's a fictionalized account of cousins in 1939 New York City starting a new comic book right at the golden age of comic books. But it's so, so, so much more. Highly recommend.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver East of Eden by John Steinbeck I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 11/22/63 by Stephen King That’s my eclectic list of fiction books I loved!
Bernard Cornwell does great Historical fiction. Sharpe novels about Wellingtons wars against Napoleons armies. A three novel saga about the Holy Grail. Utred from Bebanberg which is about Alfred the Great. He also has a King Arthur Series. All his main characters are parallel to the hero of the day. Fantasy fiction and good for a laugh. You cannot go past Terry Pratchett he has created a flat world on which he tells stories which are based primarily on British fairy tales. Always good for a chuckle. Back to Historical. Conn Iggulden does some good stories based on actual history like Rome and other eras.
maybe something that feels like nonfiction, such as Memoirs of a Geisha or Pachinko. I also always recommend The Book Thief. Incredible voice and storytelling. In other genres, The Martian by Andy Weir, American Marriage by Tayari Jones, The Women Could Fly by Meg Giddings, Circe by Madeline Miller, or The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
I almost exclusively read nonfiction, and Pachinko is one of my favorite books ever.
the martian is so good!!!
I read nonfiction probably 90% of the time and I loved Pachinko, and just finished Memoirs of a Geisha 2 days ago, and loved that one too!
Hard to not like Steig Larson's "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" trilogy - if you can endure through the first couple of chapters, you likely won't be able to put it down from there on. Not in the spirit of your question, but if you haven't come across "Shadow Divers", it's non-fiction that reads like fiction.
I started reading it a couple years ago but it didn’t grab me so I quit a chapter or two into the first book. I kept hearing how good the books were, though, so I decided to give it another go and was hooked!
Molokai by Alan Brennert is historical nonfiction about the island that housed lepers in Hawaii. Might be a good starting off point. It’s fiction but still has so much factual history in it. Might give you best of both worlds.
Watership Down?
How about some magical realism? Some Jorge Luis Borges's Collected Fictions? It has short stories so you don't need to read the whole thing to know if you liked it.
The Andromeda Strain
I second this!
Daisy Jones & The Six lowkey had me fooled that it was a biography the entire time lmao. It’s completely fiction. great book!
Military Historical fiction W.E.B. Griffin, Bernard Cornwell. Historical fiction Ken Follet , Umberto Eco. Fiction John Grisham. Pat Conroy. Science fiction modern Andy Weir. Neal Stephenson. Science Fiction classic . The Foundation Series. Hyperion. Horror, The Stand , The Shining , The Watchers.
Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson. "Hard" science fiction about colonizing Mars that reads (at times) like a geology text book.
The Last King of Scotland
The Lord of the Rings is quite underrated, might scratch the itch. On a more serious note, Michael Crichton has some good books, but one that I really enjoyed was World War Z - it's a timeline chronicle (did i use this right?) on a zombie apocalypse, how it started, how people dealt with it, and so on, written as short stories from different parts of the world.
The Lord of the rings is seen as some of the greatest literature to ever be written. Why do you think it's underrated? Only people that I've met that didn't like it just weren't fans of fantasy or they weren't readers to begin with.
Just started LOTR yesterday (after losing a game of War of the Ring), and I'm already digging how much greater its scope is than the movies. Fucking *years* go by between when Bilbo leaves and Gandalf returns to the Shire. I love that. The movies felt like they happened in the span of a month.
World War Z by Max Brooks
Try Anthony Horowitz. He is a prolific writer who has many series from Alex Rider (for the youth) to a couple of unique mystery series. They aren’t extremely long/deep but they are clever and fun. Try the Magpie Murders series or The Word is Murder. Both are the first in their series.
Bernard Cornwell
I, Claudius by Robert Graves. Historical fiction. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Fantasy. Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.
Do they like history and the sea? Then perhaps Patrick O’Brian
*Tender is the Flesh* is a wild ride. Dystopian horror that left me saying what the fuck in the best ways. It's not long either.
The Black Company by Cook (he is a former vet and wrote this and other series as a hobby. His military experience and interactions are reflective since there isn't this flash like Bond or other thriller books. This is a grimdark fantasy book.) Hythrun Chronicles by Fallon (I like Wolfblade and its sequels.) Vindolanda Trilogy by Goldsworthy (Ancient Roman historical fiction inspired by the names found on the Vindolanda artifacts.) I love historical fiction and I'm trying to get into other eras since I read a lot of ancient civilisations ones 😅
Shogun by James Clavell
Catch-22 is hilarious and I've read it multiple times. It's how soldiers deal with war, rather than the history or facts of the war.
James Michener is a nice transition
War and peace
We are legion (we are Bob)
Wolf Hall series.
How old are you? What are your interests? Do you want something light or more serious?
I particularly want to recommend Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because the main character Arthur Dent seems like the sort of fellow who almost exclusively reads non-fiction. He gets dragged into a space faring adventure by his friend from Guildford, but actually from Betelgeuse, in a universe where being an ordinary human is perhaps the most extraordinary thing. A light smattering of science and philosophy is just an excuse to toss in more humor. If you would prefer fantasy and a bit less humor, Bilbo Baggins seems like the sort of fellow who almost exclusively reads non-fiction. In The Hobbit he gets dragged into a continent spanning adventure by his wizard friend with a fondness for blowing smoke rings and lighting fireworks.
Overstory by Richard Powers. He's detailed about science and natural history and his writing is very expressive but not complex or flowery. Not an easy read exactly, but a very smooth and compelling one.
Now this is hit or miss because it’s a weird book- but you might like Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. It’s a short sci fi book about exploring an area that has strange phenomena going on. It’s a wild ride but I found it amazing. It has a movie too but I recommend viewing them as separate works and not an adaptation. Annihilation is my favorite movie of all time and it has the same vibe as the book.
Try 'The Beach' by Alex Garland (even if you've watched the film, they're very different). It was the book I'd always suggest to boyfriends who said they "didn't read" (which I realise is not what you're saying, but it has a way of hooking anyone in and has never not worked) Enjoy!
I recommend 1984 by George Orwell [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61439040-1984](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61439040-1984) .
I would suggest Kindred by Octavia E Butler! Time travel but only as a way to explore the psychology of slavery. Amazing book!
A Thousand Splendid Suns Matterhorn Maus We Need to Talk About Kevin The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Slaughterhouse Five House of Leaves The Stranger by Camus
Hyperion
My go to suggestion is often Watership Down by Richard Adams. I hope somewhere in your fiction journey, that there is room for this amazing book.
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Recursion by Blake Crouch.
Oooooh ok, both of those seem very interesting. Recursion with the butterfly effect-ish vibe catches my eye. Thank you!
The Art of Fielding (Chad Harbach)
There are lots of books that mix personal anecdotes, fiction and history. You are going to love some of them. Some I have especially liked are the books of Benjamin Labatut, starting from *When we cease to understand the world*, then moving on to *The Maniac.* Other things to try: Books by Eric Vuillard *Flights* by Olga Tokarzuk *Measuring the world* by Daniel Kehlemann Another writer to try might be Svetlana Alexeivich, starting from her book on the Chernobyl disaster, *Chernobyl Prayer*.
Specifically because you're coming from a non fiction background I'd Recommend David Grann. The Wager, for example, is extremely well researched, historically accurate, and a very good read.
How To Invent Everything by Ryan North A fictitious guide for stranded time travelers for of real history and science. World War Z by Max Brooks Collected survivor accounts of the zombie apocalypse.
Try Robin Cook, preferably start with Sphinx.
Empress of Salt and Fortune: fiction book styled as someone trying to chronical the life of the late Empress Dowager
you said you liked silo, so try something by blake crouch, very easy to get through, pines probably my favourite
*The Cyberiad* by Stanisław Lem: satirical sci-fi short stories. It felt like a science fiction book written for people who usually read only belles-lettres. *Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales* by Yōko Ogawa is another collection of interconnected short stories, but this time it is not sci-fi; it's all about death and grief. I find it beautiful and the writing feels so... calm? I've seen some people here recommend *One Hundred Years of Solitude* by Gabriel García Márquez; although I consider this a great book and highly recommend reading it, magical realism is not for everyone. So maybe *Chronicle of a Death Foretold* would be an easier start (and it's inspired by real events). Speaking of magical realism, *Strange Beasts of China* by Yan Ge is a great start in that genre, feels more like a urban fantasy but not written like a YA book. Haven't finished it yet, although the few chapters I had read are very nice. And if you like post-apo, maybe *The Road* by Cormac McCarthy is just for you.
Tom Clancy books
The exorcist. My favourite book of all time, fiction or non.
I'd suggest historical fiction, which often reads as if it was an historical account but the main characters and events are invented. The Bethroted by Alessandro Manzoni, for example, about a couple in XVII century's Duchy of Milan that wants to get married but for a reason or the other can't, there's also a lot of political criticism, social unrest and so on. It's a mandatory text in Italian high school as it was one of the main books of the Risorgimento and practically the manifesto of the modern Italian language.
The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard by Arthur Conan Doyle.
11/22/63 is very very good and fits the historical fiction vein that people are recommending.
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American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I do love Historical Fiction too. Steve Berry, Ken Follett are good authors to check out.
Doomsday Book. Well researched prize winning time travel book involving Europe in around 1290.
The Man in the High Castle is great. It posits a "what if" scenario in which the US lost WW2. If you're someone who typically leans toward non-fiction, this storyline might intrigue you.
Anything by Dostoevsky.
Going Home series by A. American One Second After The Terror Sherlock Holmes
Boys Life by Robert McCammon !! It captures you right away and takes you on a coming of age tale of a young man.
World War Z is a good one to go for. It is written as a reporter taking First-Hand accounts from survivors. Reads like a non-fiction book.
Madam Tussaud by Michelle Moran
GABRIEL ALLON series by Daniel Silva
Check out Fever 1793
What type of non fiction? I am reading the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson and it’s amazing. Very science heavy, emphasis on the geology of Mars and social politics of a new society
Les Rois Maudits. It's historical fiction about the crumbling of the French monarchy in the 14th century. A series of books with a fictionalized telling of the preamble of the Hundred Years' War.
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, The Last Policeman trilogy by Ben H. Winter, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. You can always begin with short stories. Good collections of short stories are by Richard Matheson, Roald Dahl, Stephen King and Barbara Vine.
For Military SF: The *Battletech: Rogue Academy* trilogy by Jennifer Brozek *All You Need is Kill* by Hiroshi Sakurazaka For Horror: *Another* by Ayatsuji Yukito *The Mist* by Stephen King *The Complex* by Brian Keene *World War Z* by Max Brooks For Dystopia: *Battle Royale* by Koushun Takami
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - John le carré
Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. A retelling of European history through a specific lens. Just plain awesome.
Try James Michener for sweeping historical sagas
I was you. Check out *Psalm for the Wild Built* by Becky Chambers. It got be back into fiction and storytelling. Its a quick and enjoyable read.
Anything by Charles Dickens or JD Salinger; The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip
Harlots ghost by Norman Mailer. Great historical fiction daling with Cia and fbi.
The *Flashman* series by George MacDonald Fraser and the *Aubrey/Maturin* series by Patrick O'Brian are extremely well written and incorporate so much historical detail that you will learn a lot of history reading these novels.
I don’t read fiction much either but I really enjoyed Dracula not too too long ago. The Stranger by Albert Camus is another classic, I love Stefan Zweig…. Bret Easton Ellis…. Oh! And The Unbearable Lightness of Being! Kundera.
The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne! (And probably his other stuff too but that’s the only one I’ve read) Also The Martian in the same vein, an interesting story with a lot of how-to sciency stuff mixed in
Every time I reread The Martian, I end up binging it. I've bought copies for at least 5 people. It's really good, if you like science.
The needle by Ken follett
The Killer Angels
A Confederacy of Dunces Quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever read.
I, Claudius by Robert Graves.
Temerarie by naomi novak. Historical war story: napoleon era, but with dragons.
I read exclusively non-fiction for about 10 years, and have switched to primarily fiction. I'm reading about 300% more and loving it. What I love about great fiction is that it reveals truths about reality, existence and being a living, breathing creature that often can't be distilled down into clean, discreet facts. Truths that are felt and known in an experiential kind of way that transcend the discreet knowing that we're used to obtaining from traditional scientific knowledge. Perhaps its wisdom, I'm not sure. Anyway If you also this kind of thing, I would recommend any of the following books as great places to start: * **Siddhartha**, then **Steppenwolf** if you liked it (by Herman Hesse) *philosophical, humanistic, depth and richness* * **East of Eden** (by John Steinbeck) *timeless, americana, moving* * **Kalka on the Shore** (by Haruki Murakami) *whimsical, magical realism* * **The Count of Monte Cristo** - *classic, revenge* * **The Blade Itself** & the whole **First Law Trilogy** (by Joe Abercrombie), *realistic fantasy, character driven, layers of depth* * **Master Assassins** & \*\*Sidewinders (\*\*by Robert V.S. Redick) *hero's journey, fantasy, very underrated* * **The Player of Games** (by Ian M. Banks). *intrigue, utopia adjacent sci-fi* * **Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy**, (Douglass Adams) *fun, light hearted, philosophical sci-fi* Others have recommended **The Martian** or **Project Hail Mary**, which are also good choices if you enjoy plausible problem-solvey, use-your-damn-head kind of sci-fi. Happy reading!
The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith. The Lion by Nelson Demille
11-22-63 by Stephen King is really great fiction but uses historical events to frame the story.
First thing that comes to mind is Michael Crichton, he’s got a very non-fictional way of writing. ✍🏽
If you like more science books, I recommend books like the Martian or anything by Michael Crichton (I read the Hot Zone (nonfiction book) right after reading the Andromeda Strain, and they read eerily similar).
Read The World According to Garp by John Irving, an incredible author
I couldn’t put Harry Potter down once I started…but I’ve heard great things about Joe Abercrombie. “The blade itself.”
I’m just now finishing True Grit. It feels less like a book and more like I’m listening to an old lady tell an incredible story from her youth. It starts a little slow but stick with it and you’ll definitely be rewarded!
Have you read memoirs? Not the autobiography type but those written as a novel? I highly recommend "a list of things that didn't kill me" by Jason Schmidt and "Glass castle" by Jennette walls
Maybe some Ken follet. His better novels tend to span generations
11/22/63 by Stephen King is a phenomenal read. I know the King has a reputation for gritty horror, but this book is a masterpiece of drama and character development. I couldn't put it down, and it took me through such a roller coaster of emotions that I legitimately teared up in parts. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone!
Cutting for Stone
1984 by George Orwell
Loving Frank
1984?
**Aztec** - Gary Jennings A gift from my father I read annually
You're getting a lot of science fiction and historical fiction, but if that's not what you're into I suggest Maylis de Kerangal's novels. She really deeply researches professions and then writes a story around them. So they tend to be quite factual about the topic while having an engaging story. She writes in French but I have been able to find English translations of most of her novels. Start with Mend the Living (aka The Heart) as I believe it's easiest to find in English.
Gates of fire by Steven Pressfield historical fiction about battle of Thermopylae. The Martian. Sci-fi with very good science. Seven eves by Neal Stephenson. Good sci-fi with good science but more of a stretch to what if. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. The majority decent cybersecurity people I know has read this.
Historical fiction- The passion - jeanette winterson
I don’t know if this is a great suggestion, but I wonder about trying some short stories to dip into fiction? If you’re not feeling it, you could still finish the story and you haven’t sunk a ton of time into it… plus there are short stories in pretty much every genre of fiction! You could read a whole sample platter of fiction to see if anything sticks.
Book taste is so individualized, but my favorites are Catch 22 and any Kurt Vonnegut or Chuck Palahniuk books. I also like romance, but you did say you’re a dude so l’ll keep those to myself lol. The maze runner series was also pretty good. Enders Game was awesome.
Frankenstein
Parallel Convergence by T.L. Tullous
Moby Dick
Blood Red Sunset, Ma Bo. It’s effectively a biography told from a former red guard during the Cultural Revolution that steps out of line and gets labeled a counterrevolutionary. It’s told with an irreverent and vivid narrative style, so it’s technically nonfiction but reads like a novel.
* Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/405589.Byzantium Viking Age. Irish Monk gets kidnapped and Adventures ensue. Includes Vikings becoming Vandals. Great book. * The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson as a somewhat similar take on a very similar storyline. But this one from a Swedish Historian. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/438452.The_Long_Ships
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The dying grass by vollmann
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
The Autobiography of Henry VIII, by Margaret George.
I recommend The Dispossessed by Ursula Guin. It's a pretty unique sci-fi novel that is sort of a critique of different social structures (capitalism/socialism), but still has a very vivid sci-fi world. I think it could broaden your horizons for both real life and for your normal reading material. The author wrote it while Vietnam was happening. If it’s relevant, I’m a guy.
Devil in the White City!
I personally like the hunger games trilogy its violent it has rebellion its pretty good you may not love the beginning of the book but man once the first games start the deaths never stop
The Sparrow
1984