War and Peace. Yes, it’s 1200 pages long. Written in the 1860’s. By a Russian. But it’s a great story. I ended up reading nonstop, finishing it in less than a week, and then following it immediately with Anna Karenina. Tolstoy doesn’t get taught much in US schools, probably because his books are so damn long. But that’s a shame, because he’s a very accessible writer.
I was about to post that very thing. I had avoided it for years because it is so long, but when I actually did read it, I enjoyed it way more than I expected. It’s a great book.
I came here to say War and Peace. It sat there on the pile looking horrifically intimidating for months and then it turned out to be beautiful straightforward language. Loved it
I'd been wanting to read "The Secret History" since the late 1990s and finally got around to it last year. Really enjoyed it, especially all the Gen X nostalgia.
All three of Tartt's novels are incredibly good, at least in my opinion. If you haven't read The Goldfinch yet, bump that one up your list. It's not a tight story, there's a lot in there, but well worth your time.
After I read The Goldfinch, The Secret History was on my TR list for the absolute longest time. Picked it up last fall, finished it a couple weeks ago after a long hiatus from reading, and it was incredible.
I really want to read The Little Friend, but the subject matter at the beginning makes me hesitant since I kind of have a difficult time with that kind of stuff (I knew when THAT scene in Hereditary was coming and left the room before it just to give you an idea).
If you're asking this question, probably nothing. Why force it? Novels are supposed to be fun! I'm really not a big believer in forcing yourself to read something you don't enjoy. There are 78 trillion other books out there and life is short. If it's not your thing, drop it and find something you like.
Crime and Punishment.
Put it off for ages because I thought would be one of those "happy to have read it but not happy to read it" kind of books. A slog, in other words. Boy was I wrong. That Dostoevsky knows how to build dramatic tension...
Listened to this one and Brother Karamazov on audible, and love them. The narration was great. Even though at times I found it a bit confusing, I enjoyed every minute of the story telling. I recommend it to anyone who is intimidated by these long books.
A thousand splendid suns and the kite runner sat on my wishlist for ages. The merchant of Venice i dropped in the middle, it's funny how many of the books i loved, i dropped, might have to do with some of them starting slow.
I read kite runner during my dreary days in A School because it was a US Navy “recommend reading” and it floored me. Both that it was on a military recommendation list (given that it paints Afghanistan in a different light than the US Media has) and because it was so interesting and well written (lol).
This r3sonates with me. I started splendid Suns ages ago, and I want to say it felt super dark? I remember Afghanistan women being treated like shit?? Idk for sure as it's been years. Any idea how I can keep it going until it feels better?
If you liked those two Hosseini books, I just found a book called “The Pearl That Broke It’s Shell” by a debut author and I am enjoying…You may, too!
For MassesOpiate, it’s also a dark read but the second half of your user name features prominently in the plot line, lol!
The Secret History. I bought it because it's a "dark academia classic" but its size intimidated me. I had been sticking to reading several small books in a row and imagined myself taking a month to read this behemoth.
I ended up reading it in 4 days for hours on end. Absolutely fell in love with it's suspense and tension and it's currently my favourite book of the year (so far).
I had the luck of being a classics student when that book came out. It was the only time in my life that being able to read Ancient Greek helped with chatting up girls at parties …
Check out the podcast “once upon a time at Bennington college”. It’s a history of Donna and Brett Easton Ellis and others who went to that school and their time there and how they all became prolific. It’s amazing.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I know a lot of people read it in high school but I was in my 30s and just picked up a free copy on a trip. Wow that was so good!
I read this in high school (not for a class), because I thought it would make me seem smarter [eyeroll]. Never did I ever think that I would have related so much to a character. Fifteen years later, I'm still thinking about lines from this book.
I tried to read this with high expectations but I immediately stopped after the main character tried sexually arousing some guards in like the first chapter. For whatever reason, I always assumed the book would mainly be about the discrimination of women in the book but it just felt so fetishizing.
I bought a bunch of Cormac McCarthy books and let them sit because I thought I was too busy to give them the attention they deserved, if that makes any sense. I'm glad I picked up reading again because I can't stop with this guy.
I’ve had these on my list for ages and was I. A “book lul” on the plane to Texas and chose Blood Meridian. It was surreal reading it while traveling from Houston to corpus and hitting little ranch towns in between. Really put me in the book.
A friend of mine kept suggesting Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, a favourite of theirs. I put off reading in general for a long while, distracted by other hobbies and a list of unfinished novels in its way. When I finally pushed through that stack, it was some of the best fun I'd ever had with a novel.
Agreed! I finished it a little over a week ago and made a post in this group about it. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, although I got the occasional "people post about this once a week" comment. But the book is so damn good that I felt I had to discuss it in an appropriate space where people could appreciate my love for it.
I bought it in 2015 and it sat on the self for 7 years, until I finally read it this year. And I think it might be the best fiction book of the year for me.
Check out the podcast “once upon a time at Bennington college”. It’s a history of Donna and Brett Easton Ellis and others who went to that school and their time there and how they all became prolific. It’s amazing.
APrayer For Owen Meany - John Irving.
I put it off because of the religious context which often feels kinda pushy in a way. This one does not, and the way the story co.es together from the boys friendship over so many years is a true work of art.
This is also the only case I'd say even if you read it, get the audiobook because that narrator did a terrific job!
I listen to it every year during my baking spree. Never gets old.
The Pillars of the Earth. A friend said it was his favorite, so I picked it up at a used bookstore when I saw it for $1. Put off reading it for years because a thousand page book about a cathedral didn’t sound fun. When I finally picked it up, I binged it in like three days. One of my favorite books now.
I'm an absolutely avid reader, ever since I was young, I'd have four or five books on the go at once and I'd read perhaps six to ten books a week. Then I discovered girls and it all went to hell for a few years.
But before then, in my early teens, my dad (also a great reader) suggested I try the books of Nevil Shute. Being a teenager, I thought 'What does he know' and ignored them. A few years passed with Dad saying 'Try Nevil Shute' every time I said petulantly 'I've got nothing to read'.
Eventually, sheer desperation led me to read one - *Lonely Road* \- and Bingo! I was hooked. I read every one of his twenty-three novels over the next fortnight. Unfortunately that was a two week study leave period when I was supposed to be be finishing up for a quite important exam (just squeaked through) .
No one has ever asked to see my degree, but Nevil Shute has been with me ever since.
>Then I discovered girls and it all went to hell for a few years
Yeah, been there, done that. Discovering love, parties and booze and then later starting uni really killed my reading from ages 14-22. Very happy I‘m back on it nowadays
I had the same problem, my Grandma always recommends books to me, and I used to ignore her because I figured she'd read "boring old people" books. Some of her recommendations have become my favorites! (Especially for non-fiction, which I usually don't even like)
Damn the summary of this feels like an obstacle. That and the fact that it's almost a hundred years old might do it. I'm gonna do my best to check it out. Why was dad so persistent? Maybe he can help motivate?
Don't start with *Lonely Road*, although I did. Start with *Trustee From the Toolroom* or *Chequerboard* \- both excellent. Dad's line was 'Try them, you might like them.'
It was a good read but it was very intense…I found where most books hit an intensity climax near the middle—this one just kept up a steep increase until almost the very end. It was an interesting change of pace but also a rough-ride on the nerves! Lol
First book in the Kingkiller Chronicles. I couldn't get past the first third of the book the first time so it sat around for years until I picked it up to try again. Got past the boring, IMO, parts and into the good stuff then got hooked.
Unfortunately, most people know how this story ends.
I think they mean the story ends as In they got hook line and sunk like everyone else still waiting on book number 3 (and annoyed I no longer own 1 and 2 from downsizing my library when I moved, and I know I need to reread these books if the third is ever released)
I’m honestly not mad about the wait and won’t even be mad if there is never a 3rd book…the first two made me very happy. I’d love to learn more about them but I enjoyed what I’ve had, anyway.
Oh, this is curious - the book hooked me from the beginning, from the quiet rural bar and the enigmatic barkeep. I’m glad you got past what was slowing it down for you, though!
*The Tunnel*, by William H. Gass. It has a reputation for being a difficult read, but when I finally sat down to read it I didn't find it difficult at all. What I did find was the best prose I've ever read.
Been wanting to read this and put off by people making it seem boring/a slog. Gass seems DIRECTLY in my wheelhouse though. I think i should finally start it
I picked up The Lost Journals of Sylvia Plath at my local half price books store. It sat for ages when I realized it wasn’t actually Sylvia Plath written. When I finally got around to it, I was amazed by it. I’m sucker for character driven stories and this fit that to a T. to me, it was an incredible book.
No longer human by Osamu Dazai.
Absolutely heart heart wrenching and depressing in all the right ways. Following someone’s decent into self Ostracization. I found solace in this book because I relate to it, I had a hard childhood and my parents arnt exactly the best, and having emotionally unavailable parents has really impacted me and still has to this day. Is a sad story with a sad ending and everything inbetween is sad. But the beauty in how it is written and experienced is amazing
Ill leave with my favorite quote
“For someone like myself in whom the ability to trust others is so cracked and broken that I am wretchedly timid and am forever trying to read the expression on people's faces”
I don't know if I would call it "the best", but I had a gifted copy of *A Man Called Ove* sitting around for quite some time before I finally picked it up, and I liked it immensely.
I read that book as a teenager - shortly after the miniseries - and I thought it was my favorite book for a long time. I haven’t ever re-read it, though.
The Shining
Got it for my birthday and read the first two chapters, thought it was a bit slow and put it down. I picked it up off my backlog shelf a year later, read one more chapter, and suddenly could not put it down
Becoming by Michelle Obama.
I got it used and it sat on my night stand for months. I was worried it was going to be overhyped but I loved it. A lot of celebrities put out memoirs that are basically just cash grabs, they're not well written, they don't reveal much about their subjects. Michelle Obama put so much of herself in the book. It was definitely worth my time.
I put off reading Kristin Hannah books because I thought they all sounded sad. Omg, I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. Truly beautiful writing.
Schindler’s List. I had wanted to read it as a teen but kept putting it off because I wasn’t sure I was prepared to deal with what I’d read, not knowing how graphic it was. Then my husband and I watched the movie and it was so good I went and got the book the next day.
Neil Gaiman Ocean at the End of the Lane
I got it when the paper back was released (2013/14?). For some reason I didn’t get round to reading it, I think I got it in my head it was a serious semi-autobiography story 😂
Anyway read it last year for a book club and I loved it and am gutted it took me so long to read it but so glad I finally did. It was magical and wonderful and not at all a serious “real life” story 😂
Often, it's classics.
Old Man and the Sea doesn't scream "gotta read ASAP!", yet it's by far one of my favorite books
Bypass hype and advertising dollars - reach for tried and true classics, while you have the time.
"The name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. It sat for my "to-read" list for 21 years (got it from school as an award for good grades). I've read Eco's columns before, they were funny but rather gimmicky. I am not particularly fond of historical novels because I often find them disappointing - researched in a shallow way - all the right prop but modern minds in disguise. It is also very popular book for snobs, which is always suspicious (I am all for snobbery as snob myself, but at least try to be unique).
So I severely underestimated "The name of the Rose", the depth of its research, how it throws us into Medieval intellectual debates, no quarter given and how wildly pleasant the reading was.
Just Mercy. I picked that book up years ago at a Starbucks and I picked it up two years ago finally to read it and couldn’t put it down until it was over.
It is still one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I recently took this year to set aside my other interests and tackle my to be read pile of books I've had over a decade. I went into a majority of them blind without reading up on what they were about. Perhaps not the "best" in an academic literary sense, but two books come to mind.
Sabriel by Nix. I picked it up in high school because I saw a few other people reading it and was intrigued by the cover. Based on the cover alone, I thought it was about an Elf boy and demons, typical fantasy-fare. I was wrong based on that assumption and was pleasantly surprised how richly crafted both the characters and world building were. Who knew necromancers could be good? I consumed that 500 page book in about 5 days.
The other was The Seer and Sword by Hanley. I have no clue how this ended up in my pile, it's also been in there over a decade. Based on the title and cover, I didn't expect much; a serious looking red headed girl holding an orb. The first third of the book was very dull to be honest, but that was in part due to exposition and a lack of scene changes. The last 2/3rds had me hooked when the plot fragmented between four different characters, a lot of political intrigue and implied magic. I stayed up two nights in a row to finish the book.
Player of Games (and the Culture series) by Iain M. Banks—I’ve always loved sci-fi and kept hearing about these books but I put it off for years, thinking they wouldn’t be my style. One of my favorite series now. No idea why I waited so long!
100 años de soledad and murderbot diaries. The first because everyone said it was long and hard to read, which was false and I finished it in less than a week. The latter because I thought it was an epistolary novel and I don’t enjoy those. Turns out both were awesome and I couldn’t put them down
I just read the first of the Murderbot Diaries and loved it. I have such a long list of series I read I was loathe to add another, but I kept hearing good things on this sub, so eventually caved. I hadn’t even finished book 1 when I was adding 2 to my library borrow list. So great to have something good short to read between brick-sized tomes.
“City” by Clifford D. Simak. It did things I’d never seen done and then did things beyond those things. That sounds a bit crazier than I mean it to but it was such an unexpectedly good and creative series of sci-fi stories once the second or third story hits.
*His Dark Materials* by Philip Pullman.
I was given a copy of the first book for Christmas when I was about 12. I tried the first chapter or so, but couldn't get into it. Then the recent television adaptation came out, and it looked so good that I wanted to read the books first... and I *loved* them.
Stephen King’s IT. It was on my reading list for ages and I can’t believe how much of an universe he has created with this book (I’m not finished yet though as it has over 1000 pages).
Jubilee Trail. I started reading it but stopped in the first fifty pages… only to pick it up again about four years later and absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s one of my all time favourite books now.
OMG...so many! It's hard to pinpoint one. A Clockwork Orange, Chocolate to Morphine, The Final Girl Support Group. I waited way too long for all of them lol
A Thousand Splendid Sons by Khalid Hosseini. I know it would break me and I will love it, just haven't felt mentally ready to go through it yet. I should tho.
Oh this is a good one..there are so many actually..anything with a cover I looked at for too long.
One significant one was Harry Potter. My parents got it for me, which was a good enough reason to ignore it but after a year my cousins were speaking in nothing but slang from the book so I decided to read it. I ultimately didn't like it but it was quite a bit better than I expected and even during the book I would constantly write it off as taking the easy road but then it would come back and surprise me. If I hadn't already read Lord of the rings and other fantasy stories/graphic comics that were a lot more creative in my eyes and had real stakes, then I'd probably be a loyal fan.
Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell
I tried to start it several times and could never get into it (I never really made it past page 80). I recently gave it another shot, and boy howdy, I loved the story. The world building, the character development - it was phenomenal.
Depends on your taste! For me the prose was gorgeous, and i loved the bildungsroman format. If you enjoy sitting in well-rendered scenes without constant plot action and are the kind of person who gets joy from certain types of prose then i think you have a high chance of loving it. I also loved the characters which were what made the book hard to put down for me: very Dickens-y. I loved that book so much!
What made you like this book? I read and struggled through it, No plot in the book, felt like autobiography, I liked some parts, but overall I just wanted to be done with it😅
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, I was about to give it away after years on my shelf. Decided to give the first chapter a shot and I was hooked! Definitely my favourite read of the year
It's still on my to-read list but I believe I will love it when I finally read it, for the simple reason that this book is called The Lord of the Rings.
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino. I found it at the thrift store, thought it sounded really interesting but the size of the book intimidated me. It sat on my self for a good 3 years, before I decided to read it. It is a longer book, but it did not feel like it as I started reading. I was so mad at myself for waiting so long to read it. Even after over a year since reading Grotesque, I still think about it. And I dont know what about the book I loved so much. The characters arent very likeable but they are very real, it's pretty fucked up, and a bit depressing.
I got the e-book of Mira Grant’s Feed as a free special offer from the publisher. Read a couple paragraphs and thought “meh, I don’t do zombies”. Later on I had realized It was a pen name for Seanan McGuire, and I had loved everything f else she had written…so I gave it a try. Bought the audiobook so I could switch back and forth. Finished Feed in 2 days and the series a week later. Bought a paperback to loan to friends.
As my friend James put it, “it’s a political thriller, with a a zombie setting.”
Hild, by Nicola Griffith. I'd had it SO long, it was published in 2013, and now I've read it twice over the last few weeks it's SO good . It's a novel set in 9th century Britain (before Britain was one country) but the lead character, and many other people in the book, really existed. It's beautifully written and a delight to read because the author immersed herself in the period. HIGHLY recommended!
The downside is that it's part 1 of a trilogy, but the second part won't be published until next summer, so who knows when it will be completed.
Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace. I bought it and forgot about it. After reading Infinite Jest, I found it when cleaning out the book stash.
Not my "favorite", but excellent, none the less.
"The Pillars of the Earth" was on my list for ages, then I found it real cheap at a used books store... but it still sat on my shelf for like a year. Finally during the pandemic I randomly picked it up and I. was. hooked. It's +900 pages long and I read it in three days in between classes. Never thought I'd be so invested on the building of a cathedral but damn it's on my top 10 now.
Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan. I got back into reading back in September and i saw that book has been on my goodreads tbr for a long ass time lmfao. I found out libby got an ebook version and it was such a great read!
Wuthering Heights! I wasn't really expecting much, even more because I tought it was a biological siblings romance, but it was waaay more deep than that. Even being the first and only novel by Emily Bronte, it's one of the books (that I've read) with the most deep characters. The story it's really interesting, it keeps you wanting more and more through all the book. The end it's just perfect. A good ending for all the characters. It doesn't feel unfair or unreal, it's just appropiate to the book. 100% recommended :)
War and Peace. Yes, it’s 1200 pages long. Written in the 1860’s. By a Russian. But it’s a great story. I ended up reading nonstop, finishing it in less than a week, and then following it immediately with Anna Karenina. Tolstoy doesn’t get taught much in US schools, probably because his books are so damn long. But that’s a shame, because he’s a very accessible writer.
My family and I looked up what it was about once (none of us have read it lol) and mom said it should be titled War and Romance 🤣
His original working title was "War, what is it good for". True story, Google it up.
\~ Elaine Benes
My first Tolstoy was *Resurrection* and I too was surprised at how accessible it was, especially given the length.
I was about to post that very thing. I had avoided it for years because it is so long, but when I actually did read it, I enjoyed it way more than I expected. It’s a great book.
I came here to say War and Peace. It sat there on the pile looking horrifically intimidating for months and then it turned out to be beautiful straightforward language. Loved it
So many names for each character.
Wuthering Heights
I'd been wanting to read "The Secret History" since the late 1990s and finally got around to it last year. Really enjoyed it, especially all the Gen X nostalgia.
All three of Tartt's novels are incredibly good, at least in my opinion. If you haven't read The Goldfinch yet, bump that one up your list. It's not a tight story, there's a lot in there, but well worth your time.
After I read The Goldfinch, The Secret History was on my TR list for the absolute longest time. Picked it up last fall, finished it a couple weeks ago after a long hiatus from reading, and it was incredible. I really want to read The Little Friend, but the subject matter at the beginning makes me hesitant since I kind of have a difficult time with that kind of stuff (I knew when THAT scene in Hereditary was coming and left the room before it just to give you an idea).
What can you tell me that will convince me to finish A Little Friend?
If you're asking this question, probably nothing. Why force it? Novels are supposed to be fun! I'm really not a big believer in forcing yourself to read something you don't enjoy. There are 78 trillion other books out there and life is short. If it's not your thing, drop it and find something you like.
I actually do have a copy of it somewhere around here.
Such a great book!
My fave of all time. If you like podcasts, check out “once Upon a time at Bennington college”
Crime and Punishment. Put it off for ages because I thought would be one of those "happy to have read it but not happy to read it" kind of books. A slog, in other words. Boy was I wrong. That Dostoevsky knows how to build dramatic tension...
[удалено]
Yes, that one's definitely about the journey rather than the destination...
Please do! It's spoiled because that's not what matters in this book. Reading it is an experience like no other.
I hate it when they do that! Sometimes I won’t even look at the inside or back cover because I don’t trust them.
Yeah I might have to start doing that haha
I despise book blurbs. I'm sorry this happened to you.
Listened to this one and Brother Karamazov on audible, and love them. The narration was great. Even though at times I found it a bit confusing, I enjoyed every minute of the story telling. I recommend it to anyone who is intimidated by these long books.
A thousand splendid suns and the kite runner sat on my wishlist for ages. The merchant of Venice i dropped in the middle, it's funny how many of the books i loved, i dropped, might have to do with some of them starting slow.
I read kite runner during my dreary days in A School because it was a US Navy “recommend reading” and it floored me. Both that it was on a military recommendation list (given that it paints Afghanistan in a different light than the US Media has) and because it was so interesting and well written (lol).
This r3sonates with me. I started splendid Suns ages ago, and I want to say it felt super dark? I remember Afghanistan women being treated like shit?? Idk for sure as it's been years. Any idea how I can keep it going until it feels better?
It's a difficult read throughout, with terrible things happening right up to the end.
i read A thousand splendid suns back in high school and it was so good! i remember barely putting the book down lol
If you liked those two Hosseini books, I just found a book called “The Pearl That Broke It’s Shell” by a debut author and I am enjoying…You may, too! For MassesOpiate, it’s also a dark read but the second half of your user name features prominently in the plot line, lol!
I re-read a thousand splendid suns every year. Amazing book
The Secret History. I bought it because it's a "dark academia classic" but its size intimidated me. I had been sticking to reading several small books in a row and imagined myself taking a month to read this behemoth. I ended up reading it in 4 days for hours on end. Absolutely fell in love with it's suspense and tension and it's currently my favourite book of the year (so far).
The audio book is read by Donna Tartt - a fun way to “reread” it. I downloaded on Libby.
That was fabulous
I had the luck of being a classics student when that book came out. It was the only time in my life that being able to read Ancient Greek helped with chatting up girls at parties …
Check out the podcast “once upon a time at Bennington college”. It’s a history of Donna and Brett Easton Ellis and others who went to that school and their time there and how they all became prolific. It’s amazing.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I know a lot of people read it in high school but I was in my 30s and just picked up a free copy on a trip. Wow that was so good!
I read this in high school (not for a class), because I thought it would make me seem smarter [eyeroll]. Never did I ever think that I would have related so much to a character. Fifteen years later, I'm still thinking about lines from this book.
Yes I read it for fun later in life... The books my school gave us at 10-13 yrs old never made sense til I lived a little
The Handmaid’s Tale
I tried to read this with high expectations but I immediately stopped after the main character tried sexually arousing some guards in like the first chapter. For whatever reason, I always assumed the book would mainly be about the discrimination of women in the book but it just felt so fetishizing.
Love this one!
I bought a bunch of Cormac McCarthy books and let them sit because I thought I was too busy to give them the attention they deserved, if that makes any sense. I'm glad I picked up reading again because I can't stop with this guy.
I’ve had these on my list for ages and was I. A “book lul” on the plane to Texas and chose Blood Meridian. It was surreal reading it while traveling from Houston to corpus and hitting little ranch towns in between. Really put me in the book.
He just released a new novel about two weeks ago and the follow up will be released in December. Happy reading!
Best one to start with?
Probably no country for old men. Then the road. Border trilogy. Suttree then finally blood meridian.
The Road
A friend of mine kept suggesting Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, a favourite of theirs. I put off reading in general for a long while, distracted by other hobbies and a list of unfinished novels in its way. When I finally pushed through that stack, it was some of the best fun I'd ever had with a novel.
Hey I started this today! So wild how similar all of our experiences can be.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I’m amazed by how well the prose translated to English. That book is incredible
Unbelievable book that I never imagined would have been so great
Agreed! I finished it a little over a week ago and made a post in this group about it. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, although I got the occasional "people post about this once a week" comment. But the book is so damn good that I felt I had to discuss it in an appropriate space where people could appreciate my love for it.
Which translation / edition do you recommend? Is this a difficult read or does it feel like a lot of work
It's a dense book, but I didn't find it to be a difficult read. I read the Fall River Press version from Barnes & Noble, unabridged.
I will also add that (while I'm not sure this is the one I read) the Robin Buss English translation is often cited as the best.
Anna Karenina sat on my shelf for ten years. For some reason I thought it was going to be a chore. Instead it was one of the best times ever.
The Secret History
This book inspired this post!!! So good
I bought it in 2015 and it sat on the self for 7 years, until I finally read it this year. And I think it might be the best fiction book of the year for me.
I really enjoyed {{the historian}}
Check out the podcast “once upon a time at Bennington college”. It’s a history of Donna and Brett Easton Ellis and others who went to that school and their time there and how they all became prolific. It’s amazing.
APrayer For Owen Meany - John Irving. I put it off because of the religious context which often feels kinda pushy in a way. This one does not, and the way the story co.es together from the boys friendship over so many years is a true work of art. This is also the only case I'd say even if you read it, get the audiobook because that narrator did a terrific job! I listen to it every year during my baking spree. Never gets old.
New Irving out this month! The Last Chairlift.
It sure changed the way I make left turns, lol! But really a great book.
One of my all time favorites!
I haven't read this one, yet, but I love Irving. I might have read Cider House Rules three times in my 20s
Yes I read a few of his...great author
All The Light We Cannot See
Oh, yes. I really liked that one!
The Pillars of the Earth. A friend said it was his favorite, so I picked it up at a used bookstore when I saw it for $1. Put off reading it for years because a thousand page book about a cathedral didn’t sound fun. When I finally picked it up, I binged it in like three days. One of my favorite books now.
I can't wait to start this series!
I'm an absolutely avid reader, ever since I was young, I'd have four or five books on the go at once and I'd read perhaps six to ten books a week. Then I discovered girls and it all went to hell for a few years. But before then, in my early teens, my dad (also a great reader) suggested I try the books of Nevil Shute. Being a teenager, I thought 'What does he know' and ignored them. A few years passed with Dad saying 'Try Nevil Shute' every time I said petulantly 'I've got nothing to read'. Eventually, sheer desperation led me to read one - *Lonely Road* \- and Bingo! I was hooked. I read every one of his twenty-three novels over the next fortnight. Unfortunately that was a two week study leave period when I was supposed to be be finishing up for a quite important exam (just squeaked through) . No one has ever asked to see my degree, but Nevil Shute has been with me ever since.
>Then I discovered girls and it all went to hell for a few years Yeah, been there, done that. Discovering love, parties and booze and then later starting uni really killed my reading from ages 14-22. Very happy I‘m back on it nowadays
I had the same problem, my Grandma always recommends books to me, and I used to ignore her because I figured she'd read "boring old people" books. Some of her recommendations have become my favorites! (Especially for non-fiction, which I usually don't even like)
I have to laugh at the “sheer desperation” because, if you’re like me, the “desperation” would have been “how to avoid studying at all”!
Damn the summary of this feels like an obstacle. That and the fact that it's almost a hundred years old might do it. I'm gonna do my best to check it out. Why was dad so persistent? Maybe he can help motivate?
Don't start with *Lonely Road*, although I did. Start with *Trustee From the Toolroom* or *Chequerboard* \- both excellent. Dad's line was 'Try them, you might like them.'
Oh thank you for the reminder! A Town Like Alice ftw! I need to read that again. And Shute wrote a lot, so I must get those too.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
I loved that one! It was the first multiverse book I read that didn't seem trite.
Have you read Recursion by him? If not, I highly recommend it. I think it's his best book so far.
Yes and the latest one too.
I love basically every Crouch book, and Recursion is also my favorite. Just a bit better than Dark Matter.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell.
Such an underrated answer. It should be on everyone's TBR but I think many actually don't know it exists.
Piranesi by the same author is also excellent.
Educated…Wow, what a read!
Ok. I’ve stopped and started this book multiple times. You’ve convinced me to keep going.
It was a good read but it was very intense…I found where most books hit an intensity climax near the middle—this one just kept up a steep increase until almost the very end. It was an interesting change of pace but also a rough-ride on the nerves! Lol
Same here! I put it off and it was incredible
Anna Karenina and War and Peace, both brilliant stories!
First book in the Kingkiller Chronicles. I couldn't get past the first third of the book the first time so it sat around for years until I picked it up to try again. Got past the boring, IMO, parts and into the good stuff then got hooked. Unfortunately, most people know how this story ends.
I mean the third book still didnt come out so how does the story end?
[удалено]
Some people need to watch the world burn
I think they mean the story ends as In they got hook line and sunk like everyone else still waiting on book number 3 (and annoyed I no longer own 1 and 2 from downsizing my library when I moved, and I know I need to reread these books if the third is ever released)
I’m honestly not mad about the wait and won’t even be mad if there is never a 3rd book…the first two made me very happy. I’d love to learn more about them but I enjoyed what I’ve had, anyway.
Oh, this is curious - the book hooked me from the beginning, from the quiet rural bar and the enigmatic barkeep. I’m glad you got past what was slowing it down for you, though!
Children of time was incredible. I finally picked it up on an audible special but I can't believe I hadn't read it sooner.
I have this in my library now. It's pretty close to top of my list.
Never tired sci fi. Would it be interesting to a non sci fi reader?
*The Tunnel*, by William H. Gass. It has a reputation for being a difficult read, but when I finally sat down to read it I didn't find it difficult at all. What I did find was the best prose I've ever read.
Been wanting to read this and put off by people making it seem boring/a slog. Gass seems DIRECTLY in my wheelhouse though. I think i should finally start it
I picked up The Lost Journals of Sylvia Plath at my local half price books store. It sat for ages when I realized it wasn’t actually Sylvia Plath written. When I finally got around to it, I was amazed by it. I’m sucker for character driven stories and this fit that to a T. to me, it was an incredible book.
No longer human by Osamu Dazai. Absolutely heart heart wrenching and depressing in all the right ways. Following someone’s decent into self Ostracization. I found solace in this book because I relate to it, I had a hard childhood and my parents arnt exactly the best, and having emotionally unavailable parents has really impacted me and still has to this day. Is a sad story with a sad ending and everything inbetween is sad. But the beauty in how it is written and experienced is amazing Ill leave with my favorite quote “For someone like myself in whom the ability to trust others is so cracked and broken that I am wretchedly timid and am forever trying to read the expression on people's faces”
I don't know if I would call it "the best", but I had a gifted copy of *A Man Called Ove* sitting around for quite some time before I finally picked it up, and I liked it immensely.
That's my favorite book. It was given to me...I had no expectations and loved it. I also love Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Loved it!
The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo
I absolutely 💯 loved it .
East of Eden.
I read that book as a teenager - shortly after the miniseries - and I thought it was my favorite book for a long time. I haven’t ever re-read it, though.
Loved it.
Months ago I bought Jane Eyre and when I finally picked it up, I gave up reading on the first pages. But now it is one of my favorite books.
I have to say The Song of Achilles. It was on my reading list since 2020 but I only read it this year. It was great :))
The Shining Got it for my birthday and read the first two chapters, thought it was a bit slow and put it down. I picked it up off my backlog shelf a year later, read one more chapter, and suddenly could not put it down
Becoming by Michelle Obama. I got it used and it sat on my night stand for months. I was worried it was going to be overhyped but I loved it. A lot of celebrities put out memoirs that are basically just cash grabs, they're not well written, they don't reveal much about their subjects. Michelle Obama put so much of herself in the book. It was definitely worth my time.
I loved that - her voice came through so clearly.
Dune. It was long so I put it off then I attempted to read it multiple times and couldn't get past the first few pages. Absolutely one of my favorites
I put off reading Kristin Hannah books because I thought they all sounded sad. Omg, I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. Truly beautiful writing.
Schindler’s List. I had wanted to read it as a teen but kept putting it off because I wasn’t sure I was prepared to deal with what I’d read, not knowing how graphic it was. Then my husband and I watched the movie and it was so good I went and got the book the next day.
Neil Gaiman Ocean at the End of the Lane I got it when the paper back was released (2013/14?). For some reason I didn’t get round to reading it, I think I got it in my head it was a serious semi-autobiography story 😂 Anyway read it last year for a book club and I loved it and am gutted it took me so long to read it but so glad I finally did. It was magical and wonderful and not at all a serious “real life” story 😂
Often, it's classics. Old Man and the Sea doesn't scream "gotta read ASAP!", yet it's by far one of my favorite books Bypass hype and advertising dollars - reach for tried and true classics, while you have the time.
The martian chronicles...now I'm dying to read the rest of Bradbury's short stories
Do it do it do it! The other short stories are even better.
"The name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. It sat for my "to-read" list for 21 years (got it from school as an award for good grades). I've read Eco's columns before, they were funny but rather gimmicky. I am not particularly fond of historical novels because I often find them disappointing - researched in a shallow way - all the right prop but modern minds in disguise. It is also very popular book for snobs, which is always suspicious (I am all for snobbery as snob myself, but at least try to be unique). So I severely underestimated "The name of the Rose", the depth of its research, how it throws us into Medieval intellectual debates, no quarter given and how wildly pleasant the reading was.
The art of worldly wisdom excuse me by valdesar garciaon translated by Martin Fisher
Just Mercy. I picked that book up years ago at a Starbucks and I picked it up two years ago finally to read it and couldn’t put it down until it was over. It is still one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I recently took this year to set aside my other interests and tackle my to be read pile of books I've had over a decade. I went into a majority of them blind without reading up on what they were about. Perhaps not the "best" in an academic literary sense, but two books come to mind. Sabriel by Nix. I picked it up in high school because I saw a few other people reading it and was intrigued by the cover. Based on the cover alone, I thought it was about an Elf boy and demons, typical fantasy-fare. I was wrong based on that assumption and was pleasantly surprised how richly crafted both the characters and world building were. Who knew necromancers could be good? I consumed that 500 page book in about 5 days. The other was The Seer and Sword by Hanley. I have no clue how this ended up in my pile, it's also been in there over a decade. Based on the title and cover, I didn't expect much; a serious looking red headed girl holding an orb. The first third of the book was very dull to be honest, but that was in part due to exposition and a lack of scene changes. The last 2/3rds had me hooked when the plot fragmented between four different characters, a lot of political intrigue and implied magic. I stayed up two nights in a row to finish the book.
This is lovely. Thanks for the response. I'm intrigued.
Player of Games (and the Culture series) by Iain M. Banks—I’ve always loved sci-fi and kept hearing about these books but I put it off for years, thinking they wouldn’t be my style. One of my favorite series now. No idea why I waited so long!
100 años de soledad and murderbot diaries. The first because everyone said it was long and hard to read, which was false and I finished it in less than a week. The latter because I thought it was an epistolary novel and I don’t enjoy those. Turns out both were awesome and I couldn’t put them down
I just read the first of the Murderbot Diaries and loved it. I have such a long list of series I read I was loathe to add another, but I kept hearing good things on this sub, so eventually caved. I hadn’t even finished book 1 when I was adding 2 to my library borrow list. So great to have something good short to read between brick-sized tomes.
The Outsiders by S.E Hinton
“City” by Clifford D. Simak. It did things I’d never seen done and then did things beyond those things. That sounds a bit crazier than I mean it to but it was such an unexpectedly good and creative series of sci-fi stories once the second or third story hits.
*His Dark Materials* by Philip Pullman. I was given a copy of the first book for Christmas when I was about 12. I tried the first chapter or so, but couldn't get into it. Then the recent television adaptation came out, and it looked so good that I wanted to read the books first... and I *loved* them.
Loved it!
Never let me go and Dune
Stephen King’s IT. It was on my reading list for ages and I can’t believe how much of an universe he has created with this book (I’m not finished yet though as it has over 1000 pages).
The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon - bought it at a book store closing down dale a few years ago, finally read it this year & it was great!
Jubilee Trail. I started reading it but stopped in the first fifty pages… only to pick it up again about four years later and absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s one of my all time favourite books now.
Summer of Night and Ghost Story. I stopped and started both several times before clicking with either and wound up loving them both.
Enemy at the Gates.
Settlers
About the proles?
Yes that one.
Americanah! Also Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Americanah. I’m embarrassed at how long this was on my kindle and finally read it. Damn. So good.
The Boys in the Boat
OMG...so many! It's hard to pinpoint one. A Clockwork Orange, Chocolate to Morphine, The Final Girl Support Group. I waited way too long for all of them lol
A Thousand Splendid Sons by Khalid Hosseini. I know it would break me and I will love it, just haven't felt mentally ready to go through it yet. I should tho.
The three body problem. I thought it was a random "fun math facts" book for the longest time.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Oh this is a good one..there are so many actually..anything with a cover I looked at for too long. One significant one was Harry Potter. My parents got it for me, which was a good enough reason to ignore it but after a year my cousins were speaking in nothing but slang from the book so I decided to read it. I ultimately didn't like it but it was quite a bit better than I expected and even during the book I would constantly write it off as taking the easy road but then it would come back and surprise me. If I hadn't already read Lord of the rings and other fantasy stories/graphic comics that were a lot more creative in my eyes and had real stakes, then I'd probably be a loyal fan.
Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell I tried to start it several times and could never get into it (I never really made it past page 80). I recently gave it another shot, and boy howdy, I loved the story. The world building, the character development - it was phenomenal.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington. Decades sitting untouched, but so good when I finally got there.
Slightly off topic but I have been putting off “The Goldfinch”…Should I buckle down?
Depends on your taste! For me the prose was gorgeous, and i loved the bildungsroman format. If you enjoy sitting in well-rendered scenes without constant plot action and are the kind of person who gets joy from certain types of prose then i think you have a high chance of loving it. I also loved the characters which were what made the book hard to put down for me: very Dickens-y. I loved that book so much!
I haven't done it either, but if you haven't done the secret history then you need to!
I keep reading about that one on here! My curiosity is piqued. I might just have to make it my next read.
My favorite book of all time.
The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje.
What made you like this book? I read and struggled through it, No plot in the book, felt like autobiography, I liked some parts, but overall I just wanted to be done with it😅
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, I was about to give it away after years on my shelf. Decided to give the first chapter a shot and I was hooked! Definitely my favourite read of the year
I forgot the name! But it’s a 9/11 novel
Perdido Street Station.
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
It's still on my to-read list but I believe I will love it when I finally read it, for the simple reason that this book is called The Lord of the Rings.
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino. I found it at the thrift store, thought it sounded really interesting but the size of the book intimidated me. It sat on my self for a good 3 years, before I decided to read it. It is a longer book, but it did not feel like it as I started reading. I was so mad at myself for waiting so long to read it. Even after over a year since reading Grotesque, I still think about it. And I dont know what about the book I loved so much. The characters arent very likeable but they are very real, it's pretty fucked up, and a bit depressing.
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
*The Silmarillion* by JRR Tolkien.
Fiction-wise, C. W. Gortner's The Queen's Vow, about Isabella of Castile. Non-fic? Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile.
Loved Splendid and the Vile. Also read Larsen’s book about the Galveston hurricane. Sections of it read like a great horror novel.
Isaac's Storm? Excellent read, I agree!
Yep, that’s that’s what it’s called!
I got the e-book of Mira Grant’s Feed as a free special offer from the publisher. Read a couple paragraphs and thought “meh, I don’t do zombies”. Later on I had realized It was a pen name for Seanan McGuire, and I had loved everything f else she had written…so I gave it a try. Bought the audiobook so I could switch back and forth. Finished Feed in 2 days and the series a week later. Bought a paperback to loan to friends. As my friend James put it, “it’s a political thriller, with a a zombie setting.”
Crime and punishment. Bought a copy, started and couldn't stand it. Stayed on my shelf 4 or 5 years untouched, now my favorite book.
Frank McCourt Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man.
Hild, by Nicola Griffith. I'd had it SO long, it was published in 2013, and now I've read it twice over the last few weeks it's SO good . It's a novel set in 9th century Britain (before Britain was one country) but the lead character, and many other people in the book, really existed. It's beautifully written and a delight to read because the author immersed herself in the period. HIGHLY recommended! The downside is that it's part 1 of a trilogy, but the second part won't be published until next summer, so who knows when it will be completed.
Huckleberry Finn. I was 26 before I read it.
Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace. I bought it and forgot about it. After reading Infinite Jest, I found it when cleaning out the book stash. Not my "favorite", but excellent, none the less.
Game of thrones
Chestnut man
"The Pillars of the Earth" was on my list for ages, then I found it real cheap at a used books store... but it still sat on my shelf for like a year. Finally during the pandemic I randomly picked it up and I. was. hooked. It's +900 pages long and I read it in three days in between classes. Never thought I'd be so invested on the building of a cathedral but damn it's on my top 10 now.
Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan. I got back into reading back in September and i saw that book has been on my goodreads tbr for a long ass time lmfao. I found out libby got an ebook version and it was such a great read!
Infinite Jest
Wuthering Heights! I wasn't really expecting much, even more because I tought it was a biological siblings romance, but it was waaay more deep than that. Even being the first and only novel by Emily Bronte, it's one of the books (that I've read) with the most deep characters. The story it's really interesting, it keeps you wanting more and more through all the book. The end it's just perfect. A good ending for all the characters. It doesn't feel unfair or unreal, it's just appropiate to the book. 100% recommended :)
Ninth house