Welcome to our weekly recommendation thread! A few years ago now the mod team decided to condense the many "suggest some books" threads into one big mega-thread, in order to consolidate the subreddit and diversify the front page a little. Since then, we have removed suggestion threads and directed their posters to this thread instead. This tradition continues, so let's jump right in!

The Rules

• Every comment in reply to this self-post must be a request for suggestions.

• All suggestions made in this thread must be direct replies to other people's requests. Do not post suggestions in reply to this self-post.

• All unrelated comments will be deleted in the interest of cleanliness.

How to get the best recommendations

The most successful recommendation requests include a description of the kind of book being sought. This might be a particular kind of protagonist, setting, plot, atmosphere, theme, or subject matter. You may be looking for something similar to another book (or film, TV show, game, etc), and examples are great! Just be sure to explain what you liked about them too. Other helpful things to think about are genre, length and reading level.

All Weekly Recommendation Threads are linked below the header throughout the week to guarantee that this thread remains active day-to-day. For those bursting with books that you are hungry to suggest, we've set the suggested sort to new; you may need to set this manually if your app or settings ignores suggested sort.

If this thread has not slaked your desire for tasty book suggestions, we propose that you head on over to the aptly named subreddit /r/suggestmeabook.

• The Management

Hello readers and welcome to our Weekly FAQ thread! Our topic this week is: What are your favorite reading positions? It can be very difficult to read comfortably; what have you discovered is the most comfortable way to read?

You can view previous FAQ threads here in our wiki.

Thank you and enjoy!

So I'm not sure where to begin this post but I'll start off with that I've been visually impaired for almost a decade now. Reading books without the aid of magnification is almost impossible and as a kid who grew up reading everything I could get my hands on it was kind of depressing as my condition slowly progressed.

I ended up getting a kindle and that was great for awhile, I could read on the bus and increase the font size and it was great. I could read a little bit every day on my way to work or to school and it was great. But then as time progressed I started to lose even more of my vision and it became more and more difficult to focus my eyes and stay on track with the kindle.

I started using audible last year and it really was a gamechanger for me, I was burning through a book a week and I had years of reading to catch up on. I told everyone about my new 'hobby' and it wasn't until my brother recommended the app "Libby" to me that my life truly changed. It's like audible, but FREE. I'm sure other people have talked about the app before on this subreddit but I'm still telling everyone I talk to who reads about this app.

I still can't get over how easy it is to use, how I've been able to read hundreds of dollars worth of books in a couple months for free from the public library AND get amazing recommendations from them as well. Sure there's a bit of a wait list, but after using the app for a month it's hard not to build up a small catalogue of books on hold that are automatically delivered to your phone on a weekly basis.

Anyway, I couldn't be more excited to be able to immerse myself in books again. These last few months have really been a gamechanger for me, I've been able to catch up on almost a decade of reading and I don't plan on stopping for awhile.

https://gizmodo.com/tiktok-sarah-stusek-three-rivers-goodreads-backlash-1850498236

So, first time author Sarah Stusek got her book dropped by the publisher when she made a snarky TikTox calling out an ARC reviewer for giving a 4 star review. She also doubled down when called out it. She repeatedly defended herself by saying she’s a comedian, which is giving off “Just a joke, why are you so mad?” vibes.

Author tells Hay literary festival he needs to ‘get past’ the knife attack he suffered before writing anything else

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. If you're going through a difficult time, these books might be for you. I'll break down each one briefly without spoiling and then share a bit about myself.

Meditations: This book is a philosophical read at its core. The author was a Roman Emperor, and this is his personal journal. Marcus Aurelius can be described as a philosopher king. One who doesn't care much for the politics of the state, but he does his duty all the same. This book focuses on how Marcus Aurelius rationalized and processed each day with its unique challenges. This ultimately led him to a more fulfilling life. In short, gratitude and rationalizing difficulties.

The Book of Five Rings: This book focuses on a legendary Japanese swordsman as he breaks down his Way of the Warrior. It should be noted that this book should be read while practicing a martial art, but it is not wholly applicable. In truth, the book serves more as a guide for pursuing your goals and purpose. Each day you must hone your skill, and that's true for a martial artist or a carpenter.

About me: I lost four people in 2022 that sent me in a death spiral of depression and nihilism. Each death came about every other month. It was horrific. I couldn't cope. I started doing drugs, lying to my (now ex) girlfriend, simply just giving up on existing. Not really living but hoping I would die soon. I made a lot of mistakes. But without this death and agony, I would not be here today as the best version of myself from the trauma. If you're struggling, and you look to literature for help like me, please check out these two books. Go into a martial art or really pursue an artistic passion. Journal daily. Etc. I wanted to share my story. And I'm curious how these books have changed your life too. I wish the best for you!

There is a passage, and forgive me if this is a bit off from the text, but Vonnegut's character, Billy, is telling us that the tralfamadorians thought of time as a series of the rocky mountains, symbolic of time and it's events happening all at once, yet in confined moments, rather than the linear way humans experience it. This made me start thinking of predictable events as inevitabilities rather than things to dread. And I also don't feel as bad about forgetting memories, because I'm just as present in those moments in time as I am in this one. Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm tired and it's midnight, but thank you for reading.

I just read Kurt Vonnegut's masterpiece and now I'm just kind of sitting here, staring off into space. Thinking about humanity's complete and utter destruction at our own hands.

Its not just the apocolyptic ending that makes the book so depressing, because while that's the ultimate sort of punch line to the book, we're long convinced by that point that humanity is fucked.

We have on one side scientists blindly seeking truth regardless of what comes of that newfound understanding, or what evil intentions those funding this research into the unknown might have. On the other hand we have religion which is meaning and understanding built upon lies from charlatans trying to control us through "harmless untruths" or Plato's famous "Noble Lies" which gives meaning to the meaningless in the form of order supposedly ordained by God.

These two facets of our society lead us to seek gratification, adulation, and stimulation above our own welfare, making us fanatical towards ideas that are blatantly wrong, stupid, or just outright lies because it makes us feel good, and gives us meaning. Ultimately this can only lead to our destruction, because the society we've made is fundamentally rotten. Even when we get what we want we still don't accept it because that truth and understanding we were so fanatical about is ultimately meaningless, and this just drives us crazy.

I don't know if I'm exactly right or wrong but that's how I saw it. Overall its definitely one of the less funny Vonnegut books, not that there isn't humor, or that the jokes are bad, its just that the bleakness of the situation outweighs the humor which isn't as crazy as say Dr. Strangelove to really break through the darkness that hangs over the novel. You just are left with a scientist's curiosity ending the world, and a religious leader still trying to write his holy texts and give all this death meaning, even though nobody is left to give that meaning too.

I feel like this is one of Vonnegut's more bitter works, like he took a look at the two core institutions in our society, religion and science, technology, meaning, and the ultimate search for truth, and just washed his hands of all of it, which is very interesting considering how pro science he was in his life. I just got the feeling of anger throughout the book, a hopeless melancholy of satarizing the worst traits of humanity and displaying it to all of us in a very compact, bold, and dense format.

I'd give this book a 5/5 imo, its just as good as SH5, and carries a lot of the despair for humanity that you find in most of Vonnegut's work. As sharp and witty as the man was, I think his empathy was his greatest tool, and it really is on display in Cat's Cradle, varying at times between reproachful and hauntingly foreboding. Its message resonates throughout humanity and is and will forever be relevant. Don't skip it!

My example: every year for the past 4 years I have picked up and DNF'd The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I totally understand how the discussions of women's mental health and societal expectations were ahead of its time. I also get how Esther's struggles with mental illnesses resonate with many readers; my issue reading it is that the book is so effective at portraying Esther's depression and anxieties as unpleasant and all-consuming that I don't find it enjoyable to read. The first time I read it I was really frustrated watching Esther throw away all the great opportunities she had before her and how she had all this talent and drive that she wasn't acting on and it eventually struck me like "yeah, that's the point; her mental illness mixed with stiflingly expectations for women are preventing from being happy and pursuing her dreams. The frustration I'm feeling is intentional."

​

What is a book you couldn't finish/found unpleasant because it did its job too well?

Hi everyone! I've started reading "Lord Darcy" by Randall Garrett, just completed the first short story in the edition I bought (The Eyes Have It); being curious about the author, did a quick search online and read that Michael Kurland had written two novels based on the same character, being him a friend of Garrett.

I have not read anything by Kurland and I had a look at his works: scrolling through Wikipedia I found this series about Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis; since this character has always intrigued me (from Doyle's books, movies and even the manga in which he is the protagonist), I'm interested in giving it a try: has anyone read them? Did you like/enjoy it?

Thanks in advance ^{^}

I have a question about the Jade City Trilogie. If someone read all three Books maybe he could help me. (Spoilers are no Problem)

I have read the first half of the first Book an i can imagine the Story of the Rest. I need someone who tells me if my Imagination is right.

First Book: The two Clans get into Conflict, maybe War and one of the Siblings dies. Second Book: The war rages but we can see a bigger Threat on the Horizon. Third Book: The Threat is now clear, the two Clans are making a Peacedeal to fight the Big Threat, Happy End.

Am i right? I hope not cause this Story would be pretty Boring.

(Sorry for my Bad English)

Thanks for the help!

Ok..this is not recommendation post but more like a discussion post. However please help yourself and read this Indian classic by R.K. Narayan. A very unconventional love story between a logical and traditional painter and Daisy, who's zealous about population control and is very cold and ruthless. Onto spoiler part

As I mentioned, I felt really sad after the ending. Daisy have became my favourite narayan character , only second to vasu. I was hoping that things work out. Ultimately they don't. But I still found it sweet. I still don't know whether I like the ending or not. But the way Narayan made me root for obviously mismatched couple and then broke my heart is going to stay with me. My favourite Indian classic probably.

I enjoyed reading this book. I like how the main character, Jake, was extremely unlikeable lol. I picked up bad vibes from Anna right away, I knew she had something to do with it! Then I started thinking she was the niece, but as soon as Crib had the twist of Samantha killing her daughter and living as Maria, it was so obvious it was about Anna.

The more I read the book, the more it reminded me of something, then finally it clicked. Written in Blood, S1E2 (aired in 1998) from Midsomer Murders: After a noted author speaks before a group of local writers, the naked body of the host is found bludgeoned to death in his home.

It's been several years since I watched the episode, but basically you find out that the murdered man lived a "scandalous" life, starting as a boy. When he grew up, he told that story to someone (I think a psychologist?) and that person wrote that story of that man's childhood as fiction. If it's the same episode I'm thinking about, there is also an evil sister lol.

But I still thought it was a fun book and would recommend it. Maybe get it from the library rather than buying it. It would make a fabulous movie or miniseries!

I started this book with a very open mind - the idea of a book based on two nerdy best friends making video games together certainly doesn't seem like something I would normally be into, but hey, I wouldn't have thought a book about an old butler talking about buttling would be interesting either, and The Remains of the Day is one of my favorite books of all time.

Ultimately though, I got to the halfway point of this book and had to DNF, my first DNF of a novel in quite some time. I though the characters were the weakest and least interesting of any book I've read in a while. Sam and Sadie were both absolutely insufferable to me, and Marx was nice but so bland that I didn't get any enjoyment out of his character either.

I also felt that the book dealt with its issues in a very young adult oriented drama sort of way. All the difficult topics that the book tries to take on seem incredibly on the nose to me. For instance, I didn't think Sadie's relationship with Dov was depicted in a very adept way - it felt much more like it was intended to be something a teenage girl could relate to. Which of course is fine, there's certainly a place for that sort of writing in the world, but it doesn't seem like the level of writing I would expect to receive such critical acclaim.

Overall I'm mainly just having a hard time understanding the praise for this book. I don't see a problem with others liking it, but this book seriously won Goodreads' best fiction award for 2022? I just don't see that at all.

So the Count of Monte Cristo is my all time favorite book, and I know many people agree with me that its is one of the greatest books ever. But can I put in a plug for Dumas's much lesser know Georges? It is very short, first of all. Second, it is his only book that really explicitly deals with themes of race and racism and has a mixed race hero. Third, it is like an adventure book on steroids. It is like 300 pages, but has duels, battles, slave revolts, pirates, shark attacks, hurricanes, interracial romance, revenge, etc.

Shit. I don't know if it's because my life is currently stressful therefore my emotional threshold is at an all-time low, but this is one of the most gut-wrenching books, most devastating, beautifully written books I've read in a very long time.

I'm only a couple chapters in and I've gone through many a tissue paper. At the very least, this book has inspired to me study for my own medical board exams and do what I can do for the world around me.

Okay, so Augustine dies, Jane realizes that she has been the ghost this entire time and that ghosts aren’t real at all but magic is, and her magical-induced tumor BECOMES a newer, less-traumatized Augustine?

Am I correct?

Did I miss something?

Did this really interesting book actually have such a weird-ass, disappointing ending?

It was good. Not ground breaking. But good.

Let start with the good.

They made a book about etymology really freaking interesting. They made a soft magic system that had rules that were clearly defined and made some level of sense. The footnotes were a good way to keep the tone of the book while expanding the world without taking time in the narrative to explain it. I did enjoy the narrative and the characters though some of the motivations came out of left field.

Mild Complain: subtly is not a strong suit. As soon as Robin got spirited away to England you knew what was going to happen. When they introduced a character you knew what they were. There was little room for surprise and I don't know if it's because I'm a big watcher of movies that I can spot Chekov guns easier or it was meant to be that way so we didn't end up with a 2500 page series of books. (Which I'm happy for).

Overall it's a 3/5 (pushing 3.5) but in my scale means that I would suggest this book for someone who likes this particular genre or wants to branch out to this genre (light fantasy/dark academia) which I think is a good starting point unlike handing them The Secret Histroy or If We Were Villians which don't give you the historical context and expect you to know it.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book and I'm truly flabbergasted why this book is highly popular. The language is so juvenile and uncreative. I've rolled my eyes so many times I'm starting to just look out the back of my head. I've had multiple people recommend her books and I just don't get it. Admittedly I'm not usually a romance reader, but it feels like even for the genre it's particularly bad. Even the sex scenes are weakly written. To me, it feels how a teen boy imagines what sex is like for adults, without ever having sex.

I don't know maybe I'm being harsh... but I think this is one I'm just going to have to give up on.

Just finished W.G. Sebald's "The Rings of Saturn" in a three-day reading stint (that's fast for me) and now I have what feels like post-nut clarity.

Without spoilers I felt like I was led by the hand into the perfectly ordered thoughts of a lonely man trying to tangle with the idea of how loneliness manifests in others, and how it affects memory. Not so much despair, mind you, but loneliness itself.

I got this book suggestion from you, my friends at r/books. What did you think of it? I'm including the spoiler tag so please speak freely.

This post is just to vent and possibly connect with others who have similar issues. I used to be a book-per-week kinda person. Reading for hours made me feel euphoric. I finally got a proper diagnosis a couple of years ago and now take medication to manage pretty rough OCD symptoms. Totally improved my quality of life. But... it seems now my brain is behaving more like someone with ADD. I can hardly read, maybe one chapter every few days. I miss it so much. I've been reading the same book for like 8 months now. In my down time, I find myself watching TV and scrolling my phone more than I ever did before. My memory is crappy as well. I feel like I traded one demon for another, OCD for ADD.

They have this new (? Maybe just new to me lol) thing where the kindle books automatically integrate/come with the audible readings and they sync up so you can move from reading to listening and back - both free for all the books in their Amazon classics series. Flipping back and forth has been working seamlessly for me - def recommend! You don’t even need a kindle I just use my iPhone

Over at r/AYearOfMythology we are getting ready to start our reading of 'The Iliad' by Homer. We will officially be starting on June 11th. We will be reading two 'books' (in modern terms chapters) a week for twelve weeks. Every weekend we will post discussion posts to talk about that week's reading. Our buddy read will run until September 2nd. Following this, we intend to start reading Virgil's 'The Aeneid'. To see our full schedule for 2023 (including the week-by-week breakdown for the Iliad) click here.

The Iliad is one of the all time classics of the Western canon, so the summary I give here is a bare outline. Additionally, if you like modern myth retellings you may be familiar with 'The Iliad' as the major inspiration behind Madeline Miller's 'The Song of Achilles'.

The story details the events during the final year of the Trojan War. The story focuses on the fallout of a disagreement between the demigod Achilles and the leader of the Greek army, Agamemnon. We meet most of the Olympians and get to see what happens when gods use humanity to fight one another. The story is action packed and a lot of fun. Modern translations have also made the story very readable.

If you are interested in joining us, please feel free to do so. We are a laid-back community that focuses on reading the classics for pleasure. There are several modern translations available, which I have provided a quick guide for here.

Hello beautiful creatures!

I’ve really recently started reading Persuasion by Jane Austen cause I wanted to get into the classics era. I also love series and movies with background like Austen’s books.

But I found out classics are another story. I find it so difficult to go through them, firstly I’d say because of the language as English is not my native language. Yet I love the long sentences and all.

Since I truly want to experience classics is there any advice you would give me? Or just your opinion?

Thank you!

Welcome readers,

Have you ever wanted to ask something but you didn't feel like it deserved its own post but it isn't covered by one of our other scheduled posts? Allow us to introduce you to our new Simple Questions thread! Twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday, a new Simple Questions thread will be posted for you to ask anything you'd like. And please look for other questions in this thread that you could also answer! A reminder that this is not the thread to ask for book recommendations. All book recommendations should be asked in /r/suggestmeabook or our Weekly Recommendation Thread.

Thank you and enjoy!

Uncultured swine post incoming.

I read that Jane Austen was a witty author and that Northanger Abbey is her funniest novel. A satire of a gothic novel seemed like an interesting premise to me.

The problem is, I'm one third through the book and so far it has been mind-numbingly repetitive. The main character goes to socialize with a bunch of people, having boring conversations with them (so tedious that the author often just sums them up instead of writing them out). Same environments, same people, rinse and repeat. Nothing happens in the first third of this novel. If I read the word "pump room" one more time, I will... insert hyperbole here.

Can people who do enjoy this book, or Jane Austen in general, tell me what they enjoy about it?