No happy ending, no science will save the day, no utopia, just bleak realism with drought, famine, wildfires, chaos, and the true nature of humans.

I've spent the last year and a half reading all sorts of books that I've had on my TBR for years. All were books that I knew, and where I was aware of the general story or the authors style. I have a lot more to read on my TBR but I want a palate cleanser, something I can pick up with no knowledge of and just let it carry me away.

I’m currently in the process of reading Wings of Fire ever since I discovered that the author was formally part of the original writing group under the pen name of Erin Hunter for the Warriors series.

But I have been curious about reading other books that involve dragons, especially if it does not involve riding them (because it’s become too common for dragons to be reduced to flying steads in most modern fantasy books that involve dragons).

While villainous dragons like Smaug is neat, what I really love is when dragons are treated like characters like Falkor from The Neverending Story or The Great Red Dragon from Bone. Main roles, side roles, I don’t mind. I just really want to see dragons treated as characters again.

İm looking for a book that will explain themes of loneliness

All suggestions EXCEPT SELF HELP BOOKS are welcome

Thanks in advance

Like the title says, I've neglected reading seriously since I've been in high school. Besides academic readings, I don't reading books very often at all. I'd like to start again though, since I feel like I need something to just sit down and focus on outside of the noise from my phone/internet and stresses of life.

I'm not sure what I would enjoy, but I can try to give some guidance. I'd like something serious or philosophical, maybe something classic, but also entertaining and not too dark or doom and gloom. Also, just as a person, I'm a classical musician professionally, so I do try to find new interest in classics of other art forms when I can, especially when there's crossover with my personal interests in music. For example, a lot of literature that had a profound impact on the direction of western music, like Goethe and French writers like Baudelaire, Verlaine, and Mallarme.

I did try reading some Baudelaire, but I think that was a but ambitious of me to start with and I've found myself not really digesting anything without feeling like I need to stop and study (which is not quite the energy I'd like to expend right now)

Hopefully this helps and isn't too broad or long-winded. Thanks in advance for the help!

I have never read a book , what's the first book that I should read?? Be it anything funny fiction or anything. Plz do suggest me something.

i love thrillers/psychological thrillers. i’ve read all freida mcfadden and most of lisa jewell/harlan coben/that vibe of author. need some books that hook you immediately and have crazy plot twists and that you can’t put down

There's a certain feeling I get when watching certain shows or movies of an ongoing tense, stressful chase with very little letup. Usually this is accompanied by a beating heart soundtrack that tends to put me at the edge of my seat. The prime example of this, for me, is basically all of Children of Men (the movie) after the first 20 minutes or so. Other examples include certain episodes of The Handmaid's Tale, the movie The Invisible Man, much of The Last of Us.

I tend to only read either fantasy or historical nonfiction so I haven't ever encountered this in a book. Closest is maybe Gone Girl but that's probably more because that's the only thriller I've ever read and less a function of the book itself.

I've seen recommendations for Bird Box, No Exit, Room (seems interesting, but also the voice seems like it would annoy me) and the Chain.

What does the sub recommend? Thanks!

I want to read a book which will make me cry but not a super long book. Ideally <300 pages.

Please no dead dogs because is something I genuinely cannot handle.

Any genre is okay

Looking for books that leave you feeling disturbed and a bit sad, I just love them! No specific genre.

My favorites:
We Need to Talk About Kevin
A Little Life
Tender is the Flesh
I Who Have Never Known Men

Genre- Historical

I want a book that is a easy to moderately easy read that covers the first world war. One book that is a general over view, and another that is a bit more comprehensive as I am doing research for a novel I'm writing. Thanks!

Looking for a book based in pre-settled human cultures where roaming groups of ~100ish people were the largest communities anywhere. Emphasis on the sense of connection to the community and trying to live amidst the harshness of the environment.

Ive always listened to music while at work as i plug away. I recently read a Breif History Of Time by Steven Hawking and for some reason an audio version was suggested on YouTube. Listened to it and enjoyed it. I followed up with listening to the Red Rising books and am currently slamming through The Count of Monte Cristo. This is all the experience ive had with books outside of highschool 15 years ago. This helps my work days and work out sessions fly by. Male 30s not into drama or murder mystery kinda stuff. Any suggestions will be used.

I loved The Book Thief and I recently read Getting the Girl and I really didn't like it. I know he's a talented writer and I was just wondering what books you would recommend that I read from him. I heard that I Am The Messenger is really good. Any other recommendations?

Basically what the title says I want some good book with politicking about a royal marriage. Like I'm thinking if anyone knows something similar to the goblin emperor but if it was about a married duo facing court etc... doesn't have to be fantasy or any specific genre just a book about the court life of a royal couple (or poly or other) Or anything along these lines, the people don't have to start off married and it doesn't even have to be romantic, I'd like to hear about basically the running of a monarchy from a couple. Bonus points if there's a queen and she's the main ruler! ANY recommendations are welcome I've received good advice here before.

My mum is almost 70, Scottish, and loves reading. She doesn't like crime or horror but other than that, she likes all sorts of different books.

She especially likes character driven novels and historical novels especially ones set in Scotland or Ireland.

Apart from reading, she likes yoga and loves gardening and plants. 

**Books/authors she liked:**

Hamnet

The Frozen River

Into thin air

The Kite Runner

Shuggie Bain

Intermezzo

All the light we cannot see

Girl with a pearl earing

Wolf Hall

Lucy by the sea - Elizabeth Strout (she really likes this author)

The lying life of adults 

Helen Dunmore books

Still life - Sarah Winman

Sabastian Faulks

**Books she didn't like:**

The people in the trees (she said she didn't like the main character)

Demon Copperhead (i thought she would like this based on reviews but she is on page 80 and says it's too narrow and it's too much about school)

The Hearts Invisible Furies (she said it was okay but she wasn't super keen)

Thank you in advance

My favorites:

Stranger by albert camus

Underground notes from dostoyevsky

Thus spoke zarahustra by nietzche

No longer human by osamu dazai(this is my fav)

The flowers of buffonery by osamu dazai

To live by yu hua

Basically anything written by stephen zweig

Les misrables from victor hugo

What's the most recently published book you've read that you loved and consider true "literature"? I wanna diversify my reading and stray away from 20th century for a bit. It doesn't necessarily have to be set in the modern world, but anything goes.

I'm a big fan of naval history and have created a worldbuilding project based around it. But I feel like I need to read a bit more (plus I love it anyway). I've read some naval-adjacent novels, and I am a particular fan of several media outside of books. I particularly loved reading Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series, C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower, and am a massive fan of Leiji Matsumoto's Space Battleship Yamato and Captain Harlock. I would love it if someone would recommend a series that's adjacent to it.

Thanks in advance!

Hello! I read East of Eden this year and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m looking for another medium sized to big book with grand themes! Classics or modern……

Hello everyone,

I’m currently looking for romance/spicy books written by male authors, I’ve never read one and I’d be interested to see the difference in writing, not like Nicholas Sparks though. Some female authors I’ve read in the past just to give an idea of the type of books I’ve read before are: Rachel Gibson, Christina Lauren, Susan Elizabeth Philips, Tessa Dare, Julie James, Shayla Black, Meagan March to name a few.

Thank you in advance 🙏

I am looking for books that are high school/college thriller/mysteries. The books that I have read and like are:

- A Good Girls Guide to Murder Series/Holly Jackson's books

- Kara Thomas book's

- Karen McManus's books

- I Killed Zoe Spanos

- Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Books (The Inheritance Games and The Naturals Series)

- Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson

Will take any suggestions as a 20 year old!