Tell Me Three Things, and I’ll Recommend a Book You’ll Love
The other day, I was texting with an old friend, who told me he reads only non-fiction but wants to read more fiction. So, I encouraged him to tell me three things he likes, generally, so I could give him a rec…
“I like something dramatic that makes me laugh rather than something made to make me laugh,” he told me. “I’m not above being on the edge of my seat. And people doing the right/selfless thing goes a long way with me.”
After thinking it over, my recommendation for him was James by Percival Everett — the 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that retells the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who runs away with Huck. Have you read it? You’ll devour it in one big gulp; it’s funny at times but also serious and sad and thrilling; and there’s lots of morality/immorality baked in. (Plus, a runner up? An American Marriage.)
This book challenge was compelling, so I asked friends and family to give me their three things, so I could suggest a book for them, too.
My mom: “People’s inner lives, listening carefully, poetry.” Heating and Cooling. How About Now. The Correspondent.
My dad: “Focus on family; sailing and all that therein is; exploring new places.” A Marriage at Sea.
My friend Brooke: “Gardening, birding, nature, introspection. A career aptitude test I took in sixth grade said I should be a farmer.” The Vaster Wilds.
My friend Rob: “Flawed protagonists, huge plot twists, the teenage years.” Demon Copperhead. Educated. Shuggie Bain.
My friend Pri: “1990s sitcoms, relationship drama, books that pull you right in.” Sorrow and Bliss. Really Good, Actually. This American Woman.
What do you think? Now tell us: What are three things you like? Let’s recommend books for each other!
P.S. A darkly funny book I can’t stop thinking about, and what are your three favorite books?
Comments
460 commentsTime travel, dystopia, problem solving (can you tell I loved all the Hunger Games, Station 11, an Ocean of Minutes, etc)?
I’m months late for this, but… Found family, people who are extraordinarily competent, humor
Not a book – but I thought of Somebody, Somewhere (The TV show)
You know how there are now pitch events for people to gush about their single friends to an audience? This post makes me think there should be a CoJ pitch fest where people pitch their top 3 favorite books, by category. And then people go home, read, and come back to the pitcher with THEIR recs.
I’m reporting back to this thread as a lurker cherry picking recs lol but I loved Lady Tan’s Circle of Women and was absolutely blown away by Beautyland. I got it on libby and now am scouring thrift stores etc for a secondhand copy because I am going to reread it… and I do not frequently reread! I want to read everything Marie-Helene Bertino has every written lol so thank you everyone! (For people cherry picking recs like me and reverse engineering, I think my three things would be an exploration of what it means to be human, offbeat sci-fi/fantasy, and/or historical fiction. Some other books I’ve loved have been Klara and the Sun, The Correspondent, Piranesi, The Midnight Library, Legends & Lattes.)
Carolyn, in case you ever come back to this thread, I would recommend Alvaro Enrigue’s “You Dreamed of Empires.” It’s a historical novel set in 16th century Tenochitlan, and it reimagines the clash of Hernan Cortes and Moctezuma. I’ve read four of the five books you listed above (have to try “Legends and Lattes”) and if you enjoyed those, I think you’d really like this. Happy reading!
Psychological thrillers and whodunnits, character-driven stories, and emotionally honest narratives about human behavior.
Absolute sidebar, but if any UK readers have been struggling to find ‘Marriage at Sea’ on their library holds, after Jo’s fantastic recommendation, it is published as ‘Maurice & Maralyn’ over here!
Diaries, Period Drama, Homemaking
EM Delafield, The Diary of a Provencial Lady Lark Rise to Candleford (the book is a diary but the BBC series is more compelling than the book) Ariel Lawhon, The Frozen River (I’ve already recommended it but it works here, too!)
The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion
Check out “Roughing It In the Bush” by Susanna Moodie The work is part memoir of life as a Canadian settler in the wilderness during the1830s, and part novelization of her experiences, and is structured as a chronological series of sketches. Moodie’s account of the hardships of settler life contrasted sharply against the image conjured by the British advertisers. Moodie’s tone is frank, and her style is vividly descriptive. It’s public domain, so if your home library doesn’t have a copy, you can download it from here for free: https://pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca/roughingitinthebush/ Enjoy! :)
Ooh, agree — I heard about Lark Rise to Candleford years ago and just happend across it at a used bookshop while visiting Amherst, MA. I’m so happy to have it — and what a great rec for these 3 things! :)
Suspense interesting setting romance
Wild,Dark Shore! Takes place on an island south of Australia that houses a seed bank. The tides are rising and the family that lives there has to evacuate. Also, a mystery woman washes ashore. So good.
Recipes for Love and Murder (South Africa) Daphne DuMaurier, Rebecca Sheila Simonson “Lark” series, ie. Skylark, Malarky, Meadowlark, etc. (Pacific Northwest, London, Ireland. Don’t let the truly awful cover design of the ebook dissuade you.)
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston – couldn’t put it down.
I loved Orbital. Like poetry in narrative form. Make my heart break (a lot) for our planet.
I know I am way late to this, but I just finished Theo Of Golden….iand LOVED it. It’s like getting a hug from a book. So so good.
Here are mine: -memoir -musicians -female protagonist
You’ve likely already read it, but Just Kids by Patti Smith is great.
Daisy Jones and the Six!
I’m late to the party but I LOVE this prompt! -Heartwarming nostalgia -Cute dogs (all dogs are cute, I’d argue) -A unique location
I don’t know if there’s a cuter literary dog than Six-Thirty in Lessons in Chemistry, and it’s set in 1950 so that hits the nostalgia factor Unique location, perhaps not so much, but 2/3 ain’t bad?
Try Finding Gobi – it’s a sweet non-fiction book about a dog who starts following an ultramarathon runner and their story! You can check out their story on instagram @findinggobi
Lessons in Chemistry
Perestroika in Paris, by Jane Smiley, features a very loveable shorthaired pointer named Frida as one of its main pov characters! And idk if Paris is unique but the book certainly has a strong sense of place.
This may be my favorite post of all time! Captivating writing, nature, an intelligent and gifted character.
Maybe not what you were thinking of, but if you haven’t read it, “Jane Eyre”!
Bog Queen might fit the bill – an English bog with moss as a character, a highly intelligent forensic anthropologist, and an ancient Druidic woman. It doesn’t have the most captivating writing but it is a good story, a little slow-moving.
Circe by Madeline Miller
North woods. At the simplest level It’s the story of a plot of land in western Massachusetts.But there’s also ghosts and love and beetles and sceanances
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert!
The Language of Flowers by: Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Life-affirming magical realism in an evocative setting. I loved The Life Impossible and A Short Walk Through a Wide World and am looking for similar titles.
I loved “Alif the Unseen” its SLOW at first but don’t give up!
Everything Sad Is Untrue!
I’m always open to a recommendation! 3 Things: Unconventional/flawed main character Magical realism Slice of life
Unlikely Animals meets all 3 criteria!
Haruki Murakami! Many of his books are all of these! I would definitely try 1Q84 and Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the Edge of the World.
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Big Swiss. Slice of life of upstate New York, so corduroy flavored opulence, capital F flawed main character, and enough mild drug use to qualify as magical realism.
The road trip to tender hearts
A Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Non-fiction. Nature. Women.
Why Women Grow: Stories of Soil, Sisterhood and Survival by Alice Vincent
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton!
Unearthing by Kyo Maclear if you’re up for a memoir
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren!
Deep Creek by Pam Houston!
Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Hooked from the first page. Also made me believe I could do anything.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
“This Is How a Robin Drinks,” by Joanna Brichetto
Anything by Helen Hoover
Gift from the Sea by Anne Lindbergh
I would love any recommendations that make me feel like I am IN the story. You know the feeling when you put down a book and you think to yourself “aww I miss my friends/the world I was in.” Two of my favorites are: – Beartown by Fredrick Backman (all of Fredrick Backman books actually) – Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Aw The Princess Bride by William Goldman
I’m also a big Fredrick Backman fan! I just finished Piranesi by Susanna Clarke over the weekend and haven’t stopped thinking about it. Piranesi is such a lovable character and the world around him is so unique, it’s given me a big book hangover.
The Very Secrety Society of Irregular Witches it’s more cozy/heartwarming than Beartown (yeesh) and Shadow of the Wind, but also immersing.
How to Age Disgracefully, by Clare Pooley!
“Half a Soul,” by Olivia Atwater (and its quasi sequel, “Ten Thousand Stitches”) “Gentleman in Moscow,” by Amor Towles “Imprudent Lady,” by Joan Smith “These Is My Words,” by Nancy Turner Sheri Cobb South’s John Pickett mystery series
No two persons by Erica Bauermeister. You are “in” the book figuring out all of the connections
Shadow of the Wind is one of my all time favorites!! Try The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. It’s gripping and transporting and all too believable. Warning: it’s very upsetting.
If you love the classics- or even if you don’t, but love a strong woman growing into herself – Circe by Madeline Miller. Wow. I’ve been big in nonfiction these days but this was amazing.
Seconded! Song of Achilles too.
I’m late to the party (my favorite kind of party btw) – My marriage of 15 years is on the rocks and I’m a puddle. I usually dissociate by reading but can hardly focus right now (so nonfiction, poetry, chewy literature are all hard) and most zippy, light reads are about either romantic love or murder (oof) Any suggestions?
I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through a tough time right now. Sending hugs <3 I recommended this elsewhere on this thread, but I realized that One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle might fit the bill – it has romance related plots but the focus is on mother/daughter and self-discovery. A recent fave is Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein – warning, it also has B plots about romantic relationships breaking up (so proceed with caution!) but is primarily about platonic, familial ties and again…self-discovery (clearly I have a type!). Also, what about thriller/mystery page turners? For that I recommend Harlan Coben and Karin Slaughter to start.
Could try Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy if you haven’t read? Or one of Bill Bryson’s – maybe A Walk in the Woods or a Sunburned Country? Non-fiction but funny, engaging. Or Project Hail Mary on audiobook (and don’t worry about engaging with the sciency bits if requiring too much thinking – just let the story keep going and I promise it will be rewarding!). Audiobook is a good way back in to reading I think as your eyes won’t get stuck on the page. Best of luck!
I’m sorry for what you’re going through – that sounds really hard. A couple “easy to read, gets you interested” fiction recs: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki – much more fascinating than I’d expected, very enjoyable The Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny – “cozy mystery”, not violent/graphic, lovely village setting with a few deeper characters. Our Woman In Moscow by Beatriz Williams – excellent historical fiction, plenty of action but not hard to follow/remember When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill – suddenly, in the 1950s, hundreds of women just turn into dragons?! and fly away?! it’s thought-provoking and even fun, unique IMO .
So sorry you’re going through this! I read Monk and Robot: A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy a few months ago and it’s a great, uplifting comfort read. Gently sci-fi/fantasy (not usually my thing, but I loved this!), it’s a utopic version of our world where a tea monk and a robot unexpectedly meet centuries after robots gained self-awareness and ventured into the wilderness, not to be seen by humans again. The robot can’t go back until the question of “what do people need?” is answered. It’s light and very heart-filled, with no romance, mystery, or thriller plot points.
Have you read David Sedaris? His collections of essays (Calypso, Me talk pretty one day) are hilarious and can be read in short bursts or all at once. I yoi like fantasy, I would also suggest the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, so so funny but also well written with solid plot. And finally, while not exactly “light and zippy”, I’d recommend the french historical novel The great swindle by Pierre Lemaitre, a captivating, absurd, funny and touching story about two french WWI veterans having a hard time to adjust to civilian life mount a big scheme to take their revenge on society.
I’m reading Kate McKinnon’s two YA books to my daughters and they are like modern, way funnier, Roald Dahl novels if you need something easy to pick up & put down that will make you smile.
Perhaps consider The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, by Beth Brower? Really lovely historical fiction, 10/10 audiobook narration, realistic depiction of grief, and loads of friends/found family and capers without capital-R Romance. Cannot recommend more highly for a distraction in hard times. Good luck!
Emily, sending warm thoughts over during this tough time. May I suggest short stories in somewhat lighter voices: Tom Hanks’ Uncommon Type and Curtis Sittenfeld’s You Think It, I’ll Say It.
Book of Delights by Ross Gay (non-fiction, short essays, light and uplifting) Murderbot (not actually about murder!) How to Age Disgracefully Automatic Noodle When you are ready, The Husbands by Holly Gramazio is hilarious and explores the theme that there isn’t actually one “right” person for us but lots of possibilities.
Anything by David Sedaris is a welcome, light distraction, and the Thursday Murder Club series, although there is technically a murder, is not heavy or scary or intense, but rather sweet, funny, engaging and light, without any heavy romance. It was what I inhaled when I was going through a similar time.
I’m sorry, Emily. Sending you the biggest hugs. And have the PERFECT rec: Maisie Dobbs. An interwar detective/psychologist. The stories are smart but easy to digest. This is what I send friends who are in cancer treatment or have newborns or are dealing with long Covid. And if you do like it (you will!) there are 18 in the series.
Theo of Golden! Just trust. As said in a prior comment, it’s like a warm hug. Sending one your way!
I second Maisie Dobb’s series by Jacqueline Winspear. She has over 15. I read them through my children’s naps. No regrets.
I love historical fiction, Hollywood with higher stakes, and powerful female leads. À la Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Have You Heard About Kitty Karr?, The Nightingale, The Goddess of Warsaw
Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch comes to mind.
Mercury Pictures Presents
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno Garcia. Trust me.
City of Girls – Elizabeth Gilbert!
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry!
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women The Great Divide
Try Atmosphere, also by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Audiobook was 👌 if you’re into that! Also Carrie Soto Is Back (audiobook)! And The Women! Heavy but great.
My random contribution: I don’t think Dickens gets enough credit for Demon Copperhead. Not on Barbara Kingsolver’s part – she’s always very explicit that it’s based on David Copperfield – but beyond the author herself, I feel like every time James is mentioned it’s described as a re-telling of Huck Finn and Demon is almost never described as a re-telling of David Copperfield (even though Demon sticks much more closely to the plot of David Copperfield than James sticks to Huck Finn!). I loved both James and Demon Copperhead AND David Copperfield is such a great book and I highly recommend it. The end.
I agree! I read David Copperfield after reading Demon Copperhead and loved it even more! (And was also a little like, “Barbara, is that allowed?”)
3 fave books and the thing that I loved about them- 1. The loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by kiran desai- family saga in multiple points of view 2. The vaster wilds by Lauren Groff -gorgeous nature writing, bleak yet hopeful 3. Big Swiss by Jen beagin – absurd, inappropriate protagonist who doesn’t fit a mold
Ok stay with me here- The Deluge – it’s a door stopper for sure and it’s a heavy topic (climate change beginning with present day and taking you through the next few decades) but the characters (flaws and all) develop so well and interweave impressively. Around page 400 (I know, I know, stay with me) the roller coaster crested and I barreled to the end. Could not put it down. No book has stayed with me more – both for the incredibly well researched climate aspects and for the characters. And somehow, impossibly, it ends with hope
I have Big Swiss on hold at the library to pick up later today, thanks to a CoJ book recs post from ages ago. Seeing you listing it here makes me excited :)
Oooh, putting the Deluge on hold from the library now! I can’t get enough of climate catastrophe speculative fiction at the moment. I suppose this is how my brain likes to process a scary an uncertain future. I really enjoyed Ministry of the Future and am currently reading The After-Life Project. Thanks for the rec!
Where’d You Go, Bernadette. If you haven’t read it, do!
I love the middle-aged human voices of the protagonists in Elizabeth Strout’s books, anything darkly funny, smart and observational like David Sedaris’ essays, and something triumphant to get me out of whatever’s been going on right now.
For middle-aged human voices, try Alice Munro, Anne Tyler and Carol Shields.
Hang with me, but Roald Dahl’s “The Witches.” I’ve been rereading his books with my kids and many of them are such a delight. In this one, the grandmother is life goals; the book will make you laugh but it’s a bit dark too; and triumphant? YES.
Or Catherine Newman wreck is peak middle age. I love how she writes!
Can you suggest a book that is similar to A Little Life? A book that is tender, deep characters and shows the power of relationships.
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Rebecca Makkai, The Great Believers. Loooved this!
Second The Heart’s Invisible Furies and The Great Believers! Both are fantastic books but I’d start with the former first as that is one of my all time favorites.
Hello Beautiful Heart the Lover Song of Achilles
I second Anna’s suggestion The Great Believers. One of my favorite books.
I didn’t love A Little Life so maybe our tastes differ BUT I would say that My Friends by Hisham Matar matches your description. One of my favourite reads of last year.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow. My friends and I have always described it as A Little Life “Lite”
Have you read To Paradise by the same author? Almost as good.
In the acknowledgements of her book The Road to Tender Hearts (which are the best acknowledgements I’ve ever read!), Annie Hartnett says she tried to write the funniest, saddest book she could. (Check and check btw). Those are my words: funniest, saddest and bonus if the book has people struggling with money or crashing out in a big way.
You just described MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman He is a gem of an author, and has a few darker books (Us Against Them, Beartown) but this one has an excellent balance. My husband cried so many times sitting in bed reading this, and a few weeks later, I did too.
Margot’s Got Money Troubles!
1) set in rural north America 2) strong plot 3) evocative prose I loved North Woods by Daniel Mason. Love Annie Proulx, Claire Keegan.
Have you read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver? Could possibly also consider The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moynes.
Jane Smiley’s Pulitzer prize winning A Thousand Acres. It’s a retelling of King Lear in American farm country. Totally devastating
Shotgun Love Songs by Nickolas Butler
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Peace Like a River and I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
I think you might like Kent Haruf’s Plainsong.
I second the Leif Enger recommendations!
Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard These is My Words by Nancy Turner Both have strong female protagonists and are survival stories in their own ways, set in very different times, and in very different pros. The second is written in a journal form and amazingly reads like a novel. I still turn back to it just to read certain passages.
Have you read East of Eden by John Steinbeck? One of my favs!
“Crow Lake” and “Road ends” by Mary Lawson!
A Good Animal by Sara Maurer
Second Kent Haruf’s Plainsong! Also it’s memoir, so not a strong plot per se, but Mark Spragg’s When Rivers Change Direction is very good and hits your other two points perfectly.
Complicated relationships, a book that will rip your heart out, but also somehow be uplifting, no easy bad guy. My favorite books of all time are Bel Canto, We All Want Impossible Things, The Goldfinch, Fresh Water For Flowers, Kitchens of the Great Midwest.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides certainly contains complicated relationships, and I think strikes a good balance between intense subject matter and a sort of dark humor/irreverence. You might enjoy giving it a try!
STRONG second for Middlesex. So good. Wish I could Eternal Sunshine it out of my mind so that I could read it again for the first time.
The Known World by Edward P Jones
Have you read East of Eden? Or Secret History, if you liked The Goldfinch? Another Donna Tarte!
After Annie by Anna Quindlen fits the bill. Loved it so much I returned it to the library and bought a copy of my own.
This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel!
Babel – RF Kuang The Women – Kristin Hannah Pachinko – Min Jin Lee The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles
Friendship, desire for simple living, eg Highlands of Scotland and food. Can’t wait to go and read the other comments and find some new books to read. Love this idea. Can it become a regular feature please?
If you enjoy romance as a fourth criterion (but not overwhelmingly), Highland Games by Evie Alexander would be perfect.
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is also set in the Scottish Highlands. It’s a sweet romcom.
Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan
What an AMAZING idea. Things I love: * something that makes me laugh * getting through a tough time * magical realism Do these even go together?!
“the humans” by matt haig popped into my head! it’s not magical realism… but it made me laugh so much and also really think about life :)
‘Nothing to See Here’ threads that needle Aldo, it’s not *quite* any of the three but *almost* all of the three together: Remarkably Bright Creatures.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Have you read Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune? Several steps beyond realism, but definitely magic.
Agree with Nothing to See Here. And I usually prefer print over audio books, but the audio of this one was great. Literally laughed out loud. A lot.
The Finlay Donovan series fits your first 2 criteria. It is such a screwball, laugh out loud comedic series.
Nothing to See Here and The Husbands are my recs!
The Husbands by Chandler Baker!
Family dynamics, travel, the beach
Sandwich by Catherine Newman… Kinda: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson! Perhaps light on the beach, but big on the antics!
Maine J Courtney Sullivan
Eeeee, I love this!! Can’t wait to come back to this post again and again when I need a new rec!
What about… loving family drama, thoughtful descriptions of real life, quirky humor. Any suggestions? :)
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
Margot’s got money problems is a very quirky loving family drama Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson!
This is how it always is, Laurie Frankel
Laurie Colwin! Family Happiness and Happy All the Time are two of hers that answer that description. All of her books are wonderful. One of my favorite novels is her “Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object. Two classics about family life: Rebecca West’s Saga of the Century {a trilogy starting with The Fountain Overflows} and Dorothy Canfield’s The Brimming Cup.
If you like historical fiction, Angela Thirkell’s “High Rising” :)
Standard Deviation – Katherine Heiny
I’m an absolute sucker for mysteries about cold cases/solving a long unsolved mystery – even better if there’s a strong female protagonist. Whatcha got for me? :) PS: I *love* this prompt and post!
You might like All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. It’s beautifully written and combines mystery, love, crime, family, and redemption. I devoured it.
God of the Woods by Liz Moore!
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Have you read any books by Tana French?
How about: twin sisters + slow burn romance + historical fiction! I love Jane Austen, especially “Persuasion.”
Maybe The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett?
Marion Chesney’s “School for Manners” series! Impoverished middle aged sisters (not quite twins) trying to help social pariahs find love (while stumbling upon it themselves). But I have a feeling you may already know these books so I hope others comment!
These sound good–thanks Kay and HH9!
30 something woman Dealing with grief/loss Trying to find self
maybe you should talk to someone by lori gottlieb?
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Cammy Sitting Shiva by Cary Gitter – she’s not quite 30 but definitely has the vibe!
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason!
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour fame!). This is a lighter one, set in Maine, lovingly written.
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Not a 30 something woman, but can’t recommend Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks enough.
Ooh, this is fun! Can anyone recommend something for me based on the books I’ve most enjoyed in recent years? The Correspondent – Virginia Evans Heart the Lover – Lily King Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne I guess you could sum my taste up as “well written, emotive, character driven stories which are ultimately uplifting” (that, or I’m just a basic b*tch, as these are all big hits 😆)
If you haven’t read them already, everything by Ann Patchett, Rebecca Makkai and Claire Lombardo
Cutting for Stone – Abraham Verghese Tom Lake – Ann Patchett Maybe a Gentleman in Moscow?
These are my three: Stories about books or words A cosy mystery Something that makes me cry.
the reading list, by sara nisha adams :)
Have you read the Secret, Book, and Scone series by Ellery Adams?
What about The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams? Not a mystery but a great fictional take on the Oxford dictionary.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim – not about books but about language and text. It’s really smart and it’s also about grief and loss.
Babel by R. F. Kuang
If you like words/other languages, Lauren Collins’ (of the New Yorker) memoir When in French is great! It’s about living abroad, relationships and different cultures, but also so much about words and language. And it’s funny too.
Insightful, family drama, funny
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson. All other books by Kevin Wilson.
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett for sure.
Booth: Karen Joy Fowler
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
My likes: historical fiction, the 1970’s culture/aesthetic, strong, flawed but not angsty female protaganists….and travel!
Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett and Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore fits with most of these!
How about Tales of the City??!!
The Women by Kristin Hannah!
Ooh if anyone is reading still Id love a book recommendation like Beth Ann fennelly writing style thats got 1. Lyrical writing 2. Immigrants 3. Bonus points: Pakistani or Indian family
Have you read everything by Jhumpa Lahiri? Obvious recco, but she’s incredible.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid and/or Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
What about Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese?
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri White Teeth by Zadie Smith Brick Lane by Monica Ali The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
A Place For Us, Fatima Misra
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza :)
“Before We Visit the Goddess” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
A Fine Balance by Mistry!
The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam (set in Afghanistan, but GORGEOUS)
I love Beth Ann Fennelly. Thank you for recommending it! She has another book coming out, The Irish Goodbye and I can’t wait to read it too. Her language is gorgeous and accessible and funny and poignant and id love to write a book like hers
Travel abroad Memoir Female chracter
‘The Sky Beneath Us’ by Fiona Valpy. I just finished it a few week ago. Slow start, I almost gave up … but I’m glad I push through and finished it ! It’s the first book I read with the COVID pandemic as a background and I was intrigued.
Code Name Blue Wren is interesting!! Kind of Memoir-adjacent, but The Alice Network was very fun!
An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser
Me pls! Family, motherhood, characters who can laugh at themselves. I like learning about history or geography or politics/society through stories. I also love memoirs. I love Catherine Newman, Laurie Frankel, and Kate Quinn.
Hijab Butch Blues
Try the Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez. It’s about the creation of the Panama Canal and the politics behind it all told through stories of fictional characters who were directly involved or impacted by it.
Hamnet!
High Rising, by Angela Thirkill! The motherhood bits and humor. Set in a small English village, early-mid 20th century.
Margo’s Got Money Problems – amazing.
So fun! how sweet of you! Okay, three things I love are historical fiction, coziness, and inspiring love!
The Art Thief has a few of these – it’s a crazy story!
I adore the Midcentury NYC series by Cat Sebastian (my favourite is You SHould be So Lucky). Two M/M romances set in NY, centering journalists. The historical setting is important and the love stories are really touching!
It’s a bit dated, but I really enjoyed M.C. Beaton’s “The Chocolate Debutante,” if you’re open to a fluffy version of your likes. It was all what you said, plus made me laugh out loud sometimes.
Otherwise, “A Gentleman in Moscow” for something more lasting. :) You have to stick with it but it is worth it in the end.
Romantic but not a romance novel, happy ending, funny.
you are here, by david nicholls :)
The Wedding People
High Rising, by Angela Thirkell
Anything by Curtis Sittenfeld, but definitely Romantic Comedy and her two collections of short stories.
OK I am comment #1200 at least, but here goes :) Also, this prompted my BFF and I to have a 20 min text convo about books and she helped me figure out what type I like based on books I’ve loved, so I have her to thank for these: – female protagonists, coming-of-age stories – complicated family or romantic dynamics – modern / present-day setting, nothing toooo literary Books / authors I’ve loved over the years: Curtis Sittenfield (I should re-read Prep and American Wife!, loved Rodham and the one she just did about SNL), Emily Giffin (most, not all), A Place for Us, American Dirt, Such a Fun Age (but hated her second book), most everything Jo Pizza writes (Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a personal fav). Taylor Jenkins Reid, some much more than others (loved Malibu Rising, was not impressed with Carrie Soto). And yes, of course I’ve read Normal People!
Queenie Funny You Should Ask (or any Elissa Sussman) Margot’s Got Money Troubles Brown Sisters series (or any Talia Hibbert)
Thank you Emily! I loved MGMT!
I would suggest Heart the Lover or Writers and Lovers by Lily King (more introspective) or anything by Mhairi McFarlane (super witty british romcoms with complex family ties).
Have you read The Rachel Incident?
Have you read Where’d You Go, Bernadette?
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
I’m late to the conversation, but I love this so much! I love Jane Austen adaptations, but I’ve already read them all… I like to learn new things. I subscribe to Oscar Wilde’s definition of fiction, “that the good end happily and the bad unhappily,” though it doesn’t bother me if it takes a long time to resolve the story (like Demon Copperhead).
What about Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys? It’s told from the perspective of the “crazy” wife in Jane Eyre.
Have you read the “Persuasion” adaptation “By the Book,” by Julia Sonneborn? Set in academia? It seems a little more under the radar. I loved it. I also liked “The Other Bennet Sister,” by Janice Hadlow. If you haven’t read “Gentleman in Moscow,” you might like it, too.
Suggestions for someone who likes historical fiction, the arts, and nature.
Two ideas for you (both older and available in paperback): 1. James McBride’s ‘The Good Lord Bird’ (a young fictional follower of John Brown finds life takes amazing turns in the company of the abolitionist) 2. Geraldine Brooks’ ‘People of the Book’ (follows an irreplaceable manuscript through centuries of war, displacement, and exile)
Please do me! Female protagonist, explores identity, importance of place, touch of magical realism.
Matrix by Lauren Groff!
Yes, strongly agree with Joanna Goddard!
Anything by Ashley Poston! I especially love The Seven Year Slip and Sounds Like Love but all her books are amazing with just one critical magical element that changes everything for the female protagonist.
Dream Count https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/02/dream-count-by-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-review-candid-conversations-with-friends
Americanah , Eva Luna ,
Chouette The Fox Wife Eva Moves the Furniture The Character of Rain
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Cursed Daughters by Okinye Brathwaite
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
1Q84 by Murakami is long but so worth it!
Olga Dies Dreaming
Nightbitch! The book is so, so much better than the movie.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
Weyward!! It’s all of these!
I want to learn more about Mexico and love historical fiction.
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
You dreamed of Me moures by Alvaro Enrigue is a wild ride! And Horizontal Vertigo about Mexico City
*You dreamed of Empires
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Gods of Jade and Shadow- Silvia Moreno-Garcia It delves into Mayan mythology and takes place everywhere in Mexico from Mexico City to the Yucatan in the 1920s.
Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
The lacuna! You dreamed of empires
The Years with Laura Diaz
This isn’t historical, but the stories are set in Mexico. Guadalupe Nettel’s The Accidentals is wonderful.
You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue. One of my favorites from last year.
Maybe too on the nose, but Mexican Gothic was great
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
How about The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver?
Like Water for Chocolate
Aztec
Maybe more broadly South America but Isabel Allende is a great author to go for!
Possibly “American Dirt” – amazing read
Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane!
La lacuna by Barbara kingsolver !
For a literature class years ago, we were assigned the nonfiction book “Que Vivan Los Tamales!: Food and the Making of Mexican Identity.” It was interesting and well-written and changed my orders at Mexican restaurants–yes, please, to the corn tortillas!
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros – on the long side but incredibly worth it
You might like The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.
I found The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño challenging to read but worthwhile.
What a wonderful idea! Could be played as a game with bookish friends :) In my case: Fierce women Love stories Books
Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams!
Have you read The Paris Library?
Have you read the Correspondent yet? Not principally a love story, but features a fabulous fierce woman and touches on love and books, plus the audiobook is pure delight
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano!! Just gorgeous and totally fulfills your criteria!
Oh try The Angry Women’s Choir!
The main character authoress isn’t necessarily fierce, but I thoroughly enjoyed Joan Smith’s “Imprudent Lady.” You might? :) I’m also enjoying Angela Thirkill’s “High Rising,” also about an authoress and also quite funny!
You might enjoy The Bookish Life of Nina Hill!
The Wedding People by Allison Espach!
Book Lovers by Emily Henry!
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
The Story She Left Behind, The Secret Book of Flora Lee, both by Patti Callahan Henry. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. :)
Heart The Lover
Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan!
Surprised by Oxford (though it’s a memoir) by Carolyn Weber
Seconding the Bookish Life of Nina Hill!!
Love this! So I used to love novels with strong female characters overcoming tragedy (so dark usually but with some hope like Girls Burn brighter) but since becoming a mom this year, I can no longer stomach the dark tragedy! So strong female characters, depth and substantive plot without being too heavy subject matter, and fun!
Lessons in Chemistry
Maybe The Antidote by Karen Russell?? Really strong women, great plot, and the magical realism (and Russell’s phenomenal prose) offsets the tone of the tragedy they overcome with some real beauty and hope.
Maybe The Husbands or Finley Donovan Knocks em dead
You might like Kennedy Ryan! Skyland series especially and maybe the Kingmaker series.
After I had my babies I went deep into No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. It is a bit lighter than what you may be used to but so warming.
Have you read The Wedding People by Alison Espach? Involves a heavy subject matter, but remains light with fun banter.
Ohh I loved Girls Burn Brighter.
Maybe something by Kevin Wilson – either Run for the Hills or Nothing to See Here. The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison.
I hear you! Did you read Nothing to see here? I have listened to it twice, the second time with my husband and we’ve both love it!
Margo’s got money troubles by rupi Thorpe
I think Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart could be just perfect for you!
You may like Stone Yard Devotional (fiction) it’s more contemplative than emotionally charged. Braiding Sweetgrass is a memoir that has so many beautiful parts about nature that could also fit the bill
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas!
1. functional families 2. homesteading 3. Basically, I don’t want a “beach read”, I want something compelling, but I can’t handle any darkness right now, ya know? Does such a thing exist? This is mostly why I read non-fiction. I want to read fiction but the emotion can be a lot.
My Antonia, Willa Cather
madeleine, you are basically me? I also want to read a compelling book that is connected to homesteaders or gardeners or the natural world but also is about people, and doesn’t involve tragedy, injuries, loss, heartbreak. I really enjoyed the novel You Are Here by David Nicholls. Trauma was mentioned, but it was already in the past, and the characters are moving through and beyond into a new mindset, via taking a strenuous multiday hike across England. The landscape is one of the main characters, and the humans are very funny. You might like.
I re-read My Antonio every couple of years I love it so much.
The farmers wife by Helen Rebanks
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett.
Frozen River
The Hearts of Horses by Oregon writer Molly Gloss, which is set in an eastern Oregon ranching community in the early 1900s. Look past the cheesy cover, this book is sharp, beautifully written, authentic and very character driven. Now I want to read everything by her, which includes science fiction apparently.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Also, Wendell Berry novels
North Woods by Daniel Mason! Lots of homesteading through generations of pre-America through the centuries, not too dark & definitely not a beach read but carries some real weight within the stylized story telling. Lots of really gorgeous heart in this book!
I second Willa Cather. If you haven’t read them, and are open to “children’s books,” the Little House on the Prairie series and L. M. Montgomery. For funny and poignant, I remember loving Robert Newton Peck’s “A Day No Pigs Would Die” when I was a young adult. But I think you might really love “This Is How a Robin Drinks,” by Joanna Brichetto. It’s a series of essays that are gentle and sometimes laugh out loud funny but ultimately explores the joy and miracles in the tiniest bits of nature right in your backyard. It’s a balm in distressing times.
I would recommend Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry to you. It may be a little old-fashioned for your liking, but it’s very compelling and beautifully written.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Try, Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor. If I’m remembering correctly it’s not too dark, but not fell-goody, if you know what I mean.
“The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah so so good
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Two adjacent gentle reads I return to again and again – James Heriot’s books about his life as a vet in Yorkshire, and Gerald Durrel’s My Family and Other Animals about his childhood years spent in Corfu. Not homesteading but plenty of nature and animals, and functioning families as in the sense they have their own quirks but are generally loving!
Anni, I loved You Are Here! I still chuckle.
Try Isola! It’s “forced” homesteading but it’s soooooo compelling!
I’ve started to re-read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series and it’s surprisingly calming because the prose are so straightforward. Those books are definitely about a functional family (even though IRL Pa seemed to be drunk) and homesteading.
How about: 1) female detective (even amateur), 2) well developed characters and 3) a hint of realistic romance and lots of dialogue? Thank you!! xoxo
Thursday Murder Club
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher hits all of those!
Yes, yes, yes! You might love these if you like historical fiction (like me): Ashley Weaver’s Electra McDonnell series. Not a detective, but a locksmith turned spy/detective of sorts, set in WWII London. Electra is forced into working for the gov’t after getting caught breaking in a house with her uncle. Every character is a treat and the hints of romance are compelling! Tracy Grant’s Rannoch Fraser series–set in Napoleonic era Europe; the female lead is a spy for the opposing side, who her British diplomat husband marries unnaware–lots of terrific tension until the truth outs a few books in. Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloane series (she’s a secret cartoonist! he’s a lord! they solve mysteries together in Victorian London) A little darker but also good, Sabrina Flynn’s Ravenwood series, set in Victorian San Francisco. I’ve only read the first two or three, as I’m in a needing-lighter-rather-than-darker books phase…
Veronica Speedwell is absolutely what you want
The Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear!
Still Life by Val McDermid
The Verifiers by Jane Pek!
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict!
Here to upvote the Maisie Dobbs books!
Enola Holmes series!
The Maisie Dobbs series!
YES for Maisie Dobbs!!!!! This series flies under the radar, and I don’t know why. You will not be disappointed!
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice!
Anything written by Elly Griffiths, she has written several series with exactly these elements, the Susan Ryland series by Anthony Horowitz, and all of Ruth Ware’s books. Hope you’ll enjoy these!
Ooh and Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series is wonderful too!
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books!
The finlay Donovan series by Elle cosimano- so Funny!!
Her Majesty the Queen Investigates (3 books so far in the series)
Seconding Veronica Speedwell!! The Lady Sherlock series would also fit the bill. My favourite read of 2025 was The Tainted Cup: not 100% what you’re looking for as the main character is a man, but he is Watson to a female version of Holmes. The characters are immaculate!
They’re set in historical India but I LOVE (and feel like it’s my hidden gem) the Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey. So good!!
Present (or slightly future), urban, non-American setting, imperfect characters I can care deeply about.
– Queenie -People Person both are by Candice Carty-Williams
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Have you read This Motherless Land? It’s so, so good!
NW by Zadie Smith
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
The ministry of time is my vote for you
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson – a bit fantastical near future
Not quite urban, but Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations is whew, incredible. Well developed imperfect characters you will absolutely care deeply about. Same with Wild Dark Shore, although that is a very remote setting.
Maybe Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo?
Flesh by David Szalay
Exit West!
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is only partially set in the US, but checks your other boxes!
The Rachel Incident mostly meets your criteria (it takes place in 2009, which still feel present to me).
“Eleanor Elephant is Completely Fine” is AMAZING – set in the UK, present time
A guardian and a thief by megha majumdar
Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa or Klara and the Sun (!!!) by Kazuo Ishiguro (try to do this one on audiobook because the robot-y voice is SOOO GOOD)
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby. It hits all your requirements except it takes place in Virginia. So good!!!
Run do not walk to pick up the Ministry of Time
A character you root for with every fiber of your being; unique, outside of the box plots, (ex. Sharkheart, Project Hail Mary, Whalefall); mystery or suspense. Thank you in advance!
I loved Shark Heart + Project Hail Mary and recommend Sourdough by Robin Sloan–a woman’s life changes when she’s given a sentient sourdough starter. Sloan writes likeable characters and fun techy scifi beats that still feel grounded.
Solito by Javier Zamora probably isn’t what you had in mind, but it fits the bill (and is excellent) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. (I don’t care about video games but was so drawn in) I’m assuming you’ve read The Martian – but definitely if you haven’t already!
Peach – you definitely understood the assignment! I actually have read all of the books you mentioned and loved each and every one! Ready Player One blew me away when I first read it!
Tenley – Thank you! I put Sourdough on my TBR list!
Tilt by Emma Pattee Well written gripping and timely.
Nothing to See Here – Kevin Wilson A woman is asked to care for 2 kids who have the ability to spontaneously burst into flames and you fall in love with all of them
What is the What by Dave Eggers
Beautyland by Marie-Helene bertino- a young girl in 1970s Philadelphia raised by a single mom who uses a fax machine to “communicate” as she believes she’s an alien. At the end of the book you realize that we’re all a little bit alien.
Early Riser by Jasper Fforde! Strange and really drew me in! Absurd and compelling at once
Gritty, quirky, smart characters Detailed, observational writing Contemporary setting
Something about that description makes me think of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Note: Some sexual content)
I think Tana French, especially The Searcher, might be up your alley
Colson Whitehead: Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto. James McBride: Deacon King Kong
She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper. Gritty Edgar award winning mystery.
The Idiot by Eli Batuman!
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
So Far Gone by Jess Walter
The Excellent Lombards (Jane Hamilton)
Rufi Thorpe’s books — there not a whiff of bougie-aspiration on the character and the writing is so, so fantastic. Knockout Queen To Fang With Love The Girls of Corona Del Mar Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Ranked, but they are all good)
Minor black figures by Brandon Taylor
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
I echo the Elif Batuman rec! All of her books surprise and delight me; I love the way she sees and describes the world. I feel so often, “wow, I didn’t know anyone else had thoughts like this!” And also, “wow, I’ve never thought about that before.” Makes for a fun read!
I like a book that I cannot predict how it will end, really well developed characters who respond in awkward but understandable ways, and often set in a foreign country (am in NZ) so it feels a bit like exploring these places myself
Anything by Suzy Krause!
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
You might enjoy God of The Woods by Liz Moore! Admittedly I don’t remember the ending but it’s a mystery so I think it should keep you guessing!
The Kite Runner, Pachinko, and The Poisonwood Bible all come to mind.
Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa
Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge. An unlikely (and awkward) love grows between two people stranded on an island in the South Pacific. Will they be rescued? Can they survive? Beautiful writing, touching, terrifying, and it’ll stick with you after you read it.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, a current best seller, it will grip you from the first page. A family on an isolated tiny research island near Antarctica, facing a huge storm when a half-drowned young woman washes up on the shore. Mystery, compelling characters, climate change and endangered animals. Highly recommend.
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
A Tale for the Time Being is allll about characters, set in Japan and really compelling, thoughtful plot shift – re read it a few times now despite knowing how it ends!
Birnam wood by Eleanor Catton. Yes it takes place in New Zealand, but it is bonkers, especially the ending.
Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung, The Expats by Chris Davone, Girl in ice by Erica Ferencik, or The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett
I’ve read through some but not all of the comments, so forgive me if this has already been asked/suggested, but it might be cool share these on The StoryGraph. I’m very new there so others may have smarter suggestions, but maybe make a book club (or ten) based on some of the recommendations?
Any recos for fans of Sarah J Maas, Shield of Sparrows, Fourth Wing, etc.? Preferably a series. I need my next fun read!
Rose in Thorns by Julie Soto!
Hi, I really liked Sarah J. Maas everything but before I’ve read ACOT I was more into urban fantasy. I adore The Dresden Files ( 20 books so far). A little bit dark and first more detective vibes. Also Richelle Mead Georgina Kincaid series (it’s more romcom/Urban fantasy). Now I read Cassandra Clare The Mortal Instruments but prefered Maas. I’m finishing the last series so hope for some other good recs:).
Just finished Conform which I think you’d like!
The Scholomance series!
Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar!
I’m reading Quicksilver right now and it’s very good! And I simply must also recommend my best friend’s post-apocalyptic romantasy series, Bones (first book) and Fangs (second book). Read the trigger warnings. and then get a box of tissues.
I am trying to get everyone I know to read the Ravens Scholar!!! It puts Sarah J Mas to shame. There is only one book out with more to come.
I would recommend The Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo for your momma
With the coming-in-late folks – this is an amazing idea and I’m so excited to read all the comments. Might be too late, but my three are: Laughing out loud at a clever line/page/character/plot point; cheese; community
A Girl Named Zippy
Loved A Girl Named Zippy!
I can’t wait to see what this community comes up with for cheese as a primary category! (Or did you mean cheese figuratively, like it is a little corny/cheesy/silly? I took it as literal, like brie/cheddar/gouda haha!)
Okay you HAVE to read Gouda Friends by Cathy Yardley.
The Rachel incident!
For cheese and community try – “The telling room: A tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and the world’s greatest piece of cheese.”
That suggestion was assuming cheese was literal :-)
Try any of Matthew Norman’s books!
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg–oldie but goodie!
Blessed are the Cheesemakers–Sarah-Kate Lynch
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. Her Unlikely Animals is also a winner.
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen – lighthearted tale of revenge after husband throws wife overboard. Not a spoiler but she’s a great swimmer ;) (it hits all your points!)
Your dad might like Irving and Exy Johnson’s books (though they’re non-fiction, I felt they read a little like fiction). I adored Westward Bound in the Schooner Yankee!!
For inner lives and poetry (for your mom), I would highly recommend the new Ian McEwan book, What We Can Know.
It’s depressing though :) I couldn’t read it in one go; had to do some random romance in between.
Loved this one
These comments both delight and depress me. They delight me because I have a plethora of book recommendations from some of the raddest folks on the internet. Depressing because there’s no way to read all the world’s great books in one lifetime.
^ this
Tenderhearted, boyhood, and coming of age with the backdrop of 9/11. https://tinhouse.com/book/great-disasters/
The MOST fun idea!
Wow, 800+ comments, so let me too add my set of “three things” in the form of writers and how their prose make me feel. Happy to take in any recommendations adjacent to one of these genius writers. Claire Keegan – minimalist, evocative, feels like I’m standing under a high winter sky on a clear day. Arundhati Roy – lyrical, frangipani blossoms weaved into my hair, warm breeze on my bare arms and legs George Saunders – approachable, I’m eating Chinese take outs on my best friend’s living room floor, listening to her ramble, learning something new about her, myself and the world in the process.
Wow…beautiful!
Oh me too! I think you’d just love Deborah Levy—her novel Hot Milk is my all time favorite but I wonder if you’d like her nonfiction too? You’re a beautiful writer yourself!
Arundhati Roy — A Strange and Sublime Address by Amit Chaudhuri…followed by the rest of his incredible portfolio.
I think you’d enjoy Glaciers by Alexis M Smith.
Your description for Claire Keegan makes me think you’d enjoy Sarah Moss as well. The Wall and The Fell are both short and pack an unexpected/quiet emotional punch similarly to Small Things Like These.
Arundhati Roy makes me think of The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. A long sweeping tale, lyrical writing, vibrant detailed description of place and masterful weaving of storylines. Filled with pathos, but ultimately with hope.
The loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by kiran desai
Yums! All these titles and writers are new to me, will check them out, thank you so much.
Your dad might like Wild Dark Shore…?
And, Joanna, although it’s historical non-fiction that reads like fiction, David Gann’s The Wager. A fascinating survival story that traces the sailing and eventual wreck of The Wager off the coast of South America. The passages about scurvy were illuminating, ha.
Do me, do me! —sparkling female wit (Pride and Prejudice, Rachel Cusk, Lily King) —beautiful sentences —a rich, transformative setting
I think you might like Claire Keegan! https://bookshop.org/a/79223/9780802160140 Or maybe The Summer Book by Tove Jansson https://bookshop.org/a/79223/9781590172681
@Ellen, you might like Guy Gavriel Kay books, maybe try Under Heaven, absolutely beautiful prose, historical fantasy, always lots of heroic women.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny!!!
Ellen, since you like Rachel Cusk, you might get on well with Katie Kitamura. For beautiful prose: Jhumpa Lahiri, Eloghosa Osunde, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Elizabeth Strout, Douglas Stuart, Colm Toibin. For a rich, transformative setting: Children of Paradise by Camila Grudova is set in a cinema. Maybe you’ll like it.
the unselected journals of Emma Lyon! THE BEST!
Just about anything by Alice Hoffman! The Rules of Magic, Magic Lessons!
I second The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion by Beth Brower!! I consumed them and fell in love and already want to re-read while waiting (not so patiently) for the next volume!
Thank you, loves!! Will check em out!!