So for some context; I did my BA and MA in English Literature, and am currently doing my PhD in an adjacent field. In other words, I have read plenty of complicated (and sometimes boring) books, and I enjoy many of them a lot! But I'm about to go on a two week holiday and I would really like to just read some books that are enjoyable and gripping but without being too intellectually challening.
The issue is that I am not always a fan of popular lit and that I have struggled to enjoy books I've seen recommended on places like Reddit or Booktok in the past. For example, I read 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' after seeing it recommended by so many people on the internet, especially with people praising the queer representation but then I absolutely HATED it. It was an easy read, but it pissed me off to no end. I've had similar experiences with Sally Rooney or basically anything YA or fantasy YA (the one Sarah J. Maas book I read truly soured me on ever trying anything of the genre again).
Some books I have read and greatly enjoyed that I would argue fall under the category of 'accessible' reading (as in, they use somewhat normal language and they don't feel like a drag to get through):
– Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and Gone Girl (some of my fav books ever)
– Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach Trilogy and Borne (not usually a sci-fi fan but I devoured these books)
– Every single novel by Jesmyn Ward
I understand all these novels are quite different, but if anyone has any suggestions based on this rambling explanation of what I'm looking for, please do let me know.
by gayliens98