I like reading when I am commuting. Over the past year, I have been losing any meaningful human connection in my life due to my grief and anxiety. So reading books helps me feel slightly less lonely and bored. I generally prefer novels or short stories.
Some of the best books I read recently are from Kazuo Ishiguro (The Unconsoled, Never Let Me Go, and The Remains of the Day). His writing is precise and impeccable yet deeply empathetic. I would prefer reading something from another writer whose writing might be on par with Ishiguro's.
Other preferences: hard sci-fi (Permutation City by Greg Egan is one of my favorite books), interesting narrative structure (If on a winter night a traveler… by Italo Calvino), story collections (I've read everything by Ray Radbury)
by fakefolkblues
10 Comments
Are you sure that you don’t want to join a book club to get some real life connection back in? 🙁
Maybe joining a book club (online or in person) could help you reconnect with others. 🙂
I thought off Margaret Atwood’s Blind Assassin which has small part of sci fi in. She is a brilliant author that creates deep cafe but with a wistful, reflective tone that at times can feel detached.
There’s also a Gentleman in Moscow which is a great one about connection and is one of the most beautifully written books.
I know that feeling well, stranger, it sucks and i am sorry you are feeling this way. You might like Project Hail Mary?
Never let me go is one of my favorite books, but I’m not sure what writer could be considered similar, scifi I love by great writers though is:
Octavia Butler (Kindred, Xenogenesis, Wild seed)
Philip Dick (my favorite is do androids dream of electric sheep)
When it comes to short story collections I recommend Asimov, my favorite story is a very short one, Robot dreams
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
I recently finished Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao, and it was a beautiful, sad acid trip. Surrealism, a little romance, but mostly dealing with grief. You might also like something like Annihilation, short hard sci-fi books that are good alone or together. Murderbot Diaries also comes to mind, and deals with isolation.
For some food for the soul, though, I’d recommend A Gentleman in Moscow, which directly deals with grief, isolation, anxiety, and a loss of human connection– yet finding ways to get through each day and find joy in the little things. Would also recommend Station Eleven for something that marries your sci-fi preference with what your heart needs.
And if you ever want to chat, this is a good place to do it. You’ve got people who share a common interest and love to talk about it. Maybe consider forming your own book club– you’ll be surprised who’d be interested in joining!
Space is Just a Starry Night by Tanith Lee
Any books by E.M. Forster
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey