What's a book you read just to read something or a book you picked up randomly that absolutely blew you away and became one of your favorites?
I picked up Seanan McGuire's Middlegame randomly on vacation last year because I saw it on audible suggested and the cover intrigued me. It ended up absolutely blowing me away and I think about it almost daily. The rest of the series, not so much, I feel like this could have been a standalone. I liked the magic system McGuire built and it's one of the rare books where the middle part was my favorite. I liked the character, the worldbuilding felt kind of limited, but it worked well for the story. Maybe I should judge books by their covers more often.
by uselesssociologygirl
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Germinal by Zola
Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe. A friend picked it up from a used book store because he thought it was a Tom Wolfe book, then gave it to me once he realized his mistake. It was breathtaking.
Piranesi. I recommend it by nothing more than what the synopsis says. It is a story that is actively benefitted by reading it totally blind.
The Last Voyage of Somebody the Sailor, by John Barth. I keep meaning to re-read it. Maybe this year will finally be the year.
City of Thieves.
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K LeGuin
VALIS by Phillip K Dick
Number 9 Dream by David Mitchell
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Confessions of a D-List Supervillain.
I want this book to be a movie.
I read all my books blind as possible. I hate how often blurbs and reviews reveal the entire plot arc, all the characters, settings, themes, etc. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I’m a good bit into the book and we haven’t made it through all the information presented in the blurb.
**Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors -** I picked it up randomly because I liked the cover art and the short description on the back. I was not prepared for the poignant, intertwined journey of these 4 sisters. Might have sobbed a little at certain junctures.
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, actually a book of short stories, but it was actually mind blowing
11/22/63 by Stephen King. I don’t think I’ve read an 850 page novel quicker than this. I really thought it would be 850 pages all about JFK…which a lot if it was yes, but that’s also only one facet. It actually turned out to be a really wonderful love story to me.
Moderan, by David R. Bunch.
Concrete, by Thomas Bernhard.
I started reading Seveneves based on someone in this sub posting the first sentence. I didn’t know anything about the author or story and went in 100% blind. It’s my all-time favorite novel.
*The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason.*
The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd. I only knew him as a designer, but he’s a strong writer, too.
*Stoner* by John Williams. *Carol* by Patricia Highsmith. I haven’t seen the film but wanted to enjoy the book first, which is my usual way of discovering works; I’m in the last pages now and already grieving the moment when I will have to say goodbye to the characters.
This is how I discovered the Jack Reacher series.
1Q84. I just finished it and my hair is still on fire.
Gone with the wind.
I’m young enough to never have seen the movie before reading the book. I asked a southerner from the USA what book I should read to understand the civil war more while not reading stuffy history research. I’m European, and I wanted to be entertained and educated.
Damn, the book became one of my favorites. The war, how it came to be, the horrors and he lives are so well told.
The lightning thief… if only 11 year old me had known the rabbit hole I was about to fall into that day…
House rules by jodi picoult
Red Rising. Now I am addicted.
“Assassin’s Apprentice” by Robin Hobb reaffirmed my love for actual epic fantasy after being in a reading slump caused by terrible romantasy books
The Library at Mount Char
Project Hail Mary
Hyperion blew me away.
Human Kind by Rutger Bregman is a book that makes me smile when I’m having off days.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.
No spoilers, but I did not know what i was getting myself into. Last 30 or so pages had my heart beating. Also, I didint expect the prose to be somehow both so beautiful and viceral.
Oreo by Fran Ross. Very smart funny satire
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.
The Good Solider by Ford Maddox Ford.
Published in 1915 I figured it was a WW1 book. Not at all, but so very good
Paula. Not a favorite but I think about it A LOT
Anima, by Wajdi Mouawad
Siobhan McGowan’s debut, The Trial of Lotta Rae
ETA: I am Pilgrim
Mister Pip. Thought it would be a quick lighthearted read, arrived at work sobbing instead.
The life story of the Krays the 60s London gangsters. Wow..
Blackwater, The Complete Saga by Michael Mcdowell
The Strain
Life Reset
The Primal Hunter
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Ward D by Freida McFadden
Fierce invalids home from hot climates – Tom robbins
There There by Tommy Orange. It is one of those books where you can see the end coming (as in through foreshadowing not predictability or cliche) and when you get there it is exactly as you thought it would be and the emotional punch is still poignant, haunting, and beautiful. I think about it often and recommend it as often as I can.