Hi everyone,
I'm looking for books that might help me feel more connected to the world and to other people – stories that don't feel extremely neurotypical and heteronormative, and that aren't heavily centered around dating, relationships, sex or social drama.
I’m looking for gentle, sensitive, beautiful, quiet stories that:
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aren’t centered around dating or sexual/romantic relationships
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aren’t strongly heteronormative
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aren’t built on neurotypical social expectations
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don't have violence or horror
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have a soft, introspective, poetic or melancholy but hopeful atmosphere and beautiful language
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focus on inner worlds, connection, identity, nature, creativity, or just existing at one’s own pace
I’m open to any genre (novels, fairy-tale-like stories, poetry etc.)
I'd really appreciate if you have any recommendations.
by Azzzzzula
12 Comments
A lot of books recommended on r/CozyFantasy would fit what you’re looking for if you wanted to browse posts on there 🙂
you may enjoy the work of Willa Cather, especially Shadows on the Rock, or Death Comes for the Archbishop.
beautiful descriptions, beautiful characterization, and what little violence there is is minor and mainly “offscreen”
also, Anne of Green Gables. just the first, because the later books do head into romance as plot point.
*The Book of Form and Emptiness* by Ruth Ozeki
I just finished Three Apples Fell From The Sky by Narine Abgaryan and it seems to be what you are looking for.
Monk and Robot duology by Becky Cambers.
I’ll have to think on this and see if I can come up with any other ideas.
I’d say Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is a bit like that.
You definitely want A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers! It’s a meditation on the meaning of life.
Is nonfiction ok? If so, check out Oliver Sack’s books. I’m pretty sure he’s on the spectrum and his books are full of empathy and introspection. Maybe something like The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat.
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan
I really like Emily Austin’s books for reflective stories that center neurodivergent women as the main characters and it’s just about being human. My favorite is Interesting Facts About Space but they’re all incredible.
Beautiful Broken Things and Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard. Beautiful companion novels about female friendship, navigating complex familial relationships and the disconnect between who we perceive ourselves to be and how others see us
My Friends by Fredrik Backman. It is beautifully written and focuses on friendships and non-sexual love between a group of friends (3 men, one woman) from childhood to adulthood.