I have been struggling this past year with finding a book that stays consistently good start to finish. so many books I’ve felt started off real strong, with an interesting premise and gorgeous prose.
but then somewhere along the way the plot takes a hard left turn, or falters, and ultimately ends in a way that just feels messy, or half-baked.
genuinely sometimes feels like the author died and some rando finished the book. an example of this is Our Wives Under the Sea.
I guess what I’m getting at is I am looking for a book that feels truly cohesive and well executed.
what comes to mind when you think of the most “masterful” novels you’ve ever read?
by Shot_Cryptographer71
7 Comments
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy hit different for me – that book is relentless from page one and never lets up. The violence and bleakness are consistent throughout, no sudden tone shifts or random plot twists
Also maybe try some shorter classics like Of Mice and Men or The Stranger, harder to mess up pacing when you’ve got less room to work with
project hail mary is probably my most favourite book of all time. It’s just the best book about friendship i’ve ever read and is just such an amazing book
Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier is a classic for a reason.
Last year I was blown away by Three Days in June by Ann Tyler as well as Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Both just felt perfect to me.
I just finished Circe for the second time. Its epic and the ending is beautiful. From start to finish. She has another the Song of Achilles that was also beautifully written but it didn’t hit as hard for me as Circe. Its historical fiction relating to Greek gods etc.
Shogun.
*The Overstory* by Richard Powers
And seconding the rec for *Circe*!
“*And Then There Were None*” and “*The Murder of Roger Ackroyd*” by Agatha Christie