Hi friends- I love reading but often find myself forcing myself to read with a goal (learning about a topic, self help, etc).
I find it easier to lose myself in fiction and I enjoy themes of family dysfunction, intergenerational trauma, and corrupt systems – with with some satire and humor, maybe some optimism, just not totally bleak and hopeless.
Some things I’ve read in the past few years and loved:
– Jonathan Franzen: The Corrections, Freedom, and Crossroads (in that order) – I love the family dysfunction, how each person is living in their own world, and how those worlds and individual needs/desires collide
– Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver – Couldn’t put it down, I was very invested in the characters and setting
– “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy – Loved the pacing and humor and love how she has opened up tough conversations about childhood abuse.
– Robert Greene – 48 Laws of Power – I like the historical snippets in a narrative structure, tied together under similar themes.
– In the past I enjoyed thriller/mystery type books a la Gillian Flynn, but its been awhile since I’ve visited this genre
Some things I read recently and didn’t love:
– Mary Karr’s “The Liars Club” – finished it but felt it lacked “threads” to tie the story together
– Colleen Hoover – read “it ends with us” and was not a fan – too “on the nose” and lacking character depth
I’d love any recommendations! Preference for fiction but also open to historical non-fiction or memoirs.
by upsessed