I have an exceptionally difficult time really getting into books. I tend to go back and re-read the same stuff over and over again because there are books I’ve found that really resonate with me, and it’s easier to read those over and over again rather than go through the effort of finding something new and going through the slog of suffering through it until it grows on me enough that I feel invested. I think I’m extremely picky about what I do and don’t like, but I have no idea how to articulate what that is. Despite my difficulties in finding new stuff to read, I would really like to read a lot more, but I’m not sure where to start.
I think the best way I can explain what I’m looking for is by giving examples of what I like and don’t like.
What I like:
Brandon Sanderson is easily my favourite author because (aside from his prose which I know is generally not great) he manages to have this complex high fantasy that feels grounded and engaging because of the way the characters are written. His stories are fundamentally about interesting and relatable characters existing within worlds that are so much bigger than them.
Since starting them at the age of 7 I think I’ve read the Harry Potter books in their entirety like 15 times. They’re awesome. I don’t think I need to explain why I like them. They probably strike some of the same balances that Brandon Sanderson hits as I explained above.
I read a lot of YA stuff growing up. The Percy Jackson books and the Eragon series are probably the main books from my youth that I still read and find compelling, though I’m not necessarily looking for stuff similar to them. The writing is really juvenile in both examples. Nostalgia is probably an element of my enjoyment, though I think I do find the characters in those books pretty compelling. The other “big” YA stuff I read when I was younger I’m really NOT a fan of (Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent (holy shit I hate that series so much)). I think I really hate books that are like, edgy and cool for the sake of being edgy and cool (which is probably most YA).
For stuff I’ve tried to get into but couldn’t, or even books I did read and enjoy but am not really looking for more of:
I read Dune. Took me a couple of tries but eventually managed to finish it and overall I enjoyed it. Definitely NOT looking for more books like it. (both because Frank Herbert writes really weird, and also because it sort of feels like the opposite of Brandon Sanderson, where the characters exist within this big cool world, except they’re not even remotely relatable or compelling).
I know many people will recommend I read Wheel of Time after saying I like Brandon Sanderson. I’ll probably give it another try in the future, but on my first attempt I just could NOT get into it at all. I don’t know what was wrong with it or me. The series is incredibly long (which is totally fine with me), but I hear it fluctuates quite a bit in terms of quality/engagement, which I’m not a fan of.
I read Enders Game and actually really enjoyed it, but I’m not sure if it’s quite what I’m looking for.
I swear I’m gonna finish it one day, but holy moly I’m really struggling to get into Lord of the Rings.
I read most of the Witcher books and wasn’t really a fan, but I love the world and vibe of the Witcher.
This is very different, but I recently read fifteen dogs by Andre Alexis, at the behest of a friend. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I’m not opposed to books that have more complexity in their themes/messages.
I hope that’s some help. I’m looking for books that I can’t put down because I’m just so invested in them. I think the characters, including their design and how they’re written is a big element of my enjoyment. I enjoy fantasy and cool world building, but that’s not necessarily a rule, especially since a lot of fantasy feels extremely derivative which I don’t like. The books don’t have to be fantasy at all, it could be (some form of) sci-fi or even realism (or whatever you’d call it).
by Shortugae