Hello! So as someone who fell out of love with reading, but has started to get back into it more with the help of a partner, I’ve come to a bit of a stumble when it comes to expanding my radar. There are classics that I know I should and plan to read eventually (f451, 1984, war of worlds etc) but I can’t seem to find any motivation to read them specifically as I tend to have 3 specific reasons I like the books I do aside from pre-existing media I like (Warhammer 40K Horus heresy/black library novels in general).
The first: Unconventional chapter structures
(Flowers for Algernon, World war Z)
While I admit I have not finished world war Z yet, I’d have to restart to remember what happened, I do remember in both of these books, while their worlds were traditionally less interesting to me, the ways in which the chapters were structured brought me into the story. The jumping through survivor accounts, and the journal entries of Charlie both gave me reason to keep reading in ways a traditional novel tends not too
The second: political intrigue in a foreign land
(Dune, Shogun)
One thing I’ve identified with both of these novels is that they both deal with the main character having to learn to play politics with unfamiliar people. While I would also appreciate normal political intrigue in general, there is something about the narrative device of learning along with a character how a world’s political system or customs are structured
The third: Satirical comedy that doesn’t get in the way of storytelling
(Orconomics, Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)
This one is a bit less important than the other two, but one thing I’ve found is this specific brand of comedy, where it’s self aware but doesnt make the sole purpose to tell a joke. The jokes progress the story in interesting ways, and soecifically in sci fi and fantasy settings
Other books I’ve enjoyed:
Like I’ve mentioned I love 40K novels. My favorites that I’ve read so far are probably fulgrim (most likely for the politics) and the infinite and the divine
The count of monte cristo: this one I’ll have to revisit since I originally read it in high school and have forgot a lot about it, but I remember very much enjoying it, most likely again because of the politics
Enders game: this could just be the power fantasy lover in me, but it was very enjoyable. I know person Scott card is an… interesting person but I can’t deny at least for this novel of his the character interactions really enticed me. Paul (Dune) and Ender both have a lot of in depth thought narration which I appreciate
Off to be the wizard: this one was just fun for me. Very power fantasy esque, but enjoyable nonetheless
The supervillain handbook: funny, obviously more of a joke book than anything but I still found it plenty entertaining
Thank you in advance!
by King-Crim