Hi! I hope this post isn't too annoying as there seem to be many like these around here.
Basically, I am 23 years old. I love movies, single player videogames and I've always liked the "idea" of reading.I always felt like I was missing so much by not getting into this hobby, and I finally took the courage to try to fix this.
I've read a few books in these last few years, and the few that I managed to finish were non-fiction, which is fine, but I REALLY want to get into reading fiction, it just seems so hard…
Whenever I try to read a fiction book it's either way too long (GoT, Lord of the Rings, The Death of King Arthur, etc) or it just doesn't grab me.
I like murder mysteries, managed to read some Agatha Christie a few years ago (orient express) and I REALLY enjoyed it. I also tried reading some James Bond books since I like spy stuff, but I got unlucky and chose one of the worst ones (don't remember the name). Oh, I also really liked Arsene Lupin.
I'm also interested in fantasy books as you could probably guess from my failed attempts, but most of the time books like these are REALLY long.
Anyway, I'm open for recommendations and advice, I'd prefer something that's less than 350-300 pages tho.
Thanks in advance, and I hope this was not too poorly written haha
by lohre2000s
10 Comments
Try audiobooks, it lets you listen while you’re doing daily monotonous task and makes it easier. I know it’s a generic recommendation but first law by Joe Abercrombie is an extremely highly rated fantasy tale where one of the main character is a crippled spy. Or mistborn would be a decent entrance, both “popular” fantasy but easy to consume and enjoyable.
Here are some older ideas, that are very good.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (The first science fiction novel. She started the genre)
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Around the World in 80 days by Jules Verne
20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea also by Jules Verne
Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Author Conan Doyle (If you like Agatha Christie, you will probably like these.)
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells (Wells wrote lots of other science fiction books. War of the Worlds and The Time Machine)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The short stories by Edgar Allen Poe
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Also, revisit Agatha Christie, she wrote a ton of books.
All of these books are rather short, compared to the other books. And fit your under 350 page request.
Check out Red Rising by pierce brown. It’s an epic space opera that is similar to game of thrones but in space so it might scratch your fantasy itch. The first three books in the series are shortish like 300-500 pages, not sure if that’s longer than you’re looking for, but the chapters are pretty short like around 10 pages or so, so it’s very readable
Dungeon Crawler Carl – it’s like a sci-fi/fantasy RPG videogame/tv show that isn’t, but it is. It’s the best and most addicting series I’ve read in a long time.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – this is what got me back into reading when I was in a similar spot around the same age actually.
All Systems Red – it’s a novella, about a sentient security bot that’s having an identity crisis.
The Kaiju Preservation Society – fast and easy read, but it’s a fun and engaging. The worst thing about it for me was how fast I finished it.
Try some of the early books from Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series.
You may like Blake Crouch books. Very light scifi with quick pacing
Might also like Andy Weir (The Martian, Project Hail Mary)
Sphere by Michael Crichton
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Both are a little longer than 350 pages if that’s a total dealbreaker for you, but they are fast-paced page turners (especially Sphere).
Ready Player One
Enders Game.
Red Rising series
The Giver (easier read)
Hunger Games
What did you specifically dislike about the books you read and what story (by this I mean like I want to read a book with an average Joe as the main character or someone going through med school or a pirate exiled from a kingdom or a space robot and their golden retriever) do you want to read/looking to read?