When I say newbie, what I mean is that I only recently started to REALLY get into reading. I used to only read during my commute to work to stop myself from endlessly scrolling on my phone during the one and a half hour train rides. During which I mostly read soviet sci-fi (my first book was Roadside Picnic since I am a huge Stalker fan) and just kind of went from there to Solaris and then We. And at some point the Cyberiad. After that, because it was on offer in my local library, I read Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm.
That was all during my work commute.
Then recently I came across a decent Kindle Paperwhite for ten bucks on Kleinanzeigen (German craigslist) and have gone a little crazy. I downloaded a bunch of books based on what is popular but I must admit, I struggle to get far into most of them as they just don't tickle me the same way the previously mentioned books have.
The first and only book I finished on the Kindle so far was Stoner by John Williams which I enjoyed VERY much. Something about his writing style really did it for me. And I must admit, it really awakened something in me. I couldn't put it down. I started reading before bed and sometimes in the bath…
Now I desperately need more. I haven't felt this excited to delve into a new world like right now. But it seems overwhelming and I don't know where to begin. I'd like to widen my horizon.
What would you recommend to me? I'm grateful for any and and all suggestions.
by JoeBarge
1 Comment
If you enjoyed Stoner for how immersive and emotionally reflective it was, you might really enjoy The Last Switch — it blends the introspection of literary fiction with the tension of sci-fi and psychological suspense. It’s set in a future where humanity faces the collapse of technology, but at its core, it’s about memory, choice, and what it means to stay human.
It’s a bit different from typical thrillers, but if you liked how Stoner made you think and feel deeply, this one might stay with you for a while too.