The way I countered that was to work out how many pages I could read in a day. Then I'd map out how many pages to the next chapter and tell myself I'd just read 10 more pages.
I ended up clearing it in 19 days, which isn't bad considering I work full time. Some days I read more pages than others, but I just kept telling myself my goal was to reach the next chapter or just read 10 pages. Soon found I was clearing a lot more.
That's a pretty good approach. What I did was develop a heroin addiction and go to a rehab where reading is just about the only way to pass the time. More than one way to skin a cat I guess.
Maybe you could reframe it like “there’s no actual limit of how long I can read, it’s just whether or not the story keeps me engaged the whole time”. This book does that and more.. it’s sooo good!
Oh man... this one i actually did the audio book version. But it was AMAZING! My only gripe is the voice actor who read it, he did a fantastic job but his voice for the main characters love interest sounded just like Winnie the poo. Kinda distracting
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It was incredible. The story is incredible and the characters are so rich. This book has everything....mystery, love, action..i just cant recommend this enough. I want a Hobie in my life (character in book.)
So funny. I just started the Secret History. Im 7 chapters in and struggling. It is a bit blah. Sounds like we have some similar taste. Please dm me any recommendations. Im always trying to find a good book!
If you liked the plot style of the Goldfinch - where a kid on his own gets bounced around through various situations, you might like Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
I read it and loved it. I lived not far from there and my high school team played the lee high generals around the time the book is based. It really brought it home and i loved it.
It's a toss-up between *Remarkably Bright Creatures* by Shelby Van Pelt and Vivian Shaw's Dr. Greta Helsing trilogy -- I loved them for different reasons!
Yes!! I ignored it for months because I didn’t like Daisy Jones & the Six by the same author, but I finally read it a few weeks ago and OH MY GOD. My heart.
I avoided it for a while because of how popular it was and those books are always 50/50. But I’m so glad I ended up reading it! I read it in less than 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down!
My second to last book: A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking By T Kingfisher. It was such a fun,cozy read and now I want to read everything by T Kingfisher😭
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's The First Woman; a coming of age story set in the Uganda of Idi Amin. I'd say she is the new Adichie and the insight into Ugandan life is fascinating.
Probably either War is a Racket by Smedley Butler or The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
While I think Butler’s isolationism was based on the fact he died before the US could enter WWII, I think it’s definitely worth the read almost 100 years later.
Klosterman is able to breakdown all the various facets of how unique a decade The Nineties are through every possible angle.
The best new book I read in 2023 was *The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store* by James McBride. The NYT review called it "a murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel" and I can't think of a better description.
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. Sometimes it’s fun to get into a really deep story about saving the world and the heroes journey and sometimes it’s fun to be nearly killed at the start of the book and then mercilessly kill everyone who betrayed you. This book is the latter, was my BOTY and a very fun read it was too.
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo about and enslaved couple who escaped Macon, GA. The woman posed as a white man and her husband posed as her slave to escape to the north first by train then by boat.
Intensity by Dean Koontz - A page turning Thriller from the beginning. Not a long book compared to others I read, but I didn’t want to put it down. 📕👏🏼
The Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton is a life changing book because while it is quirky and unexpected it is also filled with life lessons and observations. You will LOVE.
Came out a while ago but highly recommend “I’m glad my mom died,” by jennette mccurdy, to any reader from any walk of life. It’s funny, poignant, and thought provoking in both depressing and enlightening ways. Fantastic and easy read
**War of the Worlds** I found it at work early last year and was shocked to learn it was published in the late 1800s. It’s very well-written and scary and even gave me nightmares after reading just the first few chapters. Plus it’s fascinating to read about the technology they had back then. The scientists reassured people that the Martians won’t be able to walk very well on Earth because Earth’s gravity is denser than Mars’. How do they know that? That book was way ahead of its time - one of the first books about extraterrestrial invasions and definitely the most influential. The prose is old and beautiful, and one of the ending quotes really resonated with me and weirdly made me emotional.
If I was recommending one book from 2023 it would be *Birnam Wood* by Eleanor Catton.
If someone had already read that, I'd suggest they read *Wild Hope* by Joan Thomas.
I got a recommendation of The Breach on here and surprised just how much I am enjoying it. Almost done and will finish this morning.
So my recommendation is The Breach.
A Deadly Education (the entire Scholomance Series really) was amazing! It was like Harry Potter, only if like 1/3 of the kids survived Hogwarts. I loved El’s dry, dark humor. But for me, it’s the shift, the change that El represents and brings about in the series that is truly great. I can’t say too much without giving it away, but I cried in book 2 and 3. All in all, there’s a very clear message that nobody can tell you who you are. And damn, it works. I was pleasantly surprised by how much. I enjoyed this series!
[The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang](http://The Wilderwomen
Check out this book on Goodreads: The Wilderwomen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44648641-the-wilderwomen)
the Bronze Horseman— a gorgeous historical fiction love story set in Soviet Russia during the German invasion. Even if you don’t love or know anything about that time in history, it only serves as the backdrop. The story, the dialogue, the characters. Highly recommend
The Boy who was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry.
(It’s about childhood trauma and how it affects our behaviors. He has case studies, then explains actions taken, and the outcomes.)
It helped me realize that not all childhood abuse is intentional.
Below are the books that I read this year that I would recommend to someone without knowing their taste or background.
Mieville, China Looking for Jake Sci Fi short stories. A great writer. This is a good introduction. Try his novels.
Stout, Rex Trio for Blunt Instruments Crime classic w Nero Wolf
Hughes, Thomas P. American Genesis. A Century of Invention and Technological Enthusiasm. History, if you have an interest in tech, business and how we got where we are today.
Gibson, William Agency Sci Fi. I am a huge Gibson fan. This is a relaxed read, fun ride.
Dick, P.K. Clans of the Alphane Moon Sci Fi. Phillip K Dick, If you know, you know.
Wyndham, John The Midwich Cuckoos Sci Fi You know this book, because everyone copies it. Read the original.
Orwell, George Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays History. Orwell's essays are even better than his books.
Varley, John The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction Sci Fi stories. Great stuff.
Le Bon, Gustave The Crowd Non Fic sociology fr 1895 that reads like it was written for us now
Milton, John Paradise Lost Poetry - I had a hard time with this. I know it's a classic and I thought I should read it. Parts are very beautiful, but it is very, very weird.
Have fun!
My top book of 2023 was **The Ministry for the Future** by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's fiction but gives a realistic view of what governments would need to do to tackle the climate crisis. It's bleak at times but ultimately hopeful. Can't recommend it enough!
Not everyone’s cup of tea but one of us is lying
an absolute MUST READ is behind the mask by tyson fury, it goes through his battle with depression and you will definitely learn something
The Count of Monte Cristo is unlike any book I've ever read before.
I’m so intimidated to begin this one due to the size 😭
The way I countered that was to work out how many pages I could read in a day. Then I'd map out how many pages to the next chapter and tell myself I'd just read 10 more pages. I ended up clearing it in 19 days, which isn't bad considering I work full time. Some days I read more pages than others, but I just kept telling myself my goal was to reach the next chapter or just read 10 pages. Soon found I was clearing a lot more.
That's a pretty good approach. What I did was develop a heroin addiction and go to a rehab where reading is just about the only way to pass the time. More than one way to skin a cat I guess.
Good tactic. Ty for sharing!
Maybe you could reframe it like “there’s no actual limit of how long I can read, it’s just whether or not the story keeps me engaged the whole time”. This book does that and more.. it’s sooo good!
Thank you! I’m excited now to begin :)
I was late to the game but *Circe.* *Such* a fun read!
11.22.63. Don’t be intimidated by the size!
Oh man... this one i actually did the audio book version. But it was AMAZING! My only gripe is the voice actor who read it, he did a fantastic job but his voice for the main characters love interest sounded just like Winnie the poo. Kinda distracting
This looks good! Putting it on my reading list.
Debating between reading this or The Stand. Never read either.
The Heart’s Invisible Furies
Loved this book. I wish I could read it again for the first time
My favourite book ☺️
Such a good book
Please everyone read this. I recommend it always
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
*Project Hail Mary* by Andy Weir
That's on my to read list!
The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
been wanting to read that for a while!
I ended up reading it in a couple of nights. It’s a pretty quick read and emotionally devastating. ❤️
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
So good!!
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It was incredible. The story is incredible and the characters are so rich. This book has everything....mystery, love, action..i just cant recommend this enough. I want a Hobie in my life (character in book.)
Loved this. Then I was so excited to read The Secret History and it was just blah for me 😕
So funny. I just started the Secret History. Im 7 chapters in and struggling. It is a bit blah. Sounds like we have some similar taste. Please dm me any recommendations. Im always trying to find a good book!
If you liked the plot style of the Goldfinch - where a kid on his own gets bounced around through various situations, you might like Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
I read it and loved it. I lived not far from there and my high school team played the lee high generals around the time the book is based. It really brought it home and i loved it.
Maybe too basic but Dracula was great!
It's a toss-up between *Remarkably Bright Creatures* by Shelby Van Pelt and Vivian Shaw's Dr. Greta Helsing trilogy -- I loved them for different reasons!
Remarkably Bright Creatures was a breath of fresh air, and completely different. I am glad I included it this year❣️
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Oh god it took me a month to finish, found it boring tbh
I've heard such good things about that!
This was also right up there!! Great book! So hard to choose just one favourite!!
Anxious People
*The Fifth Season* by N.K. Jemisin
A gentleman in Moscow.
Fuck yeah. Great book.
No Longer Human was really good
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 🤩
I freaking loved this book way more than I expected to
Yes!! I ignored it for months because I didn’t like Daisy Jones & the Six by the same author, but I finally read it a few weeks ago and OH MY GOD. My heart.
I avoided it for a while because of how popular it was and those books are always 50/50. But I’m so glad I ended up reading it! I read it in less than 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down!
Finally dipped my toes into the Discworld series this year and I highly recommend Moving Pictures and Guards! Guards!
I started them just a few months ago. I'm just getting to Guards! Guards! and I'm so excited.
My second to last book: A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking By T Kingfisher. It was such a fun,cozy read and now I want to read everything by T Kingfisher😭
Weyward by Emilia Hart
That's on my to read list!
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Fairytale by Stephen King
They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie. Not the top one though, but it was a light read!
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
Bullet Train was my last read in 2023 and it was a really good fast paced thriller. I'd seen the film before and still highly enjoyed the book
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's The First Woman; a coming of age story set in the Uganda of Idi Amin. I'd say she is the new Adichie and the insight into Ugandan life is fascinating.
The boys in the boat. By Daniel J. Brown
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.
Jurassic Park was such a fun, easy read.
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I read it cover to cover in a day, couldn’t put it down. I read tons of books and this is in my top 3.
Love love love all his books in these series!!!
The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
I loved The Great Believers
I just finished her 2023 book *I Have Some Questions for You* and loved it. Definitely want to check out her other books.
Probably either War is a Racket by Smedley Butler or The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman While I think Butler’s isolationism was based on the fact he died before the US could enter WWII, I think it’s definitely worth the read almost 100 years later. Klosterman is able to breakdown all the various facets of how unique a decade The Nineties are through every possible angle.
The best new book I read in 2023 was *The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store* by James McBride. The NYT review called it "a murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel" and I can't think of a better description.
I’ve had this one earmarked for some time. I will read this next.
Needful Things by Stephen King
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
A few, but one that isn’t so popular is The Postcard by Anne Berest
Christmas Carol
I didn’t read this in 2023 but I did see Neil Gaiman perform it and it was a wonderful experience!
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. Sometimes it’s fun to get into a really deep story about saving the world and the heroes journey and sometimes it’s fun to be nearly killed at the start of the book and then mercilessly kill everyone who betrayed you. This book is the latter, was my BOTY and a very fun read it was too.
Dead Man's Float by Jim Harrison. It's poetry, beautiful, moving, heartbreaking poetry.
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo about and enslaved couple who escaped Macon, GA. The woman posed as a white man and her husband posed as her slave to escape to the north first by train then by boat.
These silent woods Quick easy read. Enjoyable and beautiful ending
The Lincoln Highway
Clara and the sun
Master and Margarita. Such weirdness. Loved it.
Six of Crows duology changed my life! That or Poppy War trilogy by RF Kuang!
I read Sea of Tranquility, by Emily St. John Mandel yesterday, and really enjoyed it.
Lessons in Chemistry
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
The Human Entanglement (newer & unique grounded scifi)
Medicine Stories- Aurora Levins Morales
I loved I who have never known men. Also, our wives under the sea
A canticle for liebowitz
The spirit bares its teeth by Andrew Joseph White
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
Tuesday night murder club
If you like new romance : better than the movies
The Andromeda Strand-Michael Crichton
How to stop time - Matt Haig
Intensity by Dean Koontz - A page turning Thriller from the beginning. Not a long book compared to others I read, but I didn’t want to put it down. 📕👏🏼
Deacon King Kong.
The Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton is a life changing book because while it is quirky and unexpected it is also filled with life lessons and observations. You will LOVE.
Number Go Up. It's about crypto madness
Carmilla by Le Fanu
Colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
Heartless by Merissa Meyer
Ascension by Nicholas Binge
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow❤️
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
"The Girl Who Drank The Moon" by Kelly Barnhill.
Came out a while ago but highly recommend “I’m glad my mom died,” by jennette mccurdy, to any reader from any walk of life. It’s funny, poignant, and thought provoking in both depressing and enlightening ways. Fantastic and easy read
Pachinko
I read this books 2 or 3 years ago and I think about it weekly
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
**War of the Worlds** I found it at work early last year and was shocked to learn it was published in the late 1800s. It’s very well-written and scary and even gave me nightmares after reading just the first few chapters. Plus it’s fascinating to read about the technology they had back then. The scientists reassured people that the Martians won’t be able to walk very well on Earth because Earth’s gravity is denser than Mars’. How do they know that? That book was way ahead of its time - one of the first books about extraterrestrial invasions and definitely the most influential. The prose is old and beautiful, and one of the ending quotes really resonated with me and weirdly made me emotional.
This Is How You Lose The Time War
Babel, by RF Kuang. Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.
“The Humans” by Matt Haig!
If it has to be a single book, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. But the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman is what I would most recommend.
The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese
Do You Dream of Terra-Two by Temi Oh :)
The sun does shine!
Shit Cassandra Saw
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann The three-arched bridge by Ismael Kadare
If I was recommending one book from 2023 it would be *Birnam Wood* by Eleanor Catton. If someone had already read that, I'd suggest they read *Wild Hope* by Joan Thomas.
a little life broke me. be mindful of the trigger warnings though, it’s quite heavy
I got a recommendation of The Breach on here and surprised just how much I am enjoying it. Almost done and will finish this morning. So my recommendation is The Breach.
Lightbrigner series by Brent weeks. Specifically the blinding knife
The Postman by David Brin
The Box Man by Kobo Abe
Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott
Half a soul by Olivia Atwater
Before I Fall
Not Just Black and White by Tammy and Lesley Williams
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Tom Lake
The School for Good Mothers
The Zoey Ashe series (technically not one book 😊)
American Cosmic by Diana Pasulka It’s about the intersection of technology, religion, and UFOs and incredibly fascinating.
A Little Life. Probably the best book Ive read last year.
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
What I learnt about investing from Darwin by Pulak Prasad
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez - suuuper dark and disturbing and beautiful and I loved every second of it.
A Deadly Education (the entire Scholomance Series really) was amazing! It was like Harry Potter, only if like 1/3 of the kids survived Hogwarts. I loved El’s dry, dark humor. But for me, it’s the shift, the change that El represents and brings about in the series that is truly great. I can’t say too much without giving it away, but I cried in book 2 and 3. All in all, there’s a very clear message that nobody can tell you who you are. And damn, it works. I was pleasantly surprised by how much. I enjoyed this series!
Broken Scars by J.M. Walker
One book is tough… - The Words We Keep (trigger warnings though) - Before coffee gets cold trilogy
[The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang](http://The Wilderwomen Check out this book on Goodreads: The Wilderwomen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44648641-the-wilderwomen)
Take my Hand
The Once-A-Years by john murphy
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
Fairy tale by Stephen King
Antkind by Charlie Kauffman
The Guide to the Good Life by William B Irvine. A practical guide to implementing Stoic Philosophy into your life.
Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. It's a wonderful novel. Also, The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham. It's an underrated classic, IMO.
The villa by Rachel Hawkins!
Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
A likely story or summer sisters
*To Shape a Dragon's Breath* by Moniquill Blackgoose
the Bronze Horseman— a gorgeous historical fiction love story set in Soviet Russia during the German invasion. Even if you don’t love or know anything about that time in history, it only serves as the backdrop. The story, the dialogue, the characters. Highly recommend
The Indomitable Florence Finch. If you liked The Boys in the Boat or Unbroken, this one is for you.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult: family drama and mystery
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
The Boy who was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry. (It’s about childhood trauma and how it affects our behaviors. He has case studies, then explains actions taken, and the outcomes.) It helped me realize that not all childhood abuse is intentional.
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, if a mix of realism & surrealism and confusing timelines are your cup of tea..I personally loved it
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.
You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glassgow
Androne by Dwain Worrell. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it.
Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
Age of Vice
Red dragon by Thomas Harris. It's the first book of The silence in the lambs series. Simple narrative style but compelling story
(as a layperson with no background in philosophy) I enjoyed 'How to be Perfect' by Michael Schur!
Users - Colin Winnette
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
HARDWIRED
Mistborn: the Final Empire. Gets good after awhile.
I am glad my mom died by Jeanette McCarthy This book really impacted me.
Shuggie Bain.
Honestly, if you haven't read Dune I'd 100% recommend!
The Coven by Harper L Woods
Can I pick 3? Atomic Habits by James Clear Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte And for an actual story, Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Enders Game series
Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Couldn’t put it down.
The Silent Patient. I loved it so much
The Bell Jar
I’m currently reading Nine of this true! Great!
{{smoke and ashes}} by Amitav Ghosh’s
"Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow"
The Creative Act: A Way of Being Rick Ruben
Below are the books that I read this year that I would recommend to someone without knowing their taste or background. Mieville, China Looking for Jake Sci Fi short stories. A great writer. This is a good introduction. Try his novels. Stout, Rex Trio for Blunt Instruments Crime classic w Nero Wolf Hughes, Thomas P. American Genesis. A Century of Invention and Technological Enthusiasm. History, if you have an interest in tech, business and how we got where we are today. Gibson, William Agency Sci Fi. I am a huge Gibson fan. This is a relaxed read, fun ride. Dick, P.K. Clans of the Alphane Moon Sci Fi. Phillip K Dick, If you know, you know. Wyndham, John The Midwich Cuckoos Sci Fi You know this book, because everyone copies it. Read the original. Orwell, George Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays History. Orwell's essays are even better than his books. Varley, John The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction Sci Fi stories. Great stuff. Le Bon, Gustave The Crowd Non Fic sociology fr 1895 that reads like it was written for us now Milton, John Paradise Lost Poetry - I had a hard time with this. I know it's a classic and I thought I should read it. Parts are very beautiful, but it is very, very weird. Have fun!
My top book of 2023 was **The Ministry for the Future** by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's fiction but gives a realistic view of what governments would need to do to tackle the climate crisis. It's bleak at times but ultimately hopeful. Can't recommend it enough!
How to Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
The Covenant of Water
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Made it to the 7th book on the Expanse series by James SA Corey. Each book is better than the last.
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
Not everyone’s cup of tea but one of us is lying an absolute MUST READ is behind the mask by tyson fury, it goes through his battle with depression and you will definitely learn something
The butterfly garden by dot Hutchison
I thought of another book you might like - The Talented Mr. Ripley (ignore the film) by Highsmith
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa.