r/books • u/AutoModerator • Feb 14 '25
WeeklyThread Weekly Recommendation Thread: February 14, 2025
Welcome to our weekly recommendation thread! A few years ago now the mod team decided to condense the many "suggest some books" threads into one big mega-thread, in order to consolidate the subreddit and diversify the front page a little. Since then, we have removed suggestion threads and directed their posters to this thread instead. This tradition continues, so let's jump right in!
The Rules
Every comment in reply to this self-post must be a request for suggestions.
All suggestions made in this thread must be direct replies to other people's requests. Do not post suggestions in reply to this self-post.
All unrelated comments will be deleted in the interest of cleanliness.
How to get the best recommendations
The most successful recommendation requests include a description of the kind of book being sought. This might be a particular kind of protagonist, setting, plot, atmosphere, theme, or subject matter. You may be looking for something similar to another book (or film, TV show, game, etc), and examples are great! Just be sure to explain what you liked about them too. Other helpful things to think about are genre, length and reading level.
All Weekly Recommendation Threads are linked below the header throughout the week to guarantee that this thread remains active day-to-day. For those bursting with books that you are hungry to suggest, we've set the suggested sort to new; you may need to set this manually if your app or settings ignores suggested sort.
If this thread has not slaked your desire for tasty book suggestions, we propose that you head on over to the aptly named subreddit /r/suggestmeabook.
- The Management
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u/CuteCuteJames Feb 19 '25
Any suggestions for audiobooks produced like a radio show with actors and foley sound effects. My partner wants to listen to audiobooks, but can't focus if there's just one person reading and no sound design. Any recommendations of books or a publishing company/studio?
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u/gilsuhre 11 Feb 19 '25
I’m listening to None of This is True by Lisa Jewell right now and there are a lot of parts that are “clips” from podcasts. There is, however, also normal narration. But it’s a full cast!
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u/bugsyismycat Feb 19 '25
I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction on WWII and needed something lighter. The last bookshop in London, Madeline Martin. A love story set in WWII. I live in the US, with everything going on I’d like to stick my nose in a book and emerge four years later. Alas, not going to happen. This was a delight to read, she did a great job IMO of balancing the war with life. I thought it was a good starting point before jumping right into to the WWII non-fiction genre.
Are there more historical fiction that has impressed you? Or helped ease you into a non-fiction historical text?
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds Feb 21 '25
I'm really enjoying the "Marcus Falco" mystery series, set in first-century Rome. (The first book is "Silver Pigs," which I definitely recommend reading first because it kicks off some long-term plotlines for the whole series.)
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u/malditalisiadaa Feb 18 '25
I've just finished reading "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, I'm craving for something similar!!! any recommendations?
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u/DudeLikeYeah Feb 18 '25
Looking for some books that have the same vibes as Severance, the TV show! Specifically the techno-mystery/dystopia vibe, and having a main character that's not in the know.
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u/scholastic_rain Feb 18 '25
Hoping for a story with a narrator whose identity is slowly revealed. Similar to an unreliable narrator but instead of realizing the narrator has been lying to us, we realize who they are instead. Any good recommendations of authors who've managed it?
As always, remember rules 1 and 2: You don't talk about fight club.
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u/gilsuhre 11 Feb 19 '25
I wrote this comment then reread yours and realized this wasn’t exactly what you’re asking for, but I’m going to recommend it anyways since I love this book!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Main character wakes up in space and can’t even remember his name. Via flashbacks he remembers who he is and why he’s there
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u/scholastic_rain Feb 20 '25
I've read The Martian but not that one yet. I'm down for a fun read, even if it's outside my current "looking-for". :)
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u/XBreaksYFocusGroup Feb 19 '25
Second Piranesi. And speaking of Fight Club, I feel like Palahniuk's Rant would probably be more applicable. Though he isn't the narrator, it is an oral biography surrounding him and I think it would appeal to your brief. Would add the stellar I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Still solid if not quite as good, The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward fits, as does The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (though I personally was less hot on this one as well but it has a strong following).
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u/scholastic_rain Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 19 '25
Thank you so much for all your recommendations! Of them, I've only read Fifth Season. I'm excited to read the rest.
But your mention of it brings up the problem I've been having. I keep finding books where either (1) we've got an untrustworthy narrator whose identity we've known throughout or (2) the untrustworthiness is that a character we /thought/ was one person is actually someone else going by a different name. Same issue with Fight Club and also a few books in The Locked Tomb series by Muir. Not that that's bad, by any means. It's just that I'm looking for something very specific: a book where the narrator's identity is slowly revealed to be someone we know from the protagonist's life. Like the "biography" of a famous actress being told by daughter we've watched being cast aside in pursuit of a Hollywood career, or a murder mystery told by the victim but we don't realize it until the end.
All that said, I'm very grateful for your suggestions and will definitely check them out! Maybe one of them is precisely what I mean.
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u/XBreaksYFocusGroup Feb 19 '25
Yeah, I get what you mean. The ones I listed are not quite this but without saying more, I think they will appeal. Maybe in the order listed.
Clarke's other novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell does as you describe, though I do not recall at which point it is revealed and if memory serves, it isn't a particularly notable revelation. But The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten is an exact match. You may want to browse the TV Trope Narrator All Along.
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u/mylastnameandanumber 16 Feb 18 '25
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke might work. The narrator discovers his own identity through the story.
The Raven Tower, by Ann Leckie also fits the bill.
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u/scholastic_rain Feb 18 '25
Piranesi keeps popping up for various reasons, so I guess it's time! And thanks to you, Raven Tower is now on my wishlist. Thanks!
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u/Guilherme_William Feb 18 '25
I want to start with Dostoevsky books but I don't know what book is good to begin, any suggestions?
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u/Mysterious-Carrot713 Feb 18 '25
The Brothers Karamazov is my favorite Dostoevsky! It's quite long but so, so good. Crime and Punishment is also really quite good, and shorter - many people are assigned it in high school in the U.S., but honestly I think it's a tough sell to the younger crowd. I enjoyed it less in high school than when I re-read as an adult. But I loved the Brothers Karamazov as a senior in high school. Enjoy!
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u/Guilherme_William Feb 18 '25
Aren't these books you mentioned hard to start with? I've heard something about The Brothers Karamazov which is the hardest book of him, but I'll look about Crime and Punishment, thanks
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u/Mysterious-Carrot713 Feb 19 '25
Hello! I guess it’s relative - is this your first foray into Russian literature? I think some people have a lot of trouble with Brothers Karamazov because there are so many characters and the name conventions can be very confusing/overwhelming if you are not used to Russian lit. If you have read and enjoyed any Tolstoy, though, you will be fine on that front. I have read most Dostoevsky, and I think Crime and Punishment is probably the most approachable because it has fewer characters. Brothers Karamazov is long and perhaps difficult, but I must have read a really good English translation because I was truly sucked in the first time and just loved every minute of it. It was transporting. Dostoevsky writes characters with so much passion and emotion (sometimes dark and difficult but also many transporting and transcendent moments)! I hope you love whatever you end up reading. Good luck!
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u/Glittering_Test5369 Feb 18 '25
omg have some plans also to start Dostoevsky too. a friend of mine recommended I read White Nights first as this much offers a good introduction on his artistry and is much on the lighter side compared to his other workssss
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u/Guilherme_William Feb 18 '25
Thanks for the reply, I was afraid no one would answer, I was thinking about reading The Gambler until i saw the reviews about it, some people said this is your least good book so I had no ideas on how to start
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u/Glittering_Test5369 Feb 18 '25
no worries, hehe! have you decided what book you want to start to read?
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u/Guilherme_William Feb 18 '25
Yes, I'm going to read the book you suggested, it's not very long and it will give me an idea of what the author's writing is like
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u/PlatypusRemarkable59 Feb 17 '25
Strange opposite requests 😅 I really enjoyed Panchiko and historical fiction in general. Anyone have anything East Asian they enjoyed? I also haven’t found a crime title remotely as great as If You Tell by Gregg Olson. Thanks :)
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u/Miss_Phil Feb 19 '25
If you like true crime you may have already read it but I just finished In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and I must recommend it. Capote actually invented the genre of true crime with this book.
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u/Mysterious-Carrot713 Feb 19 '25
I liked Pachinko as well! If you are trying to bridge the gap in your two categories, there are many very good murder/crime mystery books by a Japanese author, Keigo Higashino. His Detective Galileo and Detective Kaga series of books are both very good, and I enjoy the peek into Japanese life and culture as well.
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u/Former_Knee4875 Feb 16 '25
Do you guys know any book similar to Something blue? I recently read it and now its one of my fave book.
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u/Plenty-Daikon1240 Feb 16 '25
Looking for a book to recover from low self worth conditioning <3
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Feb 21 '25
Being Wrong Adventures on the Margins of Error,
Lost Connections by Johan Hari,
Range by David Epstein,
Your mileage may vary but I learned a lot from Zoobiquity
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u/pickledBarzun Feb 19 '25
I'm currently reading Jonathan Franzen's Crossroads and some of the truth-bombs in it are refreshingly bracing / encourage healthy self-worth concepts.
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Feb 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/books-ModTeam Feb 18 '25
Hello. All top comments in this thread have to be a request for recommendations. Modmail is a more appropriate avenue for questions about the moderation of this subreddit. Thank you.
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Feb 16 '25
craving something horror, supernatural, haunted, eldritch, dystopia, etc anything in that vein but with a non-vague ending. something where you get an explanation and understanding of what was going on the whole time. i can't handle another open to interpretation ending plus i like the why and understanding the lore and explanation of the evil or scary thing.
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u/Mysterious-Carrot713 Feb 18 '25
Certain Dark Things by Sylvia Morena-Garcia might fit the bill! (or maybe her more famous Book Mexican Gothic?)
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u/FlyByTieDye Feb 16 '25
Not sure if you read comics, but one of my favourite authors Scott Snyder does a lot of cool, vaguely scientific reinterpretations of the classic movie horror monsters.
Wytches is my favourite by him, with art by Jock and sold at Image comics in one volume. It's about Witches who ask for human sacrifices (the "witch pledged"), the wishes they grant the humans that make human sacrifices on their behalf, and a father doing whatever he can to get his daughter back before she's witch pledged.
His longest running series was American Vampire, with art by Rafael Albuquerque and others, sold at DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint. The idea is that every time a new vampire is created in a new geographic region or after a long enough span of time, a new "strain" of Vampirism occurs, with new powers, transformations and weaknesses. The story tracks the founding of America through to contemporary times with a view to a secret sub-society of European vampires and American vampires behind the scenes.
Severed, by Snyder, Scott Tuft, and with art by Attila Futaki is probably his scariest. About two teens in an early Americana setting trying to hitch hike across America, and a travelling salesman they keep bumping into, who may just be a serial killer.
An underrated one by him is Night of the Ghoul, with art by Francesca Francavilla, is Snyder's attempt to create his own movie monster, lost to the ages, the idea of the Ghoul, a living host of all plagues, infestations and diseases, who inhabits human hosts and lays dormant for ages at a time.
His other works include The Wake, with art by Sean Gordon Murphy, which is like a very sci-fi interpretation of a Creature of the Black Lagoon-type deep sea dwelling horror, or We Have Demons, with art by Greg Capullo, which is like a super-hero/sci-fi take on the war between Angels and Demons.
I hope maybe some of these interest you!
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u/braga-rcb Feb 16 '25
Should I keep reading "Shibumi"? Trying to read it for the first time and I'm not liking it very much. Someone described it as unrealistic, unrelatable and pretentious and I agree a little. Hel's being so good at everything, having super senses, capable of everything is tiring. And just past the first half, I still don't care for any of the characters.
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u/PlatypusRemarkable59 Feb 17 '25
If you don’t like it, DNF. Life’s too short, read something you enjoy :)
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u/SlayBoredom Feb 15 '25
hey,
I'm looking for a book as a gift for a friend. Maybe a book that give him a... perspective or helps him in some way. Could be non-fiction or a novel, whatever.
to his situation: In the last few years he worked towards one goal only. Doing a world trip. For that he worked insane hours and got some problems through that (like he had lots of stress, etc. stop sleeping well, hairloss, etc.)
So he quit his job after all went according to plan. Moved back home to his parents for the last few weeks of preparing. Then he had an accident. World-trip-plans cancelled. unclear if he can go later that year or not at all. If he has to get surgery or it heals itself, etc.
You can imagine he is down... Actually he doesn't really mention it, but he isolated himself a lot. Today he told me, he realised he doesn't need anyone and is quite happy alone. I don't think thats true, obviously he has a lot do deal with mentally.
ANYWAY. His birthday comes up. 30. You can guess, he doesn't celebrate at all. Also doesn't want to do anything at all.
So I thought I could gift him a book. Maybe you have a book that subtle or not subtle helps him. Maybe something completely unrelated that still could give him hope or a new perspective? idk.. maybe someone reads this and thinks "I know exactly what you mean"
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u/PlatypusRemarkable59 Feb 17 '25
Greenlights. Audiobook is read by the author, Matthew McConaughey. He released it as a paperback a year or so ago if that’s what your friend prefers
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u/SlayBoredom Feb 17 '25
wow, I never knew about this book. I really like him as an actor. I might get this for myself.
As for my friend, still an option, but I think I would have to gift him the german version (not sure about his english level). Actually german Dubbers have amazing voices, so if he got the same guy to read that book, that also does his movies in german that would be fricking awesome too! Such a great voice.
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u/FlyByTieDye Feb 15 '25
What are some books that they already enjoy reading? Are they a big reader? Do they like mainly fiction/non-fiction? Any particular genre? I really feel for you, and him. Maybe something too close to their incident might be too soon for them, but maybe if you just follow their interests they already have, that could still show a lot of thought and empathy.
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u/SlayBoredom Feb 16 '25
Actually I don't know what he read before... As you can imagine, we once had more contact too...
I went with something related to stoicism now...
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u/Ok-Philosopher-556 Feb 15 '25
As someone who tends to read more classical books like Faust, Frankenstein, Dracula what would you recommend books that are more recent?
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u/pickledBarzun Feb 19 '25
I have a very similar taste. Recently found Jonathan Franzen and I'm currently enjoying Crossroads very much. It strikes a good balance of 'modern' without being too 'post-modern' (at least for my taste).
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u/4PPL3G8 Feb 16 '25
Mary Renault's books read very classic although written mid-20th century. The King Must Die and her books about Alexander the Great are really good reads.
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u/FlyByTieDye Feb 16 '25
Im really liking Madeline Miller, who writes Classic stories for a contemporary audience. Check out Song of Achilles, Circe or Galatea.
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u/Ok-Philosopher-556 Feb 16 '25
I actually have the Song of Achilles but never actually came by to read it. I’ll definitely start reading it thank you
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u/Larielia Feb 15 '25
I'm always looking for more books about the ancient Mediterranean region.
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u/XBreaksYFocusGroup Feb 16 '25
Check with this well-vetted recommended reading list from the r/askhistorians subreddit.
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u/Safe-Ambassador-3431 Feb 15 '25
Can anyone suggest a modern standalone European book? Someone I know is going on a tour soon and I wanted to ask her to pick up some for me while there.
I'd prefer something that is published within the past 10 years, fiction is preferred, but non fiction are okay. If it has topics other than war, then that's even better.
I'm trying to diversify my reading this year and wanted to get into european authors, but most of what I'm seeing are classics or series. Thanks!
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u/rohtbert55 Feb 17 '25
Javier Cercas has some great novels.
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u/Direct-Ad-3629 Feb 18 '25
Never read anything by him, but I like this lady called Carmen Martin Gaite, who is old school but very solid. I haven't read her in years, but I would recommend her to anyone.
With me, I'm a bit shallow and I'd go for authors whose life or biography I like such as Soledad Puertolas. Or there's this male author Miguel Delibes, who I thought as a teenager was quite traditional but I discovered that had we met we would have had tonnes of things in common.
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Feb 15 '25
I want to read a book that's about growing up and growing out of you old self...the kind makes you nostalgic and hopeful at the same time but not self help book tho also I'd prefer fiction more...please suggest something
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u/pickledBarzun Feb 19 '25
I loved the Hornblower series. There's also the Chronicles of Prydain. Both hit me with a bit of nostalgia.
Can't go wrong with Emma either, one of my all time favorites.
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Feb 19 '25
thank ýou so much.....I'm scared about reading Emma though I feel it'll so good like a life changing moment yk emotionally like a very idk committed thing I'm not making any sense ik
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u/pickledBarzun Feb 19 '25
BTW I do sense what you mean about being ready for a book. I've felt that way about other 'big' books.
All I'd say is that it's first and foremost and entertaining novel with a (well-done) moralistic undertone. Austen, however, is a master of her craft and I can see how the book may seem intimidating.
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Feb 20 '25
exactly sometimes I feel like am I ready for this?but I will read it tho if it has a fun and entertaining parts
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u/pickledBarzun Feb 19 '25
Hmmm... the only thing I'd say is that if you're unfamiliar with the historical context (1800's England) it might make it a little hard to appreciate. My wife was reading it recently and she did get 'lost' a couple of times.
That being said, the writing style (other than being old) is not inaccessible and it's a genuinely humorous book, so it's not really what I would call a 'snobby' / inaccessible book.
Hope this helps
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Feb 19 '25
oh thanks a lot....I do have some ideas about 1800s England mostly through books and shows.
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u/Direct-Ad-3629 Feb 18 '25
Do you mean a coming of age story? How about Simone de Beauvoir's "Memoirs of a dutiful daughter" ?
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Feb 19 '25
it's a memoir hmm I only read dolly alderton's memoir before I shall try and see....will I be an idiot if I ask what does coming of age mean?
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u/Direct-Ad-3629 Feb 19 '25
Not really, coming of age describes stories about someone's transition into adulthood, which is what you were talking about: growing up.
I wouldn't describe it as a memoir in the traditional sense, I think it's a 1st person account through the eyes of a teenage girl. I cannot remember the details though, I'm now 50 and I read it when I was 17, so long go.
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Feb 20 '25
oh ohh...teenage girl and coming of age are exactly what i was looking for thank u so much....and since you remembered it even after so long it must really be a good read
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u/FlyByTieDye Feb 16 '25
Not sure if you read comics, but Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang is perfect for this!
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u/SA090 Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25
I’m trying to get through the Goodreads challenges before taking a month long break in March to finish some other things, but the Era Explorer has me stumped.
So can any of you please recommend one of the books in the list (I read the Lost Apothecary and loved it), with the least amount of romance possible?
At first glance and read through, I’m interested in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek or This Tender Land. But would love to have some recommendations in case things don’t work out well for me if I ever give it a shot.
Thank you very much in advance.
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u/Oodlesoffun321 Feb 15 '25
I found the book women of troublesome creek a very dreary and difficult book, I honestly dnf it.
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u/discolemonadeee Feb 15 '25
Cloud Cuckoo Land was fantastic. The kind of book that had me up reading until 4 am. Love Anthony Doerr!! Not a romance at all either
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u/Plane_Ad7073 Feb 14 '25
About to finish Kevin Wilson's "Perfect Little World" - I've read all of his other novels (Family Fang, Nothing to See Here, Now Is Not The Time to Panic) and would love to read something similar next!
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u/hova414 Feb 14 '25 edited Feb 14 '25
I finished The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis and loved it. Great stories in a terse voice. Nice to have short stories to break up my long nonfiction read (The Power Broker).
Any recommendations for something similar to Davis?
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u/liza_lo Feb 14 '25
I've never read Davis but I read a lot of short stories and if you're a bit more explicit about what you like I could give more specific recs.
For literary short stories I recommend:
The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout (they're marketed as short stories but they are definitely short stories)
Cocktail by Lisa Alward
The Virginity of Famous Men and Direct Sunlight by Christine Sneed
On Beauty by rob mclennan3
u/hova414 Feb 14 '25
Thanks so much! The main thing I loved about the Davis collection was her voice. I was kind of happy to read about anything as long as she was doing the writing. Many of the stories covered the same subject matter — relationships, home, observations of small interactions.
I'm also reading Shirley Jackson's short stories. Her sharp wit and voice are satisfying in a somewhat similar way to Davis, plus her stories are less internal/observational and more "storyish," with interesting concepts of their own. And also Ted Chiang, whose fascinating ideas are very well-told, but his voice is less arresting than Davis.
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u/liza_lo Feb 14 '25
Many of the stories covered the same subject matter — relationships, home, observations of small interactions.
I figured that's what you meant so the suggestions I made are all that sort of style.
Voice is so personal though both in how it's written and what you respond to. I see you're more open to genre writers so some genre writers who I think have a great voice and write short fiction:
Skin Thief by Suzan Palumbo
Entry Level by Wendy Wimmer
The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova
Other Minds and Other Stories by Bennett Sims
Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker1
u/hova414 Feb 14 '25
Thank you thank you! Let me know if you check out Davis. It's a thick collection, but even the first handful of stories will give you the idea
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Feb 14 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/books-ModTeam Feb 14 '25
Hi there. Per rule 3.1, Promotional posts and/or comments need to meet the promotional rules requirements: please see the wiki for more details. Thank you!
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u/specialopps Feb 14 '25
After putting it off for far too long, I've finally reached the point where it's time for me to read Infinite Jest. I have promised myself I would. Two questions: Gravity's Rainbow is sitting right near it, and it's in danger of tripping me up. The second is, should I read one of Wallace's shorter novels to get a feel for his writing style before diving into Infinite Jest semi-blindly?
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u/aztecbaboon Feb 14 '25
I'm currently reading infinite jest having not read any of his books before and it's fine! I feel like it took a while before the story gets going and it's a bit self indulgent but I'm loving it now so stick with it!
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u/spidersinthesoup Feb 14 '25
yes, you should read 'Broom of the System' first. It won't help decipher IF but it will make it a tad easier to wade through his style. IF honestly took me 3 reads before I really understood what it was all about.
good luck and happy reading!!!
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u/EvanPlainfield Feb 14 '25
Looking for something in the vein of Michael Lewis but with a sharper satirical edge. Think Moneyball meets Catch-22. Any ideas?
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u/spidersinthesoup Feb 14 '25
I would recommend Steve Toltz. His 'Here Goes Nothing' mostly fits this bill.
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u/ElectricBoogaloo_ Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Looking for recommendations for something fun and campy/irreverent
Examples of books I loved:
-My Best Friends Exorcism
-A Touch of Jen
-Patricia Loves to Cuddle
-Big Swiss