what book or books have you read that were so good that you didn’t want to put it down? - eviltoast

Looking for new books to read as I am preparing to head out on a much needed vacation and want to dig into some good reading. Can be fiction or nonfiction, just so long as it hooked you and made you want to keep reading and reading until the end.

  • simo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    End of the World running club. As someone the UK the concept of a massive apocalyptic event set in the uk was intriguing. I loved the book.

    Also Sphere by Michael Crichton. In my own head canon, I seem to recall reading this in one sitting over a single night I was doing an all nighter. It was just super gripping!

  • LoganNineFingers@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I read almost exclusively fantasy and sci fi. Here’s a few favourites.

    Sci fi: Red Rising Trilogy Bobiverse The Martian and Project Hail Mary

    Fantasy: The First Law Trilogy (my absolute favourite of everything I’ve read) Brandon Sanderson (literally any of his stuff. If you’re looking for a trilogy, start with Mistborn and if a stand alone, Warbreaker). Don’t be overwhelmed by his Cosmere world, if you only read mistborn era 1 it wraps up in a nice bow. Robin Hobbs first trilogy is a nice introduction to her series. If you don’t love it it wraps up nicely after the first trilogy.

    Dystopian: Unwound by Neal Schusterman Arc of the Scythe by Neal Schusterman

  • AccountMaker@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    A Short History of Chinese Philosophy by Fung Yu-Lan. I spent pretty much all of my time off work reading it. I found it insanely interesting since I knew almost nothing about Chinese philosophy, and the book is written specifically for people like that. The way their schools of thought developed through the ages and were influenced by each other constantly as one became dominant was very fascinating.

  • Independent_Node@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Here’s some I have even reread.

    • The chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. By Stephen R. Donaldson. 10 books
    • The Galactic Center Saga by Gregory Benford. 6 books
    • The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks 10 books
    • LOTR

    Love the Murderbot series too.

  • Concetta@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 year ago

    It’s probably been said, and is not exactly a hidden gem, but 1984 is something special. I read an excerpt of the first chapter and was hooked.

  • 07Chess@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    My two favorites so far this year are Babel by RF Kuang and The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

    • hamsalamibacon@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Seconding Babel. Such a powerful read for me as I grew up in a former British colony. Some of the parallels to the real world colonial system and how it affects locals are so relatable, even today!

    • Evolone@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      Babel has been on my list for a while! Need to give it a bump to the top soon.

      Have you read Yellowface? Or her other series, The Poppy War?

    • Strae@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Reading this right now, and a little over halfway through. Enjoying it, but it took a long time for me to really sink my teeth into it. It’s a very long book and a slow burn.

      • sundowner@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s so intricate and intimate - I just disappeared into the book and isn’t that what we need sometimes?

    • Evolone@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      Hey I dig it. Some Grisham hits the spot for me.

      However, I’m a lawyer myself so sometimes it’s hard for me to read legal thrillers because I want to escape real life….

  • AtheistAndroid@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Hyperion Cantos -Dan Simmons Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson A deepness in the sly - Vernor Vinge Insane City - Dave Barry Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean.

  • Thalfon@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    For some chill, positive vibes that had me up rather too late flipping pages, I’d recommend either or both of:

    • Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree
    • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna

    They’re basically the novel version of a slice of life comic/manga. L&L is more high fantasy, while Very Secret Society is here on Earth if witches were real. It feels like there’s a sub-genre of these kinds of stories popping up post pandemic and I’m all for it.

    For something more action-packed, this one was incredibly engaging:

    • The Blacktongue Thief - Christopher Buehlman
  • ChrisN@midwest.social
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    1 year ago

    My favorite book that I read in one sitting (though not hard to do because it’s so short) is The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman… made me cry with its beauty!

  • Independent_Node@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Here’s some I have even reread.

    • The chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. By Stephen R. Donaldson. 10 books
    • The Galactic Center Saga by Gregory Benford. 6 books
    • The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks 10 books
    • LOTR

    Love the Murderbot series too.

  • R. J. Gumby@midwest.social
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    1 year ago

    Here are a few of my favorites:

    Susanna Clark

    • Piranesi
    • The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

    Vonnegut

    • Cat’s cradle
    • Slaughterhouse Five

    Douglas Adams

    • literally anything he ever wrote

    Mark Haddon

    • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    Margaret Atwood

    • Oryx and Crake

    Ursula K. Le Guin

    • The Lathe of Heaven

    edit: formatting

  • azimir@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I scrolled all the down the comments and didn’t see Discworld by Terry Pratchett. Don’t listen to anyone and just start reading it. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

    • Ben@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Maybe the wrong way is to start with Book 1. I’d say try ‘Witches’ first, as I found the first book a bit offputting.