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[Rea]

side note: I hate the app does not have the ability to edit. I type like an illiterate moron on my phone versus computer. Forgiveth me for mine autocowrecks.

[Kinza]

Zaara wrote: "@Khushi...anytime! I love to talk. Not all of it makes sense. Don't say I din't warn ya when your ears start burning and threaten to drop off...
Go friend that Deej."

Zara I am also new here ..it will be a great pleasure for me if you give me your suggestions.

[C.P.]

Yes, Narnia would be a great one! I just read the whole series for the first time and really enjoyed them.

[Anni]

The first 'real' books I read on my own where by Michael Ende, my favorite was The Neverending Story.
I've done a re-read of Momo lately and enjoyed it pretty much. The take-home message about how you shouldn't 'spare' your time for a moment that might never come but use it to do things you love from time to time is great. And I can't recommend it high enough because I think sometimes adults needs to be reminded of this too :)

[Rea]

I grew up on Neverending Story and have no idea why I didnt think of that. Thanks Anni, I'm definitely adding that to the list.

[Zaara]

Rea wrote: "side note: I hate the app does not have the ability to edit. I type like an illiterate moron on my phone versus computer. Forgiveth me for mine autocowrecks."

@Rea...you're completely absolved for that awesome last sentence awone, dontcha wowwy!
I SWEAR it happens to all of us but the upside is, sometimes the results are really hilarious dank 😂😂😂
#sweaters
You may wanna chk out Captains Courageous...it was my fave Kipling growing up and if your 12 year old likes nature walks and going out in the wild, then I highly recommend L.M. Montgomery and the Little House series. If you wanna mix in some classics, that is. The extremely popular Brandon Sanderson has also written some books for children and Stephen King wrote a dragon fairytale book for Naomi...called the eye of the dragon that's not scary at all.
I'm always nervous recommending books to ppl xcuz I have such terrible taste 😂😝😜
IMO you'll be set for a while I think with Neverending and H.P. and Narnia.
Oh and have you checked out the lists on GR? There's plenty. Its a thing called Listopedia or something...in the browse dropdown.


Kinza wrote: "Zara I am also new here ..it will be a great pleasure for me if you give me your suggestions."

Sure Kinza. Don't worry...we're all new sometime. I hate being new too and so I'm sorry it took me a while to see your post and reply.
But...now that you found Ahdam you'll be set...with plenty of books and ppl.
He's real fun.

Now I've checked your shelves and looks like your tastes run to literary fiction and poetry. Are your shelves reflective of your true reading tastes? I ask because mine aren't 😝

You also have some excellent heavy-hitting fantasy series on your TBR but in some cases you've added Books 2 or 3 in a series but not Book 1? Anytime a book is a part of a series, the series list will be next to the book title in grey...on the book's page. You can click it to find the correct reading order.
In fantasy, I recommend you start with Riyria Chronicles by MJ Sullivan or the Faithful and Fallen series which you have on your TBR, the first book is called Malice. Read the first chapter (sample chapter should be available on most book-selling websites or online/the author's website) and see if you like the language. I see you read Rumi...in that case...you might find John Gwynne a bit...jarring...and somewhat puerile...

Book 1 of the first series I mentioned (Riyria) is called Theft of Swords and we are all going to read it together starting on May 12, if you want to join? There's also Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. A series of three very popular books.

Other recos are Cruel Beauty or chk out Robin McKinley (if you like fairytale retellings)....

I'm purposely mentioning very light, breezy reads because all your books seem rather dark and heavy books, was this on purpose, Kinza? Surely for someone at your age in life...

For poetic reads, try Neruda. If you like Rumi...you'll like Twenty Love Songs and a Song of Despair but like I said, I hesitate to recommend this for you right now. Perhaps Walt Whitman. Equally philosophical but perhaps more serene than 20 love songs.
Or one of the older Wislawa Symborska anthologies?
If you want a bit of mythology mixed in with your classics...will you please look at the Theogony by Hesiod? One of the older things written. I will be reading that later this month or in Feb, if you'd like to read with me...

There...I think you have enough classics in your list to be getting on with.
But pehle...read Three Men in a Boat...ok?
Welcome to the group, gal.

[[deleted user]]

Hey guys. I wanted to ask you if anyone of you have read ‘Kite Runner’ by Khalid houssien or ‘A thousand splendid suns’ by Khalid Houssien. I wanted to ask if it is good? Worth reading for someone my age (13)?

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Khushi wrote: "Hey guys. I wanted to ask you if anyone of you have read ‘Kite Runner’ by Khalid houssien or ‘A thousand splendid suns’ by Khalid Houssien. I wanted to ask if it is good? Worth reading for someone ..."

Hi Khushi :)
I read A Thousand Splendid Suns years ago - I can't really remember if it was appropriate or not, but I was in high school when I read it. I really enjoyed it. I know Kite Runner is more widely read and is sometimes chosen as a high school book club book.

[Em Lost In Books]

Khushi wrote: "Hey guys. I wanted to ask you if anyone of you have read ‘Kite Runner’ by Khalid houssien or ‘A thousand splendid suns’ by Khalid Houssien. I wanted to ask if it is good? Worth reading for someone ..."

go ahead. they both are very clean books.

[[deleted user]]

@Jenna, @Manju,
Thank you very much. I will check both of these out.

[Delitealex]

I just finished Ahsoka and enjoyed it. can anyone recommend some Star wars books they enjoyed or think is worth reading?

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rogue Squadron
and
The Courtship of Princess Leia
and
The Paradise Snare
are the ones I would read if I had time lol. I dated someone who loved star wars novels and these were the ones he liked the most at the time. :)

[Bill]

Sci-fi standalones similar to Scalzi? Don’t want anything that gets to heavy into the technology or advanced physics.

[Delitealex]

@Niki thanks for the recs :)

[Vaelin]

Long-time fantasy reader here looking for recommendations that are similar to the Long War series by AJ Smith.

Absolutely loved that series.

Any recommended similar series would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[idiffer]

Bill wrote: "Sci-fi standalones similar to Scalzi? Don’t want anything that gets to heavy into the technology or advanced physics."

I've only liked Old man's war series by Scalzi, and the mood/voice/style is similar to Heinlein (or 60's simple naive cozy sci-fi in general). Specifically his "starship troopers" book deals with war with aliens and actually inspired scalzi to write old man's war.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Vaelin wrote: "Long-time fantasy reader here looking for recommendations that are similar to the Long War series by AJ Smith.

Absolutely loved that series.

Any recommended similar series would be greatly apprec..."

That's been on my TBR for too long. I'm hoping to get to it this year. This definitely is my sweet spot for genre as well.

Herald of the Storm
Scourge of the Betrayer
The Grim Company
The Ten Thousand

To name a few comparable series.

[Silvana]

Bill wrote: "Sci-fi standalones similar to Scalzi? Don’t want anything that gets to heavy into the technology or advanced physics."

Maybe Murderbot books by Martha Wells if you want some funny stuff but not too heavy tech or hard SF. Start with All Systems Red they're series but each book can stand on its own.

[Silvana]

I'd like some recommendation for a fantasy book or series that features a female main character who works as ranger.

[Ahdam]

Ok guys here's the deal

I'm in sort of a slump and I think I need a new genre so I was wondering if you guys know of any good and simple books outside of fantasy and they can be Thriller/Crime or historical cause I feel like I need to read more books away from BR's so anything that's enjoyable and simple that is outside of fantasy would be great.

[idiffer]

@Ahdam
Mmm, that's kind of broad. Can u specify your preferences a bit? I feel if you jump on any "simple non-fantasy", you're bound to be disappointed. What do you value in books - characters, plot, originality, setting? What character traits go towards you identifying with the protagonist and what traits go towards wish-fulfillment?
For now, I've eliminated all plotty, twisty books and classics + most romances are "simple".

[Silvana]

Do you mind SF books or more general fiction?

[Ahdam]

I like to think myself as open so any genre outside fantasy will be good

For crime and thriller I was hoping if you guys have read some mystery stuff where it’s catch the killer and solve problems like Sherlock Holmes of Agatha Christie stuff

Science fiction I don’t really mind as long as it is interesting and not too long

Oh yeah that should be another factor I prefer to have the books around the 300/400 pages just so it’s a bit easier

As a side note I’m reading a screenwriting self help book (finished my script finally) so if you guys know any books that are good to help filmmakers that would be much appreciated

[Ahdam]

Sorry if I’m not specific enough my main aim is to read outside of fantasy and as long as it is not too dark and the story is simple as in I can easily follow it and the story is not too long then I am ok with it

[Silvana]

On top of my mind:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Redshirts by John Scalzi
Murderbot by Martha Wells
I think none of them are over 400 pages. Murderbot is a novella.

For general fiction, well this is an old book but Forrest Gump by Winston Graham (?) is really funny.

And if you want to try nonfiction, Bill Bryson's books are hilarious. In a British kind of way.

[Silvana]

Oh and if you want to combine crime and SF you might want to try the Dirk Gently novels by Douglas Adams.

[Ahdam]

Interesting picks my dad has read Douglass Adams and he said he enjoyed it and I watched he first episode of dirk gently which is very weird so I might have a look at it later

Thanks silvana the books I’m reading now are a big help for me and my slump may allow me to get to books I wasn’t able to get to before

[Silvana]

Roald Dahl's adult novels are a hoot as well. My Uncle Oswald is one.

Also a classic if you have not read it, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. More to funny and ironic or dry and sarcastic.

[Tammie]

Ahdam wrote: "Ok guys here's the deal

I'm in sort of a slump and I think I need a new genre so I was wondering if you guys know of any good and simple books outside of fantasy and they can be Thriller/Crime or ..."

Here are some mystery/thrillers that I liked. Maybe you will too:
Tell No One
Six Wakes Mystery in space
Only Daughter
Black-Eyed Susans

[Silvana]

Six Wakes is in my watch list. I love space murder mystery.

[Xerxes]

I have too much:

Non-European Settings, preferably to do with a Desert Theme/Indian/Japanese/Polyensian/African/Chinese

Adventure novels with Pirates of the Carribean style influences, Pirates of the Carribean style chases and escapes. Humor and love as well.

Best pirate fantasy novel?

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Neil wrote: "I have too much:

Non-European Settings, preferably to do with a Desert Theme/Indian/Japanese/Polyensian/African/Chinese

Adventure novels with Pirates of the Carribean style influences, Pirates of..."

Empire of Storms is a 3 book series starting with Hope and Red. It's not completely a pirate setting nor is it light hearted however there's a cheeky wrong side of the tracks British humor and influence. Some people are turned off by the language a bit but the words used aren't offensive to the Brits.

[Mel]

Iain, this is much after the fact, but I'm pretty sure the book you were thinking of is Tom's Midnight Garden. Excellent classic children's fantasy.

[Mel]

Tom's Midnight Garden made me remember that magical feeling of wonder and discovery that made me fall in love with fantasy as a kid.

So, I'm looking for recommendations for non-violent fantasy. Stories with conflicts that fall outside the tropes of epic warfare, or assassins and cutthroats, and are more about the world building, magic systems, and characters. The video game equivalent to Journey, vs a first person shooter. Perhaps a man vs. nature thing, or a mystery? Just something unique. For example, I loved the fight scene in The Emperor's Soul, but I'm drawn back to re-read it because of the way the magic system sparks my imagination, and the character interactions. The beauty of the stained glass window come to life.

Heh, I should probably just reread The Book of Flying

[Paulo "paper books only"]

Hi guys, A recommendation... I Have dozens of dozens of series to read. well more than 2000 books (in paper of course) to read but unfortunately for a couple of years I am reading far less than used to read... I would love some recommendation on what to read.

I love the grimdark world of warhammer / 40k. Their characters are never "good" normally a bit like anti-hero and in some novels the main characters are evil. Like pure evil. And I always enjoy that.

So, what I wanted from you is to start reading a series of fantasy where either the character are evil or at least anti-hero, a bit grimdark (or horror-like)

I check me "library" and I come out with these series
( I am going to put here only the first novel of the series)

The Warded Man
The Black Company
A Shadow of All Night Falling
The Thousand Names
The Blade Itself
K.J. Parker (any book)
Empire in Black and Gold
The Jackal of Nar
Malice
Mage's Blood
The Emperor's Blades
Promise of Blood
Prince of Thorns
The Red Knight
Gardens of the Moon


Thank you all, :)

[Zaara]

Hi Paulo!

This:
"So, what I wanted from you is to start reading a series of fantasy where either the character are evil or at least anti-hero, a bit grimdark (or horror-like)"

You just described Prince of Thorns.
Buddy Read is currently ongoing here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

PLEASE COME JOIN US 😊😁

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Paulo "paper books always" wrote: "Hi guys, A recommendation... I Have dozens of dozens of series to read. well more than 2000 books (in paper of course) to read but unfortunately for a couple of years I am reading far less than use..."

Most of those listed are also on my TBR or I've read, what a nice selection! :) The ones that stand out as most people loving are (in a particular order):

Gardens of the Moon
Malice
Blade Itself
Promise of Blood
Emperor's Blades

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Promise of Blood Buddy Read starts today... Black Company is starting in May...

[Peter]

Re a non-fantasy read for contrast...

The latest historical fiction from Robert Harris, Munich. Yes, it's a big publishing house best-seller, but it's really well written. And Harris picked a terrifically interesting period in history to set his story in.

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Ahdam, if you are still looking for non fantasy. I've really loved the contemporary mystery series Cork O'Connor. The first book is Iron Lake. What I've loved about this one is that over time we've followed Cork and his family as well. The mysteries are compelling and the author Krueger mixes up who is telling parts of the stories. Sometimes the whole novel will be Cork. Other times members of his family.

[Maria]

I've wanted to read Brandon Sanderson for a while now. Should I start with Mistborn or Stormlight Archive?

[Marcel]

Thanks Paulo for the list, I like similar books.
Finished Powder Mage and Demon Cycle. Moving to Black Company.


This is exactly what I was looking for.

[John]

Maria wrote: "I've wanted to read Brandon Sanderson for a while now. Should I start with Mistborn or Stormlight Archive?"

I have only read The Way of Kings, but it is fantastic (I read it twice). But it is the start of a 10 book series that will finish in about 20 years.

[Maria]

John wrote: "Maria wrote: "I've wanted to read Brandon Sanderson for a while now. Should I start with Mistborn or Stormlight Archive?"

I have only read The Way of Kings, but it is fantastic (I read it twice). ..."

Thanks for putting in your thoughts and experience about it! I have heard great things about this book, too. All of his books, really.

[C.P.]

Maria, I started with Mistborn and I think that's a good way to go. Way of Kings is my favorite novel, but you can kind of ease yourself into Sanderson through some of his other books. And the original Mistborn trilogy is complete, which is nice.

[Maria]

Great, thanks C.P.!

[Shaitarn]

I'm curious - I've been reading some urban fantasy and it mostly seems to be some sort of murder mystery with romance in varying degrees. Does anyone know of a book set in the urban fantasy genre but with the sweep of an epic fantasy novel?

[Silvana]

Shaitarn wrote: "I'm curious - I've been reading some urban fantasy and it mostly seems to be some sort of murder mystery with romance in varying degrees. Does anyone know of a book set in the urban fantasy genre b..."

City of Stairs? Started with a murder mystery but the scope was truly epic.

[Tuuli]

Hey! I'm doing some kind of reading challenge and one of the challenges on the list is "A book from a country that starts the same letter as your name." So T for me. I was wondering, can anyone recommend me a sci-fi or fantasy book written by Turkish or Thailand authors? E-book versions would be perfect.

[Bea]

Hi, does anybody have recommendations for (high-) fantasy series by female authors?
I have read three trilogies by Robin Hobb so far and really liked them, especially the Liveship Traders Trilogy. Apart from that most of the stuff I've read is by male authors, so I'd like to read more female authors in the future.
Other series I like are Malazan, ASoIaF, LotR, Gentlemen Bastards and Name of the Wind.
Oh, and I'm not a big fan of romance :)