What Should I Read Next?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I've read zero of these, but I have The 57 Bus checked out from the library right now, Girl Woman Other just came up on hold, and I'm probably going to end up reading House of Salt and Sorrows for my fantasy book.

That probably doesn't help, but I'll probably end up reading all three of them in March.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

The only one I've read is Normal People. I liked it BUT it has very little plot, and that which is has can be maddening because the characters act in self-defeating ways. So it's not the most engaging.

[Jody]

Help! I just finished The Wasp Factory, which was so unbelievably horrendous that I need something to bleach my brain. Light and fluffy isn't usually my thing, so I need suggestions!

[Tracy]

Jody wrote: "Help! I just finished The Wasp Factory, which was so unbelievably horrendous that I need something to bleach my brain. Light and fluffy isn't usually my thing, so I need suggestions!"

LOL...Jody is asking for "light and fluffy"??

*runs to Jody's profile and checks for books on her TBR*

Jody....we have nothing in common except Charlottes Web LOL. Go with a nice Middle Grade or YA. I honestly couldn't find too much light(er) and fluffy on your lists, I think we both are pretty dark with our reading. I personally like to read Graphic Novels in between books. Pumpkinheads was light and fluffy.

Side Note: I got the Chook Book on my kindle for $2 :-)

[Nadine in NY]

Jody wrote: "Help! I just finished The Wasp Factory, which was so unbelievably horrendous that I need something to bleach my brain. Light and fluffy isn't usually my thing, so I need suggestions!"


I found The Clan of the Cave Bear on your shelves - it's not 100% upbeat, but it doesnt' require too much brainpower.

[Hannah]

Jody wrote: "Help! I just finished The Wasp Factory, which was so unbelievably horrendous that I need something to bleach my brain. Light and fluffy isn't usually my thing, so I need suggestions!"

Light and fluffy isn’t really my thing either, but I’ve recently started reading mysteries, especially historical ones, and going back to childhood favourites.

I recently read and loved The Widows of Malabar Hill and the Maggie Hope series starting with Mr. Churchill's Secretary. I’ve also heard good things about Maisie Dobbs but I’ve not read it yet.

Childhood favourite authors I go back to include Judy Blume, Jacqueline Wilson and C.S. Lewis.

[Samantha]

Jody wrote: "Help! I just finished The Wasp Factory, which was so unbelievably horrendous that I need something to bleach my brain. Light and fluffy isn't usually my thing, so I need suggestions!"

These are 3 books that have an edge but easy to read and perhaps a little fluffy.
Britt-Marie Was Here
Nine Perfect Strangers
Hit Man

[Jody]

I knoooow, I don’t do light and fluffy usually, so my TBR is useless! 😩 I think a kids book is the way to go, but it seriously needs to be a marshmallow book to wash that other book out of my brain.

I’m so glad you found the chook book!! That reminds me I have another by her on my shelf, but I don’t think I can do it, the chook broke me, even though it was beautiful. It’s so sad.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Jody, I don't know if this will help you, but after Know My Name: A Memoir, I needed a light book to listen to, so I went with The Royal We and enjoyed it way more than I expected to!

[Milena]

Jody wrote: "I knoooow, I don’t do light and fluffy usually, so my TBR is useless! 😩 I think a kids book is the way to go, but it seriously needs to be a marshmallow book to wash that other book out of my brain..."

How about Heidi or Anne of Green Gables? I don't read a lot of feel good books either, and I loved these.
I have to say you have me intrigued about The Wasp Factory

[Tracy]

Milena wrote: "I have to say you have me intrigued about The Wasp Factory..."

I think Peter got me interested in this one and I threw it on my TBR. There was a conversation about it somewhere. Now I really want to read it ( but with my eyes closed)

[Jody]

Ooh, Heidi! I have been meaning to read that (and I really should, since I’ve lived in Switzerland for seven years now!).

Re: The Wasp Factory - if you’re into (view spoiler)[being inside the mind of a psychopath and lots of animal torture (hide spoiler)] then this is the book for you. As a lot of you obviously know from my darker reading choices, I can take a lot, but this was too much even for me.

[Entropia]

I'm struggling to decide what to read for the next prompt:
Station Eleven
Always Coming Home or The Left Hand of Darkness or any other Ursula K. Le Guin's book, I haven't read anything by her and I don't really know where to start
The Bone People
Frankenstein

[Jody]

Frankenstein!! It's one of my all-time favourites - it's just so good. I'm an outlier with Station Eleven, a lot of people rave about it but I was underwhelmed (very, very fitting for the current COVID-19 situation though, so if you're overloaded and anxious about it in any way I'd probably avoid it).

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I agree with Jody! Frankenstein for sure, and maybe skip Station Eleven if you're overloaded on news.

[Sabrina]

I LOVE station eleven but you definitely have to be in the right mindset for it, especially right now. It could definitely increase anxiety, but I also think given the messages about the importance of human connection and art etc, it could really help and put things in perspective

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Sabrina wrote: "I LOVE station eleven but you definitely have to be in the right mindset for it, especially right now. It could definitely increase anxiety, but I also think given the messages about the importance..."

I generally dislike post-apocalypse, dystopia, etc. and I really liked Station Eleven because it had a positive side. However, I agree now might not be the best time for it. The Bone People has a plot about a child in an unhealthy family situation, so if that will bother you maybe not right now either. The thing about Frankenstein is that there is a LOT of frame story in fancy language before you get to the main plot. But it is worth reading.

[Entropia]

Thanks for opinions, everyone :D I will read bit of Station Eleven and Frankenstein and then decide. I shouldn't have problems with reading post-apo in current situation, as I have no problems with playing Pathologic (which is a game where you try to fight against extremely deadly disease outbreak and each day situation is becoming more grim). If anything, such stories make me calm in "well, at least it's not that bad yet" sort of way.

[Entropia]

I'm here again with a reading dillemma. I just got to LGBTQIA+ prompt and those are my options from my tbr (unless I missed something):

Amatka
Transcendent: The Year's Best Transgender Speculative Fiction
Luna: New Moon
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - I read a bit of it, but didn't really pull me in, but maybe it picks up later.
Edit: I forgot about The Outside

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I am not a sci-fi/high fantasy reader at all, so I would probably go with the short story anthology. Looks pretty cool!

[Sarah]

I've really struggled to concentrate on reading during lockdown. Any recs for something that will be easy to focus on would be great. Here's what I have to hand:

Highfire
The Worst Journey in the World
A Kiss Before Dying
Annihilation
Golden Son
The Swiss Family Robinson

Thanks!

[Entropia]

Annihilation is amazing, but I wouldn't peg it as "easy to focus on". No idea about the rest of the list.

[Milena]

I vote for Annihilation.

[Sarah]

Good news: my library is finally actioning holds again!

Bad news: This means I have 13 books to pick up, some of which I put on hold months ago and don't remember why. Oops!

I don't know where to start. I'm in the mood for a fantasy book so I've narrowed down my options to:
Blood of Tyrants
The Deathless Girls
A Throne of Swans
Poisoned
Steelheart
Half a King
The Three-Body Problem
Angels of Music
The Bedlam Stacks

[Nadine in NY]

Sarah wrote: "Good news: my library is finally actioning holds again!

Bad news: This means I have 13 books to pick up, some of which I put on hold months ago and don't remember why. Oops!

I don't know where to..."



The only one of those books I've read is Three Body Problem. It was EXCELLENT. I read it five years ago and I still think about it. But, it also requires a lot of focus.

It works for a few ATY categories: In the beginning, author's name does not contain ATY, maybe set in a country you've never visited, you could make a (weak) argument for a female villain, it starts out in the past, it's long ...

and for Popsugar, I think it's set in multiple countries (I get it confused with the other books in the series), and Pres Obama recommend it (past category was "rec by a celebrity" or something) and maybe you feel like everyone else has read it but you.

[Johanne]

Half a King is really good, if you're looking for a quick, slightly dark fantasy read. If you're familiar with Abercrombie, think how he usually is, and then toned down a bit (it's targeted teens, but the story is not lacking). It still has elements of no-one is only good or evil etc.

It's set mostly outdoors. And there's ice. I don't remember all the prompts and I don't remember which is which ;)

ETA: Just checked the list: There's also a female villain, it's set in a made-up place, travel-theme (depending on how you want to interpret it), and the title refers to the main character without naming him.

[Milena]

I agree with Nadine that The Three-Body Problem was really good. I would categorize it as sci-fi rather than fantasy though.

[Sarah]

Thanks guys! The book I'm reading at the mo is quite a heavy focus one so I'll probably give Half a King a try first

[Faith]

There is a email that I get daily which lists free books for that day. It is great to help you pick what to read next. I've gotten many free that turn out to be a big book from there. It is The Fussy Librarian. You can look at the free books on their site,too, if you don't want an email. I am not with/employed by them, I just love it!

thefussylibrarian (.com)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Thanks for this recommendation, Faith!