47 - A book featuring a parallel reality

[Beth]

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It has a parallel reality of a surrealistic Japan. And talking cats!

[Ron]

Ellie wrote: "Saw in a round up of 2022 releases, Emily St. John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility described as involving parallel worlds."

I've been hearing about this one. I loved 'Station Eleven' and the synopsis for this seems great. Certainly a subject I would be into and one I'll most certainly save on my reading list.

[Georgia]

Would The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano work for this prompt?

[Kaia]

I think Neverwhere would fit, and as it's been at least a decade since I last read it, I think I'll read it again for this prompt.

[Megan]

I just finished Gilded by Marissa Meyer and I think it would qualify. The Erlking, ghosts, and other non-humans exist in a world "beyond the veil" that opens on full moons and soltices.

[Aleksandra]

Beth wrote: "Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It has a parallel reality of a surrealistic Japan. And talking cats!"

Has been waiting for this confirmation. Love Murakami.

1Q84 and Killing Commendatore would work for it too.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold (both books) have parallel feelings too.

[Samantha]

poshpenny wrote: "I read One Last Stop and don't think it fits here honestly. That's more of a weird time travel/loop kinda thing

I do love me some quantum fiction! Woohoo!

I've read and can confirm parallel reali..."

Have you read 14 by Cline? It's the first book in the series, before The Fold, and I was wondering if it also deals with parallel realities. I have it in my Audible TBR library.

Thanks!

[LauravanIttersum]

Do you think Hounded would work for this prompt?

[Jacqie]

For Hounded, it depends on how literally you take "parallel reality ". There is the secret world of magic hidden within mundane reality but there isn't a literal parallel portal world in this book. Later in the series the main character does go to different planes of existence.

[Brittany]

Would Landline work for this?

This is in the synopsis: "That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts..."

This book has been on shelf for yearssssssss........

[LauravanIttersum]

Jacqie wrote: "For Hounded, it depends on how literally you take "parallel reality ". There is the secret world of magic hidden within mundane reality but there isn't a literal parallel portal world in this book...."

Thanks! I reached the book you're talking about and decided to take that for the prompt.

[Sonya]

Kaia wrote: "I think Neverwhere would fit, and as it's been at least a decade since I last read it, I think I'll read it again for this prompt."


OHHHH Katia! Now I'm sad i read this book over christmas vacations! That was SO GOOD! I really loved it ! Anyone searching for a good book to fit this prompt should 100% read this one!

Also recommend Chrysanthe 1. La Princesse perdue (in its french version) but also available in english The Lost Princess It's not your usual princess story... LOVED IT!

[LeahS]

I was given Torn Clouds: A Novel of Reincarnation and Romance by Judy Hall by a friend who's interested in past life regression.

The book moves between present day London and ancient Egypt, as the MC explores her past lives. I enjoyed the parts set in ancient Egypt and the ideas about past life regression were sensibly discussed and shown. Not so sure about the homeopathy or the several praises of private healthcare - fine if you're an heiress like the MC....

[Lu]

Does Piranesi fit this category?

[Allegra]

The Gladiator by Harry Turtledove
I feel like I'm always reading books 1 month/year too early for challenges.
And there's always Replay by Ken Grimwood

[Kaia]

Sonya wrote: "OHHHH Katia! Now I'm sad i read this book over christmas vacations! That was SO GOOD! I really loved it ! Anyone searching for a good book to fit this prompt should 100% read this one! "

I just finished it (Neverwhere: A Novel for this prompt and it was definitely worth a reread. I managed to get the "author's version" from the library, but it's been so long since I last read it, I can't tell where the changes were. As good as the first time I read it.

[Lisa Marie]

PROMPT #47: Book featuring a parallel reality

I read Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

[Dea]

Ron wrote: "I'm barely starting on The Wheel of Time series but I think it would be a good fit. I looked up some information on the series and it talks about Mirror Worlds that deal with the "what if" paths in..."

The parallel world is in these books:
The Great Hunt (longest appearance)
The Shadow Rising
Towers of Midnight (very briefly)

If you're hoping to read multiple WOT books…
• Any WOT book also features the Old Tongue, to fit the "two languages" prompt.
• There are several "non-patriarchal societies": Tar Valon, Far Madding, the Aiel, the Sea Folk, Arad Doman, Andor… Every book includes at least one of them.
• Every one of them has been on booktok. There are entire TikTok accounts devoted to it…
• "Knife of Dreams" will fit as "cutlery."
• A book about a secret is, well, all of them. Secrets everywhere.
• Several characters (many characters) are leading a double life.
• The Breaking is a man-made disaster; there are also lots of wars, which would count.
• The Eye of the World starts during two holidays: Winternight and Bel Tine.

And if you're willing to stretch it…
• The Aes Sedai are called "witches" by the Whitecloaks and some individuals.
• Season 2 is coming out on Prime this year (books 2/3, mainly).
• There are definitely more than a few with sapphic romance, though it is only a small thread. I would have to look up which ones.

So you could conceivably fit in twelve of fifteen this year. If you use "past Popsugar prompt" (map, for instance) and "first letter/last letter" prompts, you could do fourteen out of fifteen.

[Dea]

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle could fit. Meg has to venture into a sort of other dimension to save Charles Wallace.

For that matter, A Swiftly Tilting Planet could also fit, as Charles Wallace tries to prevent another disaster.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King also fits the prompt.

Another option would be the Completionist Chronicles LitRPG series by Dakota Krout. In it, readers immerse themselves in an alternate reality video game.

Ritualist
Regicide
Rexus: Side Quest
Raze
Ruthless
Inflame

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is another virtual reality. There's also a sequel, Ready Player Two.

[Dea]

Apparently I'm full of parallel reality ideas.

Cornelia Funke has a great book-based alternate reality series for young adults.

Inkheart
Inkspell
Inkdeath

[Ron]

Dea wrote:"The parallel world is in these books:
The Great Hunt (longest appearance)
The Shadow Rising
Towers of Midnight (very briefly)

If you're hoping to read multiple WOT books…
• Any WOT book also features the Old Tongue, to fit the "two languages" prompt.
• There are several "non-patriarchal societies": Tar Valon, Far Madding, the Aiel, the Sea Folk, Arad Doman, Andor… Every book includes at least one of them.
• Every one of them has been on booktok. There are entire TikTok accounts devoted to it…
• "Knife of Dreams" will fit as "cutlery."
• A book about a secret is, well, all of them. Secrets everywhere.
• Several characters (many characters) are leading a double life.
• The Breaking is a man-made disaster; there are also lots of wars, which would count.
• The Eye of the World starts during two holidays: Winternight and Bel Tine.

And if you're willing to stretch it…
• The Aes Sedai are called "witches" by the Whitecloaks and some individuals.
• Season 2 is coming out on Prime this year (books 2/3, mainly).
• There are definitely more than a few with sapphic romance, though it is only a small thread. I would have to look up which ones.

So you could conceivably fit in twelve of fifteen this year. If you use "past Popsugar prompt" (map, for instance) and "first letter/last letter" prompts, you could do fourteen out of fifteen"

Oh wow, thanks so much for the help!

I'll keep these notes so I have something to refer back to when I use my WoT books.

[Rachel]

Lu wrote: "Does Piranesi fit this category?"

I just finished Piranesi and am using it for this prompt. Definitely thinks it fits. Also LOVED this book

[Jamie]

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly would be a great option for this prompt. It's one of my favorite books.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is another of my favorite books that would fit, but it's already been mentioned.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman would also work.

Probably also The Gates by John Connolly (or any of the rest of the series) if you consider Hell to be a parallel reality.

I haven't read it yet, but I think The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia might work, too?

[Running]

if thinking in terms of worlds on worlds, could Lore Olympus work? you have the God realm and the mortal realm?

[Julie]

Gemini the second book of the Illuminae series!

[Dcbk]

I just read The Cartographers and think it would work.

[Teri]

I just finished The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi and I think it would work, although it doesn't have the element of an alternate "you" in the parallel world. It's an excellent book.

I'm about to start Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel for my 2022 book, but if it better fits this prompt I'll just switch these two.

[Ron]

Teri wrote: I'm about to start Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel for my 2022 book, but if it better fits this prompt I'll just switch these two.

I have this book to and was hoping to add it somewhere in one of my book challenges (I'm currently doing 3) so this seems perfect for this prompt.

[Nadine in NY]

Teri wrote: "I just finished The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi and I think it would work, although it doesn't have the element of an alternate "you" in the parallel wor..."


I'm reading that right now, and as soon as they stepped through that portal, I decided I was using it for "parallel reality"!

[Sherri]

I read A Master of Djinn

[chysodema]

Teri wrote: "I just finished The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi and I think it would work, although it doesn't have the element of an alternate "you" in the parallel wor..."

Perfect, thank you! I'm trying not to keep adding more to my TBR at this point in my challenge planning and Kaiju is already slotted as an audiobook read for this year.

[Ron]

The more I think about it, while I do want to read Sea of Tranquility , I think for this prompt I'm going to go the nonfiction route which is more science and physics (a genre way out of my wheelhouse).

I've kind of looked into it and here are a couple of definitions I found that I think could work for the prompt:

a Multiverse is the name for all the parallel universes within the multiverse and parallel universe is just one instance of an universe.

*****

The different universes within the multiverse are called "parallel universes"

*****
Here is one I might end up trying:

The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos

[Jen W.]

Risa wrote: "Has anyone read This Is How You Lose the Time War? Would it work for this prompt?"

I think it would, yes.

[Ron]

On another thought, I've also got the book adaptation of the movie Interstellar which could also work.

[Nadine in NY]

Ron wrote: "On another thought, I've also got the book adaptation of the movie Interstellar which could also work."


I JUST put that movie on hold at my library!!! We'll probably watch it this weekend.

[Marianne]

I just raped Bunny by Mona Awad. My daughter had just read it so I snagged it from her without intention of using it for the challenge but I think it fits here.

[Marianne]

OMG! Autocorrect. I READ Bunny!

[John]

Would Oona Out of Order be considered parallel realities? If not, what prompts might be appropriate?

[Britany]

Finished One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Heather L]

I read Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde, fourth book in the Thursday Next series. I can’t believe it’s been three years since I read book three. Definitely need to shorten that gap between books four and five! 😐

[Janette]

Would work for this prompt?

[John]

In my opinion yes, since the first time she was 16 was different from forty years of experience occupying again a 16 year old body.

[Tiffany]

It's really long but I recommend Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King. It also works for social horror, set in a nonpatriarchial society, and a book with a misleading title.

[Joanna]

I used Present Tense Machine for this one.

[Vaish]

I read Love Connection.. This was an okay-novel. The concept is unique, I can definitely give it that. Having two parallel-running story-lines with the same characters but different choices, intrigued me a lot at first. That is, until I noticed the author keep going back to the same things in both storylines. Although I do get the why, it got on my nerves she sometimes uses the exact same descriptions and dialogues in both story lines.