Any fiction suggestions for a somewhat picky reader? The Expanse lasted me a long while but I’m finishing up the novellas now and need to start looking for something new. Not necessarily in the same genre.
I don’t have a lot of books under my belt as an adult, but some of my favorites have been Stoner by John Williams, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, East of Eden, Catch 22, Flowers for Algernon, and Harry Potter. Kind of all over the place I guess. 😅
I’ve also enjoyed John Williams’ other novels, Piranesi, The Things They Carried, House of Leaves, and Ender’s Game and the sequel.
Some books I didn’t really care for include Hitchhiker’s Guide (although I loved the first half), Lolita, Sharp Objects, Turtles All the Way Down, The Stand, The Road, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451.
I’m always overwhelmed trying to find something new, so thanks for any suggestions!
EDIT: Thank you all! It’ll be a bit daunting exploring all these new books but not nearly as daunting as if I had no guidance, so I really appreciate it!
Ian M. Banks’s Culture series is pretty good sci-fi.
Currently on the third book in the Three Body Problem trilogy. Just absolutely mind-blowing. Highly recommended.
I’m really enjoying the Children of time series. Red rising is also a good one
Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Final Architecture trilogy ticks a lot of the same boxes as the Expanse. A blue collar crew of misfits from different factions gets caught in the center of a galaxy-spanning fight for survival.
I like the books and Adrian in general but he seriously needs a better editor. I was skipping whole pages by book 3 of nothing happening but the same inner monologue we already heard 10 times in the same book. I feel it’s the same thing that happened in children of memory. His series start so strong and then become way too bloated.
Couple of stand alone books:
The Paper Menagerie (and other stories)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Stardust
Johnathan Strange and Mr Norel
Couple of series:
Discworld (start with guards guards and follow a reading order guide)
The Culture
Malazan Book of the Fallen (be warned this is big and complex, but my fucking god is it rewarding. Especially on a second read through)
Children of Time
Final Architecture
In regards to Ocean at the end of the lane. You could really broaden that out to anything by Neil Gaiman (Ocean, stardust, graveyard book, neverware, good omens, american gods, etc. Etc.)
And if you like Neil’s fairytale-esque stuff, then check out Spinning Silver and Uprooted by Naomi Novik as well.
