Forums » Reading Corner » Read Thread

I'm looking for some book recommendations, and would like to hear some thoughts from the community. What is one book that you could not put down until it was finished? Not because it was short or you had an assignment due, but because you were genuinely enthralled from the beginning. I'll accept any genre, provided you give a short description and what in particular about it made it so engaging (without giving too much away, please!).

I'll start-

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
This one is hard to explain without spoiling the entire story. It's the kind of book I recommend going in blind. The basic starting plot is that there's a guy trapped in an unending labyrinth without any memory of who he is or how he got there. The prose is interesting from the start, and the wordplay used throughout is very imaginative. It's pacing was perfect. This was one of those few books where I had to focus on not jumping forward and reading ahead because it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Its main genre was fantasy/mystery and delved a little into thriller at the end. It's one of my highly recommended. :)

The Haunting of Hill House buy Shirley Jackson.

Read it for Spooky Month and I've be trying to get someone else to check it out too. It's pretty much the peak of haunted house fiction and was a big inspiration for The Shining. Intense psychological horror combined with a fantastic character study, and a famous opening paragraph that gets quoted often for how well it sets the tone.

There's a thread where it was discussed a bit more, but it's not an especially long book and you cold plow through it minus any spoilers in a weekend if you didn't have much else going on.

That one's actually been at the top of my to-read list for a while! I actually remember you mentioning it and wanting to comment on it, then realizing that I... still hadn't read it. ':D I'll certainly have to check it out. The mention of an 'intense character study' gives me tingles.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.

Its' description of setting and 19th century culture is so detailed and historically accurate there's actually a fan theory that Anne herself is a vampire who lived in those times. It also brings up several interesting points about anatomy, and the conflict between Lestat and Louis is engaging, yet believable and a good example of a toxic relationship. The interaction between Louis and Claudia is... well. A bit disturbing, even for me. But overall well worth the read.

I actually prefer the sequel, Prince Lestat. But you gotta start with the original to fully appreciate the sequel.

You want me to read about GAY VAMPIRES?! I just read The Talented Mr. Ripley, I can't handle anymore murderous European homosexuals. :(

When making this list, I realized most of the stories that gripped me had the same three features:

1) Humorous & distinct first person narration
2) A very high-stakes and tense plot
3) Complex and creative worldbuilding that the plot hinges on

Namely:
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Fantastic book, consider this my chief recommendation. Read it all in a day or two. One section in the middle has the most tense sequence I have ever read in a book. The Martian (same author) is similar.
- The Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher (the first four, at least, I haven't read the rest.) I pretty much have to finish these in one sitting.
- Eternal, I read most of the paragon branch in one sitting.
- The scholomance series by Naomi Novik.

I also tore through the foundation series by Aasimov, but I would not describe those books as gripping, they just happened to appeal to me.

Ah, I did have the thought to read Project Hail Mary because I planned on seeing the upcoming movie. I'll have to put it at the top of my list so I can read it in time. I know a friend had similar feelings about the middle. :)

If you like Piranesi, House of Leaves is an obvious one. 

I recently really dug Hollow by Brian Catling, fucked up historical fantasy horror novel about Hieronymous Bosch paintings coming to life 

The poor thing has been sitting on my shelf for over a year. I'm not sure why I've never gotten to it, especially considering how much I love ergodic literature (17776 ha). I'm sure the combination of general laziness and unwillingness to start a new book is to blame. :/

Hollow also sounds just about right up my alley. I'll have to add it to the list.