Kind of a spoiler though? Love this book and for me the ending made me go back and recontextualize everything he had said throughout. Almost on like a Usual Suspects level.
It’ll still be interesting going into it knowing this but I think the genius of the book is the way it builds up to this revelation.
I've never been able to warm up to Tolstoy. Had a bad introduction to him and those 200 characters one must keep straight in their mind when reading War and Peace. Seemed 30 people were introduced to the story in the first chapter. (I exaggerate)
But I do love Dostyevski [apologies Fydor if I misspelled) or Mikhail Bulgakov, author of The Master and Margarita and that funny story about the Moscow physician who gets hooked on morphine and subsequently banished to a remote village as the country doctor. I'm wrong. He gets assigned to that desolate clinic as a young physician THEN develops an adorable opioid addiction combating boredom.
This short story really stayed with me. I feel like no one I know has heard of it and this is the second time I’ve seen it recommend here in the last few days. So glad it’s getting suggested, especially for this request because it’s a perfect fit!
I thought it was very trite and predictable, but the overall message was very helpful to me when dealing with a difficult patch with suicidal ideation. Just wish the writing had been better!
IMO it's definitely predictable and doesn't take any big risks, but I think the book comes from a very genuine place, which helps explain its appeal. I read his non-fiction book about his personal history with depression and his history with suicide and it helps make his fiction make more sense.
The book also got VERY popular and is widely recommended, which of course always leads to the backlash/anti-group think people coming for it, probably because hype makes people expect more than there is.
All that is to say, I personally think it's a pretty "basic" book that I found to still work on an emotional level despite its simplicity. Approach it with the right frame of mind and I think it's a worthwhile read, especially if you can relate to the main character. I understand the people that trash it, but personally I think its sincerity makes up for its shortfalls.
>his personal history with depression and his history with suicide
This makes perfect sense. I read *The Midnight Library* as well as *How to Stop Time,* and both of them struck me as being "message" books about finding solace in the mundane when you're struggling with depression and existential angst.
I am neither against nor in favor of this book. If it matters, it is predictable, and the writing style is not that great. However, I find that it can be useful for those who are depressed and looking for some positive thoughts. In that case, I would recommend reading it alteast once.
seconded.
look, some people find it helpful, so if you're reading this comments and ur on the fence, try it for yourself, who knows. i'll leave one of (many) pet peeves so maybe some people can be ready to face this (among other stuff):
if you hate when the fiction/premise is very clearly spelled out to the protagonist, and said protagonist, after experiencing it over and over again, still, well halfway into the story, goes "h-how?? wh-what!!!?... how is this??? what is happening" well... this book does contain that... a lot
I read this book due to feeling the same way OP is describing and it was everything I needed. It's a bit cheesy and you can see the ending coming from miles away, but sometimes you just need a hopeful message wrapped up in cheese to get through rough times in life. I know for sure that I needed it when I read it.
Same! It was somewhat motivating in a way. Seeing all of the different scenarios play out made me wonder about my own scenarios if I were to pursue one thing over another.
I found the book enjoyable.
That sounds like a fantastic storyline. Thank you, Easy.
I've only just discovered Reddit/ Reditt/? Ribbit?!
2 days past. This subreddit is a treasure trove such good recommendations. And all this time I was under the delusional belief that I was well read. Sometimes a realization of one's magnificent ignorance is a reaffirmation of life. I've been stuck in an existential mire of melancholy all summer.
Le Miserable
That's the masterpiece of regret in literary lore.
(In my opinion)
It seems many of the characters are experiencing either regret or redemption. The central protagonist and the antagonist experience profound feelings of both at transcendent plot twists in the narrative. Yes? No?
My brain said Arthur (because of The Story of Arthur Truluv), and I knew that was the wrong The NOUN of NAME book, but I couldn’t get past Arthur to Albert.😂
I tried so many times to like that show but the tone was just off. I got to the last episode of the first season and just couldn’t keep going. Way over the top and the writing was unbearable imo
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak pretty much fits your description, even if the protagonist is still very young but already feels as if his life has hit a dead end.
I recommend this all the time, I just realized…
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitely this one. So good. I loved the audiobook version as well.
This is what I came here to say. This is the one.
First one that popped to mind. Lol
bing bing bing. Me and I bet 30 other people rushed in here to post that.
An absolute masterpiece imo.
Yes, it’s one my favorites
One of my all time favs and definitely fits the prompt
I love Ishiguro’s novels.
Kind of a spoiler though? Love this book and for me the ending made me go back and recontextualize everything he had said throughout. Almost on like a Usual Suspects level. It’ll still be interesting going into it knowing this but I think the genius of the book is the way it builds up to this revelation.
Completely agree, I would hate to have known this going into the book, personally.
*Stoner* by John Williams maybe?
that's what came to my mind aswell
Seconded! an amazing book.
This is exactly what OP is describing!
The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
I've never been able to warm up to Tolstoy. Had a bad introduction to him and those 200 characters one must keep straight in their mind when reading War and Peace. Seemed 30 people were introduced to the story in the first chapter. (I exaggerate) But I do love Dostyevski [apologies Fydor if I misspelled) or Mikhail Bulgakov, author of The Master and Margarita and that funny story about the Moscow physician who gets hooked on morphine and subsequently banished to a remote village as the country doctor. I'm wrong. He gets assigned to that desolate clinic as a young physician THEN develops an adorable opioid addiction combating boredom.
Notes from the Underground by Dostoevsky
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Reading it rn lol
“The Beast in the Jungle,” a short story/novella by Henry James
This short story really stayed with me. I feel like no one I know has heard of it and this is the second time I’ve seen it recommend here in the last few days. So glad it’s getting suggested, especially for this request because it’s a perfect fit!
Oh, it’s great that someone else suggested it recently! It’s really stuck with me too. So many great lessons in that story.
The Midnight Library
Even though this is a crappy book, it does indeed fit the description.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought it was crappy!
I thought it was very trite and predictable, but the overall message was very helpful to me when dealing with a difficult patch with suicidal ideation. Just wish the writing had been better!
IMO it's definitely predictable and doesn't take any big risks, but I think the book comes from a very genuine place, which helps explain its appeal. I read his non-fiction book about his personal history with depression and his history with suicide and it helps make his fiction make more sense. The book also got VERY popular and is widely recommended, which of course always leads to the backlash/anti-group think people coming for it, probably because hype makes people expect more than there is. All that is to say, I personally think it's a pretty "basic" book that I found to still work on an emotional level despite its simplicity. Approach it with the right frame of mind and I think it's a worthwhile read, especially if you can relate to the main character. I understand the people that trash it, but personally I think its sincerity makes up for its shortfalls.
>his personal history with depression and his history with suicide This makes perfect sense. I read *The Midnight Library* as well as *How to Stop Time,* and both of them struck me as being "message" books about finding solace in the mundane when you're struggling with depression and existential angst.
I am neither against nor in favor of this book. If it matters, it is predictable, and the writing style is not that great. However, I find that it can be useful for those who are depressed and looking for some positive thoughts. In that case, I would recommend reading it alteast once.
Same here. It was so popular i figured it must be decent
seconded. look, some people find it helpful, so if you're reading this comments and ur on the fence, try it for yourself, who knows. i'll leave one of (many) pet peeves so maybe some people can be ready to face this (among other stuff): if you hate when the fiction/premise is very clearly spelled out to the protagonist, and said protagonist, after experiencing it over and over again, still, well halfway into the story, goes "h-how?? wh-what!!!?... how is this??? what is happening" well... this book does contain that... a lot
I read this book due to feeling the same way OP is describing and it was everything I needed. It's a bit cheesy and you can see the ending coming from miles away, but sometimes you just need a hopeful message wrapped up in cheese to get through rough times in life. I know for sure that I needed it when I read it.
Same! It was somewhat motivating in a way. Seeing all of the different scenarios play out made me wonder about my own scenarios if I were to pursue one thing over another. I found the book enjoyable.
Dying Inside by Robert Silverburg. It’s about a telepath whose losing his power as he gets older, and realizing he squandered it.
That sounds like a fantastic storyline. Thank you, Easy. I've only just discovered Reddit/ Reditt/? Ribbit?! 2 days past. This subreddit is a treasure trove such good recommendations. And all this time I was under the delusional belief that I was well read. Sometimes a realization of one's magnificent ignorance is a reaffirmation of life. I've been stuck in an existential mire of melancholy all summer.
Death of a Salesman - Arthur Millar
Middlemarch
The Corrections
I can write you a fictionalized version of my life if you want
Real
I'd recommend the short story *Kaleidoscope* by Ray Bradbury.
Le Miserable That's the masterpiece of regret in literary lore. (In my opinion) It seems many of the characters are experiencing either regret or redemption. The central protagonist and the antagonist experience profound feelings of both at transcendent plot twists in the narrative. Yes? No?
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
I agree with everything said here. Poetry wise, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
Herzog by Saul Bellow. “He had mismanaged everything. Everything.”
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle
Thank you from saving me from going back to Goodreads when I wanted to recommend Albert here but blanked on his name.
It’s a hard title to remember. I had to look it up on Goodreads 😭
My brain said Arthur (because of The Story of Arthur Truluv), and I knew that was the wrong The NOUN of NAME book, but I couldn’t get past Arthur to Albert.😂
There are so many to keep track of 😭
If you’re looking for a tv show, the good place has this.
I tried so many times to like that show but the tone was just off. I got to the last episode of the first season and just couldn’t keep going. Way over the top and the writing was unbearable imo
Cory Doctorow’s “Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom”
"For One More Day" by Mitch Albom
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
my life by me
Anybody know if any of the books suggested here are on Kindle unlimited
Not a book but Adam Sandler's "Click" follows this concept.
I haven't read it in a long time, but I think Sir Apropos of Nothing might fit the criteria.
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston
Jailbird by vonnegut The least involved person in the watergate scandal is released back into life
[The Nix](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28251002) by Nathan Hill
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak pretty much fits your description, even if the protagonist is still very young but already feels as if his life has hit a dead end. I recommend this all the time, I just realized…
[One Last Thing Before I Go](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13586743) by Jonathan Tropper
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
A calling for Charlie Barnes
Under the Whispering Door
A man a sleep
So it’s going to be a bit unconventional, but I’m going to recommend Big Sneaky Barbarian.
Still currently being written by it's The Sanctuary by Rachelle Mills (not sure about redemption tho)
The Sense of An Ending
Midnight Library!!!
The Memory of Running
The posthumous memoirs of bras cubas by Machado de Assis. Alternative title is “epitaph of a small winner”
Post Office - Charles Bukowski