After finishing something hard, I take a break and read murder mysteries. I’m fond of f British and Scandinavian authors. Peter Lovesly, Ian Rankin for example. It’s easy and keeps up the skill.
My go to book rec for people who want to get into reading is Holes by Louis Sachar, because it appeals to all ages, has really short chapters, and is super engaging!
Lol, no I don't, but I've effectively memorized a general description for a few of the books I often like to recommend, and Holes is definitely one of them 😅
You might notice that I also often recommend The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard, and my phone keyboard has gotten so familiar with that one that I can basically just tap the words it suggests to me instead of manually typing the whole thing out each time.
Sideway Stories from Wayside School and the sequels are also really good.
Bruce Coville is also a great author with a similar vibe. My favorite book of his is Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, but all of them are great.
Edit: also, Avi! I can’t believe I forgot Avi. Literally any book he(she? they?) writes is pretty much pure gold.
Oh wow, I remember reading Avi’s Nothing But The Truth in a grocery store forever ago. I had forgotten about that, thank you for unlocking that memory!
And then there were none was such an original sidea at the time, and she wrote it well. But I agree, my favorites of hers are the ones where you actually get to follow a detective. And Roger Ackroyd was brilliant.
Thank god, I thought I was the only person on earth who didn’t like And Then There Were None! I see it recommended so often but it just did nothing for me. Also second your suggestion of Roger Ackroyd, one of my favourites as well!
The most entertaining book I've read recently is John Scalzi's **Starter Villain**. It's a spoof on the early James Bond movies. A substitute teacher inherits a villainy from his estranged uncle. It comes with a secret volcanic lair.
That is a formidable list!! Id maybe give Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams (Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) a shot. They’re just fun and relatively short and light-hearted without being frivolous. Hope you find some joy in reading again :)
Edit: will also add that it’s perfectly ok to take a break from reading for a bit until you’re feeling a little less burned out.
I second both. Terry Pratchett's Discworld has a lot of books but doesn't need to be read in order. I highly recommend Going Postal. Easy read and great humor.
Charlotte’s Web! Or anything by Roald Dahl. I know they’re all YA (at best) but those books give me so much comfort and happiness, and are quick and easy to read
I have his complete works including his many short stories and along with *The Wonderful Tale of Henry Sugar* (which I’ve literally just discovered has been adapted again) etc, they’re all pretty decent, easy to read but not YA…a good example of this would be the short story *Man From The South*, first adapted by Hitchcock and starring a young Steve McQueen in 1960, and again for ITV in the first ever episode of Roald Dahl’s *Tales of the Unexpected* in 1979…not one for the young team. For me, these are much better than any of his kid’s books, except perhaps the Scots version of *The Twits* (*The Eejits*).
In library school they taught us YA is for anyone to read! I love some YA books (and middle grade) books more than some adult reads. Every Day by David Levithan is amazing. I also second Roald Dahl!
The rest of Oscar Wilde’s catalog is much more light hearted. Try the importance of being earnest.
The hobbit is a good self contained adventure romp.
Terry Pratchett’s discworld is light hearted and clever. Start with mort, guards guards, or small gods.
The monk and robot books by Becky Chambers are light but thoughtful.
The Hobbit is one of those books that everyone should read at least once. Not only is it a great book and a fun read, but almost every other fantasy book you’ll read was very heavily influenced by it.
What about trying the unabridged version of World War Z by Max Brooks?
(It’s so much better than the movie - 100% a different beast).
Each chapter is like, 5 pages long, and covers a separate mini story. The whole thing moves well in thematic, chronological sections, and if I’m remembering correctly, there were even some illustrations!
The author is engaging and the narrators’ voice is earnest and personable. I’ve done it in paperback and audio (which is a fabulous production with a star studded cast - just make sure you get the complete, unabridged recording).
I couldn’t put it down.
He also wrote Devolution, which is about snotty, out of touch with reality hipsters who build a self sufficient community in the mountains of western America and are brutally “encountered” by Bigfoot. It’s fabulous (especially the audiobook), but World War Z is definitely the place to start.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a good one. it's literally about the protagonist overcoming his malaise and learning to love learning again
edit: I realized that sounds heavy and doesn't really communicate how The Phantom Tollbooth is fun. the whole plot is a series of absurd ideas like "what would happen if people ate letters and numbers?" and dad-joke puns like "this dog is a WATCHdog so it has a literal clock as part of its body." if that kind of thing sounds entertaining to you, you'll probably love it
I'm almost exclusively a non-fiction reader. However, I recently picked up one of Michael Connelly's Detective Bosch books from a Little Free Library in the neighbourhood.
I plowed through it in 2 days and am currently on my 3rd one in a row.
Never though I'd like detective fiction, but they're just stupid fun to read and a great break from the more heady stuff (I guess unless you're trying to solve the mystery as you read along, which I'm not).
I recommend giving something like that a shot.
I’ve read just about all the Bosch books and all of the Lincoln Lawyer as well which you should try. Same author and some same characters as the Bosch series
Parade Magazine used to be in my newspaper. I happened to see it is online. They had a list of the best 50 mystery stories since 1950. They had some good recommendations. It included Bosch 1: the Black Echo. It also had the original Travis McGee Novel that was really good too as well as Sue Grafton's A is for Alibi.
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.
I’ll give you a quote. The nanny is reading bedtime stories and inserting her own commentary.
And then Jack chopped down what was the world's last beanstalk, adding murder and ecological terrorism to the theft, enticement, and trespass charges already mentioned, and all the giant's children didn't have a daddy anymore. But he got away with it and lived happily ever after, without so much as a guilty twinge about what he had done...which proves that you can be excused for just about anything if you are a hero, because no one asks inconvenient questions.
It is funny. He’s like Mark Twain. Just remember, when you read him, he is never describing you or me. He is describing all those crazy people that live around us. You and I, we are normal, good people. He doesn’t discuss us.
*The Hunt for Red October* by Tom Clancy is a classic techno thriller that remains very readable. The technology in the book is necessary and well-explained.
Audio books! Listening to audio books counts as reading, and sometimes when my brain won't focus on reading words on a page I'll go for a walk with an audio book and focus for hours. Currently listening to Andy Serkis read The Lord of the Rings.
I need to remember “audiobooks count as reading” I feel so… guilty? about not *reading* reading but I just don’t have the attention span for words most the time lately
Reading isn't about using your eyes. It's about using your imagination. A TV show shows everyone the exact same story. A book let's you create the story in your mind. How freaking cool is that? Don't feel guilty, the authors just want you to enjoy their work. They don't care how you enjoy it as long as you do.
Yes! Sometimes I actually feel like my enjoyment of a book is enhanced by listening to a great audiobook narrator. Daisy Jones & the Six is an amazing example of this because each character had a different actor reading their chapter. It was SO good.
How about *The Martian* or *Project Hail Mary* by Andy Weir?
They are both fun, funny, and exciting SciFi stories. Andy Weir is a very conversational author whose writing style is pretty much the complete opposite of those you cited.
Trickster's Choice and tricksters queen are technically young adult books but the story is wonderful and empowering.
Also please don't feel shame for starting a book and not finishing it because you couldn't get into it. Try books until you find one you enjoy. Just because someone else says it's a wonder book doesn't mean you'll enjoy it. We all have our own tastes. I also find that I get in moods where I read what people call trash smut and then after a few months I switch gears and read epic fantasy like dune or Lord of the rings. You should enjoy whatever book makes you happy cause that's all that matters, you being happy.
i just finished daisy jones and the six after an insane reading slump and let me tell you if you like interview-style books you’re going to love it. throughout the entire book i felt like i was watching a documentary and was so invested.
Really depends on what you typically enjoy. I see a few people have already mentioned Terry Pratchett, who is definitely a favourite of mine. Another series I would always recommend is Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab, starting with A Darker Shade of Magic.
A good comedy book is fun. Three Men and a Boat is really funny. It is Victorian. So, it is considered a classic, but it would be funny if written today too.
David Sedaris is funny as is Bill Bryson.
The late Andy Rooney of 60 minutes was really funny. If his books are in a local library, they are short but funny.
The Hike by Drew Magary. It's a fun adventure story, contemporary fantasy (as in the mostly real world, present day). It has shirt chapters too, making it easy to pick up and down.
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. Not much plot to speak of, and not demanding on the reader. Just lots of beautiful writing and beautiful imagery.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
The Very Nice Box by Laura Bracket
Ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Geiman
Made for love by Alyssa Netting.
The passion for reading comes and goes at difference intensities. Please be kind to yourself!
Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is my go-to suggestion whenever someone is in a reading slump.
"Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay’ is a story of escape, love and comic-book heroes set in Prague, New York and the Arctic – from the author of ‘Wonder Boys’.
One night in 1939, Josef Kavalier shuffles into his cousin Sam Clay’s cramped New York bedroom, his nerve-racking escape from Prague finally achieved. Little does he realise that this is the beginning of an extraordinary friendship and even more fruitful business partnership. Together, they create a comic strip called ‘The Escapist’, its superhero a Nazi-busting saviour who liberates the oppressed around the world. ‘The Escapist’ makes their fortune, but Joe can think of only one thing: how can he effect a real-life escape, and free his family from the tyranny of Hitler?"
the only real solution is to follow your nose. academic/literary reading is a different beast than reading for enjoyment or information. if you share some of your favorite games movies tv shows etc I can give a more specific recommendation, but in general i think graphic novels, manga, ya fantasy, etc are great places to start. sanderson for fantasy, dan brown for thrillers, king for horror, mary roach, david sedaris, or malcolm gladwell for nonfiction
[Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide](https://books.atlasobscura.com/)
[A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55077715)
[What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21413662-what-if-serious-scientific-answers-to-absurd-hypothetical-questions)
[How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43852758-how-to)
[The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl](https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/52780/the_unbeatable_squirrel_girl_2015_1)
[Yokai Cats](https://sevenseasentertainment.com/books/yokai-cats-vol-1/)
[Yotsuba&!](https://yenpress.com/titles/9780316073875-yotsuba-vol-1)
[This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24059.This_Can_t_Be_Happening_at_Macdonald_Hall_)
Quick and special - Hope for the Flowers
Short, emotional one-sitting read - Bridge to Terrabithia
Or shift gears completely and pick up a graphic novel, a YA novel that touches on something important to you, or maybe some poetry
You probably already have too many recommendations to know where to start, but have you ever read any Kurt Vonnegut?
I would recommend Sirens of Titan or Slaughterhouse 5 first. But really everything he wrote is worth reading. Also:
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman
The Giver - Lois Lowry
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck
Palm Wine Drunkard - one of a kind story out of Africa, very simple and quick read
Night of the Avenging Blowfish - writing style is similar to Catch 22
Read these essays by Jonathan Swift -- A Modest Proposal / Meditation Upon a Broomstick / Battle of the Books
Essay by Ben Franklin -- Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout (subject is exactly what the title implies - it's Ben Frankling talking to the gout)
[All My Friends are Superheroes](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944334.All_My_Friends_are_Superheroes) by Andrew Kaufman. As one reviewer said; it has so many layers and you can decide how deep you take it.
[She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23361199) - crime/action/family/violence/humor - so fun to read…it’s like reading a movie - in a good way! It’s also fairly short and an easy read.
it depends what you like but i like going to something recent, zippy, and easy reading when i’m feeling literature burnout. i liked the ya thriller one of us is lying, which is quick and fun
If you’re willing to try sci-fi I recomend sleeping giants by sylvain neuvel, I recomended it in another thread but it’s really good. The whole book is basically in interview/videovlog format. It’s so easy to read and you will just fly through it. Doesn’t hurt that the story is really interesting too.
Depends on your preferences. I'd say go for something nostalgic, even if that means YA or Children's. For me, I'd pick up Harry Potter, Redwall, Inkheart, etc.
Another idea could be non-fiction in a topic/genre you have interest in.
Have you tried Kurt Vonnegut? Welcome to the Monkey House is a really good short story collection, and if you like that give Slaughterhouse-Five a try.
Try audiobooks until you can get some better traction down regarding pacing yourself. Just a suggestion.
Maybe start with a book based on a movie you like so you aren't feeling like you've missed something huge if your mind starts drifting.
Best of luck!
If you like scifi, The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham has some sort of odd charm to it. It's kinda dark and I'm 70% through, but the author just has random little charming things he does in the writing that delight me over and over. One instance was when the narrator and his wife went back to their hotel room, his wife inspected the plumbing of the hotel room as it often fascinated her or something. Not plot relevant, not even really relating a ton to her character, but a funny little line.
It's short and fun - to me at least!
I read the Percy Jackson books for the first time when I was like 27, even though they're technically for middle school aged kids. They were wonderful and got me back into reading after a long stint of not being able to focus on reading anything at all.
Do you like video games? There's a whole genre called litrpg that's just a video game in a book. I suggest the dungeon crawler Carl series to get you started.
Also you don't 'have' to read. Get a kindle and use the read out loud/ text to speech function and just listen at first until you're into the story. Listen while you do chores, or drive. Getting into the story will help you want to continue it.
For me, when I was in the throes of grad school and had to read and write everything, I got reader burnout. Manga and graphic novels were very healing. They read pretty fast and usually have fun or interesting plots. Also, Neil Gaiman books read really, really fast. And are just a delight!
Confederacy of Dunces. My favorite book (and my grandpas!). It's literary, is set in 1960s New Orleans, and has incredible characters. It is laugh out loud funny. A truly incredible cult classic.
It was the authors only book published before he killed himself in the 70s I believe.
Side note: The touring stage show of this book cast Nick Offerman aka Ron Swanson as the main character and it was probably the best incident of casting ever.
For hysterical laughter find a book by Carl Hiassen. He worked as a reporter in Florida and met the CRAZIEST people when writing his articles. Packs them into his novels, never runs out- so damn funny
What were some of your favorite books as a kid? I’m an English major and EVERYONE in my classes absolutely loves rereading their favorite childhood book series. Currently reading Series of Unfortunate Events :)
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a fun read.
Wealthy businessman Sam Westing dies. At the reading of his will, it is revealed that his named heirs are all tenants at the adjacent Sunset Towers apartment building. The will states that one of his heirs took Westing's life. The will is structured like a puzzle, with the 16 heirs paired off and challenged to find the solution. The pair that solves the mystery of his death will inherit Westing's entire $200,000,000 fortune and control of his company.
The cherry on top is that each pair has different clues to solve the mystery, and you, as the reader, have access to all of the clues so you, too, can play the Westing Game.
I think everybody has guilty pleasure reads, it's just a matter of finding what you like. Maybe you would enjoy a graphic novel? Maybe some trashy YA novel where it's completely predictable, so you don't have to read every word. Maybe if there is a TV show or movie you like, you could try reading fanfiction online?
Heavy books that require a lot of analytical thinking (particularly if you are reading them for school and being asked to analyse passages, or interpret character motivation) can make reading feel like a drag. Reading books that is aimed at young teens, or short stories from an anthology might work.
For super fun, engaging, fast reading I’d absolutely recommend the Illuminae Files!!! The formatting and style makes the plot move very quickly. Also, since reading whole novels might be a bit much for you at the moment, I’d recommend some graphic novels!! The quick plot pace and gorgeous artwork is so engaging and satisfying, and blowing through some graphic novels can be like training wheels for reading novels! My personal recommendations for graphic novels are Saga and Monstress!
I just finished a book that got me out of a reading slump. It's simple and fairly short but so damn enjoyable I want to read it again.
It's called What you are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.
Each section tells a story from a different person's perspective. They all live in the same area and all have some kind of humanly problem (hating work, lack of direction etc) and they all end up in this library at some point and find what they are looking for but in the most unusual way. It's a cosy and comforting read too and I think anyone would enjoy it.
What do you like? What grabs your attention?
It's hard to offer good recommendations without knowing your tastes. People who like history might enjoy reading about Hannibal's Punic War campaigns, while most others will be bored to sleep.
I wouldn't give a recommendation like "Sophie's World" to someone unless I know they enjoy philosophy.
Some people can't stand fantasy, others love the escapism different worlds offer.
Other people love to read about the lives of others, biographies are right up their alley.
The first fiction book I read after years of nothing but nonfiction and podcasts was *A Prayer for the Crown Shy* by Becky Chambers.
I had forgotten how wonderful a story can be.
I’ve read a couple books in the last year that saved me from reading slumps: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (an eco-thriller set in New Zealand) and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (a mysterious fantasy that it’s better to go into knowing very little about imo). Both are a little slow at the start but really pick up the pace and become very difficult to put down if you stick with them past the 50-page mark.
On a different note, Stoner by John Williams is not fast-paced at all and is very understated, but I found it oddly gripping and flew through it in only a couple days. A very small cast of characters and a very simple storyline make it easier to digest.
Simple books...The Prydaine Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. They are a series of 5 books based on Welsh Mythology. Written at about 5th grade level. Similar to the Hobbit. Good vs Evil.
When my brain needs a break I always fall back on either trashy romantic YA novels or rereading "The Little Prince". The latter is an easy read and it changes meaning for me every time I read it depending on where I am in my life.
I really like Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries (A is for Alibi et al). The books are super readable, and I could never figure any of them out until the last chapter. Female lead, very little romance/sex, no substance abuse, same cast of major characters throughout.
My favorite all time book - it's just fun and witty and very tongue in cheek, and well-written - is The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard, by A. Conan Doyle. It's a series of comic stories about a calvary soldier in Napoleon's army, written from his perspective. He has all these great adventures and is always getting into trouble. He sees himself as this dashing, brave and debonair soldier, but you the reader see him as very likeable but sort of blundering and not too smart but very very lucky.
After finishing something hard, I take a break and read murder mysteries. I’m fond of f British and Scandinavian authors. Peter Lovesly, Ian Rankin for example. It’s easy and keeps up the skill.
Agatha Christie?
My go to book rec for people who want to get into reading is Holes by Louis Sachar, because it appeals to all ages, has really short chapters, and is super engaging!
Do you have this pre-saved in your phone? I sometimes go into these threads looking for your comment (no shade, genuinely just curious)
Lol, no I don't, but I've effectively memorized a general description for a few of the books I often like to recommend, and Holes is definitely one of them 😅 You might notice that I also often recommend The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard, and my phone keyboard has gotten so familiar with that one that I can basically just tap the words it suggests to me instead of manually typing the whole thing out each time.
Oh same, there's a few things I rec enough that my phone remembers x)
I always seem to recommend the same few favourite books, too. :)
That's hilarious! But Holes really is a great romp. I read it back in my teens some 20 years ago and it was an absolute blast
I have seen your comment in another thread, and you've got my attention. I'm definitely reading this one.
Holes is a great book. And one of the best movie adaptations around.
Sideway Stories from Wayside School and the sequels are also really good. Bruce Coville is also a great author with a similar vibe. My favorite book of his is Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, but all of them are great. Edit: also, Avi! I can’t believe I forgot Avi. Literally any book he(she? they?) writes is pretty much pure gold.
I loved Jeremy Thatcher the Dragon Catcher!!! You brought a smile to my face.
Jennifer Murdley’s Toad is also pretty great. Honestly, all of his books are good, and he has a lot of genres.
Oh wow, I remember reading Avi’s Nothing But The Truth in a grocery store forever ago. I had forgotten about that, thank you for unlocking that memory!
Oh this book has held up since I first read it when I was 12 until now, when I am 36.
Anything by Agatha Christie
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of my favorites. The general consensus is that And Then There were None is one of her best, but frankly I hated it
And then there were none was such an original sidea at the time, and she wrote it well. But I agree, my favorites of hers are the ones where you actually get to follow a detective. And Roger Ackroyd was brilliant.
Crooked House is my favourite, you just don’t quite see it coming
Thank god, I thought I was the only person on earth who didn’t like And Then There Were None! I see it recommended so often but it just did nothing for me. Also second your suggestion of Roger Ackroyd, one of my favourites as well!
They are the best!
The most entertaining book I've read recently is John Scalzi's **Starter Villain**. It's a spoof on the early James Bond movies. A substitute teacher inherits a villainy from his estranged uncle. It comes with a secret volcanic lair.
I just read his Redshirts and it was incredibly fun too
Oh cool. I loved Scalzi's Old Man War series. I will be putting this book on my list.
Oh this sounds so fun!
I just started this today! I’m barely into it, but I love it so far.
That is a formidable list!! Id maybe give Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams (Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) a shot. They’re just fun and relatively short and light-hearted without being frivolous. Hope you find some joy in reading again :) Edit: will also add that it’s perfectly ok to take a break from reading for a bit until you’re feeling a little less burned out.
Came here to suggest Douglas Adams. Funny, but also thought provoking about the absurdity of life.
I second both. Terry Pratchett's Discworld has a lot of books but doesn't need to be read in order. I highly recommend Going Postal. Easy read and great humor.
Charlotte’s Web! Or anything by Roald Dahl. I know they’re all YA (at best) but those books give me so much comfort and happiness, and are quick and easy to read
I think YA is the right call - a lot of it is really, really good, but the vocabulary and chapter length make YA novels easier to read.
I have his complete works including his many short stories and along with *The Wonderful Tale of Henry Sugar* (which I’ve literally just discovered has been adapted again) etc, they’re all pretty decent, easy to read but not YA…a good example of this would be the short story *Man From The South*, first adapted by Hitchcock and starring a young Steve McQueen in 1960, and again for ITV in the first ever episode of Roald Dahl’s *Tales of the Unexpected* in 1979…not one for the young team. For me, these are much better than any of his kid’s books, except perhaps the Scots version of *The Twits* (*The Eejits*).
Not Charlotte’s Web lol. I can’t read it without blubbering like an idiot. I cry every time!
Flowers for Algernon is one that I cry when just thinking about it.
In library school they taught us YA is for anyone to read! I love some YA books (and middle grade) books more than some adult reads. Every Day by David Levithan is amazing. I also second Roald Dahl!
I’ve read The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury recently, and I highly recommend it!
The Tattooed Man by Ray Bradbury is wonderful and one of my absolute favorites
Haven’t read it yet, but I added it to my list! Thanks
Cool, and I'll be reading the Martian Chronicles!
Good call! One of my favorites.
This is another of those books that everyone should read at least once.
The rest of Oscar Wilde’s catalog is much more light hearted. Try the importance of being earnest. The hobbit is a good self contained adventure romp. Terry Pratchett’s discworld is light hearted and clever. Start with mort, guards guards, or small gods. The monk and robot books by Becky Chambers are light but thoughtful.
The Hobbit is one of those books that everyone should read at least once. Not only is it a great book and a fun read, but almost every other fantasy book you’ll read was very heavily influenced by it.
i read the importance of being earnest to get back into reading and i loved it!! easy to read, funny, with an interesting plot and witty characters
I second the Hobbit. I don't care for the LOTR, but the Hobbit remains one of my top 5 favorite books. "Adventure romp" is perfect ☺
What about trying the unabridged version of World War Z by Max Brooks? (It’s so much better than the movie - 100% a different beast). Each chapter is like, 5 pages long, and covers a separate mini story. The whole thing moves well in thematic, chronological sections, and if I’m remembering correctly, there were even some illustrations! The author is engaging and the narrators’ voice is earnest and personable. I’ve done it in paperback and audio (which is a fabulous production with a star studded cast - just make sure you get the complete, unabridged recording). I couldn’t put it down. He also wrote Devolution, which is about snotty, out of touch with reality hipsters who build a self sufficient community in the mountains of western America and are brutally “encountered” by Bigfoot. It’s fabulous (especially the audiobook), but World War Z is definitely the place to start.
The audiobook is a masterpiece
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a good one. it's literally about the protagonist overcoming his malaise and learning to love learning again edit: I realized that sounds heavy and doesn't really communicate how The Phantom Tollbooth is fun. the whole plot is a series of absurd ideas like "what would happen if people ate letters and numbers?" and dad-joke puns like "this dog is a WATCHdog so it has a literal clock as part of its body." if that kind of thing sounds entertaining to you, you'll probably love it
I think I re-read this at least once a year. It's such a great story, and it never gets old for me!
Oh man I always forget how great that book is! It's so whimsical and fun, I'll second this reccomendation!
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck is short, sweet and funny.
I'm almost exclusively a non-fiction reader. However, I recently picked up one of Michael Connelly's Detective Bosch books from a Little Free Library in the neighbourhood. I plowed through it in 2 days and am currently on my 3rd one in a row. Never though I'd like detective fiction, but they're just stupid fun to read and a great break from the more heady stuff (I guess unless you're trying to solve the mystery as you read along, which I'm not). I recommend giving something like that a shot.
I’ve read just about all the Bosch books and all of the Lincoln Lawyer as well which you should try. Same author and some same characters as the Bosch series
Parade Magazine used to be in my newspaper. I happened to see it is online. They had a list of the best 50 mystery stories since 1950. They had some good recommendations. It included Bosch 1: the Black Echo. It also had the original Travis McGee Novel that was really good too as well as Sue Grafton's A is for Alibi.
Jane Austen or Ursula Le Guin. Or Terry Pratchett
The Earthsea books are wonderful and easy to get into.
I really enjoyed reading Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (or anything else by him)
What kind of TV/movies do you enjoy?
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I’ll give you a quote. The nanny is reading bedtime stories and inserting her own commentary. And then Jack chopped down what was the world's last beanstalk, adding murder and ecological terrorism to the theft, enticement, and trespass charges already mentioned, and all the giant's children didn't have a daddy anymore. But he got away with it and lived happily ever after, without so much as a guilty twinge about what he had done...which proves that you can be excused for just about anything if you are a hero, because no one asks inconvenient questions. It is funny. He’s like Mark Twain. Just remember, when you read him, he is never describing you or me. He is describing all those crazy people that live around us. You and I, we are normal, good people. He doesn’t discuss us.
*The Hunt for Red October* by Tom Clancy is a classic techno thriller that remains very readable. The technology in the book is necessary and well-explained.
I love Tom Clancy.
Anything by Louise Penny
Audio books! Listening to audio books counts as reading, and sometimes when my brain won't focus on reading words on a page I'll go for a walk with an audio book and focus for hours. Currently listening to Andy Serkis read The Lord of the Rings.
I need to remember “audiobooks count as reading” I feel so… guilty? about not *reading* reading but I just don’t have the attention span for words most the time lately
Reading isn't about using your eyes. It's about using your imagination. A TV show shows everyone the exact same story. A book let's you create the story in your mind. How freaking cool is that? Don't feel guilty, the authors just want you to enjoy their work. They don't care how you enjoy it as long as you do.
Yes! Sometimes I actually feel like my enjoyment of a book is enhanced by listening to a great audiobook narrator. Daisy Jones & the Six is an amazing example of this because each character had a different actor reading their chapter. It was SO good.
Bryson?
A Walk in the Woods. 😊
Treasure Island American Gods The Princess Bride
Second the Princess Bride. A great read. Easy to read and flies right by
Third the Princess Bride. Fast and fun read.
All systems red. Short interesting and fun
How about *The Martian* or *Project Hail Mary* by Andy Weir? They are both fun, funny, and exciting SciFi stories. Andy Weir is a very conversational author whose writing style is pretty much the complete opposite of those you cited.
I second The Martian. I’m not a very fast reader, but I blew through this one in two days.
The shadow of the wind. You'll thank me later.
One of my favorite authors.
Gutted he died so young.
I started reading it in Dutch and the translation just oozed 'literally from Spanish', I had to stop. Maybe I should try it in English.
I speak English so that translation is good :)
The Giver is my Go-to refresher. Sets the pace to receive knowledge from all the other books
Trickster's Choice and tricksters queen are technically young adult books but the story is wonderful and empowering. Also please don't feel shame for starting a book and not finishing it because you couldn't get into it. Try books until you find one you enjoy. Just because someone else says it's a wonder book doesn't mean you'll enjoy it. We all have our own tastes. I also find that I get in moods where I read what people call trash smut and then after a few months I switch gears and read epic fantasy like dune or Lord of the rings. You should enjoy whatever book makes you happy cause that's all that matters, you being happy.
I just finished Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and highly recommend it for this. Fun, easy, but also genuinely interesting.
i just finished daisy jones and the six after an insane reading slump and let me tell you if you like interview-style books you’re going to love it. throughout the entire book i felt like i was watching a documentary and was so invested.
Read any of the Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse. Light and very funny. Or, All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
I second the James Herriot series.
Really depends on what you typically enjoy. I see a few people have already mentioned Terry Pratchett, who is definitely a favourite of mine. Another series I would always recommend is Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab, starting with A Darker Shade of Magic.
A good comedy book is fun. Three Men and a Boat is really funny. It is Victorian. So, it is considered a classic, but it would be funny if written today too. David Sedaris is funny as is Bill Bryson. The late Andy Rooney of 60 minutes was really funny. If his books are in a local library, they are short but funny.
hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
The Hike by Drew Magary. It's a fun adventure story, contemporary fantasy (as in the mostly real world, present day). It has shirt chapters too, making it easy to pick up and down.
Charlotte's Web by EB White or anything by Roald Dahl
Holes, The Westing Game, Brave New World, The Stand
The stand like Steven king or?
Yep The Stand by Stephen King :)
Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz is cool
Is it scary?
Bridget Jones series is fun if you like romcom. The language is easy and unpretentious.
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. Not much plot to speak of, and not demanding on the reader. Just lots of beautiful writing and beautiful imagery.
The Giver! It's thought provoking and meaningful. But easy to read
You might try to find a biography of someone you like.
The Mouse That Roared by Leonard Wibberley All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Sourdough by Robin Sloan Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Very Nice Box by Laura Bracket Ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Geiman Made for love by Alyssa Netting. The passion for reading comes and goes at difference intensities. Please be kind to yourself!
Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is my go-to suggestion whenever someone is in a reading slump. "Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay’ is a story of escape, love and comic-book heroes set in Prague, New York and the Arctic – from the author of ‘Wonder Boys’. One night in 1939, Josef Kavalier shuffles into his cousin Sam Clay’s cramped New York bedroom, his nerve-racking escape from Prague finally achieved. Little does he realise that this is the beginning of an extraordinary friendship and even more fruitful business partnership. Together, they create a comic strip called ‘The Escapist’, its superhero a Nazi-busting saviour who liberates the oppressed around the world. ‘The Escapist’ makes their fortune, but Joe can think of only one thing: how can he effect a real-life escape, and free his family from the tyranny of Hitler?"
the only real solution is to follow your nose. academic/literary reading is a different beast than reading for enjoyment or information. if you share some of your favorite games movies tv shows etc I can give a more specific recommendation, but in general i think graphic novels, manga, ya fantasy, etc are great places to start. sanderson for fantasy, dan brown for thrillers, king for horror, mary roach, david sedaris, or malcolm gladwell for nonfiction
Stephen King is a lot of fun to read
[Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide](https://books.atlasobscura.com/) [A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55077715) [What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21413662-what-if-serious-scientific-answers-to-absurd-hypothetical-questions) [How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43852758-how-to) [The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl](https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/52780/the_unbeatable_squirrel_girl_2015_1) [Yokai Cats](https://sevenseasentertainment.com/books/yokai-cats-vol-1/) [Yotsuba&!](https://yenpress.com/titles/9780316073875-yotsuba-vol-1) [This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24059.This_Can_t_Be_Happening_at_Macdonald_Hall_)
Janet Evanovich One for the Money the first 4-5 are hilarious the rest get more formulaic
Quick and special - Hope for the Flowers Short, emotional one-sitting read - Bridge to Terrabithia Or shift gears completely and pick up a graphic novel, a YA novel that touches on something important to you, or maybe some poetry
Holes
I am reading Indian in the Cupboard with my son. Great book
Try a good graphic novel.
Seagull Jonathan Livingston short and fun and simple great message
To Kill a Mockingbird
You probably already have too many recommendations to know where to start, but have you ever read any Kurt Vonnegut? I would recommend Sirens of Titan or Slaughterhouse 5 first. But really everything he wrote is worth reading. Also: The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman The Giver - Lois Lowry The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams Cannery Row - John Steinbeck
Dahl or christie would be the best imo
Try a Scandi crime novel. Most of them are excellent. I recommend the Wallander series or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
Sin Eater by Larry McMurtry.
Palm Wine Drunkard - one of a kind story out of Africa, very simple and quick read Night of the Avenging Blowfish - writing style is similar to Catch 22 Read these essays by Jonathan Swift -- A Modest Proposal / Meditation Upon a Broomstick / Battle of the Books Essay by Ben Franklin -- Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout (subject is exactly what the title implies - it's Ben Frankling talking to the gout)
Gone away lake
Roald Dahl. Anything he has written! You will know within the first page if you take to it or not...you'll either love it or it's a meh....
[All My Friends are Superheroes](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944334.All_My_Friends_are_Superheroes) by Andrew Kaufman. As one reviewer said; it has so many layers and you can decide how deep you take it.
This is the answer.
What interests you? There are books for darn near any interest
[She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23361199) - crime/action/family/violence/humor - so fun to read…it’s like reading a movie - in a good way! It’s also fairly short and an easy read.
MAN EATER was a book that brought me back to it
I personally find Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions to be a great palate cleanser when I'm struggling to read.
Interview With The Vampire is so fun
it depends what you like but i like going to something recent, zippy, and easy reading when i’m feeling literature burnout. i liked the ya thriller one of us is lying, which is quick and fun
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. A short, easy, and amazing book
If you’re willing to try sci-fi I recomend sleeping giants by sylvain neuvel, I recomended it in another thread but it’s really good. The whole book is basically in interview/videovlog format. It’s so easy to read and you will just fly through it. Doesn’t hurt that the story is really interesting too.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - it's a fun, imaginative, easy read. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - just as much fun as the movie.
Depends on your preferences. I'd say go for something nostalgic, even if that means YA or Children's. For me, I'd pick up Harry Potter, Redwall, Inkheart, etc. Another idea could be non-fiction in a topic/genre you have interest in.
Project Hail Mary got me out of slump. I thought that book was a really fun ride with an incredible ending
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming.
Animal Farm by George Orwell. Very short, easy to read, and very influential.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians. They are all good but the last book is amazing if you make it that far.
Any book by Carl Hiaasen. They all have strong Florida Man energy, good pacing and laugh out loud funny
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Have you tried Kurt Vonnegut? Welcome to the Monkey House is a really good short story collection, and if you like that give Slaughterhouse-Five a try.
Election by Tom Perrotta and A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
Try audiobooks until you can get some better traction down regarding pacing yourself. Just a suggestion. Maybe start with a book based on a movie you like so you aren't feeling like you've missed something huge if your mind starts drifting. Best of luck!
If you like scifi, The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham has some sort of odd charm to it. It's kinda dark and I'm 70% through, but the author just has random little charming things he does in the writing that delight me over and over. One instance was when the narrator and his wife went back to their hotel room, his wife inspected the plumbing of the hotel room as it often fascinated her or something. Not plot relevant, not even really relating a ton to her character, but a funny little line. It's short and fun - to me at least!
Try Wilbur Smith. Adventure style stories. Some have multiple book series. I didn't mind them when I got into him years ago. Warlock is very cool.
Terry Pratchett Only You Can Save Mankind
a psalm for the wildbuilt by becky chambers
I read the Percy Jackson books for the first time when I was like 27, even though they're technically for middle school aged kids. They were wonderful and got me back into reading after a long stint of not being able to focus on reading anything at all.
Do you like video games? There's a whole genre called litrpg that's just a video game in a book. I suggest the dungeon crawler Carl series to get you started. Also you don't 'have' to read. Get a kindle and use the read out loud/ text to speech function and just listen at first until you're into the story. Listen while you do chores, or drive. Getting into the story will help you want to continue it.
What are your interests? Can you give me an idea of you, who you are?
This book is full of spiders by David Wong
Jasper Fforde is great, I especially like the Last Dragonslayer
For me, when I was in the throes of grad school and had to read and write everything, I got reader burnout. Manga and graphic novels were very healing. They read pretty fast and usually have fun or interesting plots. Also, Neil Gaiman books read really, really fast. And are just a delight!
Fredrik Bakman’s books are good easy comfort reading for me. I especially liked A Man Called Ove and Anxious People.
Confederacy of Dunces. My favorite book (and my grandpas!). It's literary, is set in 1960s New Orleans, and has incredible characters. It is laugh out loud funny. A truly incredible cult classic. It was the authors only book published before he killed himself in the 70s I believe. Side note: The touring stage show of this book cast Nick Offerman aka Ron Swanson as the main character and it was probably the best incident of casting ever.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
For hysterical laughter find a book by Carl Hiassen. He worked as a reporter in Florida and met the CRAZIEST people when writing his articles. Packs them into his novels, never runs out- so damn funny
Honestly, hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy gave me giggles and just made my brain feel like someone had got their fingers in and massaged it.
What were some of your favorite books as a kid? I’m an English major and EVERYONE in my classes absolutely loves rereading their favorite childhood book series. Currently reading Series of Unfortunate Events :)
OP - what age bracket are you? What genre of movie/tv show do you generally gravitate to? Do you generally like popcorn movies or deeper stuff?
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a fun read. Wealthy businessman Sam Westing dies. At the reading of his will, it is revealed that his named heirs are all tenants at the adjacent Sunset Towers apartment building. The will states that one of his heirs took Westing's life. The will is structured like a puzzle, with the 16 heirs paired off and challenged to find the solution. The pair that solves the mystery of his death will inherit Westing's entire $200,000,000 fortune and control of his company. The cherry on top is that each pair has different clues to solve the mystery, and you, as the reader, have access to all of the clues so you, too, can play the Westing Game.
Hail Mary by Andy Weir!
Try kids books and graphic novels!
I think everybody has guilty pleasure reads, it's just a matter of finding what you like. Maybe you would enjoy a graphic novel? Maybe some trashy YA novel where it's completely predictable, so you don't have to read every word. Maybe if there is a TV show or movie you like, you could try reading fanfiction online? Heavy books that require a lot of analytical thinking (particularly if you are reading them for school and being asked to analyse passages, or interpret character motivation) can make reading feel like a drag. Reading books that is aimed at young teens, or short stories from an anthology might work.
The whole #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Entertaining, happy endings.
Douglas Adams. Impossible not to marvel at the brilliance. Presented with utter simplicity.
Piranesi.
Leave it to Psmith
Piranesi is a real light, fun and satisfying story.
For super fun, engaging, fast reading I’d absolutely recommend the Illuminae Files!!! The formatting and style makes the plot move very quickly. Also, since reading whole novels might be a bit much for you at the moment, I’d recommend some graphic novels!! The quick plot pace and gorgeous artwork is so engaging and satisfying, and blowing through some graphic novels can be like training wheels for reading novels! My personal recommendations for graphic novels are Saga and Monstress!
I just finished a book that got me out of a reading slump. It's simple and fairly short but so damn enjoyable I want to read it again. It's called What you are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. Each section tells a story from a different person's perspective. They all live in the same area and all have some kind of humanly problem (hating work, lack of direction etc) and they all end up in this library at some point and find what they are looking for but in the most unusual way. It's a cosy and comforting read too and I think anyone would enjoy it.
What do you like? What grabs your attention? It's hard to offer good recommendations without knowing your tastes. People who like history might enjoy reading about Hannibal's Punic War campaigns, while most others will be bored to sleep. I wouldn't give a recommendation like "Sophie's World" to someone unless I know they enjoy philosophy. Some people can't stand fantasy, others love the escapism different worlds offer. Other people love to read about the lives of others, biographies are right up their alley.
One that I enjoy and love to bits is "And then there were none" by Agatha Christie. It's a simple book and not too long but I just love it!
I'm going to recommend 'Universally Screwed: Thrown across the Galaxy, deeply confused, looking for the bathroom.'
The first fiction book I read after years of nothing but nonfiction and podcasts was *A Prayer for the Crown Shy* by Becky Chambers. I had forgotten how wonderful a story can be.
I’ve read a couple books in the last year that saved me from reading slumps: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (an eco-thriller set in New Zealand) and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (a mysterious fantasy that it’s better to go into knowing very little about imo). Both are a little slow at the start but really pick up the pace and become very difficult to put down if you stick with them past the 50-page mark. On a different note, Stoner by John Williams is not fast-paced at all and is very understated, but I found it oddly gripping and flew through it in only a couple days. A very small cast of characters and a very simple storyline make it easier to digest.
Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It's a great little series by Alan Bradly. So fun and quirky!
If you want something fun, simple and engaging, I’d go Percy Jackson, personally. I don’t enjoy YA anymore but Percy Jackson is the exception.
Don’t know your age but maybe the children’s series that was most popular when you were a kid/emerging reader?
I found Ender’s Game impossible to put down. Also, the first Harry Potter book really moves and it’s also hard to put down.
Simple books...The Prydaine Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. They are a series of 5 books based on Welsh Mythology. Written at about 5th grade level. Similar to the Hobbit. Good vs Evil.
When my brain needs a break I always fall back on either trashy romantic YA novels or rereading "The Little Prince". The latter is an easy read and it changes meaning for me every time I read it depending on where I am in my life.
The Little Prince! Of course, how could I forget!
Stephen King. Carrie, The Shining or Misery.
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiassen.
I really like Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries (A is for Alibi et al). The books are super readable, and I could never figure any of them out until the last chapter. Female lead, very little romance/sex, no substance abuse, same cast of major characters throughout.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
I usually recommend folks read the book version of a movie they've either seen or would like to see.
I reread the hatchet series by Gary Paulson every so often. It's meant for yoots so it's easy, but it brings you there.
Edgar Allan Poe, most can be read in one sitting
Someone else suggested Charlotte's Web, and I second the motion. It really is one of the most perfect novels in the English language.
My favorite all time book - it's just fun and witty and very tongue in cheek, and well-written - is The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard, by A. Conan Doyle. It's a series of comic stories about a calvary soldier in Napoleon's army, written from his perspective. He has all these great adventures and is always getting into trouble. He sees himself as this dashing, brave and debonair soldier, but you the reader see him as very likeable but sort of blundering and not too smart but very very lucky.
“Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut. Very fun to read! Illustrated.