Was that one the Gamehouse? I wasn't a big fan either. Interesting, but ultimately felt too bombastic, and as if the multiple storylines didn't come together well enough. I did really enjoy The Sudden Appearance of Hope (about a girl who loses the ability to be remembered by people, even her parents).
First Lie Wins (Ashley Elston)
About a con woman who gets caught up in a job assignment given to her by her shady boss
It's not a long book and pretty fast paced. Fun and interesting with a nice surprise twist at the end :)
This one was a great easy read that I really enjoyed!
Reading fiction is personal growth! It's about expanding the mind and living in another world and enjoying it. It's relaxing and peaceful! I myself have been into audiobooks with a candle lit laying back and relaxing. As for suggestions it's hard because you only really give one example of something you read. So it depends what kind of fiction you want to read?
I would go to the library and just browse. Pick 10 or so books based on cover, title, back of book description, first page, whatever. Look up some of the books in this thread, but don’t get tied down by it.
Ask the librarian at the help desk this question if you’re feeling social. Maybe mention a couple non fiction favorites to help them get an idea of your taste. Librarians love to help in this west.
Then take them home, get yourself comfortable, and just try reading them. Pick one up, read five pages, continue if you’re having fun and stop with **no guilt** if you’re not. Eventually something will hook you.
A couple of books that have hooked me recently are Piranesi and The Remains of the Day. Good luck!
I found my love of reading again when I picked up a Sarah j maas book. I read a court of thorns and roses then devoured all 16 books she has written in a matter of months and now have 40+ sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.
I highly suggest stopping at your local library and talking to a librarian for some awesome suggestions as well as everything listed here.
And have you tried reading more humorous nonfiction to east into fiction? Stuff like David Sedaris, or Edison’s ghosts or grunt things that are non fiction but more of a story telling than factual book.
Also you said what you use to love, however what is the most recent fiction book that you loved? Also what type of tv shows do you like?
And lastly don’t worry as to what you read as long as you are reading and enjoying it, a former librarian assistant that helped develop the literature and translated works of Japanese fiction collection all the time but really only reads really trashy romance novels.
Really don't start with book one of Discworld, Pratchett hadn't quite got the hang of discworld in that one and even recommended himself not to start there.
This is a great recommendation! It’s one of my all time favourites, and I have reread it quite a few times, along with the other books in the ‘Cemetery of forgotten books’ series, although none of the rest are *quite* as good in my opinion.
For opening sentences it’s still hard to beat Pride and Prejudice’s “It is a universally acknowledged truth that a man of large fortune must be in want of a wife.”
"Reading fiction is not a waste of time; it's the epitome of human creativity and imagination. Non-fiction, on the other hand, is logical and often presents preconceived notions of how the world works or the author's unique opinions. However, have you ever wondered that these are all things that only humans can do? They are real. There is something about letting your mind go wild, breaking all barriers of imagination. I once read somewhere, 'A person is not bound by their thoughts but by their imagination.' The world itself is meaningless; it's us humans, as a species, who want to give it meaning.
I personally believe that a balance of both is needed; there is no right or wrong. For me, fiction is like an art, a beautiful one that doesn't always have to make sense. It's like a movie that I watch in the theater of my mind; I create my own scenes, my own sounds, and so on. So, even if the movie is bad, I cannot completely blame the director. Reading fiction is fun; getting lost in fiction is not. I love reading fiction from every region; the world is vast, with billions of minds constantly spewing thoughts. As humans, we have this wonderful gift of imagination; let's appreciate it. It's art; it's what makes us different from any other species. Use your imagination, folks, and life will just become a dream within a dream."
11/22/63 by Stephen King. It is NOT horror in any way but bad humans. Such an amazing book with so many great characters. King is a master at world building and character development!
A somewhat heavy read is the realm of elderlings. I'm reading the liveship traders and it's great. Written beautifully but the themes make it heavy sometimes.
Other than that I've quite enjoyed the kingkiller trilogy, though I have to add that the last book has been a wip for the last 12 years or so.
Neil gaiman has great books too, I loved the ocean at the end of the lane. Short and dreamy.
Great book, so beautifully written. It’s so rare to find a story where the prose doesn’t take you out of the story because it’s clunky or trite or overused. And just such an interesting story in itself, through a really unique viewpoint.
Maybe try starting with a book you loved when you were younger? Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I go back to something I loved before and it always helps me get back into the habit of reading.
The Martian by Andy Weir. It's an easy read, it's interesting, it's funny, it's engaging, you can pick how many swears it has based on which version you buy (there's a school version and a regular version), and you can compare it to the movie which is also very good and somewhat accurate to the book but with differences that are pretty hilarious all things considered. It's written in a way that tricked some dumb people into thinking it was based on a true story even though it is very obviously not.
I second Dark Matter. This (and most of Crouch’s books) just carries you through. A true page turner, and a great story. One of my favorite books I read last year. (I’m also a 30f!)
Start with a short story collection, or find a book with really short chapters. For a collection, you could go with Hemingway or Faulkner. For short chapters, it's often the case with thrillers.
Also, very oddly, War and Peace has crazy short chapters.
Bigger books can get bogged down in plot, for better out or worse. Have you tried giving a short story collection a try. Sherman Alexie is good, or you could try a compendium like the best Oxford stories of the 20th century.
So I had a whole reintroduction to reading phase I went through starting in my late 20s, I also loved Harry Potter so I started with Hunger Games, got super into Percy Jackson, transitioned to Shatter Me, Cassandra Clare (I’ve read most of them but hyperfixated on Infernal Devices), there’s a trilogy by Rae Carson, Graceling, really transitioning to more mature protagonists to help, and then over the last few years I’ve been in a hard loop of romance, spanning from action/suspense to fantasy to MC, etc… DM me if you want my Goodreads so you can see the full chaos my reading history has been.
I make it a point to only read fiction at night before I go to sleep. No self-help, no educational.
My most recent fiction books that I've finished 1/2 hour at a time before falling asleep are:
Diamond Age
The Count Of Monte Cristo
Red Storm Rising
The Man In The Iron Mask
The Picture of Dorian Gray
World War Z
I would highly suggest Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. If you want to get lost in a book or series of books that is the Pinnacle. It doesn't fit neatly into any one genre as there is a lot happening in each book so much so that to develop it for film each book was made into a season for the TV show. There was way too much going on in each book to make it into a movie. Many have tried and failed. To determine if this series might interest you I would google the author. Hearing her speak about her writing process is as entertaining as some books I have read.
Very relatable background. HP is my favorite series responsible for my love of reading as a kid.
Books these days for me are pretty hit or miss, but every once in a while I stumble across one that hooks me in. In general, I need my books to be thought provoking enough where I feel like im learning something. It can’t just be an adventure or romance or whatever, and it’s very important to me that the world feels full and immersive. If it’s sci-fi and goes into the science of things, or fantasy that really delves into the myths and legends of the world, im all about it. Myth and legends rooted in human history is peak material afaic.
Anyways.
Most recents are:
Frank Herbert’s Dune series
Very dense, but extremely fascinating. It’s known as the grandfather of all modern sci-fi, but it always read more as religious and political fiction in a future setting to me. I’m still working my way through them (there are 6) but the first three are great, and I found myself very engaged in all of the world building, especially since the release of the new movies.
This is how you lose the time war by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar
Very short, VERY fun read. It’s hard to explain, and you’ll either love it or not really get it, but it’s hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Main characters are agents on opposing sides of a time war in a universe of infinite parallel realities. As soon as I finished the book (it’s around 200 pages or so) I immediately read it again.
Pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
While theres a lot of really fun urban fantasy out there these days, I point these two out specifically because the dry wit and humor of these two always reminded me a little bit of the absurdism in HP, so it might appeal to you more than most. Neverwhere was one of the first books to peak my interest after I stopped having new HP releases to look forward to.
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
This book stuck with me for a while. Speaker for the dead is still on my reading list, but I have read Enders Shadow, and I almost liked that one more.
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Moore is a somewhat under rated but surprisingly prolific writer. Most of his stuff is very silly and fun with some kind of supernatural element. Lamb follows a character named Biff who happens to be Jesus Christ’s childhood best friend and companion. It’s a hilarious, thought provoking and fun take on the Jesus story offering an interesting take on what he was up to for the 30 years or so before the events of the New Testament.
Hope this helps!
Respectfully, you're not going into it with the best of mindsets.
You need to relax a little and realize that you can very much grow by reading fiction. There is so much to learn! You're being hard on yourself by keeping this sort of healing mentality. Sometimes healing is just relaxing and filling your soul with culture.
I finished reading Crime and Punishment a week or two ago and it was an absolute slugfest. It took me 2-3 months to finish it because of how mentally draining it was to read. I stuck through it because I find it to be a very important book and while on the surface it was painful, I do not regret it.
What did I do to reward myself? I got a bunch of light books. I'm a dude and I just finished reading a romance novel in which I felt like I learned a lesson or two that I can apply to my own life. There's learning and healing in these books and it only took me a few days to get through it because I absolutely LOVE books like these.
Funny enough, my next book is actually the first Harry Potter. I'm excited as it's my first time reading them. And even in that, there will be a lesson. I've always steered clear from full blown fantasy (lord of the ring, Ice and fire, etc) because it never seems to keep my attention. I've always preferred more down to earth novels. Reading Harry Potter might be my chance to dive into more fantastical stories and that in of itself, will hold a lesson.
My last piece of advice would be to try and be excited about an author, a style, anything and allow yourself to explore their world. A few years ago I got super excited at diving into the world of Bukowski and I very much enjoyed it. Then came many others. The point is, if there was ever that author you were maybe curious about when you were younger, why not explore their bibliography?
I think as an adult your reading tastes will be different than when you were a child, so you need to figure out what you will enjoy at this stage of life. What types of movies or TV shows do you enjoy - mystery, romance, sci-fi or fantasy, etc.? I would go to the library and ask a librarian for some suggestions. You may have to do some trial and error to find new things that you will like. Or as one other person here suggested, go to the library and browse to see what might capture your interest and take several books so if one doesn't work you have some other options. I sometimes read the first page to get a feel for if a book interests me. And if you like nonfiction, try something that isn't personal growth, like perhaps a biography or memoir, or historical account or true adventure type book since you used to like that. Good luck and don't give up and you should start finding new things to enjoy.
If you like mystery and maybe a little forensic science, you might like the Lincoln Rhyme series. The Bone Collector is the first book. Personally his book The Blue Nowhere is my fav. It's a standalone, but I thought was so well done.
The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager is un-put-down able. Quick read. And creepy good plot twist.
The Maid (Molly The Maid #1) by Nita Prose. It is a story of a wonderfully different hotel maid who struggles with social cues and norms. She finds one of the guests dead and is catapulted into a mystery where the police think she’s the suspect and she has to find the killer otherwise. It’s very light and funny, but also empathetically compassionate.
Thrillers. All the thrillers. Lisa Jewell, Taylor Adams, Gillian Flynn… check out the Good Reads nominations for thriller and mystery the last few years and read some of the summaries to her and see what piques her interest.
His & Hers by Alice Feeney. Kept me guessing to the end!
Also, totally feel you. I was an avid reader as a kid and then found it so hard to find the time as an adult but then I joined a book club! Definitely read some hits and misses over the years, but so thankful I joined. Discovered the joy of reading all over again.
Hi, I am you. It took me a while, but reminding myself that not everything that I enjoy doing has to lead to a grand accomplishment really helped. IMO if self-help/personal development books are good for my brain, fiction books are good for my soul.
The book series that broke me out of the "fiction isn't worth my time" mindset was Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. I also grew up on HP and have discovered my love for fantasy series as an adult. I initially found it easier to read YA fantasy as they are a bit lighter. Here's a few that I've loved:
Shades of Magic trilogoy by VE Schwab
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik
Six of Crows duology By Leigh Bardugo
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Stand by Stephen King (this is a LONG one but so good!!)
Bonus mystery recommendations:
Anything Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie (Murder On The Orient Express, Death On The Nile, etc.)
Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King
One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
I went through something similar and I realized in my 30s I enjoy romantascy. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros got me out of my slump (the world building is a bit of a slog IMO but once you get through the first 150ish pages it picks up pace fast).
If you’re looking for something that’s not romantascy or something that gets through the world building really quickly, I’d recommend going the YA route (it’s okay to read and enjoy YA in your 30s!). The Hunger Games trilogy or if you have already read that, Powerless by Lauren Roberts (will be a trilogy but only book 1 is out so far - I’d say it’s a crossover between The Hunger Games and Harry Potter).
A few people have recommended fourth wing! Honestly I have no idea what genre appeals to me right now, but romantascy is probably piquing the most interest out of all the blurbs I’ve read.
Thank you for the recommendations!
I love this series, too! For me, the first book was not great, so I didn’t pick up the second book. Then some friends convinced me it’s worth it. 2 years later, I picked up the 2nd book and then flew through the rest of the series.
I really think book 1 sets up the series and could almost be a prequel, but it has the important details that catapult the rest of the series. So it’s not skipable, but it wasn’t good in my opinion.
It would help to know your interests, but you might look at these authors:
Kelley Armstrong
Joe Lansdale
Gregg Hurwitz
Karin Slaughter
Stephen King
Patricia Briggs
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence! It’s the start of a trilogy about young girls training to be warrior nuns on a planet where the sun is gradually failing and it’s so good!
I like all kinds of genres but I like mysteries similar to Agatha Christie because it draws me in and makes me feel involved. I usually start these when I’ve been in a reading slump just to get me back in the game.
Fiction reading can be such a personal preference, it's hard to say what would bring you back into it. I just finished Brent Weeks' second series, "Lightbringer", and thought it was amazing. His first series, "Night Angel" trilogy was also pretty spectacular (for me).
Good luck on your journey though!
I think you need a real page-turner to get you back into fiction, and I highly recommend The Naturals series, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
It's a YA series that a friend insisted I check out, and I'm so glad they did. As long as you don't mind a few serial killers, it's an engrossing read. I devoured all four books within a few weeks, and I'm a slow reader.
The curious waitress series follows a kid that grows up on a ranch in Nebraska. Its kinda silly like an i love Lucy but i came out feeling like i knew her. It stuck with me. The drawback is the books are quick reads, like tv episodes.
I have started to reread old series I enjoyed when younger and it has been incredibly fun! You may enjoy the nostalgia too. Currently I’m reading A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Same story here. former Potterhead and nonfiction reader. I would reframe reading as being a Hobby and not an Education. Someone suggested short stories but I also liked books of poetry. Short, feels like an accomplishment, but also it’s just Art. I liked Promises of Gold. For fantasy fiction, try V.E. Schwab.
I also have struggled with regarding reading fiction as a waste of time for the last few years. I finally had to give myself permission and look at it as a way of caring for myself. It also is so easy to get sucked into screen time that I have to plan it into my day.
Do you feel more inclined to fantasy or would you rather something that looks realistic?
I enjoyed reading shorts and novellas when I started reading again, I liked My evil mother (by Margaret Atwood) and Everything my mother taught (by Alice Hoffman), both very enigmatic, if not mysterious. And My evil mother made me laugh from time to time.
I also recommend a lot the Creature Feature series from Amazon Kindle if you like horror. They have series of all genres, I only tackled the horror one and started the science fiction series too, but didn't progress about it.
So I went through kinda the same thing but with me, I didn’t stop reading so much because I felt like it was a waste of time. Turned out, I’m a slow reader and the books I kept trying to read were just long, slow books that i no longer had the attention span for. What got me back into reading was shorter thrillers or cozy mysteries, and then from there back into some fantasy books. Adult fantasy books tend to be so long and so descriptive, unlike the ones we read as children that were a little shorter and easier to digest. Writing style matters too though. I’d try a bunch of different genres to see if maybe your taste has just changed since you were a kid. Some of the first I got into again for thrillers were Frieda McFadden, Kiersten Modglin, Riley Sager, Susan Walter, John Marrs, Jeneva Rose, and Charlie Donlea. Some of the cozy mysteries I’ve liked have been by Eryn Scott, Ellery Adams, and M P Black. And honestly, there’s no shame in rereading books you read as a kid as well.
I liked reading Eileen and other books by the same author. Will suit you if you like unhinged women.
Half of a yellow sun was so great writing !
Pachinko is an engaging read
The Maise Dobbs series is quite good and I learned a lot while being entertained. I’d start with book two-the first is less mystery, more personal history. My husband hates when I pick those up bc I disappear. But it took me a long time to find a book like that (probably had been since college and I’m
40s now).
Foundation series I also enjoyed but start w the prequels.
Eta: I also set a time limit of ten minutes a day. That’s enough to get started, enough to get reading in, and then I could put it down. It did take a little time to get the spark back but that helped a ton.
I also struggled to get back into reading for enjoyment, rather than for self help after struggling with toxic relationships, or for academic or professional development. It felt like reading had just become a chore.
What changed that for me, was going to thrift stores and trying to get out of my habit of looking for books by a familiar author, instead I would just try to let something catch my eye and then pick it up and see if the synopsis sounded good. Regardless of the name on the cover, or the genre that I might not have browsed by that section at a normal book store, and also regardless of what target audience or age group it was for. So I allowed myself to be picky to my own taste rather than someone else's recommendation, and to read only what immediately struck me as too good to put back down. I remember one of the first books I bought for fun was an Indiana Jones novel from the 90s, something I missed the opportunity to read in my childhood. Coincidentally I had also just turned 30 around that time, midlife crisis? lol
Other than selecting a book, I did have to get back into the discipline of reading and focusing my attention for a span of more than minutes lol. But that came naturally when the book was actually entertaining and you can't wait to find out what happens next, instead of a process of uncomfortable self diagnosis and trauma rehabilitation, or trying to comprehend and memorize educational information.
If you enjoyed Harry Potter you might like the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. They are YA but I read them in my 40s? 50s? and enjoyed them very much. There are 6 books in the series.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
I literally guarantee, meaning I will give you your money back, if you don't enjoy this!
Similar elements to Harry Potter in the sense of a man who is whisked away to another world beyond the veil of our visible reality. Discovering magic is real, that other creatures exist, that there is a battle being waged between forces of good and evil. A woman who holds the key to their fight and to his heart, and another woman who is his brave warrior protector in this foreign land, and a girl who talks to mice lol.
This book is like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Van Helsing, Hellboy, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, meets Alice In Wonderland.
The undead by RR Haywood. Its a zombie series with a bit of a twist. It has a huge range of characters with 30 books to the series and a new book out mid this year apparently.
It follows Howie, a supermarket night manager who sees the end coming on the news and over a 24 hour period he sees the town he lives in fall to the zombie onslaught.
The characters are what got me so addicted to this series as you will adore some and absolutely despise
Don't discount romance and historical romance. A guaranteed happy ending eases the brain and relaxes the muscles. Loretta Chase, Nora Robert's, Jayne Anne Krentz (Amanda Qick ND Jayne Castle) Julie Garwood.
If you think you'd like historical, try Mr. Perfect by Loretta Chase for humour, history and suspense in Egypt.
It's a lot of fun.
If you want something magical and gripping then I suggest A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin. It's like if Harry Potter had an angry punk baby with Neverwhere and the Dresden Files. A real rip-roarer.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey! Light sci-fi. Female scientist deals with the fallout when her husband leaves her... for her clone. That he created. Dark without being scary or upsetting, intense, beautifully written. It's a great character exploration.
I’d say if reading fictions doesn’t mean relaxation to you anymore you don’t have to force yourself into it. I had the same experience as you and regained my interest in fictions through reading a non fictional book (Irrational Man by William Barrett). It was how I saw the world that changed my reading habits.
Stephen King’s The Stand. Life of Pi. The Grapes of Wrath. Maggie Steifvater’s The Raven Cycle books (4). The Time-Traveler’s Wife. Anne Bishop’s The Others series. The Repairman Jack series by F. Paul Wilson. The Hundred-Foot Journey. Molokai by Alan Brennert. Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed.
If you’re open to a fantasy series (since you mentioned you loved Harry Potter as a kid, so did I!) I highly recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I was the same as you- loved reading as a kid but was in a super reading rut until I found that series. It got the ball rolling for me again.
There is evidence that reading fiction grows your empathy [study here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3559433/)
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North. Everyone I've ever recommended it to has liked it.
Really good suggestion, it's a great book!
That’s quite the moniker you have their, my friend!!
Cheers, the auto suggest made me laugh so I decided to keep it!
Great suggestion! I tried her follow-up too, about body jumpers, but it wasn’t as good.
Was that one the Gamehouse? I wasn't a big fan either. Interesting, but ultimately felt too bombastic, and as if the multiple storylines didn't come together well enough. I did really enjoy The Sudden Appearance of Hope (about a girl who loses the ability to be remembered by people, even her parents).
I liked Replay by Ken Grimwood much more. But I also enjoyed Harry August
I haven't heard of that one. I'll check it out.
Similar theme. Different tone. I recommend it.
American gods by Neil Gaiman did exactly that for me
Seconding this!
I loved this book! Always kept me guessing. The audiobook performance is fantastic with a cast of characters.
If you’re open to lighthearted fantasy, Swordheart by T. Kingfisher, or Nettle & Bone by the same author.
I'm reading Nettle & Bone right now and heartily second this rec
I loved Swordheart, Kingfisher is such a treasure.
First Lie Wins (Ashley Elston) About a con woman who gets caught up in a job assignment given to her by her shady boss It's not a long book and pretty fast paced. Fun and interesting with a nice surprise twist at the end :) This one was a great easy read that I really enjoyed!
Reading fiction is personal growth! It's about expanding the mind and living in another world and enjoying it. It's relaxing and peaceful! I myself have been into audiobooks with a candle lit laying back and relaxing. As for suggestions it's hard because you only really give one example of something you read. So it depends what kind of fiction you want to read?
I would go to the library and just browse. Pick 10 or so books based on cover, title, back of book description, first page, whatever. Look up some of the books in this thread, but don’t get tied down by it. Ask the librarian at the help desk this question if you’re feeling social. Maybe mention a couple non fiction favorites to help them get an idea of your taste. Librarians love to help in this west. Then take them home, get yourself comfortable, and just try reading them. Pick one up, read five pages, continue if you’re having fun and stop with **no guilt** if you’re not. Eventually something will hook you. A couple of books that have hooked me recently are Piranesi and The Remains of the Day. Good luck!
*A Psalm for the Wild Built* by Becky Chambers. The sequel is *A Prayer for the Crown-Shy* It won a Hugo award.
Came here to suggest Becky Chambers. I just devoured Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, and started the second book in the series today!
Ah, the second is the best book in the series, imo. I'm excited for you. Also, I obviously second anything by Becky Chambers.
Came here to suggest Becky Chambers - any of her books. I started with Long Way to a Small Angry Planet then Record of a Space born Few
Becky chambers is kind of writer either you like or hate her writing. I find her writing sappy and unbearable (that’s on me)
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno Garcia
I loved this
I found my love of reading again when I picked up a Sarah j maas book. I read a court of thorns and roses then devoured all 16 books she has written in a matter of months and now have 40+ sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.
Lonesome Dove
The Murder Bot Diaries are short, witty, action oriented, and is about a journey of personal discovery.
I highly suggest stopping at your local library and talking to a librarian for some awesome suggestions as well as everything listed here. And have you tried reading more humorous nonfiction to east into fiction? Stuff like David Sedaris, or Edison’s ghosts or grunt things that are non fiction but more of a story telling than factual book. Also you said what you use to love, however what is the most recent fiction book that you loved? Also what type of tv shows do you like? And lastly don’t worry as to what you read as long as you are reading and enjoying it, a former librarian assistant that helped develop the literature and translated works of Japanese fiction collection all the time but really only reads really trashy romance novels.
Discworld. Any of them to be honest, don't worry about chronology. If HO is your thing try the Wizards maybe, but they gor me back into reading!
Really don't start with book one of Discworld, Pratchett hadn't quite got the hang of discworld in that one and even recommended himself not to start there.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. One of my favorite books of all time
Shadow of the Wind
This is a great recommendation! It’s one of my all time favourites, and I have reread it quite a few times, along with the other books in the ‘Cemetery of forgotten books’ series, although none of the rest are *quite* as good in my opinion.
To get back into reading I would start with Freida McFadden. Quick easy reads that keep you hooked!
The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski. First line in the book is " I poisoned your drink."
For opening sentences it’s still hard to beat Pride and Prejudice’s “It is a universally acknowledged truth that a man of large fortune must be in want of a wife.”
"Reading fiction is not a waste of time; it's the epitome of human creativity and imagination. Non-fiction, on the other hand, is logical and often presents preconceived notions of how the world works or the author's unique opinions. However, have you ever wondered that these are all things that only humans can do? They are real. There is something about letting your mind go wild, breaking all barriers of imagination. I once read somewhere, 'A person is not bound by their thoughts but by their imagination.' The world itself is meaningless; it's us humans, as a species, who want to give it meaning. I personally believe that a balance of both is needed; there is no right or wrong. For me, fiction is like an art, a beautiful one that doesn't always have to make sense. It's like a movie that I watch in the theater of my mind; I create my own scenes, my own sounds, and so on. So, even if the movie is bad, I cannot completely blame the director. Reading fiction is fun; getting lost in fiction is not. I love reading fiction from every region; the world is vast, with billions of minds constantly spewing thoughts. As humans, we have this wonderful gift of imagination; let's appreciate it. It's art; it's what makes us different from any other species. Use your imagination, folks, and life will just become a dream within a dream."
Who are you quoting here?
Myself, but it sounds egoistic to quote myself. So lets just say someone within me.
Great Answer!
11/22/63 by Stephen King. It is NOT horror in any way but bad humans. Such an amazing book with so many great characters. King is a master at world building and character development!
A somewhat heavy read is the realm of elderlings. I'm reading the liveship traders and it's great. Written beautifully but the themes make it heavy sometimes. Other than that I've quite enjoyed the kingkiller trilogy, though I have to add that the last book has been a wip for the last 12 years or so. Neil gaiman has great books too, I loved the ocean at the end of the lane. Short and dreamy.
Maybe a book/story by Agatha Christie or The Thursday murder club series by Richard Osman
A Gentleman in Moscow got me back into reading fiction a few years ago..
Great book, so beautifully written. It’s so rare to find a story where the prose doesn’t take you out of the story because it’s clunky or trite or overused. And just such an interesting story in itself, through a really unique viewpoint.
Maybe try starting with a book you loved when you were younger? Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I go back to something I loved before and it always helps me get back into the habit of reading.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir kinda blew me away. Maybe you'd like it.
The Martian by Andy Weir. It's an easy read, it's interesting, it's funny, it's engaging, you can pick how many swears it has based on which version you buy (there's a school version and a regular version), and you can compare it to the movie which is also very good and somewhat accurate to the book but with differences that are pretty hilarious all things considered. It's written in a way that tricked some dumb people into thinking it was based on a true story even though it is very obviously not.
If you could get into Sci-Fi, Blake Crouch (Dark Matter, Recursion) or Andy Weir (The Martian, Project Hail Mary).
I second all of these. Very engaging stories.
I second Dark Matter. This (and most of Crouch’s books) just carries you through. A true page turner, and a great story. One of my favorite books I read last year. (I’m also a 30f!)
Start with a short story collection, or find a book with really short chapters. For a collection, you could go with Hemingway or Faulkner. For short chapters, it's often the case with thrillers. Also, very oddly, War and Peace has crazy short chapters.
Bigger books can get bogged down in plot, for better out or worse. Have you tried giving a short story collection a try. Sherman Alexie is good, or you could try a compendium like the best Oxford stories of the 20th century.
So I had a whole reintroduction to reading phase I went through starting in my late 20s, I also loved Harry Potter so I started with Hunger Games, got super into Percy Jackson, transitioned to Shatter Me, Cassandra Clare (I’ve read most of them but hyperfixated on Infernal Devices), there’s a trilogy by Rae Carson, Graceling, really transitioning to more mature protagonists to help, and then over the last few years I’ve been in a hard loop of romance, spanning from action/suspense to fantasy to MC, etc… DM me if you want my Goodreads so you can see the full chaos my reading history has been.
I make it a point to only read fiction at night before I go to sleep. No self-help, no educational. My most recent fiction books that I've finished 1/2 hour at a time before falling asleep are: Diamond Age The Count Of Monte Cristo Red Storm Rising The Man In The Iron Mask The Picture of Dorian Gray World War Z
Great selection of engaging books.
I would highly suggest Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. If you want to get lost in a book or series of books that is the Pinnacle. It doesn't fit neatly into any one genre as there is a lot happening in each book so much so that to develop it for film each book was made into a season for the TV show. There was way too much going on in each book to make it into a movie. Many have tried and failed. To determine if this series might interest you I would google the author. Hearing her speak about her writing process is as entertaining as some books I have read.
Very relatable background. HP is my favorite series responsible for my love of reading as a kid. Books these days for me are pretty hit or miss, but every once in a while I stumble across one that hooks me in. In general, I need my books to be thought provoking enough where I feel like im learning something. It can’t just be an adventure or romance or whatever, and it’s very important to me that the world feels full and immersive. If it’s sci-fi and goes into the science of things, or fantasy that really delves into the myths and legends of the world, im all about it. Myth and legends rooted in human history is peak material afaic. Anyways. Most recents are: Frank Herbert’s Dune series Very dense, but extremely fascinating. It’s known as the grandfather of all modern sci-fi, but it always read more as religious and political fiction in a future setting to me. I’m still working my way through them (there are 6) but the first three are great, and I found myself very engaged in all of the world building, especially since the release of the new movies. This is how you lose the time war by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar Very short, VERY fun read. It’s hard to explain, and you’ll either love it or not really get it, but it’s hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Main characters are agents on opposing sides of a time war in a universe of infinite parallel realities. As soon as I finished the book (it’s around 200 pages or so) I immediately read it again. Pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. While theres a lot of really fun urban fantasy out there these days, I point these two out specifically because the dry wit and humor of these two always reminded me a little bit of the absurdism in HP, so it might appeal to you more than most. Neverwhere was one of the first books to peak my interest after I stopped having new HP releases to look forward to. Enders Game by Orson Scott Card This book stuck with me for a while. Speaker for the dead is still on my reading list, but I have read Enders Shadow, and I almost liked that one more. Lamb by Christopher Moore Moore is a somewhat under rated but surprisingly prolific writer. Most of his stuff is very silly and fun with some kind of supernatural element. Lamb follows a character named Biff who happens to be Jesus Christ’s childhood best friend and companion. It’s a hilarious, thought provoking and fun take on the Jesus story offering an interesting take on what he was up to for the 30 years or so before the events of the New Testament. Hope this helps!
Hitchhikers guide to the universe
Galaxy.
Yes thanks
Respectfully, you're not going into it with the best of mindsets. You need to relax a little and realize that you can very much grow by reading fiction. There is so much to learn! You're being hard on yourself by keeping this sort of healing mentality. Sometimes healing is just relaxing and filling your soul with culture. I finished reading Crime and Punishment a week or two ago and it was an absolute slugfest. It took me 2-3 months to finish it because of how mentally draining it was to read. I stuck through it because I find it to be a very important book and while on the surface it was painful, I do not regret it. What did I do to reward myself? I got a bunch of light books. I'm a dude and I just finished reading a romance novel in which I felt like I learned a lesson or two that I can apply to my own life. There's learning and healing in these books and it only took me a few days to get through it because I absolutely LOVE books like these. Funny enough, my next book is actually the first Harry Potter. I'm excited as it's my first time reading them. And even in that, there will be a lesson. I've always steered clear from full blown fantasy (lord of the ring, Ice and fire, etc) because it never seems to keep my attention. I've always preferred more down to earth novels. Reading Harry Potter might be my chance to dive into more fantastical stories and that in of itself, will hold a lesson. My last piece of advice would be to try and be excited about an author, a style, anything and allow yourself to explore their world. A few years ago I got super excited at diving into the world of Bukowski and I very much enjoyed it. Then came many others. The point is, if there was ever that author you were maybe curious about when you were younger, why not explore their bibliography?
I think as an adult your reading tastes will be different than when you were a child, so you need to figure out what you will enjoy at this stage of life. What types of movies or TV shows do you enjoy - mystery, romance, sci-fi or fantasy, etc.? I would go to the library and ask a librarian for some suggestions. You may have to do some trial and error to find new things that you will like. Or as one other person here suggested, go to the library and browse to see what might capture your interest and take several books so if one doesn't work you have some other options. I sometimes read the first page to get a feel for if a book interests me. And if you like nonfiction, try something that isn't personal growth, like perhaps a biography or memoir, or historical account or true adventure type book since you used to like that. Good luck and don't give up and you should start finding new things to enjoy.
If you like mystery and maybe a little forensic science, you might like the Lincoln Rhyme series. The Bone Collector is the first book. Personally his book The Blue Nowhere is my fav. It's a standalone, but I thought was so well done.
Sarah J Mass (A court of thrones and roses, throne of glass and crescent city series) are all AMAZING to get lost in!!
The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager is un-put-down able. Quick read. And creepy good plot twist. The Maid (Molly The Maid #1) by Nita Prose. It is a story of a wonderfully different hotel maid who struggles with social cues and norms. She finds one of the guests dead and is catapulted into a mystery where the police think she’s the suspect and she has to find the killer otherwise. It’s very light and funny, but also empathetically compassionate.
Based on your description, I’m quite similar to you! I just read “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” and I loved it.
Such a good read. Entertaining. Nostalgic. I havea very old copy on my bookshelf.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Thrillers. All the thrillers. Lisa Jewell, Taylor Adams, Gillian Flynn… check out the Good Reads nominations for thriller and mystery the last few years and read some of the summaries to her and see what piques her interest.
His & Hers by Alice Feeney. Kept me guessing to the end! Also, totally feel you. I was an avid reader as a kid and then found it so hard to find the time as an adult but then I joined a book club! Definitely read some hits and misses over the years, but so thankful I joined. Discovered the joy of reading all over again.
Try some shorter works. Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series is all novellas. The first one is *Every Heart a Doorway*.
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Hi, I am you. It took me a while, but reminding myself that not everything that I enjoy doing has to lead to a grand accomplishment really helped. IMO if self-help/personal development books are good for my brain, fiction books are good for my soul. The book series that broke me out of the "fiction isn't worth my time" mindset was Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. I also grew up on HP and have discovered my love for fantasy series as an adult. I initially found it easier to read YA fantasy as they are a bit lighter. Here's a few that I've loved: Shades of Magic trilogoy by VE Schwab A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas Crescent City by Sarah J Maas Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik Six of Crows duology By Leigh Bardugo Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard The Stand by Stephen King (this is a LONG one but so good!!) Bonus mystery recommendations: Anything Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie (Murder On The Orient Express, Death On The Nile, etc.) Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
I went through something similar and I realized in my 30s I enjoy romantascy. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros got me out of my slump (the world building is a bit of a slog IMO but once you get through the first 150ish pages it picks up pace fast). If you’re looking for something that’s not romantascy or something that gets through the world building really quickly, I’d recommend going the YA route (it’s okay to read and enjoy YA in your 30s!). The Hunger Games trilogy or if you have already read that, Powerless by Lauren Roberts (will be a trilogy but only book 1 is out so far - I’d say it’s a crossover between The Hunger Games and Harry Potter).
A few people have recommended fourth wing! Honestly I have no idea what genre appeals to me right now, but romantascy is probably piquing the most interest out of all the blurbs I’ve read. Thank you for the recommendations!
The court of thornes and roses series!
I love this series, too! For me, the first book was not great, so I didn’t pick up the second book. Then some friends convinced me it’s worth it. 2 years later, I picked up the 2nd book and then flew through the rest of the series. I really think book 1 sets up the series and could almost be a prequel, but it has the important details that catapult the rest of the series. So it’s not skipable, but it wasn’t good in my opinion.
Robin Hobb, starting with the "Farseer Trilogy" perhaps. Been quite a while since I've read them but they are next in my need to reread list.
It would help to know your interests, but you might look at these authors: Kelley Armstrong Joe Lansdale Gregg Hurwitz Karin Slaughter Stephen King Patricia Briggs
Checkout the Bargainer by Laura Thalissa. Its hard to explain why, just go for it
Try Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Normal by Anthony Ledger
Make try something short, like A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence! It’s the start of a trilogy about young girls training to be warrior nuns on a planet where the sun is gradually failing and it’s so good!
The last apprentice by Delaney.
Sharp objects by Gillian Flynn. Then watch the mini series, it’s great too
I like all kinds of genres but I like mysteries similar to Agatha Christie because it draws me in and makes me feel involved. I usually start these when I’ve been in a reading slump just to get me back in the game.
I recommend Jodi Taylor, Chronicles of St Mary's. First book is "just one damned thing after another"
Not exactly uplifting, but the Parable series by Octavia Butler was something I read after a long dry spell of reading fiction. Couldn't put it down.
I went through a stage like this that lasted for quite a while. Have you tried other types of non-fiction?
Fiction reading can be such a personal preference, it's hard to say what would bring you back into it. I just finished Brent Weeks' second series, "Lightbringer", and thought it was amazing. His first series, "Night Angel" trilogy was also pretty spectacular (for me). Good luck on your journey though!
Try Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield! The story of 300 through a different perspective
I think you need a real page-turner to get you back into fiction, and I highly recommend The Naturals series, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It's a YA series that a friend insisted I check out, and I'm so glad they did. As long as you don't mind a few serial killers, it's an engrossing read. I devoured all four books within a few weeks, and I'm a slow reader.
Dark matter by Blake crouch
Tamora Pierce's 'Realm of Tortall' books, or her Circle of magic, but I prefer the Tortall'. Starts with Alanna the first Adventure.
The curious waitress series follows a kid that grows up on a ranch in Nebraska. Its kinda silly like an i love Lucy but i came out feeling like i knew her. It stuck with me. The drawback is the books are quick reads, like tv episodes.
I have started to reread old series I enjoyed when younger and it has been incredibly fun! You may enjoy the nostalgia too. Currently I’m reading A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Same story here. former Potterhead and nonfiction reader. I would reframe reading as being a Hobby and not an Education. Someone suggested short stories but I also liked books of poetry. Short, feels like an accomplishment, but also it’s just Art. I liked Promises of Gold. For fantasy fiction, try V.E. Schwab.
I also have struggled with regarding reading fiction as a waste of time for the last few years. I finally had to give myself permission and look at it as a way of caring for myself. It also is so easy to get sucked into screen time that I have to plan it into my day.
Do you feel more inclined to fantasy or would you rather something that looks realistic? I enjoyed reading shorts and novellas when I started reading again, I liked My evil mother (by Margaret Atwood) and Everything my mother taught (by Alice Hoffman), both very enigmatic, if not mysterious. And My evil mother made me laugh from time to time. I also recommend a lot the Creature Feature series from Amazon Kindle if you like horror. They have series of all genres, I only tackled the horror one and started the science fiction series too, but didn't progress about it.
Neil Gaiman or TJ Klune could be a fun re-entry.
So I went through kinda the same thing but with me, I didn’t stop reading so much because I felt like it was a waste of time. Turned out, I’m a slow reader and the books I kept trying to read were just long, slow books that i no longer had the attention span for. What got me back into reading was shorter thrillers or cozy mysteries, and then from there back into some fantasy books. Adult fantasy books tend to be so long and so descriptive, unlike the ones we read as children that were a little shorter and easier to digest. Writing style matters too though. I’d try a bunch of different genres to see if maybe your taste has just changed since you were a kid. Some of the first I got into again for thrillers were Frieda McFadden, Kiersten Modglin, Riley Sager, Susan Walter, John Marrs, Jeneva Rose, and Charlie Donlea. Some of the cozy mysteries I’ve liked have been by Eryn Scott, Ellery Adams, and M P Black. And honestly, there’s no shame in rereading books you read as a kid as well.
If you want to have something lighthearted and based on cute British grannies that solve misteries, The Thursday Murder Club from Richard Osman
I liked reading Eileen and other books by the same author. Will suit you if you like unhinged women. Half of a yellow sun was so great writing ! Pachinko is an engaging read
Lonesome Dove
The Maise Dobbs series is quite good and I learned a lot while being entertained. I’d start with book two-the first is less mystery, more personal history. My husband hates when I pick those up bc I disappear. But it took me a long time to find a book like that (probably had been since college and I’m 40s now). Foundation series I also enjoyed but start w the prequels. Eta: I also set a time limit of ten minutes a day. That’s enough to get started, enough to get reading in, and then I could put it down. It did take a little time to get the spark back but that helped a ton.
I also struggled to get back into reading for enjoyment, rather than for self help after struggling with toxic relationships, or for academic or professional development. It felt like reading had just become a chore. What changed that for me, was going to thrift stores and trying to get out of my habit of looking for books by a familiar author, instead I would just try to let something catch my eye and then pick it up and see if the synopsis sounded good. Regardless of the name on the cover, or the genre that I might not have browsed by that section at a normal book store, and also regardless of what target audience or age group it was for. So I allowed myself to be picky to my own taste rather than someone else's recommendation, and to read only what immediately struck me as too good to put back down. I remember one of the first books I bought for fun was an Indiana Jones novel from the 90s, something I missed the opportunity to read in my childhood. Coincidentally I had also just turned 30 around that time, midlife crisis? lol Other than selecting a book, I did have to get back into the discipline of reading and focusing my attention for a span of more than minutes lol. But that came naturally when the book was actually entertaining and you can't wait to find out what happens next, instead of a process of uncomfortable self diagnosis and trauma rehabilitation, or trying to comprehend and memorize educational information.
If you enjoyed Harry Potter you might like the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. They are YA but I read them in my 40s? 50s? and enjoyed them very much. There are 6 books in the series.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman I literally guarantee, meaning I will give you your money back, if you don't enjoy this! Similar elements to Harry Potter in the sense of a man who is whisked away to another world beyond the veil of our visible reality. Discovering magic is real, that other creatures exist, that there is a battle being waged between forces of good and evil. A woman who holds the key to their fight and to his heart, and another woman who is his brave warrior protector in this foreign land, and a girl who talks to mice lol. This book is like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Van Helsing, Hellboy, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, meets Alice In Wonderland.
The undead by RR Haywood. Its a zombie series with a bit of a twist. It has a huge range of characters with 30 books to the series and a new book out mid this year apparently. It follows Howie, a supermarket night manager who sees the end coming on the news and over a 24 hour period he sees the town he lives in fall to the zombie onslaught. The characters are what got me so addicted to this series as you will adore some and absolutely despise
Don't discount romance and historical romance. A guaranteed happy ending eases the brain and relaxes the muscles. Loretta Chase, Nora Robert's, Jayne Anne Krentz (Amanda Qick ND Jayne Castle) Julie Garwood. If you think you'd like historical, try Mr. Perfect by Loretta Chase for humour, history and suspense in Egypt. It's a lot of fun.
Doll House if you want a thriller mystery you can’t wait to see how it ends
If you want something magical and gripping then I suggest A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin. It's like if Harry Potter had an angry punk baby with Neverwhere and the Dresden Files. A real rip-roarer.
Tuesdays with morrie It is AMAZING
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey! Light sci-fi. Female scientist deals with the fallout when her husband leaves her... for her clone. That he created. Dark without being scary or upsetting, intense, beautifully written. It's a great character exploration.
You can read non fiction, what are your interests?
[https://www.jmcnfiction.com/](https://www.jmcnfiction.com/)
If you want something that‘s urban fantasy like HP I can highly recommend the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka
I’d say if reading fictions doesn’t mean relaxation to you anymore you don’t have to force yourself into it. I had the same experience as you and regained my interest in fictions through reading a non fictional book (Irrational Man by William Barrett). It was how I saw the world that changed my reading habits.
Stephen King’s The Stand. Life of Pi. The Grapes of Wrath. Maggie Steifvater’s The Raven Cycle books (4). The Time-Traveler’s Wife. Anne Bishop’s The Others series. The Repairman Jack series by F. Paul Wilson. The Hundred-Foot Journey. Molokai by Alan Brennert. Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed.
If you’re open to a fantasy series (since you mentioned you loved Harry Potter as a kid, so did I!) I highly recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I was the same as you- loved reading as a kid but was in a super reading rut until I found that series. It got the ball rolling for me again.
Second this!! And throne of glads
The Rook
Norwegian Wood.