The best feeling is reading a book that gets you extremely invested in the characters. My top books that have made me feel this way are The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I have recently gotten into thrillers and read 4 of them in a row which is probably why I am missing that feeling of deep connection with characters. After that I decided to try fantasy for the first time by starting out with the extremely popular ACOTAR series. The sheer passion of this series’ fan base had me feeling certain I would get that feeling with these books, but I am halfway through the 3rd book and while I do find them plenty entertaining, I just don’t feel that connection that I’m looking for with any of the characters. It has me a little worried that maybe it’s just me and I’m not capable of wholly escaping reality in a book anymore… so any suggestions that practically ruined your life because of your emotional investment in the characters would be great!!!
by jenjen1102
8 Comments
Not feeling invested in the characters in ACOTAR isn’t evidence of you losing the ability to *feel*; ACOTAR is popular, but it’s not all that well written imo.
Some books that really got me invested:
The kite runner
My sisters keeper
Shantaram
Extremely loud and incredibly close
Middlesex
White oleander
We need to talk about Kevin
White teeth
A Gentleman in Moscow
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
East of Eden
A Little Life
*The House in the Cerulean Sea* by T.J. Klune
*Hello Beautiful* by Ann Napolitano
Code Name Varity
God of Small things – Arundhati Roy
Stoner – John Williams
The Whole Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling
Perks of being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux
The Winternight Trilogy. I felt so many things for so many of the characters.
Luster by Raven Leilani
Assisants apprentice by Robin Hobb. The character of Fitz has me so emotionally invested I was totally immersed in his life, I felt his pain and frustration and joys and life. I recommend highly.