My boyfriend and I are looking to start a mini book club with each other to connect while long distance. However, we have vastly different tastes in books.
Here are some books that I have really enjoyed: Circe (favorite of all time), the Secret History, the Outlander Series, The Glass Castle
Here are some books that my bf has read recently that he enjoyed: Frankenstein, the Stranger, Nausea (Sartre), anything by McCarthy, East of Eden, Picture of Dorian Gray
Overall he enjoys more philosophical and dense books while I enjoy a bit more fantasy and mainstream fiction. I’ve read some of the books that he has read but didn’t find them quite as captivating as he did. We both enjoyed East of Eden and the Stranger.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!
by EstablishmentCool473
24 Comments
Lonesome Dove
Jitterbug Perfume
The Book Thief
The Museum of Extraordinary Things
The Ginni and the Golem
Shit Cassandra Saw
Nothing to See Here
You both might like Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
The Goldfinch might scratch both your Donna Tartt interest and his interest in explorations of guilt, finding meaning in life, etc
Try 11/22/63 by Stephen king it’s bigger and seems like it would satisfy both of you. It’s a time travel /romance/ thriller/ historical fiction by Stephen king. I also love Circe one of my faves ever and this book is now another favorite
100 Years of Solitude
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Both are quite short but have great discussion points and really interesting.
Lonesome Dove
Monk & Robot books by Becky Chambers. Has adventure, is very cute, and there are some philosophical discussions. It’s short and a great audiobook in case you’d rather listen.
I know I’m a broken record but …. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
I vote taking turns picking the books instead of, or at least in addition to, compromising on them. It would be a nice peak into what your (plural, not just you) partner enjoys and shows a willingness to do things outside of your (again plural) comfort zones to please each other. Plus you may discover a great book that you would never choose for yourself.
The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty
Maybe something Kazuo Ishiguro, like *Remains of the Day* or *Never Let Me Go*?
Seconding someone’s recommendation of *The Goldfinch.*
Could consider *Good Omens* as a silly/fun read (humorous and somewhat philosophical but not dense or literary)
Weird rec: *Vita Nostra* by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. It’s technically fantasy but gets very philosophical and metaphysical by the end, so I think it could work for both of your tastes. It’s hard to describe this novel (the authors call it “metaphysical realism”) but it’s probably the only book I’ve read that genuinely feels like it’s expanding my mind and is definitely one of my favorites.
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Catherine Webb
Replay by Ken Grimwood
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
You may want to check out Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. It’s got a bit of everything – dystopian future, philosophy, drama, Shakespeare and a great host of characters.
Piranesi by Susannah Clarke
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Barbara Kingsolver could be good for you to both try. I’ve read three of hers and will read more! Would recommend all three: Demon Copperhead, Flight Behaviour, The Poisonwood Bible.
My husband and I also have a mini book club this year and it’s been a lot of fun.
Probably classics with some fantasy twists that you may both enjoy. Such as Dracula. Surprisingly well written, even though I didn’t want to read something that has penetrated pop culture so thoroughly.
Could also reread favorites. Those that love Dorian Gray reread that stuff repeatedly, so you can give it a shot. It’s also deeply rooted in fantasy elements.
If only there were more existentialist or absurdist fantasy novels:
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I would recommend The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. It’s a sci-fi classic. Interplanetary revolution, sentient ai, funny at times, heartbreaking at others. I think you’d both find it enjoyable. It’s one of my favourites and I’d say my taste is somewhere between you and your bfs. I loved outlander and am generally a big fantasy fan but also very into dense philosophical texts.
*Old Man’s War*, by John Scalzi. Asks the question: would you join the military at age 75, IF it meant you would be young again?
*A Brother’s Price*, by Wen Spencer. Imagines what society would be like if less than 5% of all babies were male.
Tolkien fits both genres.
Based on liking East of Eden,
My Antonia,
The hearts invisible Furies by John Boyne,
Limberlost by Robbie Arnott,
The Offing by Benjamin Myers,
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen,
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
The sea of Tranquility by emily St john mandel
Susanna Clarke’s *Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell* might be something of a halfway point if you can get used to the format of it. I see other books by Clarke recommended below but haven’t read those so can only offer a ‘sounds about right’ on those.
You could try *The Handmaid’s Tale*? It’s not a very cheerful book but there might be stuff in it you could discuss together.
It’s long but Count of Monte Cristo is a fantastic read. Lots of similar elements to both your favorites and his.
Also recommending:
The Princess Bride
Dracula
The Giver
And specifically to you, in case you haven’t tried it yet, highly recommend Six of Crows.