Hi there!
I’m on the lookout for a good book to read, and I have to confess that I’m not much of a reader, to put it mildly. Given the choice, I’d typically opt for movies, shows, games, and the like over a book. However, my partner, my family, and her family are all avid readers who can breeze through hefty novels in a week. I’m constantly reminded that there’s a vast literary world out there, and the only thing keeping me from reading as frequently as they do is finding the right book to captivate me.
I tend to share their sentiment. I adore bookstores, libraries, and the whole literary ambiance, but I just can’t seem to muster up the interest in actually reading a book. The only series I remember being truly engrossed in was the Hunger Games when it first emerged. I did make an attempt with the Rangers Apprentice series, but it lost my interest and motivation waned.
So, I’m hoping that the collective wisdom of this subreddit can help me develop a passion for books. When it comes to movies and shows, I typically gravitate towards sci-fi, such as the latest Star Trek films with Chris Pine (I could watch those on repeat), John Wick and its immersive universe, the show Chuck, anything with Ryan Reynolds (my guilty pleasure), and I absolutely adore Avatar: The Last Airbender. I also have a soft spot for lawyer shows and procedural cop dramas (I always dreamt of being a detective).
To sum it up, I’m drawn to stories with well-developed, humorous characters or tight-knit, funny friendships. I appreciate characters in leadership roles, a touch of mystery, a hint of legal drama and banter, and an expansive and engaging universe. I’m looking for something that will hold my attention from start to finish.
I know this is a huge ask, however, I am hoping I can find something!
Thank you in advanced!
by CaptainGavin
9 Comments
{{Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir}}
A lot of movies and shows have novels based on them. The Castle show, for example, has books in the real world that match the books named on the show. You could start reading a book that takes place in a fictional world you already love.
Enders Game. 100%.
Child prodigy is groomed for command of the human fleet used to fight an alien invasion. But everything is not what it seems….
Fucking brilliant book.
Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston is a great, fast-paced crime novel. Funny. Reads like a movie. (the same author also has a 5 book vampire series, beginning with Already Dead.) He’s my favorite author.
The book it book I’ve ever read that truly felt *movie-like* is Severance Package by Duane Swierczynski. This would be a great starter book and definitely fill the John Wick itch.
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall is very different. It’s intriguing and mysterious and switches genres. It was written to have different meanings to different readers. I’ve read it 8 times and always pick find some new connection I hadn’t seen before. It’s my favorite book.
And if you liked Hunger Games, try Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. But I don’t recommend this being the first book you try.
Edit: Florida Road Kill by Tim Dorsey is another great, fun, and hilarious read. It was the first book that really kind of grounded me and got me to follow multiple storylines in a single novel.
Book rec: Red Shirts by John Scalzi. Sci-fi plus humorous.
But I also suggest audiobooks. It can be hard to block off time to read a physical book when your phone is *right there*. I put on an audiobook and I can do something physically productive like dishes or laundry, OR I can sit on the couch and play mindless games on my phone while I listen. That way your brain is engaged but so are your hands, so you are less likely to look around for something else to do, which is how you end up back on your phone when you try to read. 🙂
Six of crows- Leigh Bardugo really got me into reading again :]
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey – first book in the Expanse series
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Given your name and avatar, I have to recommend Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian
THE VERY MINUTE MANAGER is a humor book (not fiction) that some otherwise nonreaders have loved. You mention “lawyer shows” and the book has a chapter titled “Legal Matters.” The book is a spoof of how-to-succeed books.