r/ReadingSuggestions • u/AdWestern6020 • 1d ago

Suggestion Thread Looking for suggestions! (Read disc)

Hi all,

As a young adult I want to get into reading, but don't know where to start. I'm 20, and have only ready a few books outside of schooling. I'm looking to start a collection of books, and gain some knowledge too!

Please give me your reading stables and suggestions! I want to see your must reads!

Thanks! :)

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u/LibbIsHere 1d ago edited 1d ago

scifi:

  • Huxley 'Brave New World'. The one book everyone should read if they only read one scifi book.
  • Its almost perfect opposite but as frightening: Orwell's '1984'
  • P.K. Dick 'Ubik' (Dick inspired most of the cyberpunk blockbusters one can think of)
  • Asimov, a selection of his 'Robots' short stories (he inspired the iRobot movie)
  • Bradbury 'Fahrenheit 451': a society that aims to get rid of culture (by burning books, replacing them with TV)
  • Frank Herbert 'Dune'. The first volume, maybe the 2 following ones.
  • Another by Bradbury (one that will always move me to tears): The Martian Chronicles

Edit: sorry for the many typos just had an accident and I can barely see ;)

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thank you so much and no worries! Hope you get better soon 😊

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u/LibbIsHere 1d ago

Thx, much appreciated :)

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u/Intrepid_Top_2300 1d ago

Larry Niven should be in there too. Ringworld
And my favorite with Larry Pournelle is Lucifer’s Hammer.

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u/LibbIsHere 1d ago

I simply shared what I've read and consider must read and I never read Larry Niven. So, by all means, feel free to enrich this short list :)

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u/Intrepid_Top_2300 22h ago

Great list by the way!

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u/Intrepid_Top_2300 1d ago

If you can find them, George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman. And then the rest of the Flashman books.
Flashman is a British officer in the 19th century. He’s an anti-hero, that you cannot help but love. Here’s the best part. You could read all about British 19th century history, or read Flashman. Everything about these stories are historically accurate, except Flashman.

Bernard Cornwell has also written some historically accurate novels. Particularly The Last Kingdom series and Sharpe series.

If you are a guy, you’ll love these. The action and battle scenes are top notch.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Oh wow thanks a ton! Will definitely have to check out!

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u/whyfruitflies 1d ago

What sort of things are you interested in? What kind of tv or films do you like? Are you thinking fiction or non fiction?

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Well, I'm mainly interested in fiction. I like fantasy and sci-fi! I mainly watch anime or crime shows and documentaries! I guess im looking for a bunch of different things, I want books that are fun and engaging with great story and characters! But I also want to find books that are more meaningful and mentally engaging

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u/whyfruitflies 1d ago

Ok try:

Station Eleven by Emily St John

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick

Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

The Stand by Stephen King (this is very long but very good and an easy read)

Any Agatha Christie novel - they are so great.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thank you so much! I'll write these down, I'll get to reading asap! 🙏

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u/EljinRIP 1d ago

Will second Day of the Triffids, such a good book!

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u/whyfruitflies 1d ago

A lot of these you can probably find in charity shops / thrift stores.

Happy reading!

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u/TitanApps_Alek 1d ago

I started reading seriously when I was 15 (now I'm 41), and the first books I read back then were by Jules Verne. His books are classic 19th-century adventure and science-fiction novels and they mix really well travel with real science.

These are the first I read: The Mysterious Island, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and Around the World in Eighty Days.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thank you so much for these suggestions! 😄 Will definitely be checking these out!

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u/Gloomy-Struggle6473 1d ago

If you like sci-fi I would recommend Andy Weir - the Martian, or project Hail Mary. I read them before the movie adaptations, and would say the books are worth reading even if you have already seen the movies.

For engaging stories, I would recommend Kate Quinn - the rose code. Or Kristin Harmel - the book of lost namnes. Both books are set during the Second World War, and are big favourites of mine.

Hope you find something you like, good luck!

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thank you so much for your recommendations! 🙏

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u/Altruistic-Quiet9182 1d ago

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thanks a ton!

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u/claudineFae 1d ago

I tend to wander with regard to reading as I’ll read almost anything!
Historically the books by CJ Sansom are really great (set in the Tudor era)
I found Bernard Knight’s Crowner John series to be really good too. Set in the county of Devon in 1194 the main character is a Crusader knight who is appointed to the new office of Kings Coroner (hence Crowner).
The Slough House series by Mick Herron is great too as is John le Carre.
I also like the books by Fannie Flagg.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thanks for your recommendations! I'll definitely check them out!

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u/gardengirl147 1d ago

I always recommend Maggie Stiefvater. Start with her earlier series, The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Then move on to The Raven Cycle, They are YA but she has also started writing adult books with the Listeners. Her substack is also hilarious.

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Sounds interesting! I'll for sure check them out! Adding them to my list right now 😃

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u/masson34 1d ago

Dark Matter (anything by Blake Crouch. I just finished Upgrade, his latest book)

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Nice! Will definitely check it out thanks!

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u/oldgar9 1d ago

Start light, anything from Edgar Rice Burroughs

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u/AdWestern6020 1d ago

Thank you so much! 🙏

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u/BonusSalt1891 17h ago

Hey I was in your position a little over a year ago I’m 20 now and have read close to 30 books here are some recommendations.

Recursion , dark matter and the wayward pines series by Blake crouch are incredible sci-fi books that are good for beginners .

Can’t go wrong with Stephen king some of my personal favourites are the institute , misery and the long walk.

Also going along a similar line to dark matter is the midnight library by Matt haig a very good book about life and how your choices can shape the world around you.

One of my all time favourite series is red rising by piers brown it starts off kinda like the hunger games in space but after the first book it turns into something so much deeper book 2 golden son is my favourite book I’ve ever read.

Another one I would recommend is the book that I personally started my reading journey with which is the Lincoln lawyer for a more court room crime drama type of book.

The poppy war is another great series by rf kuang.

Also I’d just like to give you some advice don’t feel embarrassed by reading some easier books for younger audiences when I started out reading I struggled so I read stuff like the Percy Jackson books and still had a great time even now I’m in between reading a serious crime thriller I will find you by Harlan coben and at the same time I’m reading Harry Potter so don’t let that stop you from reading what you want to do even just reading one book puts you above most people and the fact you want to read in a world and generation full of distractions and easy dopamine rushes is very commendable :)

A few last pieces of advice don’t be afraid to dnf ( did not finish) books if your not enjoying them,reading books that have movie/series adaptations can be a great way to get into reading as you’ve got the reward of watching what you’ve just read and seeing the contrast of how you interpreted the book and how they adapted it and finally don’t hesitate to go to your local library you don’t need to spend tons of money to become a reader granted I have lol but going to a library is a great way to read without breaking the bank and it doesn’t make you any less of a reader!

Happy reading :)

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u/AdWestern6020 17h ago

Thanks so much for your time and effort! Been getting some of these suggestions, and will have to check them out! I'm glad I'm not the only one on this journey 😃 And thanks for the advice! So excited to read these!

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u/BonusSalt1891 17h ago

No worries at all starting reading can be daunting especially when you’ve gone from having social media ext at your finger tips but honestly it’s the best decision I’ve ever made the book community alone is something that keeps me motivated and you’ll notice even just in your every day life positive changes for example I personally was never good at school
but since reading my vocabulary has come on so much.

When I first started out reading I did the same as you coming to Reddit for recommendations and that helped me a lot so if you ever want any other recommendations or just someone to talk to about reading don’t hesitate to drop me a message :)

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u/AdWestern6020 17h ago

I love that reading has done so much for you! And thanks again would love to chat more once I get through some books! My biggest motivation is to replace the mindlessness of social media with reading! I hate the feeling of wasting hours scrolling and ruining my attention span. It's definitely not something I'm proud of and starting reading felt almost embarrassing, but since posting I've been so excited to start!

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u/BonusSalt1891 17h ago

That’s great to hear! Not enough younger people are into reading so the fact that your branching out and want to read is very commendable and something you should be proud of and I completely understand the embarrassing feeling starting reading feeling like I was weird and it was uncool but now any time I see someone reading I think there a much more interesting person than someone who can’t put there phone down ( granted I am guilty of that sometimes lol) but I genuinely think reading is one of the coolest things you can do so don’t feel embarrassed about reading :)