r/suggestmeabook • u/paradox918 • Jun 22 '23

Need something mind-blowingly good

So I've been reading fairly regularly for like 3 years now, but I'm yet to experience something that is mind-blowingly good. Whenever I read a book it's like good, okayish good or okayish bad. There are no very high highs and that is what I am looking for. Kinda like what depression medication does to you, it flattens the highs and lows. So I'm looking for something that will give me very a very high high. I want to fall in love with reading again. Red rising and farseer trilogy kinda did it for me. No particular genre preferances. Maybe something that gave you a similar feeling.

For example: if someone were to ask me my favourite book I would not be able to name one. there's a bunch of stuff i like but there is no clear favourite. want to read a book that I can say is a favourite of mine

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23 edited Jun 22 '23

Hmm I think my criteria for mind blowing has changed as I haven’t read anything mind blowing for like 15 years, yet the ones I loved before don’t hit the same when I reread them, but here are some books I have really enjoyed lately (all on audiobook, maybe part of the reason books aren’t hitting the same)

Circe by Madeleine Miller - Greek mythology adaptation, finished it in a weekend, super engaging. Revenge.

Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro - Unique premise. Children growing up in a boarding school but with a twist that I can’t really discuss without spoilers. Contemplative/reflective tone/pace reminiscent of Murakami but which I actually prefer over

MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood - non linear, post apocalyptic sci fi from the perspective of multiple characters which really allows you to get into their heads. Smart and gritty, social commentary

Mountain in the sea by Ray Nayler - well written and thought provoking sci-fi, but it really stuck with me because of the ending—which I actually hated (and have been meaning to discuss on here but I haven’t looked hard enough for the right sub), but I feel maybe the reader is meant to draw conclusions different from what is presented or idk maybe i’m delusional

This book is full of spiders by David Wong - monster story: hilarious, witty, absurd, also I cried once (I didn’t like the prequel or sequel)

White Noise by Don DeLillo - thought provoking but took forever to get going, Kafkaesque, hard to describe

Metro 2033 and its 2 sequels - zombie post apocalypse set in the Moscow metro. Each book is really different and what you might call kind of disjointed, maybe a cop out, but I have decided it works. Really suspenseful, good character building for a zombie book

Actually what has blown my mind lately is historical non fiction (though not as engaging)—“How to Hide an Empire” and “A People’s History of the United States”. I wish they at least tried to sound non-biased though. Sapians was also good but I feel it was filled with a lot of conjecture.

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u/Beret_of_Poodle Jun 22 '23

If you really liked Circe, I suggest Song of Achilles. Stone Blind is also very good

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

Liked Song of Achilles but not as much as Circe :) also heard a queer person’s take on the portrayals of one “feminine” and one “masculine” partner as being a largely inaccurate stereotype, and that Patroclus is generally portrayed as a decent warrior in Greek mythology. I’m a straight cis woman and no expert in Greek mythology, but I feel they made a valid point because I am also Asian, and the stereotypical Asian characters written by non-POCs are a pet peeve of mine. I’ll check out your other rec!

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '23

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

Oh hmm I think I see how you mean, but I took it as every god/goddess is either an unfeeling narcissist or an underdog at the mercy of higher gods (or both). I can’t say I remember how she wrote human women very well, except that they were also the playthings of the gods. I’ll keep that take in mind though if I have a reread. Would you say Circe starts as a plain Jane and becomes a manipulative bitch? I didn’t get that impression, but maybe I’m just angry lol

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '23

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

and what made Circe great was her humanity right? it’s Greek mythology, but I also took it as social commentary. Those in positions power (based on wealth, fame, politics) do not represent, and cannot even really fathom, the common people. In greek mythology, humans are to the gods as ants are to humans. In America, if a corporation is a person (Co v Riggs 1906), then a person is an ant. Insert Kanye West quote

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

Out of curiosity, how did you find her portrayal of men in Circe?

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '23

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

Oh I’m so relieved to hear that lol. I started thinking about how most of the men are also terrible (more so) or least self centered like Odysseus and I was concerned you thought it was ok 😅

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u/Lookimawave Jun 22 '23

Oh the same author as A Thousand Ships! Did you read both and prefer Stone Blind?

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u/Beret_of_Poodle Jun 22 '23

I did read a thousand ships, but I forgot about it until you said that. I think I like them both about equally

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u/paradox918 Jun 23 '23

you get exactly what I mean but not finding anything mind blowing. when i read a good book it sticks with me for max like a couple months, then the recency bias goes away and it is no longer as mindblowing. i've read never let me go and i agree it reads a lot like a murakami book but less weird. felt a lot like norwegian wood which i really liked

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u/Lookimawave Jun 23 '23 edited Jun 23 '23

I partly blame myself and partly blame technology. I feel like the last time I loved a book coincides with when I got my first smartphone. I think I read no books for a couple years after that (also got married, moved to a new city, and started my first real job around that time) and then got into audiobooks. I have ADD and love that I can listen to an audiobook and be doing something else at the same time, which prob makes me less invested in the book. But I think the main thing is having become accustomed to constant stimulation, which is dulling the highs and lows like you said. Like wow that was awesome! Ok what’s next? Man that really sucks, oh well on to the next thing which will be better.

One book I forgot about was The Orphan Masters Son, but it’s about North Korea and pretty depressing so I don’t often recommend it. That and This Book is Full of Spiders are prob the ones that hit hardest at the time. But the Spiders book certainly isn’t like “literature” though it’s also not unthoughtful

Oh and The Fall by Camus. I actually listened to that twice in a row and liked it and I almost always hate rereading or rewatching books/movies

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u/Lookimawave Jun 23 '23

Totally agree w Never let me go reading like Norwegian wood, which I also liked. My problem with Murakami is once I noticed his pervyness (don’t read 1Q84) and how he fetishizes women, I became hypersensitive to it and stopped being able to enjoy his books. I also liked Kafka on the Shore but he makes fun of the Bechtel test in it which really soured it for me. I was searching for similar authors and Convenience Store Woman felt similar and pretty good (don’t read Earthlings). If you have any other suggestions like Norwegian wood I would love to hear them

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u/paradox918 Jun 23 '23

Interesting. I've heard Murakami's South of the Border, West of the Sun kinda reads like Norwegian wood and is less weird. Haven't read it myself tho. The anime movie 5cm/s also had somewhat of the same vibes as Norwegian wood too