Someone recently asked me for a list with book recommendations so I thought I might also share it here.
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
This is my favorite book in the Discworld series (and maybe just my favorite book). You don’t have to read the series in the right order but it might be better to read Mort, Reaper Man and Soul Music first (these are also very good and are about Death as a character). It is a Christmas book but don’t let that stop you from reading it now.
It’s very very funny:
“Real children do not go hoppity skip unless they are on drugs.”
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.”
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Probably one of the first sci-fi books I’ve read and probably the most memorable.
Brandon Sanderson Mistborn Series
I love everything that Brandon Sanderson writes but especially the Mistborn series.
Dubliners by James Joyce
The writing in this collection of short stories is just superb!
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite author so there are a few of his books on this list. This one is about -surprise- Norse Mythology. The writing is amazing and easy to read and it’s just an interesting book even if you know most of the stories.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Another really good Neil Gaiman book, this one about London.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
If you like books about zombies.
The Martian Andy Weir
This one reminded me about a math or physics test in school but in a good way (it sounds impossible but it’s true). It might not be for everyone but I really loved it.
A Monster Calls Patrick Ness
A really sad but also beautiful book.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
The only Sherlock Holmes book I’ve ever read but definitely not the last.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Because it’s Harry Potter.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
An autobiography of an astronaut. I thought it was really interesting and inspiring. It’s about Chris Hadfield’s life and not just about being an astronaut (but a lot about that as well).
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
A creepy children’s book by Neil Gaiman.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Amazing writing and a beautiful story. It is a big book but still easy to get through and hard to put down. It’s a really good epic fantasy series.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Another really good epic fantasy series with amazing writing and a beautiful story.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
And another one.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
A bit harder to get through than Neil Gaiman’s other books but definitely worth the effort.
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
One of the books in the Discworld series. I was reading it while the author died. Death itself finds out he doesn’t have a lot of time left and it’s about how he’s trying to live with the knowledge that he will soon die.
‘Death has to happen. That’s what bein’ alive is all about. You’re alive, and then you’re dead. It can’t just stop happening.’
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
The book that got me into reading fantasy. I don’t know if I would still love it as much as I did then but it will always be one of my favorite books.
What If? By Randall Munroe
This book answers questions in a serious way like: ‘’What would happen if you made a periodic table out of cube shaped bricks, where each brick was made of the corresponding element?’’ And ‘’How long could a nuclear submarine last in space?’’.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
You’ve probably seen the movies so you know what it is about. I really loved the book, the story was better.
Change Places with Me by Lois Metzger
A very original sci-fi book. It was different than what I expected.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
A novella based on Lovecraft. It’s better if you’ve read some of Lovecraft’s stories before this one but not necessary.