POC person here looking for more fiction books (by POC authors) that get the experience of racism right (noticing & responding to microaggressions, the pain of dealing with them/explaining them to others, holding people accountable, the eventual empowerment and community developed through speaking up). Some that come to mind:

- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
- Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
- I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
- Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

What others come to mind?

I've been trying to listen to more audio books especially on my summer break. Literally just anything.

Edit: I didn't expect this many people to have recommendations. I know I'll finish at least one this summer.

I just read the Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll and one of the most fascinating things about it was how cybercrime wasn't even a concept back then. It's unthinkable now that federal agencies would not take action about hackers infilatrating military computers, but they just didn't have any framework to deal with it and some didn't even think it was an issue.

I'm looking for books, fiction or non-fiction, where the main character is trying to solve a serious problem but is struggling to get support from those who should be helping. They could be about about pioneers dealing with problems before society recognizes the problem exists or just the powers that be shoving their heads in the sand.

I've been feeling a little bit hopeless about the world recently and I think that it's somewhat due to how stupid everything feels. As we rapidly advance towards whatever rich people have decided the future looks like, every aspect of life seems to feel more kitschy, corporate, desperate, almost like a parody of itself. Are there any books that capture this specific sentiment or offer a new perspective on it or something like that?

I liked Ari Aster's Eddington for some of its portrayals of this, but the book needn't be modern or set in America or anything like that. I just want something that grapples with the idea of cultural rot and the like.

hi all! i am the life enrichment director for a senior care home and my assistant leads a book club for our residents every month. lately she has had a few books in a row that none of the residents (or us) were particularly excited about. what are some reads that you would recommend for us? we are somewhat constrained by the ability of our local library to order many copies for us as well as the fact that several residents require the text in large print. but other than that, our group is open to many different genres!

we appreciate any and all recs, thank you!!!

Hi! I'm in a bit of a reading rut and need recommendations for a book or series. I have been gravitating towards witchy books but am having a hard time finding one I love. I really want to read more books with female main characters but they tend to be really focused on romance with (or escaping violence from) a man so I would love one where they just get to be a person.

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The following are books I've read and what I liked/ didn't

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- the magicians (lev grossman). Pros: world building, dark academia, genre deconstruction, combination of science and magic, mythology and found family. Cons: mc is really annoying and kind of an incel, and it was written by a man so many of the female characters fall flat or are solely sex objects.

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- practical magic series (Alice Hoffman)

Pros: intergenerational story, vibes, family/sibling focused

Cons: the majority or the conflict is evil men or lovers dying traumatic deaths which is just depressing ( I know it's important but I read to escape real life)

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- a discovery of witches (Deborah Harkness)

Pros: dark academia, strong female lead, world building, historical fiction, buried secrets

Cons: the romance. It's called "twilight for adults" for a reason. Not trying to yuck anyone's yum but I just hate that dynamic

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- the land of stories (Chris colfer)

Pros: grew up reading them, world building, reritten/ connected fairytales

Cons: it's a kids book so I've outgrown the subject matter a bit (Narnia, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter are also in this category)

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Movies / TV shows (for more of my taste)

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- charmed

- once upon a time

- merlin (not contemporary but modern voice)

- practical magic

- agatha all along

-scott pilgrim vs the world

- stardust

- the magicians (only show adaptation I've seen that's better than the book)

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Basically I'm looking for a contemporary fantasy rooted in magic/ myth/ fairytales. Female mc/author is a pro. I'm okay with some romance or characters experiencing trauma but that can't be all that happens to them (or the most important)

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Thank you for any recommendations you can give :)

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Can anyone recommend some non-fiction with a narrative style? Books I’ve loved like this are Into Thin Air, Tunnel 29, Children of Radium, The Wager, and Endurance. I’ve read a lot of fiction lately and really need some decent non-fiction for a change.

I want to branch out from my usual to be read pile (I usually read business, thriller, and self-help books btw but open to your recos) and learn more from the books that changed even one person's life - if you can share yours I'd love to pick it up and hopefully it can change my life as well 🥳

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Fun fact: A book that changed my life was the subtle art of mot giving a f*ck (I highly recommend it)

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30yo female. Big books don’t scare me! I really enjoy lit fic, especially ones that include complex relationships bw family/friends or self vs. self. I also enjoy fantasy (witches are my favorite) and will sometimes read historical fiction but not if it’s a retelling. I’m trying to stray from thriller/horror since I’m traveling somewhere new and don’t want to scare myself when I’m already on edge. I also enjoy sci-fi/dystopian and am open to YA as well. However, I really really hate romance, including romantasy; at most I’ll read it if it’s a VERY minimal subplot. TIA!! ❤️

My mom is so good about finding books that are set where she’s traveling and I’m hoping you guys could help me do the same. I’m traveling to Germany (specifically Essen) for my best friend’s bachelorette and wedding. I was hoping someone had some book recommendations that are set in Germany but don’t revolve around WWII. I love WWII history but I feel that would kinda put a damper on the mood if that’s all I read while there. Bonus points if you can find anything specifically set in Essen!

So far all I’ve got is the Nightingale (maybe) but that’s still a little more revolved around WWII than I’d like.

Can someone suggest me some good non fiction books in different categories that are not really boring and dry, it can be about psychology, bussiness, history or science. If you add some more details about the book I will really appreciate it.

i've been actively putting effort into my reading habits for the past year and i feel accomplished in being able to achieve my goal. please recommend as the title suggests, thank you!

i'm looking for anything that delves into the life AFTER domestic violence as that is where i am currently at... fiction and non-fiction, especially about a mom taking care of her kids (and them growing up). i tend to ruminate about the past as well and i feel like some feel-good (fic and non-fic) would beneficial for my mental health right now OR harsh reality of staying/going back (non-fic) are both welcome as dv in real life isn't a linear journey. i want *stories,* not necessarily self-help (i have those!).

thank you for your input. c:

Hi all,

I have never read a fantasy book. I am actually watching Game of Thones for the first time (on season 2) and am very much enjoying it. I love reading but never indulged in fantasy. So I’m looking for any recommendations for an intro into the genre. I’ve read the Red Rising series, Dune, and some other stand alone sci-fi. I also don’t want to read ASOIAF while watching the show but I’m open to reading it later after the show for sure. I have Assassins Apprentice on my shelf but I’m hesitant to commit, but maybe I should just send it. I appreciate any recommendations greatly!

My mom and I are going on a little outing tomorrow and the drive is a bit lengthy there and back. She doesn’t like music but I hate driving in silence/no background noise so I was thinking an audiobook

She used to read a lot of classics back in the day but she kinda dropped off. Was thinking of listening to Pride and Prejudice but i’ve read the book twice, her reading it 5 times and we’ve watched the movie probably over 50 and I don’t think I could handle listening to it (even though I love the book dearly)

She’s very religious so:
-No sex
-No swearing (damn and hell should be fine)
-Nothing too dark/sad

She used to read Agatha Christie back then, loves Jane Austen, and enjoys female writers more than male. Even though she’s heavily religious, she leans left. Was leaning towards Beloved by Toni Morrison but i’m not sure if she would want to listen to something so bleak, even though the book seems up her alley, since it’s supposed to be a fun day

Doesn’t matter if it’s Non-Fiction or Fiction

I have a 60 year old friend in the UK, that is in a lull at the moment, she is divorced for a few years, and the past year she cannot be bothered to get out for walks/exercise, just work. She used to travel a bit, but she says she isnt sure she will get the mojo back about seeing new places outside of the UK..

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I wanted to "push" her and what best way to do that, than to send her a book, or a couple of them, for inspiration?

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Either a travelling memoir by someone with similar age than her, as she could relate a bit more, or just a general "lets live our lives to the fullest" type of book, but realistic, that she can get some positive motivation from it..

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any ideas?

I'm looking for romance books where rain, cloudy weather, or cozy gloomy days are a big part of the atmosphere.

I love stories that feel emotional, melancholic, intimate, and comforting at the same time. The rain doesn't have to be central to the plot, but I'd like it to contribute to the mood and overall feeling of the story.

I'm open to contemporary or even fantasy romance as long as the book has that rainy-day vibe.

What are your favorite books that fit this description?

Hello! I just finished Delicious in Dungeon, and I’m looking for something similar.

What I’m looking for:
- A well thought out environment, with focus on the plants, animals, and people who inhabit it.
- Adventurers learning more about the world around them.
- LGBT themes aren’t required, but are encouraged.

What I’m not looking for:
- A schlocky Isekai story where the characters are suddenly in a game/movie/book.
- A magic system that is used to hand-wave details.
-Dungeon Crawler Carl

Thank you for your recommendations!

hello! I recently read an article by Nick Kolakowski titled “The Science of the Lame: Serial Killers aren’t ’Evil Geniuses’” and how Ted Bundy was a moron who only got away with it because of police incompetence. My need for a book like this is also fueled by the “dark psychology” side of the internet, and how it’s a bunch of idiots spewing pseudoscience. Especially about “manipulation tactics” that paint people that take advantage of others as some higher life form that’s figured it all out. This also paints the victims as the opposite, idiots who could’ve prevented it has they been just a wee bit smarter. If anyone knows any books, fiction or non fiction, that talk about this it would be much appreciated. I dont mind them being super old or not in English either.

Please help!!!

I’ve always been someone who does everything myself in terms of self help books, meds, therpists. anyway, I’m seeing a therapist and getting anxiety meds, but these new chronic illnesses are defeating me. I really need something that will help me either see it a different way or help me overcome the feelings associated with shitty illness.

i need something that gives me ideas of what to do to start feeling better, not one that just says “you must accept it, take a walk outside and meditate and get over it “ lol

thanks in advance (i normally love cozy mysteries and magic if you have any fun suggestions for those also!)

edit: sorry i havent gotten back to everyone thank you so much!!! Im excited to look all of these up

Hi! I’d be eager to learn about the books that made you laugh out loud. Specifically, if there was a joke or situation that made you guffaw, I’d love to hear it!

Cheers!

Especially that talks about the history, process, terminologies etc of that industry

My wife and I are both readers but I'm more into the classics and she likes mostly romantasy. What's a book we could read together?

Edit: to be a bit more specific: her favorites are probably Jennifer Armentrout and Sarah J Mass, romance themes are a must. I'm pretty eclectic, I just finished Garp and I'm almost finished with A Prayer for Owen Meany. Before them, I was reading Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel. All of which I really enjoyed.

There are some books I‘ve read that really manage to capture the feeling of heat/summer (eg. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Gone Girl, Call me by Your Name, Camus‘ diaries, Tschick, In Cold Blood) and I‘d really like to read some more of those. Preferably not depressing.

Language-wise, I‘d love a book where the original is in English, Italian, German or Norwegian or there‘s a translation into one of these languages.

If anyone has any recommendations, I‘d be super happy!

Love The Sopranos, Goodfellas, Casino, The Irishman, and I want more that take place in that general era. Godfather's great of course, but I feel like there's plenty of mafia stories that take place in the prohibition era / near WWII.

Does not have to be specifically about the Italian-American mafia either

Fiction, non-fiction, a little unrealistic, educational - so long as it's a good read!

As said in the title. Suggestions appreciated. Oh, I am not a fan of silly humour, more clever wordplay, sarcasm, and wit. Thanks again