The Good Books Thread/ATARnotes Book Club!

[Coffee]

if you guys could recommend one book to someone who doesn't read much/would only read something if it's interesting, what would you recommend?

Hard to say without knowing what genres you like, but some of these books I've read in the past few months definitely stand out as gripping:
- Turtles All the Way Down - John Green
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
- If We Were Villains - M. L. Rio (Similar to The Secret History, if you like that.)

I also want to recommend The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, although I know some people who found this slow to begin with. Personally, I loved it though, and was enthralled from beginning to end.

[sweetiepi]

if you guys could recommend one book to someone who doesn't read much/would only read something if it's interesting, what would you recommend?

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is #1 book that comes to mind! (But maybe that's because I love Agatha Christie 😍)

[tashhhaaa]

Hard to say without knowing what genres you like, but some of these books I've read in the past few months definitely stand out as gripping:
- Turtles All the Way Down - John Green
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
- If We Were Villains - M. L. Rio (Similar to The Secret History, if you like that.)

I also want to recommend The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, although I know some people who found this slow to begin with. Personally, I loved it though, and was enthralled from beginning to end.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is #1 book that comes to mind! (But maybe that's because I love Agatha Christie 😍)

Thanks so much for this!!

Think I'll try one from each of your lists to start with

So probably When Breath Becomes Air, Turtles All the Way Down & Murder on the Orient Express

[zofromuxo]

if you guys could recommend one book to someone who doesn't read much/would only read something if it's interesting, what would you recommend?

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

The NYPD Red Series by James Patterson

These fit your criteria quite well.
Young Adult books could work as well like the Artemis Fowl Series

[tashhhaaa]

Tbh, I didn't really like When Breath Becomes Air that much, but rather its concept. It just didn't live up to my expectations of it. There were so many rave reviews of it with people "omg, this book changed my life", so I kinda expected a sincere, heart-felt recount of his life with some deep, interesting revelation about life and death. But I didn't get any of that and I felt like his writing was a bit emotionally cold (I know, harsh, but I was so disappointed lol) - there wasn't any of the sincerity and emotion I was expecting from a book written by a doctor in his 30s dying from cancer. Maybe it's because of his writing style that is very poetic and flow-y, or the fact that he had to rush the book because his cancer progressed too quickly. Dunno, . Only real sincerity I did get was with his wife's part at the end. It was clear and straightforward, and it conveyed the frank display of emotion that illustrates the profound impacts of loss I was looking for.

And I've never read romantic non-fiction before but am willing to give it a try! I'll keep on a lookout for that book. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Some reviews I read said the exact same thing but I'm still going to give it a go

[Floatzel98]

Haven't really read much of the thread unfortunately, but wanted to know if anyone has read any of the Storm light Archive novels? I heard about it because I saw something about the new book set to release soon. I read into it a bit and it looks really interesting. Probably gonna pick up the first one after exams.

[Mariamnourine]

For anyone looking for a great book, have you tried The Grapes of Wrath?

[daniel.hu3]

if you guys could recommend one book to someone who doesn't read much/would only read something if it's interesting, what would you recommend?

Would highly recommend the Matthew Reilly Books (assuming you haven't read them), they are incredibly fast-paced, sense of high urgency throughout and full of action.

[sweetiepi]

I just finished Turtles All the Way Down, and I really enjoyed reading it. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy books sorta like that! 😄

[K888]

Finished The Handmaid's Tale last night - really enjoyed it!
The TV series definitely did the book justice.

[Yertle the Turtle]

I hope that someone has mentioned The Lord of the Rings/Silmarillion by J.R.R Tolkien. The entire Middle Earth world and all the books based around it would be my No. 1 all time favourite. The Lord of the Rings has got to be the greatest book of all time, and is a must-read for anyone, interested in reading or not!
I also have great respect for Dr. Seuss, though such stories as the Cat in the Hat are not as good as some as his more philosophical works.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is another book I really like, also the Rigg saga by the same author.

[sweetiepi]

The Hate U Give is pretty good- I finished it earlier this week. It focuses on African Americans, gangs, cops, and speaking up for what's right.
It is also a fairly recent book too, and I think I saw a facebook post earlier today about how it is now banned in a Texas school district.

[Yertle the Turtle]

I think I saw a facebook post earlier today about how it is now banned in a Texas school district.

Always a sign of a good book ;P

[elysepopplewell]

Has anyone read Freedom Riders? I think I'm going to buy it for someone as a gift for Christmas but I'm keen to know if anyone has read the book! The gift recipient loved the Freedom Riders movie.

[sweetiepi]

So I just finished 'When Breath Becomes Air' by Paul Kalanithi.

I don't know whether to stare blankly at a wall, cry, or both after that.