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What are the best fictional books you’ve ever read? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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I started reading last year, mostly productivity stuff, but now I’m really looking to jump into fiction to unwind after a long week of uni, studying, and work. I need something to help me relax during the weekends without feeling like I’m working.

I’d love some recommendations for books that are short enough to finish in a day but still hit hard and are totally worth it. No specific genre preferences right now. I'm open to whatever. Looking forward to seeing what you guys suggest. Thank you very much in advance.

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[–] 34 points 2 years ago (9 children)

I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but The Stormlight Archive books speak to me like no other books ever have. They're a huge time investment, but they're all about the journey, not the destination. 😉

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago

    Brandon Sanderson writes amazingly rich fantasy stories an created wild lore heavy worlds in his books. But his books are also behemoths with thousands upon thousands of pages that require some serious time and commitment to read. Maybe not the best for beginners to start getting into fiction.

    I'd recommend the Harry Potter books because they start easy and get more mature with each book. Also the story and lore is widely known and liked by a lot of people.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I've really enjoyed everything in the Cosmere, but Stormlight is a step above the rest. Last book in this era is out soon. I can't wait.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    What's the reading age for this series? I know it doesn't always matter, but some novels it breaks my immersion when I become aware that the reading age is more teenage than adult

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Definitely not written for kids. I'd say it's in the "general audience" category. It's fairly clean as far as content goes; so kids could read it. But it's sheer length and number of characters demands the patience and commitment of an experienced reader (if that makes sense).

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Way of Kings blew my mind when I first read it. I loved it so much. I read it again when the last book came out because I couldn't remember everything that happened, and it's still an amazing book on the second read. Unfortunately, each of the following books in the series is less enjoyable for me. I didn't like the Rhythm of War at all. I know a lot of people love it, but it has become something I don't appreciate at all. I don't know if I'll even finish the series, assuming Brandon ever finishes it himself.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    What do you love most about The Stormlight Archive books?

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    I love the worldbuilding, mystery, and magic system, but I think it's the characters that I love the most. I can identify with these characters so much more than any book I've read before. Their struggles, their thoughts and feelings, and their growth really speaks to me.

    Also, the climax of Brando's books are awesome. Fans have dubbed it "The Sanderlanche." Something that B-Money is great at is delivering on promises. He is actually a writing professor at BYU (he's uploaded a lot of his lectures to his YouTube channel), and one of his big things for writers is Plot, Promises, and Progress. It's really exciting when you realize you're in the Sanderlanche, because a bunch of awesome shit is about to go down.

    And, most of his books are in the same universe (called the Cosmere), and so it's cool when you recognize a character from one series when they show up in another series.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    It is very rare to see that fans have dubbed something, so knowing that fans have dubbed it “The Sanderlanche” is giving it a feeling that this author and his books must be too good and worth checking it out. Anyway, thank you very much for a detailed answer.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    He engages with his fan base a lot. So yeah, there are lots of jokes and things like that. It's fun to get involved with everything, but you don't need to in order to just enjoy his books.

    By the way, most people suggest starting with the Mistborn series. "The Final Empire" is the first book, and it's really fun. A good introduction to Sanderson. They're still big books, but not quite the commitment of "The Way of Kings," which is the first Stormlight book. Whatever you start with, I hope you enjoy it!!

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