A Book For Every Mood

Since I started reading, I have loved being able to recommend books to others. Not only that, but I can recommend a variety of genres. I am a chaotic reader and am open to most genres, even though my favorites are fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, horror, romance, and thriller. I have never been one to stick to one thing and enjoy variety. That is why I want to share that same feeling with you guys with the following book recommendations:

Fantasy

A type of speculative fiction that features magic, supernatural forces, and unique worlds that don’t exist in everyday life.

Recommendation: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune- the story follows office drone Linus Baker. He works as a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Suddenly, Extremely Upper Management gives an assignment to check out an orphanage on Marsyas Island. They give Linus a file on the six children and the head of the orphanage, and his mission is to check how dangerous the children really are and whether the orphanage should stay open.

Why: I think it is an important book to read during times like these where there is so much hate and divisiveness in the world. The book is a good example of how we treat people, especially those that we consider inferior. It is a reminder of how we should embrace each other’s differences instead of trying to keep portions of the population disenfranchised and secluded. On a more personal note, I loved the book because it demonstrates one of my favorite concepts: found family. A family doesn’t mean you have to be related by blood, but one that you choose to create. Anybody can be a part of your tribe.

Sci-fi

A type of speculative fiction that focuses on how unheard-of and advanced science, technology, and space exploration can affect society and the human condition.

Recommendation: The Measure by Nikki Erlick-One day, every adult 22 years old and older receives a box that contains a string that indicates the length of their timespan on Earth.

Why: It is a classic what-if scenario. What would happen if there was a sudden shift in thinking regarding mortality? It is an important type of question because, in general, humanity tends to not react well to change, especially if it is rapid. Some people dig in their heels to avoid change or try to exclude people who go against the status quo. I believe the book is a good representation of what not to do when change happens. Finding out new information or something different shouldn’t be feared, but embraced.

Horror

A type of speculative fiction that can heighten intense feelings of fear, dread, shock, or disgust.

Recommendation: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig- a group of friends finds a random staircase in the middle of the woods. One of the members of the group goes up the stairs and disappears. Decades later, the remaining friends find another staircase in the woods and climb it to try to find their missing comrade.

Why: I have always been hesitant about the horror genre because I thought it would be more slasher-heavy. However, I found books like The Staircase in the Woods fascinating because it addresses something most people fear: watching someone that you love slip away and how that breaks you. It is hard to watch someone disappear from existence or watch them change into someone you barely recognize. I also love that the book illustrates that letting fear consume you is not the answer, and the importance of taking risks and fighting back.

Thriller

Has plots that are fast-paced and high-stakes and can heighten feelings of excitement, suspense, anxiety, and anticipation

Recommendation: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart- a retired assassin attends Assassins Anonymous ( a 12-step program for reformed killers). However, some people are not happy that he is not in the assassins’ business anymore and are trying to kill him. The man flees through multiple countries with a target on his back. Who is after him, and how can he fight back without losing his sobriety to not kill people?

Why: It asks a moral question that leaves you thinking about the topic weeks after. Would the retired assassin be breaking his sobriety to kill those who are after him in self-defense? Many people would say that taking a life in self-defense is okay because you are protecting yourself, but others will say that you don’t have the power to choose between life and death for an individual. Honestly, it is a question that I have gone back and forth on as well. I’m not sure what the correct answer is, and I’m not sure there is one.

Dystopian

Speculative fiction that depicts plots of oppressive control, loss of individuality, illusion of perfection, and catastrophic environmental, economic, or societal decline

Recommendation: We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune- a married couple takes a road trip to fulfill a promise before the world ends in several weeks.

Why: I think that I have veered into the dystopian genre recently because I feel that they provide a warning to all of us if we don’t steer our direction in life. This book is no exception. It is one of my favorites this year because it asks us to question our mortality. Many of us are thinking about how to make it to the next day. Most don’t ask the following question, though: Are we living the lives that we want to lead? It forces you to question if you like the way your life is now, or if you need to make some changes before it is too late.

Romance

A type of fiction where the central plot revolves around a central love story and usually ends with a satisfying happy ending

Recommendation: Book Lovers by Emily Henry- Heavily driven in her career and in city life, a woman notices the last several relationships ended the same: boyfriend goes to a small town for work or other reasons, falls in love with the locals and their new true love, and dumps her, claiming that she is cold and only cares about work. However, when our main character’s younger sister begs her to go on vacation to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, for a month, she begins to wonder not only if her former boyfriends were right about small-town living, but if their perception of her being cold and work-focused is true.

Why: I also love when a book turns a genre on its head, and this book is no exception. It subverts the romantic tropes that society places on us about what true love is supposed to be like. The thing is, what is perfect for you in a companion may not work for someone else. You have to decide what you want in a partner instead of what society tells us because, at the end of the day, you are the one who is dealing with the companion, not society.

Historical Fiction

A literary type of fiction where an imaginary story takes place in a real past time period

Recommendation: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah- a teenage girl’s life is in a constant state of upheaval. Her father hasn’t been the same after coming home from the Vietnam War. His erratic behavior and his inability to hold down a job have the family moving from place to place, not staying long enough to call a city home. One day, the father reveals he has lost another job, but found a great opportunity: the wilderness of Alaska. He sees it as an opportunity to be his own man, living off the land, and not having to report to anyone. The girl is forced to follow her father on his new far-fetched adventure. She wonders whether the move will make their family better, or will isolation intensify the darkness they already had.

Why: I believe novels like The Great Alone are so important because it forces us to take a closer look at things that have happened in the past. It makes you realize that the laws that we have in place for the protection of veterans and women haven’t been in place that long. It is a reminder of how bad things were, and hopefully we learn enough from history to never fall back into awfulness from that time period again.

Contemporary Fiction

A type of fiction that takes place in the present or recent past. Stories tend to have realistic plots, characters, and settings that reflect modern society

Recommendation: Social Animals by Camille Perri- a woman thinks that she made two new friends at a dog park, but doesn’t realize that her new buddies have ulterior motives of getting close to her.

Why: It points out how hard it is to make friends once school is over and people spread out. Humans were never meant to live alone, which is why friendships are so important. Building community not only helps you grow as a person, but also helps you realize all the wonderful things out there available to you.

Literary Fiction

A type of fiction that focuses on character development, theme, and artistic style

Recommendation: Whistler by Ann Patchett- a woman runs into her ex-stepfather whom she hasn’t seen in decades. After reconnecting, they are willing to fight to never be separated again.

Why: It forces you to realize that it is not necessarily the long-term connections that matter the most. Sometimes, the smallest impact can make the biggest difference in your life.

That’s all the recommendations I have for today. I hope you find something you like from this list. They are all great books that you can consume during a quiet weekend and leave you thinking about them for weeks to come. What books have left you thinking about them for weeks? Let me know in the comments!