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Book recommendations that aren’t self help or dark romance
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items I’ve been actively reading various genres since I was a child so here are some of my favorites, books that made me think about life and some I’m hoping to read soon.✨🫶🏼 (no self help or dark romance here thank you)
A classic novel by Oscar Wilde. It deals with topics of narcissism and hedonism, and how corrupt and shallow society influences naive and young people who step into it
The Picture of Dorian Gray|Paperback
Extended version. It contains various alluding to homoerotic relationships that are censured in the mainstream version
The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray
A classic of Russian literature, this story deals with poverty, desperation, crime, human conscience and superiority complex of the main character. Can one person commit whatever crimes they wish if they’re deemed ‘superior’ to their peers?
Crime and Punishment|Paperback
Another of Dostoevsky’s famous works, it is a heavier read than the others because it’s much more philosophy than literature based, main character deals with nihilism stemmed from loneliness and isolation
Notes from Underground|Paperback
One of the most famous works of Roman stoicism and philosophy overall. I am still reading this book but so far it has make me think about my approach to life and everyday situations multiple times
Meditations|Paperback
A story that teaches you why pretentious chasing of aesthetics for aesthetics sake can never end well for anyone involved
The Secret History|Paperback
A dystopian world that heavily criticizes Stalinism and fascism alike. Main character rebels against an oppressive regime but someone is always watching
1984|Paperback
So far my favorite Shakespeare work. There’s just something about villain x villain relationships that’s superior to everything else
Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library Series)|Paperback
Absurd but easy to read. Main character just doesn’t gaf, a show of shallowness of societal norms and morals
The Stranger|Paperback
Short story, a great way to get into Russian literature if that’s something you’ve been wanting to do, full of yearning and daydreams
White nights|Paperback
In my defense— I read this before booktok got ahold of it. I remember bawling my eyes out at midnight in my bed. Poetic writing, characters you grow to love, for someone that grew up on Greek mythology this was pure nostalgic read.
The Song of Achilles|Paperback
Historical fiction based on real people and events, at the time of French Revolution and Napoleon’s reign. The main character falls in love with Napoleon but ends up becoming Queen of Sweden
The Queen's Fortune: A Novel|Paperback
If you’ve watched shadow and bone, or already read some of the grishaverse books, this is an extension of the lore, some of their folklore tales, but all of it is written so poetically that it leaves you thinking you are a Ravkan child hearing a bedt...
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic|eBook
UNPOPULAR OPINION— This is my favorite book in the series, followed by Crooked Kingdom and Ruin and Rising. Tragic, crossover filled with all the characters we love, I’m not going to put all the books on this list because I’ve said these are going to...
Rule of Wolves (King of Scars Duology #2)|Paperback
This wasn’t a five star read for me but it is my favorite out of THG series. I love morally grey characters and getting to enter so deep into one’s mind like this was fascinating and compelling on a whole other level
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)|Paperback
I’ve been obsessed with the show for weeks, can’t wait to read this
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms|Paperback