book recommendations - part 1 (fantasy, lit fic, classics)

You all probably know by now that I love reading and love to talk about books. But one of my favourite things to do is recommending books to other people. I've been meaning to write a blog recommending books for people who would like to get into reading, read more or are in a reading slump and just don't know what to pick up next. Please bare in mind, that I only read fiction. I haven't read enough non fiction books to be able to recommend some to people, maybe in a few years time if I ever get into them!

I  honestly wasn't sure how to curate this list, so I spent some time going through Goodreads and looking at the books that I've read in the last few years trying to see which books would cater to people.

Fantasy

Fantasy is my favourite genre and the one I constantly pick up. I'm pretty sure majority of the books I've read in my lifetime (which is not that long) is fantasy. But I know with the world building and all the fun but complicated politics, it can be intimidating to pick up a book in this genre as a lot of the time it is also part of a series.

The fantasy book that I'm going to recommend is The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh. This is actually YA Fantasy, so catered more towards a younger audience but if you're looking for something quick and easy to read which is also a standalone - then this is a book that I highly recommend. 

This is a great book for Studio Ghibli and mythology fans as it's actually inspired by Spirited Away and Korean Mythology. Now, I picked this up on a whim and mostly because I love books based on mythology but I know nothing about Korean mythology so I really wasn't sure what to expect. And to be fair, you don't really need to know

Summary of the plot: For generations, deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. To appease him, each year a maiden is thrown into the sea, in the hopes that one day the 'true bride' will be chosen and end the suffering.


Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

My Rating (out of 5): ★★★★

I honestly really enjoyed this book, it was so easy to follow and the world building was so beautifully done. Axie Oh, was able to create characters that were so likeable which solidified this magical world that she brought to life. I remember that once I had finished the book, I had to honestly snap out of the world that I had been and get back to reality especially in the last 100 pages. I got so immersed in the story that once I realised that it was over, I felt so bittersweet about it. Definitely worth the read.

Literature Fiction

Lit Fic is actually a genre that I only got into about 2 years ago when I started reading translated works and just fell in love with it because of how mundane and relatable all the books I have read so far were in this genre. And maybe it's because I'm starting to feel like a grandma but it's a genre that I've come to appreciate because of all the lessons experience I gain from reading the books that fall into this category. 

I have an endless list of books that I would love to recommend and maybe I could write a post dedicated to recommending books in this genre but alas, I will only be able to recommend one in this post. 

Today, I will be recommending The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis. I initially read this a few years ago because I wanted to read the book before I watched the show. I've never played chess, I don't understand chess and also don't know anything about the international rules. But despite all of that, this was such a delight to read and one of the best books I've ever read. I actually didn't end up watching the show in the end because I was scared that it'd ruin the joy the book brought and still brings me. Maybe one day I'll end up watching it.

Summary of plot: When she is sent to an orphanage at the age of eight, Beth Harmon soon discovers two ways to escape her surroundings, albeit fleetingly: playing chess and taking the little green pills given to her and the other children to keep them subdued. Before long, it becomes apparent that hers is a prodigious talent, and as she progresses to the top of the US chess rankings she is able to forge a new life for herself. But she can never quite overcome her urge to self-destruct. For Beth, there’s more at stake than merely winning and losing.

My Rating (out of 5): ★★★★★

One of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much is because it was the first time in a long time where the perseverance of the characters impacted me in a way like never before. Beth, has to be one of my favourite people/character I've ever come across in a book. And Walter Tevis enhances all of the characters through his beautiful storytelling, you can't help but root for the characters and hate the ones that are supposed to be hated. During Beth's competitions, you feel as if you're in the room with her and the rest of the audience, holding your breath and watching the opponents make the moves. It's exhilarating, it's an adventure. One that I would love to go on again. 

Classic

I'm going to recommend one that's quite basic but that is my beloved The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. 

I'm going to be honest with you guys, I am sort of obsessed with this book. It's the book alongside The Book Thief by Markus Zusak  that I always recommend to people whenever people ask what book they should read. It's kind of funny, because I was intimidated by this book of how its considered to be a timeless classic and after English Literature A-Level, classics and I have never been friends. But my copy had been sitting on my shelves for years and one day in 2020, I decided to pick it up and my life has never been the same since. I could go on and on about how much I think about this book but that's enough yapping for now. 

Summary of plot: Oscar Wilde’s only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty.

In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.

My Rating (out of 5): ★★★★★

Like I've mentioned, this is honestly one of my favourite books in the entire world. Even though it was published in 1890, Oscar Wilde's writing makes it so easy to read and follow the plot. It's just a masterpiece. Each character is so interesting and it was fascinating to see the opinions and just insights individuals had on society, image etc.. during that period of time. I have so many favourite quotes from this book and I just think it's one of those books that my thoughts will never do justice as to how good this book is. It's truly one of those books where you just have to read it yourself and experience such magnificent writing.

Well, I've said this many times before but I could go on and on about books and which one's that I would recommend. Narrowing it down to three books was difficult, but do not worry, as this is only part 1 there will be more recommendations to come and I will also do posts recommending more books based on a specific genre. I hope that you enjoyed this post, and if you've got any books that you think I should read please reach out to me! 

If you would like to see what books I'm reading or have read, then I'm on Goodreads basically everyday and you can find me on there through this link: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23766803-sweena 

Hope you all have a good day! Thank you so much for checking out this post :) 

Sweena