I have a bunch of books stacked up in front of me. Books I’ve often said I’d read if I had more time. But now that we are all in quarantine and my schedule cleared, I can’t really focus long enough on anything other than TV shows and YouTube clips. On a separate post, I’ll share my favorite bingeable series, but I decided that for this one, even though I cannot find the required concentration to go through a book, I can nonetheless recommend a few titles for some of you who are looking for something to read.
I’m terrible at summarizing so I’ll provide a list, linking each title to their Amazon page, where you’ll find a more enticing synopsis. From then on, if one of the titles below seems interesting to you, I recommend that you check out your local library’s online catalog to see if there’s an electronic version that you can borrow. Don’t forget that libraries are free!
This is not a comprehensive list either, as I have realized that my memory is crap.
Mystery / Thrillers
Think of a number, by John Verdon. This is the first of a series of novels featuring Dave Gurney, a retired NYPD homicide investigator, and it is also the best one. The followup, Shut Your Eyes Tight isn’t bad either.
Birdman, by Mo Hayder. This first installment of the Jack Caffery series is downright creepy. If you’re into serial killers, this thriller will do the trick.
Sleepyhead, by Mark Billingham. Billingham’s debut thriller tackles locked-in syndrome, and like Birdman, it’s actually chilling.
The Poet, by Michael Connelly. A classic for all thriller fans.
The Man with a load of mischief, by Martha Grimes. Pretty much the whole Richard Jury/ Melrose Plant series, up until the most recent publications, is good. They’re lighter reading materials compared to the previously mentioned titles. They’re still murder mysteries but with a touch of humor.
The Raphael Affair, by Iain Pears. Like Martha Grimes’ books, Iain Pears’ art history crime series featuring Jonathon Argyll and Flavia di Stefano is the perfect mix of intrigue and comedy.
All the above titles are the first volumes of their series. If you enjoyed them, check out the rest!
Da Vinci Code-like novels
Don’t roll your eyes! There is nothing wrong with these novels, starting with The Da Vinci Code! They are not high literature but they are a great form of distraction and entertainment. I love these action packed, conspiracy-filled, unrealistic novels about secret societies, secret codes, and I own it.
James Rollins’ Sigma Force series. Starting with Sandstorm, the whole series is plain ridiculous but once you’ve started reading, I dare you to be able to put the book down. James Rollins’ books are somehow catchy and whether you like it or not, you get caught up in the intrigue and want to know how it concludes. He was a bit uninspired with his latest books, but they remain nonetheless readable.
Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series. What I said about James Rollins can also be applied to Steve Berry. Cotton Malone’s series begins with The Templar Legacy, and though the books address some very intriguing historical notions, the latest ones are extremely boring reads. The novels are still worth it but only the first 5 or 6 of the series.
The Dante Club, by Matthew Pearl. Pearls’ fascinating debut novel combines very successfully suspense, history and literature.
The Rule of Four, by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. Murder, a mysterious coded manuscript, and secrets dating back to the Renaissance. What’s not to like?
Library of the dead, by Glenn Cooper. Ancient knowledge. Conspiracy theories. Area 51. Murder. All boxes checked.
Codex, by Lev Grossman. A mysterious medieval codex, a buried treasure and people ready to kill for them. Intriguing and riveting.
Sci-Fi
The Southern Reach Trilogy, by Jeff VanderMeer. Please do not watch the movie adaptation of Annihilation. Read the book instead. This trilogy (Annihilation, Authority and Acceptance) is by far among the best books I’ve read recently.
The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury. A classic.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. Another classic, dubbed by many as the best sci-fi novel of all time.
Flashforward, by Robert J. Sawyer. An origital take on the notion of time travel. It was very poorly adapted for TV a few years ago.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks. Though technically a horror novel, I’ll categorize it with sci-fi because I don’t have a list for scary books, and World War Z could also be considered sci-fi since it’s about a dystopian future dealing with the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Cold, scientific and frighteningly realistic, this book is a modern classic.
More novels
La Saga Malaussène, by Daniel Pennac. If you speak French, this series is a must. Beginning with Au bonheur des ogres, this series is both funny and endearing.
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Often described as Gabriel García Márquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges, this is a book for book lovers.
The book Thief, by Markus Zusak. A heart-wrenching tale taking place in Nazi Germany, as told by Death.
Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder. This book made me fall in love with books. It also helped me survive my drenching high-school philosophy courses!
The Art Thief, by Noah Charney. An intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat as well as providing fascinating and informative facts about art history.
The housekeeper and the professor, by Yoko Ogawa. A beautiful novel about mathematics.
Non-Fiction
A Short History of Nearly Everything, By Bill Bryson. A fascinating book about scientific curiosity.
Top of the Rock : Inside the Rise and Fall of Must-See-TV, by Warren Littlefield. For TV buffs, an account on the time when NBC was on top of the world.
Bossypants, by Tina Fey. An autobiography by one the best comedy writers ever.
Ayoade on Top, by Richard Ayoade. A brilliant and hilarious scene-by-scene study of Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2003 flop A View from the Top.
Grace : A Memoir, by Grace Coddington. An autobiography by one of fashion’s most influential and innovative figures.
The Feather Thief : Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, by Kirk Wallace Johnson. The title says it all.
Born into it : A Fan’s life, by Jay Baruchel. In order to truly appreciate this book, it’s better that you are a little bit familiar with hockey. More specifically, with the Montreal Canadiens fandom.
For more behind-the-scenes books or about making-ofs, checkout this old post of mine.
That’s about it for now. I know for sure there a re a ton of other books I should have mentioned here but as I explained earlier, my memory is crap.
Hopefully, at least one title here that you might find interesting!