What book got you out of a reading slump?

Question

Dylan · Answer

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain: i love and miss this man

Elena · Answer

Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood: A rare non fiction favorite, and a book that broke me out of a long reading drought and made me laugh out loud so often that even strangers felt compelled to ask what in the world I was reading.

The author is a poet who moves back in with her parents when her husband is getting eye surgery. The twist is that her father is a Catholic Priest and Patricia is not religiously persuaded. My therapist thinks I idealize Patricia’s ability to turn anything (even pain) into a beautiful cosmic joke that only she is in on. Maybe I do! All I know is ever since I read this I have felt like I can approach heavy feelings with more lightness. Every sentence is lyric genius and stands alone.

ellie jones · Answer

my brilliant friend by elena ferrante: named the #1 book of the 21st century by the new york times! this book was a gift from a friend, and i picked it up during a major reading slump, knowing nothing about it.

this is book 1 in a series of 4, and i ended up reading all 1,700 pages of the series in 3 weeks!! i couldn't put it down. haven't felt like that in a long time.

bonus: there's an hbo show of the entire series that follows the books very closely. super cool & rewarding to watch it after being immersed in the books!

Eric F · Answer

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI (David Grann) 🪶: Yes, it’s much better than the movie. A very compelling true story.

Elena · Answer

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir: Ohhh to laugh this hard from the first page feels so good!! I describe this book as The Hunger Games meets The Westing Game but with lesbian necromancers in space. Gideon is one of the most lovable characters I’ve ever met, and Harrow is obsession-worthy. My partner and I dressed as them for Halloween a couple years back (the photo is V as Gideon). Gideon and Harrow’s dynamic, all the way to the last page, rocked me to my core. I truly love every book in this series, but will always have a special place in my heart for Gideon the Ninth.

Also important to note that audiobook is fantastic!! I would absolutely recommend reading (rather than listening to) the second in the series Harrow the Ninth or you may become extremely confused, but listening to Gideon was even more enjoyable than reading it because the voices are so good.

Amy · Answer

Heart the Lover (Lily King)

AMB · Answer

The Will of the Many by James Islington: I told myself I wouldn’t rec this until I finished the second book… But I’ve been in such a book hangover/daze I can’t get it off my mind. If you’re a fan of fiction, fantasy, mystery, and world-building political tensions then this book may be a good fit for you.

E_C_B · Answer

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi: This book knocked me off my feet and made me want to read everything

sunset strip mall · Answer

"How To Murder Your Life" by Cat Marnell: a gripping, fast-paced memoir always gets me out of a reading rut. this one is polarizing (which actually kind of adds to how readable it is, because you might find yourself rage- or hate-devouring it) - I think Marnell's flippant writing voice belies how actually well-crafted this book is, because it's absolutely riveting. i've read it twice during reading ruts and both times could not put it down

Lorzs · Answer

Severance by Ling Ma: Opened during a layover at an airport bookstore bought the book and couldn’t stop reading nonstop until it was finished just days later!

differs from the tv show btw

Louisa Cannell · Answer

Margot’s Got Money Troubles