End of Year Fiction Book Haul

[@amateuranimator-55]

Honestly, this is super slay and relaxing to watch! I love book core and just reading throguh a pile. If your interested in Paranormal Romance, could I recommend BRIDE by Ali Hazlewood. I realy enjoyed it in terms of charcters and dialuuge.

[@literarylayer]

Thank you! I’m still new to romance and didnt know about Paranormal Romance but I will definitely check out Bride

[@MelaninnManga]

I just got done with the nightmare before kissmas and it so cute lol I need more queer holiday stories. I really enjoy Make your season bright by Ashley Blake and Holly Dates by Brittan Cherry❤️💚❤️💚

[@literarylayer]

@@MelaninnManga it does sound like the cutest story and I love the cover. I haven’t heard of the others but will check them out

[@MelaninnManga]

@literarylayer 👏🏼👏🏼😁😁

[@kurtfox4944]

yes, you are gonna cry with _Flowers For Algernon_ For sci-fi, I will recommend _Kindred_ by Octavia Butler (which is only loosely sci-fi, more historical fiction). Or, try her _Parables of the Sower_. LeGuin is really good, but deeper than most modern sci-fi. For example, _Left Hand of Darkness_ is 55 years old, and still relevant. The sci-fi is just a vehicle to talk about something relevant to humans on earth now, without offending a certain group - whether it is political, ethnical, economic, cultural or societal. I find the a lot of modern sci-fi is more like sci-fantasy (fantasy in space - Star Wars is just a slash-and-sword fantasy where the steel sword is replaced by a light saber.)

[@literarylayer]

@@kurtfox4944 I recently read Parable of the Sower and enjoyed it. I think I liked it because it was sci fi that wasn’t set in outer space. Based on how you’re describing the genre it sounds like I’d be more interested in older sci fi

[@kurtfox4944]

​@@literarylayer I think _Kindred_ by Octavia Butler is two tiers above Parable, FWIW. There are LOTS of books that are sci-fi that are not set in space. Technically, _Flowers For Algernon_ is sci-fi, but don't let that scare you. And _Frankenstein_ is sci-fi, one of the first ones (don't judge the book by the movies). Of course you don't have to go back to 1818. :-) Any dystopia (like _1984_ or _Brave New World_ or even _The Hunger Games_ ) is called sci-fi. Or alternate history (like _The Plot Against America_ ). Or time travel (like _Kindred_ or _Outlander_ ). Or, any apocalypse novel (like Cormac McCarthy's _The Road_ - it's on Oprah's list, if that means anything to you). Sci-fi does not need to be space, aliens or robots. But it is easier to discuss sensitive topics and be inoffensive if you invent a whole new planet with society's that frame your topic of discussion (hence space). Aliens and robots are often just literary tools to highlight what makes us human (or not) - so what we are really talking about is humanity, without being bogged down in other aspects of earth culture. Space and spaceships are automatically atmospheric. Spaceships are a good way to force claustrophobia (as are submarines, or cave dwelling). Space is a place for isolation and introspection without crowds and interference. In short, sci-fi a convenient way to narrow the focus of discussion and thought without the baggage of history or culture of people or places on earth. There are some good sci-fi books out now, but there is a lot of 'pulp', too. It all depends upon what you want to get out of reading. Enjoy!

[@SusieSue242]

Yes we had to read flowers for algernon I remembered liking it but it’s on my list to read same as brave new world 🤎

[@literarylayer]

@@SusieSue242 I keep forgetting about Brave New World. I want to get to that one as well