Recs if you like Lolita...
Um, actually... (It's Satire)
You loved Patrick Bateman. You wanted to be Jay Gatsby. You know all the rules about Fight Club. Well, do I have the list for you! Um, actually... is a list of books where the whole point went over people's heads. These novels handed readers a mirror and they wore it as a name badge instead. Always taking recommendations! (p.s. I am begging you to watch Um, Actually on Dropout TV... um, actually please watch anything/everything on Dropout TV)
1001 Books to Read Before You Die
Based on the list/book published in 2006, general editor Peter Boxall.
Lucy Dacus Recommendations 💛
Books recommended by musician Lucy Dacus, a solo artist and member of the band boygenius. Pulled from her goodreads list.
Ologies Podcast Suggestions
Ologies is a weekly science podcast hosted by Alie Ward. Each episode, Ward interviews an expert from a distinct scientific field.
This unofficial list contains book suggestions made by the host or by her guests. I avoided extremely technical books or papers. Currently from episode 1 to 525 More details on these books and their associated episodes in my ever evolving spreadsheet.
In the spreadsheet there are also books not found on Goodreads and general book recommendations (like the entire bibliography of a specific author or group of people)
light of my life, fire of my loins - obsessions
books featuring obsession, from the light-hearted and quirky to the dark and twisted
Penguin's 100 Must-Read Classics
Penguin asked its readers in 2022 for the must-read classics. This is that list!
Being Human is Uncomfortable
These books are deeply human, and they aren't afraid to make you uncomfortable along the way. Whether the characters are unlikeable or the author seems to be rudely calling you out or the content is critiquing an aspect of the human experience (or all the above), these books are unflinching in the face of their consumers. Recommendations are welcome!
Banned books
A collection of books that are banned or challenged. Dive into these controversial works and explore what has been pushed for you to not discover.
The Big List of Banned or Censored Books
A list of Banned or Censored books (from around the world) that I want to read and form my own opinions about...
Penguin's 100 Must Read Classics
I'm going to read every book every
Books Mentioned in MLM Litfic Side Quest
Books referenced by name within the 15 books that make up the Men Loving Men in Literary Fiction Side Quest. I don't remember every single one, so please comment any I'm missing as you read the quest books!
Disturbing Novel Iceberg - Tier 1
Tier 1 from the disturbing novels iceberg. Iceberg was created in response to the disturbing movie iceberg. These are the 'beginner' books with difficult themes and some gore.
Most Frequently Banned Books in the US
Books that are banned/challenged most often in the United States, based on data from the American Library Association. Resist censorship 🛑
New Perspectives
Well that was enlightening
Please feel free to comment suggestions!
The Western Literary Canon
When you loved the books assigned in English class.
Pitch Black Comedy
"Turn me over, I'm done on this side!" —St. Lawrence, whilst roasting on a spit
Gallows humor, black comedy, l'humour noir — whatever you call it, this is the place for it. This list includes André Breton's seminal anthology of dark humor, a number of the works excerpted in this anthology, and beyond. You can find a link to the complete contents of Breton's anthology in the comments.
Want more weird humor? Check out my list Nitpicky Neuroticism (Comedy Edition)!
WARNING: insufferable male protagonists
not "morally ambiguous/unlikeable characters", no I'm talking about I want to smack his incel ass-levels of dkhjfdbhjgj
1925-2024: 100 Years of Popular Books
The most popular book of each year according to Goodreads (Posted by Sharon on April 1, 2025). In order of oldest (1925) to newest (2024)
What did you just say to me?!
List of books containing narrators that are unreliable, unfavorable, vile, malicious, manipulative and so on. The story, therefore, may be malleable in the narrators mind. Passages will likely contain content where you stop and think, "Hold up, did I read that correctly?" This list will focus on horror and horror adjacent books, focusing not just on narrators that are unreliable but also unlikable, cruel and possibly psychopaths.
The Guardian’s The 100 Best Novels of All Time
A list published by The Guardian on 5/16/2026, as voted on by authors, critics, and academics worldwide.
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