Recs if you like The Handmaid’s Tale...

Dystopian fiction that feels a little bit too real. Imagined futures, apocalypses, society collapse, oh my!

books that are so changed by the end that they're entirely different books on the re-read. books best entered blind, with a twist or gradual reveal that is not just surprising, but retroactively rewrites everything you've already read – the meaning, tone, genre, or intention of every page before it.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."

recs so so welcome!

books featuring older women protagonists, age 30 and up, in sci-fi and fantasy. for books containing multiple povs/protagonists, older fmcs should hold equal weight and presence in the story as other mcs. ideally, aiming for more women centred additions, but open to all suggestions and feedback!

Fiction and non-fiction that examines how the Christian cultural hegemony and belief system has been co-opted as a tool of oppression and exploitation throughout history. Speculative works included, so long as the underlying narrative and commentary directly engages with some aspect of religious control as a primary theme. Always open to suggestions! (Please note that this List aims to critique Christianity as a worldwide institution, not to promote hate against individual practitioners)

“Oh yes they would.”

Reading is ALWAYS political!

Feel free to recommend your own in the comments (fiction and nonfiction) and let’s create a list of books about people + systems + power !! Would love any recs to diversify this list too, knowledge is power people !

Based on the list/book published in 2006, general editor Peter Boxall.

a collection of novels that use allegory, dystopia, and satire to examine power, control, propaganda, surveillance, and the fragility of truth. blurring the lines between fiction and reality, these stories reflect the political anxieties of both their own eras and ours.

as always welcome to suggestions !

books featured in the cozy video game “tiny bookshop”

Books recommended by musician Lucy Dacus, a solo artist and member of the band boygenius. Pulled from her goodreads list.

Horror books about Cults, where terror is permeated by religion, closed communities and disturbing brainwashing. I will keep and eye open for more recs from the Pagebound club 👁️!

they call me hell, they call me Stacy, they call me her, they call me Jane…that’s not my name!!!

this is a list of books featuring characters without a name

as always, taking any and all suggestions!!

Duologies. Duologies! A list full of duologies. This has a collection of titles I'm interested in and some recommended to me. To save you the trouble, I made sure to put both books in a duology in this list. Enjoy! 💐

pink, sophisticated & sometimes fatale <3 (added some essential nonfic & poetry!)

Aka Dua Lipa’s reading list. Everyone’s fave popstar on permanent holiday with a massive list of books to read, and she always seems to have incredible recommendations.

I am not part of Service95 or affiliated with Dua Lipa. I am just a fan curating this list based on the @service95bookclub IG account 💋

Fictional stories. Real consequences. Profit > People is dedicated to books with capitalist critique, focusing on the lives - and bodies - sacrificed at the altar of industry and interest. Always taking recommendations!

Books in this list are in at least two quests. Thus helping to earn more badges. Books will span different genres. Once I scan through all the quests, I plan to further organize the list. I am thinking of creating a seperate list and moving the books with three or more quests to the new list and keeping the two badge books in this list. Are there other ways you would organize a list this big?

Novels for when you want to explore religious trauma and the impacts of religion through fiction. For nonfic, see my list “From saint to sinner: religious deconstruction”

Suggestions are welcome!

Penguin asked its readers in 2022 for the must-read classics. This is that list!

You've built up your skills as an engaged reader - now it's time to start reaping the benefits! Every book on this list was chosen because it's genuinely enjoyable AND hiding something underneath the surface worth finding. The goal isn't to find the "right" answer, but to trust your own instincts as a reader and see where that takes you. Start in your favorite genre - it makes close reading feel like a game, not homework. Happy Reading Boundlings!!