Recs if you like The Hole...

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!

Shorter books (under 200 pages) that are part of at least one quest. Many are also in the public domain, making them easily accessible when you want to grind for that next badge.

literary (or literary-leaning) fiction focused specifically on isolation, disconnection, loneliness — and what they teach us about life and humanity.

ft. recs from the community!

fiction where a composed, detached voice conceals its own turmoil, or circles a truth it cannot name, drawing the reader’s hungry gaze toward the silences, each one heavy with unspoken meaning.

it’s all in what is not said.

recs welcome as always :)

books that feel:

claustrophobic like the summer heat like stifling longing flushed cheeks like unbidden realisations melancholically sweet like painful emptiness existential like utter confusion

I haven’t read all book on this list (yet). Feedback regarding books/authors is welcome🫶🏻 PLS CHECK TW

musical inspiration: fourth of july - Sufjan Stevens Habibi - Tamino implosion - Labrinth now, run - Hania Rani ozean - AnnenMayKantereit

the warm, fragmented interiors of women navigating emotional turmoil, relational dysfunction, identity crises, and existential malaise. intense, immersive, atmospheric, and deeply felt. stories of mundanity and despair, but also of a different beauty, some subtler strength. let's wallow freely and without shame.

note: open to recs, but those focused on interiority rather than romance (e.g. not Normal People)

quick reads under 150 pages that are a little unconventional and not too dense, but will still fire up your brain!! to ward off a reading slump and refresh your palate.

Japanese Akutagawa Literary Award Winners that have been translated into English. For the full list of recipients, see the Bungakushinko website or Wikipedia (links in comment).

If we are going to do Qwordy's the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do 3.0 - we should probably get some Pagebound badges along the way! I'm specifically going to be adding books from Quests and readalongs that I think matches at least one of these cover prompts: craft, food, motion, biomes/landscapes, animals, weather.

for those who don't conform to the norm.

my favorite genre. elvia wilk’s essay is the best on what this genre is, but here’s an excerpt: “Weird knowledge does not deny the capacity of the human mind and body to produce knowledge, but it does not reduce the world to human subject experience either. Unlike science fiction—in which there is a rational explanation for everything—and fantasy—where magic explains it all—weirdness hovers between poles of explainability.”

an unranked list of memorable short stories and collections

Some different perspectives in the form of lil guys. (200 pages or less) Great if you just need to zone out for an afternoon!

Japanese literary fiction by prestigious authors who have proved themselves through the Akutagawa and Naoki prizes. I've included significant historical fiction as well.

"Weird girl literature" by BIPoC authors and/or featuring BIPoC experiences

💜 yarnandbooks

A list to help those who aspire to read from authors outside the typical areas. I will be creating different list for different regions. I will also list the countries currently found in the list. Be sure to check out the other lists! Note: The countries are not perfect as some countries are classified differently, so I did my best.

Current Countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Shorter books (around 200 pages) to get out of a reading slump or to help pad your stats. Comment if you want recommendations, I’ve read a lot of these.

books that are about exploring holes, or being stuck inside holes, or — no, not in that way. get your mind out of the gutter — see, now your mind is inside a hole too. everything is holes.

Books under 250 pages

Celebrate women in translation month all year round with this list of fabulous books