first of all id like to say that im sooo excited for chapter 4 of zero cycle. tbh ive been reading a lot less fic since youve started posting zero cycle bc ive decided that zc!landoscar is actually my fav landoscar. they are the source material now and when i look for fic my mind is like subconsciously looking for fic that could be THEM. ive reread the previous chapters a few times and im ngl im probably gonna reread the them again a little before that last chapter is published and then probably read the whole fic in its entirety again a week later lmao.
ANYWAY my actual question was if you had any book recs?? lol i love asking good writers for recs!
First of all, super, super sorry for the late reply! I am looking at well over 140 asks in my inbox, and I am really trying to get to them all.
I let this one sit for a while because I wanted to think properly about book recommendations. I usually get asked for fanfic recs, so this is a very pleasant change of scenery, hehe.
There are a great many books that I have loved throughout my life, and there's a huge variety between them, haha. I enjoy almost every genre, from classics to YA romance, so there's a lot I can recommend.
Emma by Jane Austen: While I'd always recommend Pride & Prejudice as well, I genuinely think Emma is Austen's best novel when it comes to character work. Emma is a phenomenal protagonist - a female character who's allowed to be deeply flawed and completely up her own ass, which is so utterly refreshing. It also has a wonderful love story with one of fiction's greatest yearners.
Ulysses by James Joyce: This is the book of my life. It's less a novel than an experience, but one that I think everyone who wants to see a true master at work should have at least once. Beneath all of its experimentation, it also contains an incredibly beautiful found family story.
Hamlet by Shakespeare: A bit of an obvious choice, but in this case his most famous work really is his best. It's impossible to overstate how influential it has been on the course of modern literature. If I had to recommend a second Shakespeare, it would be Twelfth Night for its deliciously queer undertones.
Orlando by Virginia Woolf: Again, fascinating queer subtext (or just... text) about the constructedness of gender. Incredibly revolutionary for its time, and also kind of bonkers in the best possible way, haha.
The Wall by Marlen Haushofer: As an Austrian, I have to recommend one of the staples of Austrian literature. It's about a woman who suddenly finds herself cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible wall. It fills you with anxiety while reading, but it's so, so good.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: A Victorian novella about lesbianism and vampirism. It's an incredibly interesting look at how female homosexuality was viewed at the time - which was very different from perceptions of male homosexuality. Plus, vampires are always fun.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: I used to be much more of a The Secret History kind of girl, but the older I get, the more I appreciate the themes and emotional maturity of The Goldfinch. Honestly, though, I'd recommend every one of her three novels, as The Little Friend is phenomenal as well. Generally, Donna Tartt has taught me so much about writing.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid: If you're interested in the kinds of stories that sport tells, then Carrie Soto is perfect. All of Taylor Jenkins Reid's books about fame and exceptional people are fantastic, but I'll always recommend Carrie first. (Though my personal favourite is Malibu Rising. Sibling dynamics, oh my god. I eat them up every single time.)
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady: It's a memoir, and I usually don't read non-fiction because... snork mimimi. But I have to admit this one made me sob and realise things about myself I'd rather not have realised. It's the story of Fern gradually understanding that the struggles which shaped her entire life all stemmed from her undiagnosed autism. The amount of pain she endured because nobody recognised what was happening to her still weighs heavily on me. I think about this book a lot.
No Hard Feelings by Genevieve Novak: Sometimes described as Australian Fleabag, which I think is a little unfair because nothing compares to Fleabag. Still, it's one of the most compelling books about flawed female characters I've ever read. It completely pulled me in. I adored the protagonist even though she's truly insufferable - but, unfortunately, I have a terrible weakness for insufferable women.
Thank you so much for your words about Zero Cycle, too. That's incredibly kind of you, and the amount of love you show my fic makes me want to tear up. <3
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