Hii, I am trying to get into reading books but don’t know what to read. I like programming, tech, DIY stuff and science and would love to read about it.
Which book should I read that is not overwhelming for a begginer like me?
Edit: Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions :)
Books
- 1984
- The Disappearing Spoon
- The Tetris Effect
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
- Prisoner of Trebekistan: A Decade in Jeopardy!
- Immune
- The Murderbot Diaries
- Children of Time
- Neuromancer
- Bobyverse Series
- Project Hail Mary
Authors
- Mary Roach
- Marthe Wells
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. A scientist is on a mission to save the world. The science stuff is accurate and easy to understand in my opinion (but I’m a physicist, lol).
The author also wrote the Martian, that was adapted as a movie, you probably know it.
My colleague recommends it to everyone, and she reads a lot. I read a little and also liked it. Not only because of the science, but also because of the story.
I’m going to have to re-read Project Hail Mary cause I’ve seen it recommended so many times, but I personally didn’t love it. I’m big Andy Wier fan - and absolutely loved The Martian.
With PHM, it felt like there were too many situations/problems that were created and then easily solved by the narrator. Each problem was a little too outlandish to then have a convenient solution right away.
Martha Wells and her Murderbot series is hilarious. It really made me laugh out loud and I read every book back to back.
It’s about a robot that thinks he’s a psychopath and a murderer, who hacked his own circuits so he can pirate TV shows and watch them while on missions.
I won’t tell more, just read.
“The Disappearing Spoon” by Sam Kean goes through the entire periodic table with fun and often very funny vignettes about each of the elements.
There are some book/literature focused instances that might have communities you could be interested in.
A general “books” instance: https://literature.cafe/
And the instance I’m on (https://sffa.community) for science fiction/fantasy stuff
Series of Unfortunate Events is hilarious and digestable.
Incredible, actually always wished for it and was disappointed that the movie adaptation only encapsulated the first 3 books.
Although nobody plays Count Olaf better than Jim Carrey in my respectful view. NPH was incredible but I’m partial to Carrey’s portrayal. That scene with him “gently letting Meryl Streep go quietly into the sad night/lake to join the the human-eating carnivorous leeches and her late husband” was so fucking sadistic and yet comedically beyond compare. Chef’s kiss, I love her just for her portrayal of Aunt Josephine, I literally cannot imagine anyone else/better for the role.
Top shelf casting!
Edit: it would be darkly humorous if Streep made the same ulimatum to the Unfortunate Events showrunner or director or whatever about only doing the scene once like when she has to make Sophie’s (impossible) Choice in that namesake film due to the emotional turmoil she purported to experience in the method acting/nature aspect of her performance in such an emotionally outrageous dilemma but in this case because of the sheer lunacy/dark humor of the situation
The casting for the movie was incredible, they really set themselves up for a great trilogy and it’s a shame there was only one movie. The show is a magnificent achievement in tone and design but some of the casting choices left a bit to be desired. Off the top of my head I wasn’t too fond of Sir, Josephine, or Nero. But gotta give them some credit, Jacques and Esme in particular were perfect imo. I also loved Jerome but I have the biggest crush on Tony Hale so I’m probably coming at that one with a bias 😂
I encourage folks to power thru the books tho. Both experiences are distinct and idiosyncratically amazing, but obv its more work to work through the physical books.
