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Original poster

Book recommendations for teenage DS

37 replies

FeelingForced · 03/04/2022 18:27

DS is 18 and has always been a keen reader. Some of his favourites are Isaac Asimov, The Lord of the Rings, The Hunt for Red October, Good Omens, the Asterix series, P.G. Wodehouse and Alistair MacLean.

We'd appreciate any suggestions on what he might like next. There are no bookshops or libraries near us, so he can't go and browse.

He's also in a rather intense academic course, so would prefer books that aren't sad, he says.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
SquirrelFan · 03/04/2022 19:41

Some ideas:

-Stephen King (Carrie, Christine, Firestarter)
-Orphan X series
-Conan Doyle!
-Douglas Adams ( The Hitchhiker's Guide series--very Not Sad)
-Neil Gaiman (American Gods, etc)
-Ready Player One
-Ender's Game

Original poster
FeelingForced · 03/04/2022 20:07

Thanks for the suggestions! I forgot to mention that he's read Hitchhiker's Guide and Sherlock Holmes. He's not keen on Stephen King, but American Gods is a really good idea and I'll look for your other recommendations too.

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NdefH81 · 03/04/2022 20:10

Aftershocks?

NdefH81 · 03/04/2022 20:10

Anne fine

NdefH81 · 03/04/2022 20:11

Orwell?
The beach Neville Shute
I am legend (the 1950s book)

Original poster
FeelingForced · 03/04/2022 20:17

I've just been going through the description for Aftershocks and it sounds a little dark. Is it? It might be something he'll like later though.

He's read 1984 and I'll ask him about your other two suggestions.

Thanks!

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Outwith · 03/04/2022 20:20

Good Lord, don't read The beach at the moment.

Original poster
FeelingForced · 03/04/2022 20:28

Yes, probably not The Beach at the moment, judging from what I remember of it.

Any lighter suggestions would also be welcome.

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Outwith · 03/04/2022 20:32

I'm still scarred from reading it as a young adult 😄.

Sadik · 03/04/2022 20:36

If he likes graphic novels then The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage is fabulous and definitely lighthearted.

I suspect he'd like Adrian Tchaikovsky's SF - Dogs of War and Children of Time are both very good, but they're quite 'thinky' so perhaps not ideal if his course is pretty intense.

I really enjoyed the Fractured Europe series by Dave Hutchinson which starts with Europe in Autumn - SFF/thrillers, and real pacey reads.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 03/04/2022 20:36

On the Beach = one of the most miserable books ever! Almost on a par with The Road. On the books-that-need-to-go-in-the-freezer pile.

Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy is great at the YA end of things. The first one, The Knife of Never Letting Go is great.

Outwith · 03/04/2022 20:36

Definitely some Neil Gaiman - I really enjoyed Neverwhere and Stardust.

Sadik · 03/04/2022 20:38

I should say my 20 y/o dd has read & enjoyed all the recommendations above over the past few years.
She also likes the Locked Tomb series which starts with Gideon the Ninth, I've not read it but I know many on here have enjoyed it.

PenOrPencil · 03/04/2022 20:45

I started reading everything by John Irving around that age. If he enjoyed 1984 he might like Brave New World.

lljkk · 03/04/2022 21:11

Mirage, James Follet.
Michael Crichton books.

VanderlyleGeek · 03/04/2022 21:24

He might like Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

Run4it2 · 03/04/2022 21:29

Terry pratchett?

Camdenish · 03/04/2022 21:37

Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud made me feel like I’d read something worth reading, but it sat lightly. All her books are good in fact.

Original poster
FeelingForced · 04/04/2022 03:28

Thank you all, for the suggestions. I'll go through them with DS and see what appeals to him.

Which Terry Pratchett book would be a good place to start?

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CoralPaperweight · 04/04/2022 10:20

OK, some thoughts

sci-fi

  • the Eden trilogy by Chris Beckett (first one is called Dark Eden)
  • Pierce Brown Red Rising books

Fantasy

  • assuming he's read Game of Thrones?

Other

  • The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
  • The Girl with All the Gifts
  • You said he doesn't like Stephen King - I would try the Bachmann Books though - The Long Walk is amazing
  • Christopher Brookmyre books
  • Grady Hendrix - The Southern Book Clubs guide to slaying vampires

Crime / Thillers

  • Classic Noir by Raymond Chandler eg The Big Sleep
  • James Ellroy
  • Chis Pavone, The Expats
  • John Le Carre - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
  • Robert Harris books are usually good
Original poster
FeelingForced · 04/04/2022 17:22

Thank you, those sound interesting too! I'll add them to the list.

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NightmareSlashDelightful · 04/04/2022 17:28

What about the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch?

Or possibly Slough House series by Mick Herron.

Outwith · 04/04/2022 18:00

Wyrd sisters, Mort, and Guards Guards! are all good starting points for Terry Pratchett. The Bromeliad series (Diggers, Truckers, Wings) is also well worth reading.

FlyingUnicornWings · 04/04/2022 18:17

Seconding Rivers of London. There’s plenty in the series too!

Original poster
FeelingForced · 05/04/2022 08:34

Thank you! So many books to choose from now!

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