this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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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
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[–] cheese_greater 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Series of Unfortunate Events is hilarious and digestable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Also has one of the better TV adaptations

[–] cheese_greater 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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 πŸ˜‚

[–] cheese_greater 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Nah Aunt Josephine was perfect, I would equate her casting to like Daniel Radcliffe as fucking Harry Potter even though Josephine is a far more minute character even in the book but also in the grand scheme of things

Edit: also, now that I think about it, I feel like the movie was purposelly or at least played out in the continuity of its real life journey to Netflix development/syndication as like more of an apΓ©ratif to get people interested in what was (at the time) a popular but still sorta niche tome of a series with like the weirdest humor that's accessible to not unsharp children

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I agree that Meryl Streep was absolutely perfect, as she always is. I was speaking on the casting for the TV show. I didn't hate her or anything I just thought she coulda been better

[–] cheese_greater 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Oh yeah, books first then the Netflix series afterwards. I think the show does a lot to expand the world of the books while not compromising its overall story and message. But you gotta read the books first.