We can never have enough of books. I fluctuate between the old and the new, the classics and the latest bestsellers. This year, I decided to get down to reading everything that lay unopened on my bookshelf.
These one-liners are about famous books that have been widely read and discussed over time, but then books are ageless. These books stimulated my brain, opened my mind to new perspectives and are packed with nuggets of wisdom.
So, here are my quick picks, book recommendations for fiction lovers, who want to expand their genre range. They go from historical fiction to fantasy, mythological fiction, comics and graphic novels to real life stories:
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari: A capsule course on the evolution of the planet and the only species that has a straight spine, speaks, innovates and destroys at the same time.
- Origin by Dan Brown: Beyond an AI thriller, blend of art, history, treasures and literary puzzles, this book traverses through the cultural aesthetics of Spain and challenges religious and scientific beliefs at the same time.
- Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: The dystopian world of ancient Spain and its Latin American connections with slavery and outdated beliefs, coupled with religious and occult practices and a few good men, this book is about the vulnerabilities of human existence.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: An eternal love, the story of Patroclus and Achilles transported me to ancient Greek myths with a sensitivity that I had not read before this.
- The Spy by Paulo Coelho: Based on real life events, Coelho’s prose turns the famous dancer courtesan, spy, Mata Hari into an even more enigmatic figure.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: The complexity of magical realms, multiple characters and innovative names and places makes this a must-read.
- The Inimitable Birbal by Amar Chitra Katha: These comics surpass age and eras, for the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s smart courtier, Birbal, stands for wit and solutions, a genius brain that beat his enemies anytime, anywhere.
- 40 Sufi Comics by Mohammed Ali Vakil: I discovered these on social media, and the illustrated books are packed with stories that motivate and inspire, transcending beliefs and epochs.
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile
Queen of Treasures 
All your recommendations are unique in their own way.
The Inimitable Birbal is an ever-lasting treat for readers.
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Interesting post.
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A great collection of books. Various genres but all worth reading.
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Aye! Happy to see Harry Potter on that list. Haven’t read any other and now you’ve given me FOMO and also made me curious about some of the titles mentioned here.
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Happy reading 📚
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What a lovely list! I see quite a few books that I’ve read and enjoyed here, as well as some that are on my TBR (Sapiens, specifically. I have the illustrated version of it)!
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Do let me know how the illustrated version of SAPIENS is
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Great list Ambica. Glad to see some books I have enjoyed reading , featured here. Of love and other demons , still remains to be read.
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Thank you for sharing these recommendations. I haven’t read any of them yet, will add to my TBR
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I’ve read three from this list… Now keen to read the others too!
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I love how you’ve mixed classics with contemporary reads in this list! It’s always refreshing to go back to timeless books while exploring new genres. “Sapiens” and “The Song of Achilles” are two of my personal favorites that really opened my eyes to different perspectives on history and love. I’m also intrigued by “40 Sufi Comics” — I hadn’t heard of it before, but it sounds like a beautiful way to explore stories that transcend time and belief. Great picks overall!
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of love and other demons is on my list because after the picture of dorian gray or before that i have not read any classic. so i might go with this one.
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these are some interesting titles to expand reading. I’m glad I’ve read a few from this list. Will add the rest to my TBR
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So glad to see Amar Chitra Katha on the list. Some of my favorites on the list too. I haven’t read 40 Sufi Comics and will surely be checking it out.
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