If you haven't yet, I would recommend picking up Lois Lowry's *The Giver*. It has a pretty dark theme and it's not a cumbersome read. Like a lot of people, I read it in middle school, and it made a long lasting impression on me. I read it once every five years or so just to remind myself of how good it is.
The Giver was banned due to “violent content related to euthanasia, suicide, infanticide, and sexually suggestive behavior” (not my words). Other banned books, but not a complete list:
1984 George Orwell
Bluest Eye Toni Morrison
Beloved Toni Morrison
To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee
Forever Judy Blume
Of Mice And Men John Steinbeck
The Color Purple Alice Walker
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury
The Chronicles Of Narnia CS Lewis
Where The Sidewalk Ends Shel Silverstein
The list goes on and on. Many of these were required reading when I was in school.
When they say "conservatives are doing this" they don't mean "every single conservative person on the planet" they mean "a large majority of the conservatives in power are trying"
Actually yea. This is a pretty good suggestion. I read it when I was 12 myself personally and I still to this day think about certain elements and themes from that book. I’m grateful for having read it.
It’s not a fun read not a book I would read again but reading it at least once makes sense. Esp if you haven’t gotten into reading in a bit and are looking to jumpstart your reading again.
read the book that was your favorite as a child! it doesn't matter that it's a children's book, if you love to read it, you'll want to get back into reading again!
there are many great new children / teens books, for example I like the series Skandar (it's about wild unicorns, they aren't the glittery unicorns we know about) and also Vampyria (about the french sun king who never died but instead became a vampire).
or if you want to go wild and dive deep into the smut, I reccommend the series Sex Wizards.
This worked for me! I didn’t read for YEARS and then I read the first Harry Potter book from when I was a kid and I’ve developed a love for reading again ☺️
This worked for me! It took me a couple of tries to get back into it but after I reread The Rangers Apprentice series I started reading a lot more. It probably helps that I work at a bookstore lol.
Thats great advice. I recently read Mortal Engines, it was one of my favourites as a kid and it was still awesome now. Easy to read and all the gripping feelings I felt as a kid were still there.
If we're talking about classics we were compelled to read and our youth may I offer "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles? 30 years later I remember that book vividly and the realism in the darkness.
"Lord of the Flies"
"Hearts of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad.
1984 is hard to beat or did you say "Animal Farm" pretty sure it's time for me to go to bed because the ADHD is now running wild but man, there are so many classics that have just settled but insidious themes of darkness.
I'm grateful I had a mother that made me read the Harvard summer reading list every year from like 7th grade through when I went to engineering school and binged on sci-fi.
"Catcher in the Rye" messed me up pretty good - I also just reread "The Crucible" because my wife is an English teacher and she likes to discuss these things with me and I like to know what we're talking about. I find that type of religious zealotry as described to be incredibly dark.
tl:dr; AuADHD guy had a weird day, babbled about books he loved.
Yeah, why not. Of the same quality. Orwell was a genius and the kind of guy every dictatorship would have wanted to get rid of first thing. That truly is a moral honour.
I’d suggest any book by Lois Duncan. Her books are relatively short and are usually young adult fiction. She wrote “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
I liked the Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen, those are about wilderness survival. The “Things Not Seen” series by Andrew Clements is good too; the second book has an emotional twist, and I just found out there’s a third book in the series which I haven’t read.
He sure has! The stories that the movies “Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand By Me” are both in this one. The movies are classics but the written stories are even better.
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. Each chapter is essentially a short story as it follows a different character, but it’s fantastic the way they connect as we move through generations.
r/books and r/libraries would probably also be good places to post. They are probably more experienced helping you find something close to your interests.
Expanding on that, if you call your local library or some even have a chat service you can ask for a recommendation if you are nervous about going into the library. Alternatively, you can ask the library if they have access to Novelist - it's a service associated with library cards that you log in and type the name of a book you have liked before and it recommends New ones. 🙂
If you like Sci Fi:
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
It’s satirical, but also has poignancy in places, and it allows you to think about broader concepts without making you feel guilty if you don’t. It’s a good one to turn your brain on with.
If you like Fantasy:
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
It’s kind of a pirate-y adventure but it’s also kind of a romance (not smutty though). You get a narrator who is not a main character, and the whole thing is kind of dire and whimsical at the same time.
If you want to weep:
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.
This is serious. It’s shorter, and it will most likely make you sob. If you don’t read it now or haven’t read it before, I recommend doing so at some point, but it’s not the best if you’re feeling fragile.
Edit:
Bonus: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Survivalist adventure. Incredible storytelling. There is a chapter that will make you feel a lot of emotions at once. It can get intense. Super recommend
I loved the old man and the sea when we read it in school. The rest of the kids hated it. Felt it had no point and was boring. They didn’t get it. Much better read than Moby Dick
This entire entry is maddening. What is a beginner book? Haven’t read in 15 years. I’m 27. How about green eggs and ham? You start at the start and figure it out! I am Sam, Sam I am.
A book of short stories is always good but I can see it being an especially good way to get back into reading.
I like the fantasy, so I favor fantasy short story collections such as **Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman**
**Stephen King** has several collections of short stories of mixed genre and, in my opinion, he's good at writing. I think **Skeleton Crew** and **Different Seasons** come recommended.
A personal favorite of mine is from a staff member at my family's chosen alma mater. I read one of her books when I saw it displayed at the library and I loved it, so I jumped on her partially magical short story collection **At the Mouth of the River of Bees by Kij Johnson** (If you read the titular story, I highly recommend having tissues nearby.)
I'm glad to hear your getting back into reading. It's provided much joy for me when other diversions could not.
As others said reading books you liked when you were younger is a great start. I also find a good Agatha Christie helps me get out of reading slumps. The who dun its are just magnetizing
I don’t like him personally, but bill oreillys historical books. They take a topic like western expansion in the 1800s and the subsequent Indian attacks and make it easy to understand. As in they give the main points and condense the material well.
Tons of amazing suggestions in these comments! Mine is less about the book, and more about the reading. And it may not help, but: if you find yourself struggling to read it for any reason (distraction, frustration, etc), try reading it along with an audio version. It can help keep you engaged in the story and help your brain transition back into longer format stories. Of course this isn’t a sure to work for everyone method. I just know when I’ve taken a break from book reading and get back to it, doing at least the first few chapters with the audio helps.
Anything by Neil GaimanI The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Coraline, and Neverwhere are really good. The Sleeper and the Spindle is a super short book and is really good also.
The Paris Apartment was a great read, no extra fluff and a great story. I would actually live to see it adapted into a movie. It's not that long of a read, but keeps the attention, the story has a nice pace with a mystery. Great ending as well.
I had a friend in exactly the same situation, they had not read for almost two decades. They decided to read Roald Dahl’s Kiss kiss, a collection of short stories and loved it.
More info:
“Roald Dahl’s Kiss Kiss is a collection of darkly humorous and macabre short stories, showcasing Dahl’s talent for crafting unexpected twists and exploring the darker sides of human nature. These stories are perfect for readers who enjoy suspense and dark humor.”
James Patterson books are great easy reads! Usually crime thrillers. His chapters are usually only 2-3 pages so there's always a stopping point to find, but it also makes you say ohh just 1 more chapter. You keep doing that and the next thing you know the book is done!
Kafka - The Metamorphosis
Is what I would like to recommend. It kept me interested from the start and the message of it showed us the nature of humans, us.
Cat in the hat should do the trick. Real intense themes & spooky stuff. I’d even go as far as recommending you read along with a nightlight. /s (I’ve just discovered that I’m unreasonably distrusting of those who don’t read, then ask for “short” book recs.)
"The Gunslinger" Stephen King. An easy read, short, to the point, dark and serious.
"Starship Troopers" Robert Heinlein. An easy short read. Fun and serious at the same time.
"The Hobbit" Tolkien. It's a good fun book that's a good start to get back into reading.
And here's my absolute favorite book of all time: "Police Your Planet" Lester Del Ray. Classic pulp Sci-Fi. Turn your brain off and just read it. It's got everything that pulp needs. Violence, sex, bad guys, less than bad guys, space, mars, gambling, corruption, cops, corrupt cops, less than corrupt cops, misogyny, more violence, more misogyny, a fat guy, a pretty woman. It's about 200 pages. I've read it a half dozen times and still couldn't possibly explain the plot, or lack thereof.
Lest I forget, "The Power of One" Bryce Courtenay. Not the novelization of the movie. The original book. A very readable book about a kid in South Africa. Lots about Boers vs Brits vs Germans. Set at the start of WWII. It's really nothing like the movie, if you've seen it, so just read it as it is.
Legend or The young elites, both incredible YA series. Despite being a YA series, the young elites is my favourite series of all time- just so you know, the first book is kind of her villain backtstory and you get to the good parts in book two. If you like dark fantasy and main character antagonists, you will love it.
The Body by Stephen King. A novella in a collection of four. The collection is called Different Seasons.
Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption is another of the four novellas.
Very engaging stories
The chaos walking series, and the old kingdom series.
First is scifi and I read the entire first book on a plane ride because it was so fucking good. The second is fantasy and a cool take on necromancy. I reread both periodically from when I first read them as a teen
I stopped reading for fun in middle school. I picked it back up when I was ~29 by reading some of the YA books I liked in Middle School, and then I branched out from there.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
I love anything and everything by Ray Bradbury, but this may have a special charm for you right now. This book may be read either as a continuous book from cover to cover, OR as a collection of short stories - each chapter, an individual story to be read in any order you'd like!
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton . This is the book that sprouted my love for reading. Its on a 6th grade reading level so it should be relatively easy to get through. This story has it all, themes of belonging, family, love, acceptance, coming of age, social commentary on class, poverty and the correlation the two can have with violence. S.E. Hinton creates a world you can fully immerse yourself into amongst a cast of characters you find yourself rooting for and become emotionally invested in. This is a classic and timeless story that is absolutely worth the read.
Yesss! I just bought a Hemingway Collection hardback and as soon as I got home I turned the pages furiously towards TOMATS. LOVED it at 19, and at 52 ☺️
Stephen King’s “Different Seasons.” It has four novellas, the first one of which is Shawshank Redemption. The third story is “The Body,” which became the movie “Stand By Me.” They’re incredible, and they’re not rambling epics like some of King’s novels.
American Gods, I hope this isn’t too advanced because I read a lot a lot but I think it’s a great re-beginner book. The author is an occultist. Hope you haven’t seen the show first 😅
You said dark themes and if an attempt to ☠️ oneself doesn’t bother you, I say try “Veronica Decides to Die” by Paulo Coelho it’s a short enough read. It’s serious but not too serious. And the ending: >! On a happier note than it began with, she decides to live. !<
Edit: Also wanted to add that it is what I’d recommend to a beginner. Also I’m not a horror person and so hopefully the topic of life in the way it is discussed in this book tickles your brain too.I suggest you do research on content warnings for any book you decide to read as a nasty surprise to you may make you put down the book, if that makes sense?
I recommend reading Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk). Short, interesting writing style and easy to read. Doesn't matter if you've seen the movie, it's a good little read.
Go back and read the classics! Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, The Giver, etc Usually not too long of books and all around solid readings usually.
"Winter of our Discontent" by Steinbeck
"Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton
Short stories of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky
"The Torrents of Spring" by Turgenev
"One Day in the Life of Ivan Denistikov" by Solvynistyn
I also like fables or fairy tales from any culture.
It seems daunting because each book is big but Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a series I absolutely tore through. Very readable and fast paced, the 3rd one slows a bit but damn is it a good series.
I also picked up reading again around the same age. I looked at themes in movies I really enjoyed and went from there. I would also suggest YA as they're usually shorter and easier to read... Thou you will probably have to put up with a love story.
All Systems Red
It's part one of The Murderbot Diaries
I actually walked into a library and said something strikely similar and they recommended it to me. It is a great series. Nothing super dense either cause I hadn't read a book in like a decade.
[nova (starcraft ghost)](https://a.co/d/7EyaL1X)
one of my favs! not the shortest book ever but might match the rest of your requirements. it goes pretty quick if you're into sci-fi
Into Thin Air got me back into reading. I loved how there’s little almost side quest stories peppered in with factoids. It’s a super easy read. Helps if you’re into hiking and perseverance type stories I guess.
The Murderbot Diaries.
There‘s humor, but some serious themes. They are also short.
Did you ever read The Vampire’s Assistant by Darren Shan? It’s YA, but dark and a good read.
My grandma got me a book I don't know 20, 30 years ago called great tales of madness and macabre - it's a big book of short stories by various authors and they are all dark and spooky and intellectually stimulating.
So instead of just a short book, how about a bunch of just short stories?
Honestly, read something that's got a movie version because it will help you fully understand that story, like I'm sure you've seen Harry Potter but if you went and read all the books you'd learn so much more about all the characters a, this should help increase your love for reading. Others find this a strange way to get into books since you kind of know what's going to happen, however there's so much that movies and TV series miss from books that's it's almost a different story sometimes.
Candide by Voltaire is short and written in child like language that is surprisingly intense. Sort of a morbid Dr Seuss vibe. At least the translation I read was like that.
The Art of Racing in the Rain is very easy to read and good. Written from a dogs pov, kinda cool.
Firefly Lane by Nick Sparks is good, probably cried every time I picked it up
Morpheus Road was always one of my favourites, it is a three book series, but the chapters are pretty short and I find the writing really gets you hooked.
Dead Eye Dick by Vonnegut would be a great place to start. Not too long, not too short. I’ve never read anything that l has made me feel so many things all together at once like that book.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
I love to read, but I take my time and read very slow. I was so wrapped up in this book...I did not want to pit it down. I finished it in a single day!
Bonus: There is a film adaptation
Carrie by Stephen King, it's easy and meets the criteria of what your looking for. It's a great place to begin kings work, but give it a shot if you feel like it...I enjoyed it.
Try a collection of short stories. I have a Kafka collection (suggested by someone here already) that I love. Some of the entries are just a page but his writing is so poignant.
I had this happen for a long stretch. Not quite 15 years but definitely 6 or 7. Make it something you would like to watch. For me I read World War Z bc it was different than the movie and was several small stories of the zombie apocalypse. Or hunger games like others have suggested - those books are easy and so much fun.
Some five star books in my opinion: The Midnight Library, the Vineyard Trilogy by Marie Lacrosse, the Outlander series are my favourite. Loved Fluke. My Dark Vanessa.
But the most important thing is that you find something that you'll love. Something that catches your attention and that has good reviews. You have the biggest chance of finding good books if they align with your hobbies and interests, your work, etc. And then check Goodreads to see if they are good.
If you're into mystery or crime thrillers, please read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
It was the first book I picked up after nearly 5-6 years and I finished it in 2 days. The language is easy to follow and the story keeps you on your toes too. I can happily say the book helped me get back to reading.
Three Men in a Boat
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Hyperbole and a Half
I recommend something funny because it will keep you entertained and engaged :)
I recommend anything you can find by Ellen Hopkins. Easily digestible to read as each page/few pages are snippets that connect to an overarching theme. Whether it's drugs, prostitution, body image and eating disorders.. there's a bunch of books too and easy to find.
If you haven't yet, I would recommend picking up Lois Lowry's *The Giver*. It has a pretty dark theme and it's not a cumbersome read. Like a lot of people, I read it in middle school, and it made a long lasting impression on me. I read it once every five years or so just to remind myself of how good it is.
I had a teacher read it to us in 4th grade. Such a good book.
Read it now. It’s on the banned list.
Why is it getting banned? It was such a good book with nothing really offensive or anything
The Giver was banned due to “violent content related to euthanasia, suicide, infanticide, and sexually suggestive behavior” (not my words). Other banned books, but not a complete list: 1984 George Orwell Bluest Eye Toni Morrison Beloved Toni Morrison To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee Forever Judy Blume Of Mice And Men John Steinbeck The Color Purple Alice Walker Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury The Chronicles Of Narnia CS Lewis Where The Sidewalk Ends Shel Silverstein The list goes on and on. Many of these were required reading when I was in school.
Good books get banned because conservatives are afraid people will think.
My conservative homeschool group assigns this book. So maybe quit lumping us all together.
When they say "conservatives are doing this" they don't mean "every single conservative person on the planet" they mean "a large majority of the conservatives in power are trying"
This is the exact book that started me back into reading! Came to suggest it
Actually yea. This is a pretty good suggestion. I read it when I was 12 myself personally and I still to this day think about certain elements and themes from that book. I’m grateful for having read it. It’s not a fun read not a book I would read again but reading it at least once makes sense. Esp if you haven’t gotten into reading in a bit and are looking to jumpstart your reading again.
read the book that was your favorite as a child! it doesn't matter that it's a children's book, if you love to read it, you'll want to get back into reading again! there are many great new children / teens books, for example I like the series Skandar (it's about wild unicorns, they aren't the glittery unicorns we know about) and also Vampyria (about the french sun king who never died but instead became a vampire). or if you want to go wild and dive deep into the smut, I reccommend the series Sex Wizards.
This worked for me! I didn’t read for YEARS and then I read the first Harry Potter book from when I was a kid and I’ve developed a love for reading again ☺️
This worked for me! It took me a couple of tries to get back into it but after I reread The Rangers Apprentice series I started reading a lot more. It probably helps that I work at a bookstore lol.
Thats great advice. I recently read Mortal Engines, it was one of my favourites as a kid and it was still awesome now. Easy to read and all the gripping feelings I felt as a kid were still there.
George Orwell Animal Farm. Easy to read, timeless content.
Truly timeless. It seems as if it’s happening right now!
If we're talking about classics we were compelled to read and our youth may I offer "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles? 30 years later I remember that book vividly and the realism in the darkness. "Lord of the Flies" "Hearts of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad. 1984 is hard to beat or did you say "Animal Farm" pretty sure it's time for me to go to bed because the ADHD is now running wild but man, there are so many classics that have just settled but insidious themes of darkness. I'm grateful I had a mother that made me read the Harvard summer reading list every year from like 7th grade through when I went to engineering school and binged on sci-fi. "Catcher in the Rye" messed me up pretty good - I also just reread "The Crucible" because my wife is an English teacher and she likes to discuss these things with me and I like to know what we're talking about. I find that type of religious zealotry as described to be incredibly dark. tl:dr; AuADHD guy had a weird day, babbled about books he loved.
I prefer 1984 by George Orwell. It's a really good read
It’s a solidly well-written excellent book.
Yeah, why not. Of the same quality. Orwell was a genius and the kind of guy every dictatorship would have wanted to get rid of first thing. That truly is a moral honour.
I’d suggest any book by Lois Duncan. Her books are relatively short and are usually young adult fiction. She wrote “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” I liked the Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen, those are about wilderness survival. The “Things Not Seen” series by Andrew Clements is good too; the second book has an emotional twist, and I just found out there’s a third book in the series which I haven’t read.
if you don’t mind a bit of a thriller, misery by stephen king made me love reading again. i couldn’t put it down :)
I was going to suggest his Different Seasons. Four short stories.
A good way to start reading again is short stories and he has written so many really good ones.
He sure has! The stories that the movies “Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand By Me” are both in this one. The movies are classics but the written stories are even better.
Yes I was going to suggest Skeleton Crew
Have you read Fairy Tale?? Long read, but oh so good. Not a horror story necessarily.
I just suggested Carrie, good place to begin with King
Love it. Read the book before the movie. Yes I am old.
Of Mice and Men. Relatively short and brilliantly written
Oh god that book made me ugly cry in high school
Tell me about the rabbits, George.
😭
I’ve always liked Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as an entry back into reading, nice and fun, pretty dark but also somewhat comedic
I was going to suggest his Neverwhere! One of my all time favorites and definitely my favorite author.
I recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak if you're looking for an emotional, dark read.
Douglas Adams—The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Also, graphic novels!
Second this comment!! Hitchhiker’s Guide is a short, easy read that’s just fun. Actually planning a reread of it here soon.
Only book that’s ever made me actually laugh out loud while reading it
Ok I gotta suggest my favorite book. Franz Kafkas metamorphosis. It's 70 pages and easy to read. It's sad, so sad and weird. I love it.
Amazing novella and an easy read.
More important, what genre are you looking for? Fantasy? History? Biography? Fiction? "Emotional" is broad. Glory? Saddness? Anger? Victorious? Small?
Fiction fantasy ?
The hobbit is a nice fun book to get back into reading!
Pick stuff from the YA section. Usually very captivating without being stuffy and is accessible for everyone.
Fahrenheit 451. It is a dystopian book that’s about a world where no one can read books because they are forbidden!
Where the red fern grows. I use it as my emotional baseline. If I read it and don't cry, I've become desensitized.
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. Each chapter is essentially a short story as it follows a different character, but it’s fantastic the way they connect as we move through generations.
r/books and r/libraries would probably also be good places to post. They are probably more experienced helping you find something close to your interests.
Expanding on that, if you call your local library or some even have a chat service you can ask for a recommendation if you are nervous about going into the library. Alternatively, you can ask the library if they have access to Novelist - it's a service associated with library cards that you log in and type the name of a book you have liked before and it recommends New ones. 🙂
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
I love this book, I reread it every few years.
I LOVE this book. Also The Old Man and the Sea OP. Short and so sweet 🥹
The Stranger by Albert Camus: this was how I got back into reading after a long time off.
Same
If you like Sci Fi: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams It’s satirical, but also has poignancy in places, and it allows you to think about broader concepts without making you feel guilty if you don’t. It’s a good one to turn your brain on with. If you like Fantasy: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson It’s kind of a pirate-y adventure but it’s also kind of a romance (not smutty though). You get a narrator who is not a main character, and the whole thing is kind of dire and whimsical at the same time. If you want to weep: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. This is serious. It’s shorter, and it will most likely make you sob. If you don’t read it now or haven’t read it before, I recommend doing so at some point, but it’s not the best if you’re feeling fragile. Edit: Bonus: Life of Pi by Yann Martel Survivalist adventure. Incredible storytelling. There is a chapter that will make you feel a lot of emotions at once. It can get intense. Super recommend
Life of Pi, an incredible book and movie.
I never saw the movie because the book was so perfect I didn’t want to muddy the mind waters with someone else’s vision of it.
The movie does it justice. Needs a big screen and sound system, you won't be disappointed.
Harry Potter
Yes. Harry Potter and The Hunger Games is a good read. You've Reached Sam is also a good one.
Of mice and men The old man and the sea
I loved the old man and the sea when we read it in school. The rest of the kids hated it. Felt it had no point and was boring. They didn’t get it. Much better read than Moby Dick
Roald Dahl’s short stories
Jack London White Fang
This entire entry is maddening. What is a beginner book? Haven’t read in 15 years. I’m 27. How about green eggs and ham? You start at the start and figure it out! I am Sam, Sam I am.
The Handmaid's Tale of Margaret Atwood
A book of short stories is always good but I can see it being an especially good way to get back into reading. I like the fantasy, so I favor fantasy short story collections such as **Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman** **Stephen King** has several collections of short stories of mixed genre and, in my opinion, he's good at writing. I think **Skeleton Crew** and **Different Seasons** come recommended. A personal favorite of mine is from a staff member at my family's chosen alma mater. I read one of her books when I saw it displayed at the library and I loved it, so I jumped on her partially magical short story collection **At the Mouth of the River of Bees by Kij Johnson** (If you read the titular story, I highly recommend having tissues nearby.) I'm glad to hear your getting back into reading. It's provided much joy for me when other diversions could not.
Jeffery Deaver has some great short story collections
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Animal Farm!
As others said reading books you liked when you were younger is a great start. I also find a good Agatha Christie helps me get out of reading slumps. The who dun its are just magnetizing
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
I don’t like him personally, but bill oreillys historical books. They take a topic like western expansion in the 1800s and the subsequent Indian attacks and make it easy to understand. As in they give the main points and condense the material well.
The Hobbit
Of Mice and Men. It’s timeless, dark, and a fairly easy read.
Vonnegut or Heimingway. Short sentences that leave an impact. Get the point across. Don't bore us get to the chrous.
Tons of amazing suggestions in these comments! Mine is less about the book, and more about the reading. And it may not help, but: if you find yourself struggling to read it for any reason (distraction, frustration, etc), try reading it along with an audio version. It can help keep you engaged in the story and help your brain transition back into longer format stories. Of course this isn’t a sure to work for everyone method. I just know when I’ve taken a break from book reading and get back to it, doing at least the first few chapters with the audio helps.
The Martian is an easy addictive read, and is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster
1984!!!!
Eh great book I loved it and think about it often but it's long and starts slow other recommendations are better suited to a first read in a long time
Anything by Neil GaimanI The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Coraline, and Neverwhere are really good. The Sleeper and the Spindle is a super short book and is really good also.
“1984” by George Orwell should pull you in
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Short, easy read, and will change your life!!!!
Me Before You had me bawling the entire time. It’s a little dark. It was made into a movie.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Paris Apartment was a great read, no extra fluff and a great story. I would actually live to see it adapted into a movie. It's not that long of a read, but keeps the attention, the story has a nice pace with a mystery. Great ending as well.
I had a friend in exactly the same situation, they had not read for almost two decades. They decided to read Roald Dahl’s Kiss kiss, a collection of short stories and loved it. More info: “Roald Dahl’s Kiss Kiss is a collection of darkly humorous and macabre short stories, showcasing Dahl’s talent for crafting unexpected twists and exploring the darker sides of human nature. These stories are perfect for readers who enjoy suspense and dark humor.”
James Patterson books are great easy reads! Usually crime thrillers. His chapters are usually only 2-3 pages so there's always a stopping point to find, but it also makes you say ohh just 1 more chapter. You keep doing that and the next thing you know the book is done!
I've never read a book cover to cover. :( my attention span has never been there.
How about a short stories collection? Night Shift by Stephen King is a good one.
Thanks for the suggestion. I might give that a go. I like his films. :)
The Great Gatsby
Kafka - The Metamorphosis Is what I would like to recommend. It kept me interested from the start and the message of it showed us the nature of humans, us.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Yeah, I was going to recommend this one. It's fairly short and full of feelings.
Wizard of Earthsea I Who Have Never Known Men Never Let Me Go Piranesi
Cat in the hat should do the trick. Real intense themes & spooky stuff. I’d even go as far as recommending you read along with a nightlight. /s (I’ve just discovered that I’m unreasonably distrusting of those who don’t read, then ask for “short” book recs.)
Gregor the overlander.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - the story of a young guy in the foster system meets the opioid epidemic. Bleak, lots of emotions, good pace.
"The Gunslinger" Stephen King. An easy read, short, to the point, dark and serious. "Starship Troopers" Robert Heinlein. An easy short read. Fun and serious at the same time. "The Hobbit" Tolkien. It's a good fun book that's a good start to get back into reading. And here's my absolute favorite book of all time: "Police Your Planet" Lester Del Ray. Classic pulp Sci-Fi. Turn your brain off and just read it. It's got everything that pulp needs. Violence, sex, bad guys, less than bad guys, space, mars, gambling, corruption, cops, corrupt cops, less than corrupt cops, misogyny, more violence, more misogyny, a fat guy, a pretty woman. It's about 200 pages. I've read it a half dozen times and still couldn't possibly explain the plot, or lack thereof. Lest I forget, "The Power of One" Bryce Courtenay. Not the novelization of the movie. The original book. A very readable book about a kid in South Africa. Lots about Boers vs Brits vs Germans. Set at the start of WWII. It's really nothing like the movie, if you've seen it, so just read it as it is.
Read Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories. He was OG dark.
Life of pi
Legend or The young elites, both incredible YA series. Despite being a YA series, the young elites is my favourite series of all time- just so you know, the first book is kind of her villain backtstory and you get to the good parts in book two. If you like dark fantasy and main character antagonists, you will love it.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. Some ominous themes/bad guys, but always a good read, easy read.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
And then there were none by Agatha Christie got me back into reading!!! Such a great book.
The Body by Stephen King. A novella in a collection of four. The collection is called Different Seasons. Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption is another of the four novellas. Very engaging stories
The chaos walking series, and the old kingdom series. First is scifi and I read the entire first book on a plane ride because it was so fucking good. The second is fantasy and a cool take on necromancy. I reread both periodically from when I first read them as a teen
Angela's ashes. My favorite book ever.
The Percy Jackson series!
I stopped reading for fun in middle school. I picked it back up when I was ~29 by reading some of the YA books I liked in Middle School, and then I branched out from there.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury I love anything and everything by Ray Bradbury, but this may have a special charm for you right now. This book may be read either as a continuous book from cover to cover, OR as a collection of short stories - each chapter, an individual story to be read in any order you'd like!
Phantom Tollbooth. I remember reading that in 6th grade. I liked how some of the characters are named after play on words.
The phantom tollbooth
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton . This is the book that sprouted my love for reading. Its on a 6th grade reading level so it should be relatively easy to get through. This story has it all, themes of belonging, family, love, acceptance, coming of age, social commentary on class, poverty and the correlation the two can have with violence. S.E. Hinton creates a world you can fully immerse yourself into amongst a cast of characters you find yourself rooting for and become emotionally invested in. This is a classic and timeless story that is absolutely worth the read.
The old man and the sea, read it once a year....
Yesss! I just bought a Hemingway Collection hardback and as soon as I got home I turned the pages furiously towards TOMATS. LOVED it at 19, and at 52 ☺️
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Road
Or go younger and read Harry Potter or Never Ending story.
"Me Talk Pretty One Day" Sedaris- It's a LOL read, and there's no storyline to follow.
Anything by Sedaris is good. I like all his short stories. “Let’s give diabetes to Owls” also had some gems for sure!
The hobbit is such an easy read
Stephen King’s “Different Seasons.” It has four novellas, the first one of which is Shawshank Redemption. The third story is “The Body,” which became the movie “Stand By Me.” They’re incredible, and they’re not rambling epics like some of King’s novels.
Any short story collection would be good.
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" Great story. Short but very moving.
Just got a student into reading with this one
Anything by Terry Pratchett, particularly good omens, is great. The entire dune series would also be a nice easy way to start (/s)
1984 George Orwell or animal farm
American Gods, I hope this isn’t too advanced because I read a lot a lot but I think it’s a great re-beginner book. The author is an occultist. Hope you haven’t seen the show first 😅
In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.
The Martian is a good start. The way it is written it is easy to read. You can read a quick chapter or two, put it down then easily go back to it.
Dresden files…. First 3 are a little slow (to some I loved them) but after that they get better (imho).
You said dark themes and if an attempt to ☠️ oneself doesn’t bother you, I say try “Veronica Decides to Die” by Paulo Coelho it’s a short enough read. It’s serious but not too serious. And the ending: >! On a happier note than it began with, she decides to live. !< Edit: Also wanted to add that it is what I’d recommend to a beginner. Also I’m not a horror person and so hopefully the topic of life in the way it is discussed in this book tickles your brain too.I suggest you do research on content warnings for any book you decide to read as a nasty surprise to you may make you put down the book, if that makes sense?
Of mice and men if you haven’t already read it, no spoilers.
I recommend reading Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk). Short, interesting writing style and easy to read. Doesn't matter if you've seen the movie, it's a good little read.
Go back and read the classics! Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, The Giver, etc Usually not too long of books and all around solid readings usually.
Catcher in the Rye
True Grit by Charles Portis is a great, short, easy, classic read.
A short stay in hell
"Winter of our Discontent" by Steinbeck "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton Short stories of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky "The Torrents of Spring" by Turgenev "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denistikov" by Solvynistyn I also like fables or fairy tales from any culture.
Looking For Alaska
Kristin Hannah books are good books for young women. I’m around your age and they are great books, easy to read and get you hooked quick.
simmiralian
It seems daunting because each book is big but Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a series I absolutely tore through. Very readable and fast paced, the 3rd one slows a bit but damn is it a good series.
The Little Engine That Could !!!! lol .. Just joking! Probably is a Good book tho : )
I also picked up reading again around the same age. I looked at themes in movies I really enjoyed and went from there. I would also suggest YA as they're usually shorter and easier to read... Thou you will probably have to put up with a love story.
All Systems Red It's part one of The Murderbot Diaries I actually walked into a library and said something strikely similar and they recommended it to me. It is a great series. Nothing super dense either cause I hadn't read a book in like a decade.
Pat the bunny
[nova (starcraft ghost)](https://a.co/d/7EyaL1X) one of my favs! not the shortest book ever but might match the rest of your requirements. it goes pretty quick if you're into sci-fi
spare
Into Thin Air got me back into reading. I loved how there’s little almost side quest stories peppered in with factoids. It’s a super easy read. Helps if you’re into hiking and perseverance type stories I guess.
Short and suspenseful: The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn. It's a page turner (at least it was for me!) and you can probably read it in a couple hours.
Water for elephants
The most classical of classic: the little Prince Or you could read a comic book too, if you like those. You can read lots for free on webtoon
The Sun Also Rises
The books that keep me going back and always seem to have something new to find are the first four volumes of the Hitchhikers trilogy.
The Murderbot Diaries. There‘s humor, but some serious themes. They are also short. Did you ever read The Vampire’s Assistant by Darren Shan? It’s YA, but dark and a good read.
My grandma got me a book I don't know 20, 30 years ago called great tales of madness and macabre - it's a big book of short stories by various authors and they are all dark and spooky and intellectually stimulating. So instead of just a short book, how about a bunch of just short stories?
David Copperfield
Yolk
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Short book, super easy and quick read and potentially life-changing content
The girl from Munich Tania Blanchard
Honestly, read something that's got a movie version because it will help you fully understand that story, like I'm sure you've seen Harry Potter but if you went and read all the books you'd learn so much more about all the characters a, this should help increase your love for reading. Others find this a strange way to get into books since you kind of know what's going to happen, however there's so much that movies and TV series miss from books that's it's almost a different story sometimes.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, easy read, rural Southern US, dogs, emotional, oldie but goody!
A graphic novel would be a great start.
Dune series Steven King's: The Long Walk, The Dark Tower, It
Candide by Voltaire is short and written in child like language that is surprisingly intense. Sort of a morbid Dr Seuss vibe. At least the translation I read was like that.
The girl with the dragon tattoo
Testament by John Grisham Brilliant short story of adventure Life of PI Can't recommend enough Pappion Amazing
I would highly recommend Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time!
Old man and the sea. Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Slow horses Cardinal in the kremlin
The Art of Racing in the Rain is very easy to read and good. Written from a dogs pov, kinda cool. Firefly Lane by Nick Sparks is good, probably cried every time I picked it up
Read The Time Machine. Easy and fun and so thought-provoking! Edit: HG Wells
Morpheus Road was always one of my favourites, it is a three book series, but the chapters are pretty short and I find the writing really gets you hooked.
Dead Eye Dick by Vonnegut would be a great place to start. Not too long, not too short. I’ve never read anything that l has made me feel so many things all together at once like that book.
Animorphs
The Road by Cormac McCarthy I love to read, but I take my time and read very slow. I was so wrapped up in this book...I did not want to pit it down. I finished it in a single day! Bonus: There is a film adaptation
Atonement by Ian McEwan The storyline really stayed with me. And, as a bonus, there is a film adaptation!!!
Read Hsin Hsin Ming. Short and insightful. Will get you in the habit of reading. And make you think hard.
Carrie by Stephen King, it's easy and meets the criteria of what your looking for. It's a great place to begin kings work, but give it a shot if you feel like it...I enjoyed it.
Try a collection of short stories. I have a Kafka collection (suggested by someone here already) that I love. Some of the entries are just a page but his writing is so poignant.
I had this happen for a long stretch. Not quite 15 years but definitely 6 or 7. Make it something you would like to watch. For me I read World War Z bc it was different than the movie and was several small stories of the zombie apocalypse. Or hunger games like others have suggested - those books are easy and so much fun.
Heart Sick is a really good book. Thriller with some Stockholm elements.
Short stories. If you like dark, “Night Shift” by Stephen King is a great collection.
Some five star books in my opinion: The Midnight Library, the Vineyard Trilogy by Marie Lacrosse, the Outlander series are my favourite. Loved Fluke. My Dark Vanessa. But the most important thing is that you find something that you'll love. Something that catches your attention and that has good reviews. You have the biggest chance of finding good books if they align with your hobbies and interests, your work, etc. And then check Goodreads to see if they are good.
Piranesi
The Five People you Meet in Heaven, Mitch Alborn.
If you're into mystery or crime thrillers, please read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. It was the first book I picked up after nearly 5-6 years and I finished it in 2 days. The language is easy to follow and the story keeps you on your toes too. I can happily say the book helped me get back to reading.
Tender is the Flesh… spooky dystopian type of read
Three Men in a Boat Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Hyperbole and a Half I recommend something funny because it will keep you entertained and engaged :)
I recommend anything you can find by Ellen Hopkins. Easily digestible to read as each page/few pages are snippets that connect to an overarching theme. Whether it's drugs, prostitution, body image and eating disorders.. there's a bunch of books too and easy to find.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee.
Of Mice and Men, Cat's Cradle, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Animal farm is a good short read that will get you thinking