Please recommend a good book (with a unique storyline)?

Question

I like books with unique storylines.

Previous Books I've liked:
* I liked Lord of the Flies because it was so analytic of human nature.
*I liked Animal Farm and Children's Story because it was metaphoric and political, but the story was weird. Talking animals and Communist Teachers?
*I've just bought Coma by Alex Garland. He wakes up from a long coma and readjusts, but has weird memory blips and stuff happening...then you nor the character knows whether he's in a Coma still, or not.
*Once read a book (The Divine) where the baby refuses to be born.

That should give you something about my interests, but its not limited to that. I don't like Science Fiction, Self Help, Harlequin Romance or Drama type books much and I'm not in the mood for Horror. I'm 27.

Just looking for something that intrigued you lately and might intrigue me. Thanks :)

Answer 1

It seems like that like books that deal with the darker side of human nature, but in an intelligent way. Books by Chuck Pahlaniuk do a good job at this. However, be aware that they can be extreme in some ways, with violence, disturbing behavior, drugs, etc. However, if you can deal with this, you will find some very though provoking books. I'd suggest starting with "Choke," which I found to be the most "mainstream." If you like it, "Invisible Monsters" and "Survivor" are also good. Chuck is best known as the author of "Fight Club," which is an excellent book. However, if you've seen the movie and hate it... then I'd suggest staying away from Chuck's books.

He also has some "horror" books, although they aren't horror in the usual sense, so if you like his other books, don't let claims of "horror" scare you away. "Diary" is supposedly horror, but I've yet to see really why. "Lullaby" is more clearly horror and I (personally) find the hardest book to stomache, despite having an interesting story. "Haunted" is, of course, horror.

If you're looking for something lighter, some of Michael Crighten's books might appeal. Not as mind-bending as Coma, but he does a good job of writing "pop" stories around some interesting topics. Some lean towards Sci Fi, which you said you don't like. However, his books tend to be "pop" enough that they break from the usual model seen in Sci Fi. Terminal Man is one of his first books and has some similarities to Coma, if you can get past the science fictional aspect.

Answer 2

I know that you said you do not like sci fi, but you wanted something different and Orson Scott Card provides just that in Ender's Game. I have about loved my copy to death.

You can also try MasterHarper of Pern, it is more out there in the way of a fantasy world but it begins with the human aspect, as does Ender's game.

If you have not seen the movie The Client, read the book by John Grisham, it is very very good. Also The Green Mile if you did not see the movie, read the book by Stephen King, it is NOT horror.

Try Anne Rice's Witching Hour. I have never seen it filed anywhere other than regular fiction. It is basically a long family history but I couldn't put it down for the storyline.

Answer 3

Well, by looking at your list I know you'll like "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. The story is about a Claire and Henry. Henry has a genetic disorder called "chrono-displacement syndrome" which causes him to spontaneously time travel. It's the most unique love story I've ever read. It's been a favorite of book clubs, in fact it's the book our local library is discussing this month.

Also "The Stolen Child" by Keth Donohue. The basis of the story is that a seven year old boy is kidnapped by hobgoblins and is replaced by a look-alike hobgoblin. It sounds a bit crazy, but it's a great story about what makes us who we really are.

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime" was another favorite. It's told from the view point of a boy with Asperberger's syndrome and is a really unique read.

Answer 4

If you like crime pick up something out of the "Prey" series by John Sanford.

Some books I have thoroughly enjoyed and this is the short list:

Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
The Memory Keeper's Daughter -
RUnning with Scissors - Augusten Borroughs
She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
White Oleander - Janet Fitch
Anything by Stephen King, Dan Brown, or James Patterson
The Tenth Circle - Jodi Piccolut
Atlas Shrugged - Ann Rand
Master of the Game - Sidney Sheldon (THIS IS one of my most absolute favorites!!!)
Catcher in the Rye _ JD Salinger

Answer 5

The Blue Bottle Club by Penelope Stokes
The Treasure Box by Stokes
Joshua by Joseph Girzone
Dreaming Water by Gail Tsuyikama
the Face on the Milk Carton by Cooney
Jamaica Inn by DuMaurier


I heard The Kite Runner is good, but I have yet to read it.I've also heard The Red Tent is excellent and a bit unusual.

Try authors Rhett Ellis, Gene Edwards

I am sorry, I don't usually read unusual books. I hope this list is atleast a bit helpful to you.

Answer 6

Unique plot lines I have read recently:

Fifth Life of the Catwoman (can't remember the author)
The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
Winter's Tale (Mark Helprin)

I like magical realism. Maybe it's because I remember so vividly devouring 100 Years of Solitude. (I also recommend that one!)

But seriously, Helprin's books are so full of beauty and hope... His imagery and his use of language to describe human emotion and landscapes is overpowering. I remember some instances where a character goes on a two page tirade against coffee, about how horrible it is.... And another about the sublime feel of New York after a blizzard.... You have GOT to read him!

Answer 7

The Book of Lost Things - Joseph Connelly (haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth yet but they sound similar)
The Road - Cormac McCarthy (very dark)
The Cormorant - Stephen Gregory (very dark)
Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood (more like Children of Men than science fiction)

Answer 8

Looking for JJ is a excellent read. It's about a girl who murdered her best friend at the ago of ten and the storyline follows her at the age of 17. The girl has to deal with the guilt and the media who try to follow her and exploit her to the public. It was such a story and makes you feel compassion for both the victim's family and the murderer.

Answer 9

I love to read, and I dont like the books you mentioned either, except for horror. I do like other types of books too. I just finished a great book called Marley and Me(life and love with the world's worst dog). What a great book!! I laughed out loud and had tears in my eyes reading this book. It is by John Grogan, he is a very good writer.

Answer 10

The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood is really good! It's a sort of futuristic story about a world where fertile women are treated as comodity for the rich and powerful. Very interesting and a bit scary.