I think you more need to delve into why you feel this way. I'm terrible at guessing the plot twists and it doesn't bother me at all. My sister and I will joke about how terrible at it I am. If I do figure it out, it's usually only a couple of pages before the reveal when they're at the point of practically spoon-feeding the answer to you. I find it funny how bad I am at it.

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>Any book that makes me feel this way does not deserve my attention.

This really is a "you" thing, and has nothing to do with what novels deserve.

First, there is absolutely nothing wrong with reading fanfiction. There are a lot of really talented fanfic creators out there. Reading is a hobby. If it isn't hurting you or anyone else, then read what you like. And anyone who has anything negative to say about it is an ass.

Second, wanting to read more traditionally published books is a good goal if this is something that is important to you and not something that you're just doing because you feel pressured into it. Start with genres that you know you are interested in. What genres of fanfiction do you typically lean towards? If you enjoy fanfiction with fantasy elements and heavy romance, then maybe check out some new adult urban fantasy that is labeled "spicy'.

Third, there are also some good reading groups that can give you ideas. I mostly follow ones on Facebook. It's one of the only things I use Facebook for. Haha. My favorite one on Facebook is called Book Box Sherlocks. It's a group specifically targeted at figuring out what books book subscription box services are doing each month, but there are a lot of good book recs. You can use it to see and get excited about some popular new releases coming out. And I find it fun sharing excitement and discussing new books coming out with others.

Good luck on your 2023 goals! And remember, anything read is a success. ❤️ Don't beat yourself up over a hobby!

It’s one of those books that makes a great gift but I’ve never read it myself, nor do I really want to.

One thing that stuck with me from it was when one of the characters asks the boy what he wants to be when he grows up and he says >!'kind'!<. Other than that nothing else jumps out at me, the drawings were lovely but there wasn't enough in it for me to keep it.

Exactly. Why the hype?

A friend gave that book to me as a birthday present. At first glance, I didn’t think much of it other than the noticeable drawings. But then later on, I could pick up on the philosophical life lessons. A good one but not everyone may be able to appreciate it though.

It's really a kids ook. We adults can enjoy the lessons though

This book was a HUGE seller when I worked at Barnes & Noble. We had to keep ordering copies cause so many people wanted it. I kind of read it once, and I remember not being that moved. I can't even remember what it's about. I'm assuming most people just wanted to give the book as a gift because they heard it was "inspirational."

I thought it was sweet to look at, but far from insightful. I would give this to a young person for hope and inspiration, but there's nothing that earth-shattering about it, and not something I'd read over and over, as I've seen some people say.

Honestly, it feels like a publisher saw a bunch of "live, laugh, love" quotes on someone's Instagram page and thought "let's slap these together into a book and call it a day". It's trying so hard to be inspirational and twee, but I thought it was drivel. The only decent character is the mole.

It's got nice art but the text is a sequence of shallow, feel-good coffee-mug slogans

I couldn’t resonate with it for one second.But my 8.5 year old was fascinated with it. He read it every night, for a fortnight. Eventually I asked him what was so special about it. He told me the story in the simplest of terms…friendship, help, home, loneliness, somehow cake too (?) So I think it served the purpose, just as a kid’s storybook. There’s nothing more to it besides some common themes and a weirdly cursive font.

My second worse rated book of the year out of 235. All treacle and faux inspirational pyschobabble, like some attempt at a 21st century Little Prince, another book I despise. As a children’s librarian there are hundreds of meaningful and deep impacting illustrated childten’s books that are head and shoulders above this. Check out Margaret Wild’s The Fox, for one example.

I never read it but I saw the animated version just the other day with my kids and loved it. The drawing style has been kept and is awesome and there were bits here and there that I could absolutely relate to. The part that stuck with me was the part where >!the horse says he can actually fly but stopped cause the other horses were jealous. It’s like how tall teenagers/people hunch when they are around short people and then just always hunch instead of standing tall and proud!<

It was sweet.

I listened to the audiobook too (I don't think it was the writer) which was very good.

Nothing wrong with fanfiction! But I’d say find books you relate to!

Top recommendation is the book Fangirl. Not sure if you’ve already read it but it’s about a young woman who does write fanfiction and it’s incredible, especially for a fangirl myself.

Trust me, half of the books read like really great fanfiction. The only difference is that, you aren’t already invested in the characters and the world. But if you’ve ever read a great fic, there’s three other authors who’ve monetised that as an original story !!

Have you already looked at r/bookclub/ and perused the January selections in the right-hand column?

Another online option: https://bookclubs.com/join-a-book-club/online

Are bookstores or libraryies close to your home? Sometimes they organize book clubs.

Happy reading!

The classics are not always boring or less representational.

I read Carmilla, a lesbian vampire story (which is older than Dracula) and it was short novella with a pretty quick read. A lot of gothic books are like this.

I also like the mystery genre, and loved reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. This is considered a proto-mystery book older than sherlock holmes, and has very good rep of women and anti-colonial narrative, and also having an easy accessible prose style.

Song of Achiles is a modern take on the classical Greek story, and this one has lgbt+ protagonists. I have other criticisms of the book, but if you like intense romantic slow-burn fanfiction, you can go for this and also, in the process, learn about the classical greek story.

I also enjoy Herman Hesse- Knulp is one of my favorite short reads :)

I assume since you love Wilde that you’ve probably read The Importance of being Earnest? It’s a play, but the content is very easy to engage with as a story.

In a similar vein to Wilde’s humor and commentary toward social aristocracy: I’d also recommend Emma by Jane Austen and Candide by Voltaire.

Well my good friend, make a custom reading 20 pages per day (of books), and give a shot to those great books of all times (like Harry potter, blindness essay, atlas shrugged, 1984 etc.).

There are a lot of books that are certain you would like, as many other have, so just jump on them. Get into groups of people talking about books, that will help you find new ones. (Here is one, i forgot it's name).

I go through spells of reading fan fiction, usually on AO3. When I’m stressed out or busy, their archive is easy access and there’s always something interesting there. I also enjoy various short fiction and specifically the stories that re-work or offer a twist on fairytales and myths. Ellen Datlow is one of my favorite editors of short fiction anthologies, and her books are widely held in public libraries.

Despite what you think sir, fanfiction isn't cancer. Tell me. What is so bad about someone writing a story about already existing characters? Reading is reading, it doesn't matter what form it's in as long as you enjoy it.