By Mallika Bhagat
Copyright timesnownews
If you’re tired of the usual bestsellers and want to discover something fresh, thought-provoking, and utterly addictive, we’ve rounded up 8 hidden gems in literature that deserve a spot on your reading list. From quiet meditations on life to quirky tales that will make you laugh out loud, these books will leave you richer in perspective and imagination. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin When a mysterious package arrives at the doorstep of a bookstore owner whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies and his store stops working, he is surprised. However, this package is the key to helping him turn his life around. This lesser-known book is a celebration of, well, books, love, and the small joys of life that sometimes gives you a second chance. The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty This audacious debut novel is set around the lives of four teenagers who have grown out of the foster care system and are living together in an apartment building in a post-industrial Midwest world. The raw honestly with which Gunty describes the characters and their run towards survival in a city that is dying. Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory This is a witty, unpredictable story about a family of psychic con artists, who have to use their powers to save themselves from the CIA, local mafia as well as a skeptic who wants to reveal them for what they really are. Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, the novel offers a delectable mix of magic, family dynamics and suspense in a way few books manage. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa What would you do if you could only remember every memory for a few precious minutes? This Japanese gem traces the life of a brilliant mathematician who, after an accident, lives with a memory that lasts only 80 minutes and the housekeeper who enters his world. It’s a quietly profound meditation on memory, numbers, and families can be built even in the most jarring circumstances. A Psalm For The Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Set in a near-future world where robots gained self-awareness and wandered into the wilderness, this novel is a tender, hopeful story about humanity, robots, and purpose. A perfect pick for readers who want to feel quietly uplifted. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts Vagabonding is about taking time off from your normal life and heading out to discover the world. While this is not a fictional book, this travel book is inspiring for anyone with wanderlust. It encourages readers to explore the world deliberately, economically, and fully, one experience at a time. The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead This book is set in a vertical world, which requires elevators for transportation, and is based on two warring factions in this world: Empiricists and Intuitionists. Before Whitehead became widely known for “The Underground Railroad,” he penned this thought-provoking mystery about an elevator inspector navigating race, politics, and philosophy. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson A subtle, beautiful exploration of life, nature, and intergenerational relationships from the lens of an artist and his six-year-old granddaughter, the story of this novel unfolds on a quiet Finnish island and has moments that you’ll find both funny and moving.
