I’m trying to get back into reading, and for a few weeks have been reading a chapter (or half) of the Hobbit before bed.
Does anyone have recommendations for similar books? I’m not up to reading LOTR yet.
What I’m looking for are relatively chill books that don’t stress you out before bed, something that I can just let my imagination run with abd has a cozy feel, if that makes any sense at all.
Don’t care too much about genre, but I do like fantasy.
Edit: I should add I don’t like books like Candide or Hitchhikers Guide, HG was fun, but I can’t do “and stuff just keeps happening to the main character” types. And I know Candide is purposefully frustrating, bit it was too effective.
Most books by Brandon Sanderson, though there are stressful parts like in the Hobbit, in general you can put your trust in the story and have it pay off.
Half of the Realm of the Elderlings. The other half, however, will ruin every night.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons (RIP)
Oh I thought of one - the Cemeteries of Amalo series by Sarah Monette. The premise is there’s a guy that can kind of commune to the dead and he travels around this sort of magical steampunk-era city solving mysteries. It is occasionally spooky and intense but the overall vibe is very cozy.
Apart from that, definitely Chronicles of Narnia as some people suggested. Although I thought they had a very bittersweet feeling to them. My favorite one for coziness would probably be A Horse and his Boy.
That sounds fun, like a steampunk Pushing Daisies.
Narnia was bittersweet for me too. I don’t think I can go back, but they were lovely books and I was so enthralled in them.
He also has a sci-fi trilogy that I really enjoyed. A lot of people ignore it in favor of the more-famous Narnia books. Which I also adore.
Three suggestions:
- Any short story collection by Issac Asimov (preferably something like I, Robot - not like the movie at all). These are light reads, but can be really entertaining so easy to ease back into to.
- Discworld Series - really let’s your imagination go wild. They may be a bit too much like hitchhikers for you, but its fun light fantasy by a great author.
- V.E Schwabbs “Shades of Magic”. Interesting story with a decent magic system that feels a bit like Avatar (cartoon) in a Young Adult Fantasy setting.
I think the “Monk and Robot” series by Becky Chambers would be right up your alley. Cozy sci-fi with a very Hobbit-y feel.
Also, a step up in length and maybe stress but still solidly cozy sci-fi, but “Of Monsters and Mainframes” by Barbara Truelove.
I enjoyed the Belgariad by David Eddings. I don’t see it around anymore though.
I enjoyed this series as a teen, many years ago. Wasn’t until a few years ago that I found out the author and his wife were scumbags of the highest order.
I did not know that. Why can’t people just be nice.
Have you seen all the movies? Because if the LOTR story is new to you - man… that’s the answer to your question - LOTR is more hobbit but better in every way. :). Especially if you don’t know what happens. I would kill someone to be able to experience those books again for the first time.
Tolkien is pretty unique though - I can’t think of anything similar.
Ease of reading and fun though?
- Harry Potter
- Hunger games
- I haven’t read them, but my daughter loves the 4th wing stuff
- Enders game
I don’t know, I found LOTR to be a bit more of a slog. In the Hobbit Tolkien seemed to reign himself in for the sake of it being more “kid” friendly (as it started as a story for his kids). LOTR you start to get more of the simillarion level of depth in detail l, that while not inherently bad, does detract from the story at times.
It takes a little bit to get going - you’re right. I tell people to read the fellowship. If you’re not 100% OMG gimme the next book after that, then stop, it’s not your cup of tea.
I would NOT recommend the silmarilion, that’s a different league of a slog.
Maybe I should try 4th wing. My partner really liked them, she even bought the hard covers.
Science Fiction rather than Fantasy, but I can’t say enough good things about the original three “Little Fuzzy” books by H. Beam Piper.
Bonus: The first book is public domain:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137
I re-read it often. Light, breezy, you can blow through it in a couple of hours.
What about “The Dark Tower” series by Stephen King?
There’s a ton of stressing stuff in there.
Regarding The poorly named H2G2 trilogy, Douglas Adams could write a fantastic scene but putting it into a cohesive narrative and book length plot was not his strength. Approaching his books from that perspective helps you enjoy them better.
Also I was going to be a smartass and recommend LOTR but you beat me to it. Smartass.
I’ve been really enjoying Jasper Fforde lately. Light, entertaining reads. Lots of good, silly puns. His Thursday Next series is delightful. His Shades of Grey (no not that one) series is one of my favorite things ever written. It’s out a world where everyone is colorblind and can only see one color. The color you can see (and how well you can see it) determines your social standing. And there are man eating trees. And man eating roads. And man eating, I don’t know, stadiums and quarries.
Closest for me were the harry potter books or the Miss Peregrin’s books from Ranson Riggs. But i’m not an avid reader and I’m hesitant mentioning the hp books due to the author being what she is.
I think the mention is fine, my partner has copies from before Twitter was a thing and Rowling hasn’t decided she wanted to spend all her free time making struggling kids lives worse.
