Books Like...
'Human Croquet' by Kate Atkinson is a unique and imaginative novel that blends elements of family saga, time travel, coming of age, and mystery. The story follows Isobel Fairfax, a young British woman with the ability to slip through time, back to the Elizabethan period, as she navigates through a peculiar negotiation of time, space, and people. The narrative explores themes of familial dysfunction, murder, disappearances, secrets, and lies, unraveling the ties that bind and tear apart the characters. Atkinson's writing style mixes time travel and reality, creating a dreamlike and lyrical atmosphere that blurs the lines between past, present, and future.
Throughout the book, readers are taken on a journey through Isobel's childhood, adolescence, and the lives of her parents and forebears, exposing the complexities and dark realities underlying seemingly innocent events. The novel shifts perspectives, from first to third person and an omniscient narrator, providing alternative readings of scenes and characters' interpretations of events. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, truths are uncovered, and the characters' desires and weaknesses are exposed, painting a vivid and intricate portrait of a world that is both familiar and strange.
If you liked Human Croquet, here are the top 3 books to read next:
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Save:'Ubik' by Philip K. Dick is a science fiction novel that delves into the boundaries between reality and something else. The story follows a group of anti-telepaths embroiled in a decaying world where reality is constantly shifting. The novel incorporates themes of time travel, psychic powers, and a state called 'half life,' where deceased individuals can still communicate with the living. The plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers engaged in a mind-bending exploration of perception versus reality.
Dick's writing style in 'Ubik' combines mystery, suspense, and philosophical underpinnings. The narrative challenges readers to question what is real and what is unreal, leading them through a journey that blurs the lines between space, time, and mind. The novel presents complex ideas in a fascinating and unconventional manner, creating a unique reading experience that lingers with the reader long after finishing the book.
Friends, this is clean-up time and we're discounting all our silent, electric Ubiks by this much money. Yes, we're throwing away the bluebook. And remember: every Ubik on our lot has been used only as... - #2
Save:'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is a novel centered around a small cafe in Tokyo where customers can time travel by sitting in a specific seat and following a set of rules. Each section of the book features a different character seeking to travel back in time for various reasons, such as seeking closure, revisiting past relationships, or gaining a new perspective on life. The writing style is described as straightforward, with a focus on character development and emotional depth, set against the backdrop of the cafe's unique time-traveling concept.
She glared with uncertainty. She hadn’t heard him say it was over. But he had called her – his girlfriend of three years – to come out for a serious conversation . . . and now he had suddenly announce... One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. The novel is inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, and alive with unforgettable characters brimming with truth, compassion, and lyrical magic that strikes the soul. The book is a masterpiece in the art of fiction, weaving together mystical stories and dozens of colorful and crazy characters into a twisted and tangled family history.
The book is written in a unique style with dense and beautiful prose, where the author can change the direction of the story in a few words. It explores the theme of history repeating itself over generations of a family, using rich literary devices like repeating character names with slight variations through each generation. The narrative seamlessly slips back and forth between reality and fantasy, creating an immersive and thought-provoking reading experience.
MANY YEARS LATER, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. At that time Macondo was a village of twenty ...
