Books Like...
If you liked The Piano Teacher, here are the top 100 books to read next:
- #1
Save:A poetic, challenging, and thought-provoking read - The Lover is for those who love literary experimentation and introspective explorations of love, power, and identity. Not a fluffy romance, but an unforgettable book for the right reader.
One day, I was already old, in the entrance of a public place a man came up to me. He introduced himself and said, “I’ve known you for years. Everyone says you were beautiful when you were young, but... - #2
Save:"I was dying to see Mother suffer at the sight of my corpse," announces the young woman at the heart of this powerful and disquieting novel, which has won acclaim in France and in Canada upon original publication in French. In Ingratitude, Ying Chen
... - #3
Save:A haunting, complex modernist novel - Malina immerses you in the anxieties of language and identity. It’s not an easy read, but unique and unforgettable for those willing to engage with its depth and ambiguity.
- #4
Save:A daring, stylish, and deeply unsettling erotic thriller - In the Cut is either a fascinating literary risk or a flat-out turn-off, depending on your taste for darkness and ambiguity. Read it if you want something raw and unforgettable - just know it pulls no punches.
The whole class was having trouble with irony. They do much better with realism. Realism, they think, is simply a matter of imitating Ernest Hemingway. Short flat sentences, an adjective before every... - #5
Save:A beautifully crafted but emotionally intense play that lingers long after the last line - best for those who can handle tough themes and appreciate powerful, realistic storytelling.
- #6
Save:'Women as Lovers' by Elfriede Jelinek is a dark and bleak portrayal of the relationships and struggles of two young women, Brigitte and Paula, in post-World War II Austria. The book delves into themes of hopelessness, sexism, and the quest for security in a world where men and women are subjected to societal double standards. Jelinek's writing style, although unconventional with its lack of capitals and repetition for emphasis, presents a narrative overflowing with negativity yet reads in a fairly easy manner, making it an intense and thought-provoking read.
The story follows Brigitte and Paula, two working-class women employed at an underwear factory, as they navigate their relationships with men who are portrayed as self-centered and oafish. The women's pursuit of identity and happiness in a narrow world that values tradition and male dominance sheds light on the struggles faced by women in a society where power dynamics are skewed. Jelinek's masterful use of metaphor and her bold statement on misogyny offer a unique perspective on the sacrifices women make in exchange for a mundane existence with abusive partners.
Phototypeset in 10V2pt Plantin by In type, London Printed in Finland by Werner Soderstrom OyThis translation received financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, Brusselsforewor... - #7
Save:A gorgeously written, staggeringly dark descent into taboo territory - short, haunting, and absolutely not for everyone.
The grey eyelashes of this little girl cast a grey shadow against her cheek. She has the sly, ironic smile of those who know a lot. Two uncurled locks frame her face, descending to the hem of her blou... - #8
Save:A deeply raw and haunting portrait of family dysfunction and buried secrets. Emotionally heavy, beautifully written - but definitely not a light read. Best for those ready for an unflinching look at trauma and its reverberations.
I didn’t drink my coffee, I was troubled so I got dressed and went outside to feel the wind on my face, to clear my head. I wasn’t handling this well, I thought, and called Søren, who of all my childr... - #9
Save:A gorgeously-rendered portrait of wartime and postwar Hong Kong, wrapped in secrets and regrets - but don’t expect all the mysteries to be neatly resolved. Worth it for the setting; less so if you want clear-cut character arcs and answers.
IT STARTED as an accident. The small Herend rabbit had fallen into Claire’s purse. It had been on the piano and she had been gathering up the sheet music at the end of the lesson when she knocked it o... - #10
Save:Gritty, gripping, and thoroughly twisted - "Darling Rose Gold" is a memorable debut that will disturb, entertain, and leave you guessing until the very last page.
It’s Rose Gold’s fault I went to prison, but she’s not the only one to blame. If we’re pointing fingers, mine are aimed at the prosecutor and his overactive imagination, the gullible jury, and the blo...
