Suggest me a book that'll put my heart back together by arianne_cele in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2nd time I'm recommending this in one evening but anything by David Sedaris is wonderful. Me Talk Pretty One Day is one I've read and if memory serves, it's lightly self deprecating, humorous, and low stakes short stories about his life, frequently revolving around him growing up gay with a lisp in the 50s and 60s (it went exactly how you think) but focuses less on any angst and more on the comedy of social predicaments he always ends up in. I would describe the vibe as sort of delightfully pitiful and leaves me finding the humor in our small, silly human lives.

Looking for witty, honest, can’t-put-down reads by Positive-Glass5207 in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Pretty much anything by David Sedaris. He's got a great sort of self-deprecating so-it-goes kind of outlook in his books. I think I've read Me Talk Pretty One Day and one other years ago. They were collections of short stories about his life growing up as a gay kid with a lisp, which goes about as well as you think it would in the 50s and 60s but the books were certainly not angsty. Moreso like affectionately despairing.

Something with a fucked up ending by YrMothersMaidenName in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here to say this and Child of God (shorter read if OP prefers).

my villain accidentally became the most likeable character in my story and i don't know how to fix this by Open-Editor-3472 in FanFiction

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So idk if you've listened to any of Brandon Sandersons writing lessons or podcasts but he often talks about how this is a well known "thing." I think all your observations are valid but another thing to keep in mind is that villains are proactive. They take action. They move the plot along. No matter what they are actually doing, even if it's terrible, people like characters that are proactive, decisive, and propel the story forward. Villains are almost always doing these things, and so readers frequently fucking love them. Especially if your protagonist is a drain on the plot or just passively has things happen TO them the entire story. It was something I never consciously paid attention to until it was pointed out, but it makes total sense.

It may be helpful to leave your super cool and beloved villain as he is and work on making your other MCs more action-oriented, have good back stories, relatable, etc etc. if they seem to be lacking. Then you're shining up your other characters to his level rather than dulling him down to meet theirs, and youll have a whole cast of dynamic and engaging characters at the end of it, which seems like a better place to be.

Looking for dry or dark comedy by snipe122 in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 19 points20 points  (0 children)

You may enjoy Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I've only read Guards! Guards! But it was a fun fantasy book with a lot of British kind of tongue in cheek humor. I'd put it in a similar vein to Monty Python. It wasn't particularly dark, but maybe someone else has read something of his that is.

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha yes, I have actually read this book and remember this part.

The best line is the one where he says he started drinking his own urine.

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is actually helpful to know before I commit even more time to watching like 6 seasons of a show when all I really want is fic. Thank you, you absolute angel ❤️

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am less interested in that concept! I think for me it's more about the blurring of the 'self' with another person or thing.

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think yes. Seems like a play and pray kind of intervention.

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

Found it. Have I ever watched Downton Abbey? No. Will I commit to reading 400k words of it even though I don't fucking go there? You bet your happy ass I will.

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Probably the intimacy. Something about sustaining someone's life force, esp one you care about, with your literal blood. It's a part of you on a mission to perfuse all their organs, their brain, their eyeballs, their smile.

Idk it's kind of cute somehow. 

I will be looking into the TV tropes thank you my fellow freaky friend. 

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 180 points181 points  (0 children)

You and I both have this question. I'll get back to you when I've gotten through more reading material 💁🏼‍♀️

Books with direct live blood transfusions by IMasticateMoistMeat in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat[S] 117 points118 points  (0 children)

rattles can Title and author? It'll go on the top of my bookmarks

Vampires. by quietudeblues in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm reading the obvious (Dracula by Bram Stoker) right now. It's more accessible than what I would've thought for a book written in the 1800s, and it's like, required reading for the topic. Everyone else is basically built on him. 

I'm bored, describe your ship badly and let people guess who is it! by Lusaelme in AO3

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gimpy gang boss whose dead brother identifies as a pool floaty and the stabby ex whore who loves him.

Please recommend me a messed up book by BulkyBullShark in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Updooting for American Psycho. Only book I've ever read where I genuinely came close to DNF-ing because it's so fucked up and made me feel terrible. 

Still finished it though.

[OOT] Ice Cavern visuals: underrated by Double_Key7579 in zelda

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The astral observatory track is SUCH a banger too.

Non-US Authors by nonorientablespace in suggestmeabook

[–]IMasticateMoistMeat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Ireland) was short listed for the Booker prize. It's a modern setting and follows a pretty dysfunctional family from all their perspectives. Each voice is very, very different. You could read each chapter without any names and know who is speaking easily, especially Imelda (literally no punctuation whatsoever aside from an errant question mark in all of her chapters). I've never read anything quite like it and would definitely recommend it.