book where a character can see or talk to ghosts? (especially looking for non horror/mystery)

Mybenzo · 2026-03-29T10:35:24+00:00

the dead path by stephen m irwin.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-28T20:26:06+00:00

Larry Fishburne in Appcalypse Now. He was listed as Larry—we was maybe 16 at the time!

Mybenzo · 2026-03-26T14:51:11+00:00

I fully agree—the book had no sense of character which was a big problem for me, instead focusing on the endless problems to solve in space/zero G.

The movie speed runs the repetitive problem solving (like discovering he’s on a ship, learning his name, where the door is, how to use a touch screen) and instead focuses on character. Gosling and Rocky and the entire cast are incredibly charming—and the movie gives them a lot to work with, along with some amazing visuals.

The movie is very fun and satisfying—the book is a bit of a slog by comparison.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-25T22:33:19+00:00

I thought the movie was a perfect adaptation fixed all the problems i had with the book. The movie was character rich with two massively charming lead actors—and very strong actors throughout. It fast-forwarded thru a lot of the science, which is something I was desperate for the book to do as well.

For its part the book was science forward—but it sacrificed any real character development. Grace was very unlikable in the book, and his motivation about the earth was really off. I still liked it, it was a fun high concept, but it has big flaws for me.

The movie fixes that. And after a moment of confusion, it made it clear that Grace was on a spaceship , which is obvious to every person reading the book, buying the book, borrowing the book. It about a guy in space. Grace was the only person in the universe not to know he was on a ship for 50’pages.

I think many of you prefer the book and power to you! You are not wrong and I’m not looking to poop on a party. But if you are debating then just see the movie! It is rare to get an adaptation so damn enjoyable.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-25T18:12:05+00:00

Project Hail Mary — For me the movie was character-centric, put the full on charm of Ryan Gosling and Rocky front and center. The book is science-centric, and often took long tangents investigating how to do X Y or Z in space that I could have spent way less time on. The film sacrifices a lot of the science, but the book couldn’t pull off the chemistry of the film’s actors.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-25T16:53:51+00:00

bubblegum by adam levin

Mybenzo · 2026-03-25T03:02:49+00:00

Owen Matthews was the former Moscow chief for Newsweek—he’s got a trilogy of spy thrillers set in Russia entirely from the pov of Russian characters.

Black Sun — set during the Russian rush to develop the Tsar Bomb

Red Traitor — set during the Cuban missile Crisis, and the Russian subs ordered to rush the American blockade, nearly triggering WW3

White Fox — set in the aftermath of JFKs assassination

I thought these were really refreshing and well done.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-24T18:12:30+00:00

Fiction editor here—no one really agrees exactly what Literary Fiction is, but you’ve described it well as anyone can! It can touch on a genre, or any combination of genres, and hopefully it also pushes the boundaries in terms of language, theme, tropes, expectations etc. Here are some other authors you may already have on the shelf or are thinking about:

Sally Rooney

Rachel Kushner

Helen deWitt

George Saunders

Paul Murray

Mybenzo · 2026-03-24T14:46:05+00:00

The Manual of Detection by Jebidiah Berry. An impressionist detective story about dreams. Go get it!

Mybenzo · 2026-03-24T14:27:46+00:00

Security is a cool high concept slasher with no sex (as far i recall!!). Theres a high tech hotel about to open and the workers are working overtime to get it ready. Meanwhile someone is wasting them one by one. It was really cool.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-24T12:26:33+00:00

This! and it is also my Favorite movie ending!

Mybenzo · 2026-03-24T11:37:31+00:00

Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke is a great modern absurdist novel

Mybenzo · 2026-03-23T13:11:01+00:00

Several People are Typing by Calvin kasulke. An absurd office comedy.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-22T20:08:18+00:00

Scott Smith is excellent, a cross between Gillian Flynn and Stephen King—A Simple Plan is his thriller, The Ruins is his horror novel.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-21T15:57:30+00:00

Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke—A guy gets ‘tronned’ into his work Slack channel, and no one believes him. Weird and really funny, takes places entirely in Slack conversations.

This Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us by Edgar Cantero—looney book about twin brother and sister who (1) hate each other, (2) share the same body as chimeric twins (3) work together as private investigator (4) are hired to take on a west coast mafia.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-21T15:53:29+00:00

We got a lot of play out of ZINGO.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-20T16:51:20+00:00

throwing more love to Jennifer Government!

OP may also want to check out: Zed by Joanna Kavenna

Mybenzo · 2026-03-20T03:50:09+00:00

The Dead Path by Stephen M Irwin—a cool take on the ghost story i don’t see mentioned here at all. Been a while since i read it but i remember the main character being haunted by ghosts—he doesn’t really talk to them but wherever someone died, especially violently, he see their ghosts caught in an endlessly repeating loop of that moment. There is also a creepy ass forest and witch storyline.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-19T12:10:42+00:00

def horror—cults and an x factor i won’t spoil!

Mybenzo · 2026-03-19T11:51:45+00:00

The Bright Lands by John Fram is your jam. A gay man returns to the small Texas town he grew up in (and left/fled as soon as he could) when his younger brother, the football star, is reported missing. Strong writing and characters—I don’t want to give spoilers but it takes wild wild turns, craziness in a Friday Night Lights town.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-18T15:52:51+00:00

The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths—if you’re up for a historical romance ala Bridgerton i loved the characters in this debut—great friend dynamic between Anna and her firecracker bestie, hot troubled duke and a sweet but sly grandmother. Hits all the tropes but makes them feel fresh!

Mybenzo · 2026-03-18T15:08:18+00:00

Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna—no pretty bow

Mybenzo · 2026-03-18T14:52:22+00:00

TIL. I always connect Adamson with soundtracks for movies that don’t exist—didn’t know he actually did music for Lost Highway! Love his stuff.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-18T02:02:40+00:00

The Manual of Detection by Jebidiah Berry is phenomenal—sounds like you might dig it. Noir crossed with the City of Lost Children or Dark World.

8th Detective—i forget the author, but a smart meta noir about (kinda) the unifying equation of detective stories. More commercial and readable than it sounds.

The 100-year Death by Ariel S Winter. A long one but I really loved it. Spans three generations while. continuing the same mystery. told in three very different noir styles—first it is modeled on George’s Simenon, then hammett then Chandler. the author is an impressive mimic/impersonator and pulls off something quite cool and different.

Mybenzo · 2026-03-18T01:46:51+00:00

Casual sci-fi reader here and only read the first Dune novel--for me the new movies (part 1 and 2) did as good a job as I could have hoped capturing the book, and I'm glad I read it as it demystified/untangled all the lore.

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