Estate sales and thrift stores can be good sources for cheap books and the selection is random so you get a variety.

Or you could try a challenge like read a book from every country or read a book from every decade after a set starting year.

You could join an online book group or a group that meets physically. There is a group on reddit starting the Master and Marguerita and some other reddit book groups.

Thank you. I knew most of that, but the genital mutilation and a few other things were extra special. The book seems deeply and widely sourced and I appreciated the perspective of the colonized. Another recent book that provides an often unseen perspective is the Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. It's now in my top five books ever.

There is a style of nonfiction that I have seen called journalistic nonfiction that is all about telling a good story that happens to be true. There are also introduction books to obscure topics aimed at general readers.

Books like And the Band Played On by Shilts or Endurance by Lansing tell a compelling story.

The Man Who Mistook his wife for a hat is an introduction to neurological diseases through interesting anecdotes.

Stolen Focus by Johan Hari is an expose of Social media impact on attention span.

Project Gutenberg has public domain books, they are just old. If you have estate sales in your country try that.

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. The only thing I would add and the reason I stressed dystopian fiction is that some of the behavior and requirements of the empire are culturally specific, arbitrary and intrusive in ways that remind me of the Handmaid's tale, or Mao's cultural revolution. It is an abusive eugenicist government that also fosters economic prosperity.

Which author for Stone angel? There are several.

I would be curious to see what answer you would get from r/askliterarystudies.

I have personally avoided Faulkner and Pynchon and James Joyce, but that doesn't make them bad writers per se. What they are trying to do with language is more like what Picasso or Dali or even Warhol tried to do with paint. They are highly skilled, I just don't like their choices.

Silmarilion is somewhat like the Bible. Large collection of disparate content including begats. It's not for me, but try it.

Have you read Elizabeth Moon's fantasy novels? Worth reading imho

I think to honestly answer your question requires more context than we can get from one sentence over the internet.

Cutting out abusive people is wise and prudent. Cutting out flawed people who care about you can be tragic for everyone involved.

Telling the difference can be hard.

Self help books that have helped me include Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Peace is Every Step, After the ecstasy the laundry, Eat that Frog, the book of joy, Man's Search for Meaning.

You may benefit from counseling, or from honest feedback from a good friend. If you want advice about a specific person, Momforaminute or r/askwomenover30 are nurturing communities that might help.

TLDR some self help books are bad books with counterproductive advice. Some are useful.

Ask for help at r/whatsthatbook

I was clumsy in my phrasing. You are correct

They may not be teaching it anymore. This was the 80s.

See also the poem Dulce et decorum est

King Lear, Futile rage against the universe and a tough essay to write.

Ethan Frome, Never reading again if it is the last book on earth.

A Separate Peace, Meh

Crime and Punishment, So much resentment for being forced to share that man's feelings.

Death of a Salesman, powerful emotional experience, learned new perspective about life.

Death of Ivan Ilyich, Wow!

Not who you replied to but two of my favorite books are all creatures great and small and Watership Down. If you search the suggestion subreddits for best or favorite you will find a wide variety.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it is a dark vision of history. For me it parallels how actual civilizations rise and fall, and the role of monasteries preserving knowledge during the dark ages. In the end the sun will engulf us and I don't believe we will find a solution by migrating to other planets. War is baked into the human psyche. So is peace and idealism. We are a contradictory species.

Born a Crime and Good Omens

I am a huge Pratchett fan. I read them all. It has been a minute but American Gods and Good Omens spoke to me.

Fear of missing out is not limited to books. It is a big problem in our overly connected world. Every choice precludes others and there are more excellent books than can be read in a lifetime. I just add books that strike my interest to my to read list on good reads but I am currently reading down my collection that I own.

I would ask this on r/suggestmeabook also explaining something about her interests

The Traveling Cat Chronicles is a recent, simple, moving Japanese novel that I really enjoyed. If you want a gripping classic, Shogun is a favorite of many although Clavell was not Japanese. All of the Clavell novels are favorites of mine except Gaijin. Read some reviews and pick some options. Enjoy your trip. I haven't been to Japan since the pandemic.

As a precocious child I remember appreciating the fantasy Elements in the Tempest. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear are all commonly assigned in highschool. (Not all to every student)

As an adult, I return to the sonnets again and again.

Whatever you choose to read, start by watching a play or movie version so you follow the story.

Have you visited r/capitolconsequences?

I remember when this book became popular but never read it. Self help books are often just about making money from book sales. Thank you for the review. I won't read it.