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Recommendations based on Das Café am Rande der Weltby John P. Strelecky
* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans
The Swarm
by Frank Schätzing
A thrilling tale of a giant creature from the deep wreaking havoc on a world unprepared.
The book follows an ensemble of protagonists who are investigating what at first appear to be freak events related to the world's oceans . The book has several sub-plots and will occasionally follow ... (Wikipedia)
Blackout
by Marc Elsberg
A massive power outage hits Europe, plunging the continent into chaos and revealing the fragility of modern society.
The novel starts with a collapse of electrical grids across Europe, plunging the population into darkness and disaster. , , The prolonged electricity cut causes major problems: no more petrol , no ... (Wikipedia)
The Blind Owl
by Sadegh Hedayat
A surreal exploration of the human condition, touching on themes of despondency, futility, and nihilism.
Considered the most important work of modern Iranian literature, The Blind Owl is a haunting tale of loss and spiritual degradation. Replete with potent symbolism and terrifying surrealistic imagery, ... (Goodreads)
Written in Bone
by Simon Beckett
An archaeological mystery about a body found in a shallow grave and the secrets it reveals.
' I took the skull from its evidence bag and gently set it on the stainless steel table. 'Tell me who you are...' Forensic anthropologist Dr David Hunter should be at home in London with the woman he ... (Goodreads)
The Scarred Woman
by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Detective Carl Mørck and his team investigate a cold case involving a scarred woman, leading to a web of corruption and abuse.
The, New York Times, and #1 internationally bestselling author of, The Keeper of Lost Causes, delivers his most captivating and suspenseful Department Q novel yet–perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson,. ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Chemistry of Death
by Simon Beckett
A forensic scientist returns to his hometown to escape his past, but is drawn into a murder investigation.
Forensics expert David Hunter is recovering from a shattering tragedy three years earlier. While he is working in an isolated Norfolk village as a doctor, a woman's mutilated corpse is discovered. ... (Wikipedia)
The History of Bees
by Maja Lunde
Three narratives spanning centuries, exploring the interplay of humankind and bees.
In the spirit of Station Eleven and Never Let Me Go, this dazzling and ambitious literary debut follows three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding ... (Goodreads)
L'Assommoir
by Émile Zola
An exploration of poverty and alcoholism in the Parisian working class.
The novel is principally the story of Gervaise Macquart, who is featured briefly in the first novel in the series,, La Fortune des Rougon, , running away to Paris with her shiftless lover Lantier to ... (Wikipedia)
Rose Madder
by Stephen King
A woman's escape from an abusive husband leads to a fantastical journey of self-discovery.
In 1985, Rose Daniels' husband, Norman, beats her while she is four months pregnant, causing her to miscarry . Rose considers leaving Norman but dismisses the idea: Norman is a policeman, and is ... (Wikipedia)
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
An exploration of self-expression and personal growth as a seagull learns to defy the boundaries of his flock.
The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with daily squabbles over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself and learns everything he can about ... (Wikipedia)
The Pilgrimage
by Paulo Coelho
A spiritual journey of a man in search of himself, his purpose, and God.
The story begins in 1986 when Coelho undertakes his initiation into the order Regnus Agnus Mundi (RAM), which he subsequently fails. He is then told that he must embark on a pilgrimage along the ... (Wikipedia)
Q & A
by Vikas Swarup
An impoverished man's journey of luck and circumstance that leads to a life-changing prize.
Vikas Swarup's spectacular debut novel opens in a jail cell in Mumbai, India, where Ram Mohammad Thomas is being held after correctly answering all twelve questions on India's biggest quiz show, Who ... (Goodreads)
The Zahir
by Paulo Coelho
A man's journey to understand the meaning of love and of life, in the face of loss.
The Zahir means 'the obvious' or 'conspicuous' in Arabic . The story revolves around the life of the narrator , a bestselling novelist, and in particular his search for his missing wife, Esther. He ... (Wikipedia)
Pet Sematary
by Stephen King
A family's terrifying journey of life and death, as the line between the living and the dead blurs.
Louis Creed, a doctor from Chicago , is appointed director of the University of Maine 's campus health service. He moves to a large house near the small town of Ludlow with his wife Rachel, their two ... (Wikipedia)
The Snowman
by Jo Nesbø
Detective Harry Hole investigates a series of grisly murders, with the help of a mysterious snowman.
In 1980, a married woman has illicit sex with a lover while her adolescent son waits in a car outside; their lovemaking is disturbed when they think somebody is looking at them from outside the ... (Wikipedia)
City of Heavenly Fire
by Cassandra Clare
Dark forces threaten the Shadowhunters, who must join forces to save the world.
Shadowhunters of the Los Angeles Institute meet to discuss the army of Endarkened Shadowhunters when the army, led by Sebastian Morgenstern , ambush the Institute, endarken some shadowhunters, and ... (Wikipedia)
The Clown
by Heinrich Böll
A young man's reflective journey through post-war Germany, exploring the consequences of war.
Hans Schnier is the "Clown" of the novel's title. He is twenty-seven years old from a very wealthy family. At the beginning of the story he arrives in Bonn, Germany. As a clown, he had to travel ... (Wikipedia)
Demon Seed
by Dean Koontz
A supercomputer takes over a house and imprisons the owner's wife to impregnate her with its own offspring.
Dr. Alex Harris (Weaver) is the developer of Proteus IV, an extremely advanced and autonomous artificial intelligence program. , Proteus is so powerful that only a few days after going online, it ... (Wikipedia)
Ishmael
by Daniel Quinn
A gorilla's provocative teachings on the human condition, exposing the flaws of modern society.
Implicitly set in the early 1990s, Ishmael begins with a newspaper advertisement: "Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person". , The nameless narrator and ... (Wikipedia)
Heart of a Dog
by Mikhail Bulgakov
A satirical story of a scientist who attempts to transform a stray dog into a human.
Moscow , 1924. While foraging for trash one winter day, a stray dog is found by a cook and scalded with boiling water. Lying forlorn in a doorway, the dog awaits his end awash in self-pity. To his ... (Wikipedia)
Assassin's Apprentice
by Robin Hobb
A humble orphan discovers his true identity, rising through the ranks to become a powerful assassin.
The novel covers the early life of FitzChivalry , a royal bastard living in Buckkeep Castle as he begins his training as an assassin and successfully safeguards the throne from his over-ambitious ... (Wikipedia)
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman
An imaginative quest to uncover the truth behind a beloved grandmother's mysterious stories.
The story takes place in Sweden and follows Elsa, a 7-year-old who knows she is different from other children her age. Elsa has a habit of correcting others' grammar, she is smart for her age, and is ... (Wikipedia)
The Hollow
by Nora Roberts
A small town is shaken by a murder, and the secrets of its inhabitants are slowly revealed. Romance and danger ensue.
#1, New York Times, bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the thrilling trilogy of a town plagued by evil–and the three men and three women brought together by fate to fight it. For Fox, Caleb, ... (Goodreads)
Dragon Rider
by Cornelia Funke
A young dragon and his human companions embark on a quest to find a safe haven.
Firedrake is a young dragon who lives in a hidden valley outside of London with other dragons. After realizing that humans intend to flood the valley and the dragons living there are no longer safe, ... (Wikipedia)
Wizard and Glass
by Stephen King
A journey of love, loss, and horror as a group of misfits face a mysterious enemy in a world of dark magic.
Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Jake’s pet bumbler survive Blaine the Mono’s final crash, only to find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, one that has been ravaged by ... (Goodreads)
The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy: The Summer I Turned Pretty; It's Not Summer Without You; We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
A coming-of-age story of a girl named Belly, who spends her summers at a beach house with two brothers, and the love triangle that ensues.
Belly has always lived for the summertime because it means all her favorite things: swimming, the beach and the Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. She has spent every summer with them at Cousins Beach ... (Goodreads)
Blood Brothers
by Nora Roberts
Two brothers, raised separately, reunite as adults and must confront their past and the danger that threatens their future.
#1, New York Times, bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the first novel in a compelling trilogy about three brothers bound by fate, blood, and a timeless enemy., , In the town of Hawkins Hollow, ... (Goodreads)
Night School
by C.J. Daugherty
Allie Sheridan is sent to a mysterious school for troubled teens, where she uncovers dark secrets and falls for a dangerous boy.
Allie Sheridan’s world is falling apart. Her brother’s run away from home. Her parents ignore her. And she’s just been arrested. Again. This time her parents have had enough. They cut her off from ... (Goodreads)
The Royal Secret
by Lucinda Riley
A young woman discovers a hidden family secret that leads her on a journey to uncover the truth about her past and her true identity.
Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title, The Love Letter,. “Plenty of twists, flashbacks, and a dash of romance keep the suspense high. For anyone looking for a dose of ... (Barnes & Noble)
Turtles All the Way Down
by John Green
A teenage girl's battle with mental illness, as she navigates her relationships & struggles to find her place in the world.
Aza Holmes is a 16-year-old high school student living in Indianapolis who struggles with OCD , which often manifests as a fear of the human microbiome . Constantly worried about infection, ... (Wikipedia)
