The most interesting modern books. The most interesting modern books What to read for an 18 year old guy

If you suffer from insomnia, or you simply don’t know what to do in the evening before bed, then start reading! But be careful, because some books are so interesting that you won't even notice the morning comes!

Photo: goodfon.ru

So, a list of fascinating books that will interest both “avid readers” and novice “book lovers”:

“The One Who Has Come in Large Numbers”, Narine Abgaryan

This is a tragicomedy about a young and ambitious girl who, at the beginning of the difficult 90s, decided to leave her native small mountainous republic and conquer the capital. And she immediately realized that each visitor, whom the author calls “who came in large numbers,” has his own Moscow. Some people see it in the millions of people scurrying through the streets, while others get the opportunity to get close to such people. And some of them protect, protect, care, help, support and simply love. The author of the book talks about his small piece of that very “common” life of a newcomer, which many indigenous residents of big cities have no idea about. And there is room for heroic deeds, the most important of which is to decide to emigrate and accept a new place as it is, and to sincerely love it. And then Moscow will certainly reciprocate.

"The Collector" John Fowles

This is the author’s debut story, and for many it almost chills the blood, because this is a real psychological thriller that excites the mind. The plot is the destinies of two people connected with each other. He is a butterfly collector. There is an emptiness in his soul that he strives to fill with beauty. And one day Ferdinand finds himself a beautiful victim - the girl Miranda. It’s as if she was created to create and enjoy freedom. And he understands that he will give everything to have her. And so, Miranda becomes Ferdinand's prisoner. But will he be able to keep real Life, Beauty, Freedom and all the most beautiful things that can be in the human soul within the walls of the castle?

The story is built on the delicate relationship between the victim and the villain and allows you to rethink many of the stories of world classics that seemed to have long been worn out.

Forrest Gump, Winston Groom

This is the story of a mentally retarded guy, which he himself outlined on the pages of a now legendary book, which formed the basis of the film of the same name. The plot can be called practically the embodiment of the myth about that very “American Dream” that disturbed the minds of millions of young people who lived in the second half of the last century. But at the same time, this is a sharp and even slightly cruel satirical parody of the society of that time, which was not ready to accept people who were somehow different from the mainstream. Forrest Gump was different and therefore became an object of ridicule. But this boy is not crazy at all. He is different, and he has access to what others cannot see and feel. He's special.

Amsterdam, Ian McEwan

The author of the book is one of the representatives of the “elite” of modern British prose. And for the work, which became a real world bestseller, he received the Booker Prize. Viktor Golyshev, who translated this creation into Russian, also received the award. It would seem that the story is simple and very relevant. But how many nuances there are in it, how many thoughts, how many doubts! The main characters are two friends. One of them is a successful editor of a popular newspaper. The second is a brilliant composer of our time who is writing the “Millennium Symphony”. And they enter into an agreement on euthanasia, under the terms of which, if one falls into a state of unconsciousness and ceases to understand what he is doing, then the other will take his life.

"Amendment 22" by Joseph Heller

Although more than half a century has passed since the release of the first book, this work still remains legendary and one of the most popular, and many publications included it in the list of the best novels.

This is not your typical story about US Air Force pilots in World War II. They all find themselves in absurd situations, encounter absurd people and rash actions, and commit incomprehensible acts themselves. And all this is connected with a certain amendment No. 22, which actually does not exist on paper, but states that every military man who does not want to carry out a combat mission is completely normal and therefore fit for service. But in fact, in this story one can see not so much an anti-war novel, but a deep and global mockery of modern everyday life, of society and current laws.

"A Conspiracy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

The author of this book, who, by the way, lived to see the Pulitzer Prize awarded for this creation, was able to create a literary hero unlike any described in satirical literature. Ignatius J. Riley is a creative, imaginative and eccentric personality. He fancies himself an intellectual, but in reality he is a glutton, a spendthrift and a quitter. He is like a modern Don Quixote or Gargantua, who despises society for its lack of geometry and theology. He is reminiscent of Thomas Aquinas, who began his own hopeless war against everything and everyone: representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation, the excesses of the century and even intercity buses. And this image is so interesting, unusual and, unfortunately, relevant that everyone can see a part of themselves in it.

“Monday begins on Saturday”, Strugatsky Brothers

This book is a real masterpiece of Russian science fiction, a kind of embodiment of the utopia of the Soviet era, a kind of artistic fulfillment of the dream of the possibilities of modern man to learn, create, understand and solve the mysteries of the Universe.

The main characters of the book are employees of NIICHAVO (Research Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry). They are masters and magicians, real pioneers. And they will encounter many amazing events and phenomena: a time machine, a hut on chicken legs, a genie and even an artificially grown man!

"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

This book became a real bestseller. This is a mysterious and fascinating story of a girl, Rachel, who, from the train window, watches, as it seems to her, ideal spouses. She even gave them names: Jason and Jess. Every day she sees the cottage of a man and a woman and understands that they probably have everything: prosperity, happiness, wealth and love. And Rachel had all this, but not so long ago she lost it all. But one day, approaching an already well-known cottage, the girl realizes that something is going wrong. She sees frightening, mysterious and disturbing events. And then the perfect wife Jess disappears. And Rachel understands that it is she who must reveal this secret and find the woman. But will the police take her seriously? And, in general, is it worth interfering in someone else’s life? This is for the readers to find out.

"The Book of Life: Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

In the last months of his life, the old professor managed to make several important discoveries.

He realized that death is not the end at all. This is the beginning. And that means dying is the same as preparing for something unknown and new. And this is not scary at all, but even interesting.

Before leaving for another world, the old man passed on such knowledge to everyone who was with him in the last minutes of his earthly life. What's next? Will we find out?

"The Trial", Franz Kafka

The author is one of the most beloved, mysterious, readable and popular writers of the last century. He managed to create a unique artistic Universe, in which everything is completely different from real life. She is sad, dreary and almost absurd, but incredible and bewitchingly beautiful. Her characters constantly become participants in strange adventures, they search for the meaning of life and try to get answers to questions that have long tormented them. The novel “The Trial” is the work that will allow us to most clearly understand the mysterious nature of Franz Kafka’s work.

Lord of the Flies, William Golding

This book can be called strange, scary and incredibly attractive.

In the story, boys brought up in the best traditions find themselves on a desert island. The author told readers a philosophical parable about how fragile the world is and what can happen to people who forget about kindness, love and mercy. This is a dystopia with some symbolic overtones, which explores the behavioral characteristics of children who find themselves on a desert island during wartime. Will they be able to maintain their humanity or will they submit to natural instincts?

"Rita Hayworth or the Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King

The plot of this book is the story of a man whose terrible dream suddenly became a reality. He, innocent of anything, was thrown into prison, into a real hell in which he would spend the rest of his life. And no one has ever managed to escape from this terrible place. But the main character does not intend to give up and put up with what was destined for him by fate. He took a desperate step. But will he be able to not only escape, but also get used to freedom and the new world, and survive in it? By the way, this work by the real king of fantasy Stephen King served as the basis for the film of the same name, which starred Morgan Freeman and Tim Robinson.

The events take place in England in 1960. Jennifer Sterling wakes up after a terrible car accident and realizes that she cannot remember who she is or what happened to her. She doesn’t remember her husband either. She would have continued to live in ignorance if she had not completely accidentally found letters addressed to her and signed with the letter “B”. Their author confessed his love to Jennifer and persuaded her to leave her husband. Next, the author takes readers to the 21st century. Young reporter Ellie finds one of the letters written by the mysterious “B” in the newspaper archives. She hopes that by taking up the investigation, she will be able to unravel the mystery of the author and recipient of the messages, restore her reputation, and even understand her own personal life.

"A Lady with Glasses with a Gun in a Car" by Sebastien Japrisot

The main character of the book is blonde. She is beautiful, sentimental, sincere, deceitful, restless, stubborn and clueless. This lady, who has never seen the sea, gets into a car and tries to escape from the police. At the same time, she constantly repeats to herself that she is not crazy.

But those around me do not agree with this. The heroine behaves more than strangely and constantly finds herself in ridiculous situations. She believes that wherever she goes, she can be harmed. But if she runs away, she will be able to be alone with herself and free herself from what she hides, from what worries her so much.

The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt

The author wrote this book for ten whole years, but it became a real masterpiece. It tells us that art has power and strength, and sometimes it can radically change and literally turn our lives around, and quite suddenly.

The hero of the work, 13-year-old boy Theo Decker, miraculously survived the explosion that killed his mother. His father abandoned him, and he is forced to wander around foster families and completely strange homes. He visited Las Vegas and New York and almost despaired. But his only consolation, which, by the way, almost led to his death, is the masterpiece of the Dutch old master, which he stole from the museum.

Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell

This book is like a complex mirror labyrinth, in which seemingly completely different and unrelated stories miraculously echo, intersect and overlap each other.

There are six main characters in the work: a young composer who is forced to sell his soul and body; 19th century notary; a journalist working in California in the 70s of the last century who uncovers a conspiracy of a large company; a clone servant working in a modern fast food establishment; a modern small publisher and a simple goatherd living at the end of civilization.

"1984", George Orwell

This work can be classified as a dystopian genre; it describes a society in which a strict totalitarian regime reigns.

There is nothing more terrible than the imprisonment of free and living minds in the shackles of social foundations.

"Blackberry Winter" by Sarah Gio

The events take place in 1933 in Seattle. Vera Ray kisses her little son good night and heads off to her night job at a hotel. In the morning, a single mother discovers that the entire city is covered in snow, and her son has disappeared. In a snowdrift near the house, Vera finds the boy’s favorite toy, but there are no traces nearby. A desperate mother is ready to do anything to find her child.

The author then takes readers to modern-day Seattle. Reporter Claire Aldridge writes an article about a snowstorm that literally paralyzes the city. By chance she learns that similar events already took place 80 years ago. As Claire begins to explore the mysterious story of Vera Ray, she realizes that it is somehow mysteriously intertwined with her own life.

"Blindness", Jose Saramago

Residents of a nameless country and a nameless city are faced with a strange epidemic. They all quickly begin to go blind. And the authorities, in order to stop this incomprehensible disease, decide to introduce strict quarantine and move all sick people to the old hospital, taking them into custody.

The main characters of the work are an infected ophthalmologist and his pretending to be blind wife. They are trying to piece together the world and find order in this chaos that is gradually enveloping everyone.

“Three apples fell from the sky”, Narine Abgaryan

This book is the story of one small village, which is located somewhere high in the mountains.

Its inhabitants are all a little grumpy, a little eccentric, but at the same time, real treasures of the spirit are hidden in each of them.

This is a witty, sublime and unusual dystopia about a modern consumer society, which is programmed at the genetic level. And in this world unfolds the sad story of the Savage, whom the author regards as the Hamlet of our time. He still retains remnants of humanity, but people, divided into castes of social consumption, do not want to recognize him or simply cannot do so.

If we list noteworthy books by contemporary authors, we cannot fail to mention the work “Social network “Ark” by Evgeny Vetzel, which consists of three parts.

The main character falls from the roof, but is reborn again. Having lived a little in the 11th century, he finds himself in the distant future - in the 36th century in Moscow. The author touches on many interesting devices, psychology and sales techniques, modern reflections on life, and reasons to think seriously about rhetorical issues. The second book describes life in America and the theory of one of the variants of a worldwide conspiracy. And the third part tells about the adventures of the hero on another planet where white angels live.

These were the most interesting books that are worth reading even for those who think that they don’t like to read. They will change your views and even your ideas about the world.

P.S. What books do you remember most?

Stephenie Meyer

A vampire novel, the first edition of which sold a record 100,000 copies in the United States alone! A book that delighted young people not only in English-speaking countries, but also in France, Spain, Scandinavia, Japan and China! A literary debut that critics have compared to Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and Those Who Hunt in the Night by Barbara Hambly! Falling in love with a vampire... Is it scary? It's romantic... It's beautiful and painful... But it can't end well, especially in the eternal confrontation between vampire clans, where the slightest difference from those around you turns you into an enemy.

• "Loneliness on the Internet"

  Janusz Wisniewski

  One of the most poignant novels about love published in Russia recently. “Of all that is eternal, love has the shortest term” - this is the leitmotif of the European bestseller by Ya. Vishnevsky. The heroes of “Loneliness on the Internet” meet in Internet chats, exchange erotic fantasies, and tell stories from their lives that turn out to be worse than any fiction.

• "The Thorn Birds"

  Colin McCullough

  The novel "The Thorn Birds" is a recognized masterpiece of world literature. Millions of women have been reading it for decades! According to research conducted by a London university, two copies of Colleen McCullough's novel The Thorn Birds are sold every minute.
  

• "Pride and Prejudice"

  Jane Austen

  This book has been the most beloved for many generations of women around the world. It was read in aristocratic drawing rooms, literary salons and rural estates; it was hidden from the parents of high school students, for whom Jane Austen’s novel literally became a “school of life.” And now this book, forever included in the golden fund of world literature, has not lost a drop of its inimitable charm, sophistication and brilliance...

• "Perfumer. The story of a killer"

  Patrick Suskind

  The best-selling thriller, which describes the life story of the brilliant perfumer and bloody killer Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, instantly became a worldwide sensation. The total circulation of the novel was more than 15 million copies, it was translated into 42 languages, including even Latin! 21 years after the novel was published, it continues to excite its readers; it is studied by university students around the world, and by students of various faculties and specialties.

• "Master and Margarita"

  Michael Bulgakov

  “The Master and Margarita” is undoubtedly Bulgakov’s best work, in which he summed up his thoughts about life and death, good and evil, the dark and light principles in man and history.





• "Bury Me Behind the Baseboard..."

  Pavel Sanaev

  Pavel Sanaev (b. 1969) wrote a story about childhood at the age of 26, which is guaranteed a place in the history of Russian literature. If only because it is a hyperbole and an extract of conditions familiar to almost everyone, and especially Soviet children, but never before presented in such a concentrated form.

• "Gone With the Wind"

  Margaret Mitchell

  Roman-era! True American literature began with him! The film, based on the book “Gone with the Wind,” was watched by every second inhabitant of the planet. Margaret Mitchell's novel was recognized as the most popular book of the 20th century. More than four...

• "Robinson Crusoe"

  Daniel Defoe

  The book contains the canonical text of the world famous novel by Daniel Defoe, an extensive literary critical appendix, which includes fragments of the most popular European “Robinsonades”, statements about Defoe and his novel by contemporaries, writers and critics of subsequent generations. Interesting materials related to the fate of this novel by Defoe in Russia.

• "Alchemist"

  Paulo Coelho

  "The Alchemist", which has become a "cult" novel by Paulo Coelho, is a parable for our time, and it is not for nothing that it is the favorite book of millions of people in 117 countries around the world. “To achieve the embodiment of one’s destiny is the only true duty of a person...”

• "Profession: witch"

  Olga Gromyko

  Every sane person knows for sure: there are no vampires, vampires love human blood, vampires are afraid of garlic, aspen and sunlight. I wonder what they think about this. vampires themselves? They would have told the story if there had been a sufficiently impartial and brave listener! Before you is a detailed report based on personal observations, compiled by a cheerful adept of the Starmin School of Mages, Pythias and Herbalists. But did the vampires manage to mislead her too?..

• "Chronicles of Amber (Amber Chronicles)"

  Roger Zelazny

  Prince of Amber Corwin is the main contender for the royal crown in the true world - in the eternal Amber City. His memory is lost, he is abandoned to one of the distant shadows of Amber in the Ocean of Chaos. Local residents call this shadow the Earth... It is from here that the magical path of Prince Corwin begins through the center of the world, through the throne, through the Shadow cast by Amber in Chaos...

• "Angels and Demons"

  Dan Brown

  Illuminati. An ancient mysterious order, famous in the Middle Ages for its fierce struggle with the official church.
  A legend from the distant past? Maybe...
  But why then is the Illuminati symbol carved on the chest of the scientist killed under mysterious circumstances?
  A symbolism specialist invited from Harvard and his partner, the daughter of the murdered man, begin their own investigation - and soon come to incredible results...

• "A little prince"

  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

  The world-famous work of the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery “The Little Prince” won the hearts of millions of readers with the ideas of goodness, love, and human affection proclaimed in it. It is read and re-read by people of different ages.

• "Gate of Ptolemy. The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Book 3"

  Jonathan Stroud

  From time immemorial, wizards have summoned spirits and forced them to serve them. And no one cares what it’s like for the spirits. Just imagine: you live quietly, don’t bother anyone - and then bam! Some merciless force pulls you into a completely alien world, where you are met by a wizard bursting with complacency, called you a malicious demon and, under the threat of the Incinerating Flame, forced to settle his, the wizard’s, affairs. However, in the long history of mankind there was one - but only one! - a wizard who looked at it differently. Ptolemy of Alexandria. He even found a way to visit the spirit world himself. But for thousands of years no one has dared to repeat his experience...
  Keep in mind, Ptolemy's Gate is the final book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy.
  There will be no continuation!

• “Amulet of Samarkand. The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Book 1"

  Jonathan Stroud

  This story took place in London at the beginning of the third millennium. But this is not the London we know. If only because wizards are a very common occurrence there. As well as demons - genies, demons, afrits and many others. Wizards summon demons and use spells to force them to do their bidding. The demons, of course, don't like this at all. So, when a young wizard’s apprentice summoned a genie named Bartimaeus, the genie wanted only one thing: to quickly fulfill his master’s whim - to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from another wizard - and to forget about the persistent boy. However, everything turned out to be far from so simple...

• "Only for initiates"

  Tatyana Kogan

  It all started as a joke, a game for four initiates. Lisa proposed the idea, and everyone finalized it together. The gist of it was this: one of the friends voices a task that he cannot cope with alone. Comrades must help. As soon as the first one gets what he wants, it’s the next one’s turn... With each new circle, the problems became more serious, and the methods for solving them became more cynical and terrible. When the drunken Ivan hit a man, his friends gave false testimony, and the disabled pedestrian was found guilty of the accident... It became increasingly difficult for Gleb to maintain this friendship, but he could not leave the game - his brother needed a kidney transplant, and Max sacrificed his. And then Lisa asked to get rid of her annoying husband...

• "The Count of Monte Cristo"

  Alexandr Duma

  The story of terrible betrayal and inexorable revenge is what stands behind the name “Monte Cristo”. The powerless prisoner of the Chateau d'If, who became the all-powerful count, pursues his enemies, who stole his love, freedom and position in society, as inevitably as fate itself. However, what will this revenge bring him besides the joy of revenge itself?

• “P.S. I love you"

  Cecelia Ahern

  The bestseller of the famous Irishwoman Cecilia Ahern "P.S. I Love You" is a modern story about how love turns out to be stronger than death. Having lost her beloved husband, thirty-year-old Holly Kennedy falls into despair and stops leaving the house and communicating with people. And suddenly she receives a package of letters in the mail: you can only print one of them per month, and they were written by the very person whose separation brings her such suffering. It turns out that shortly before his death he decided to help her move on with her life. Every time she eagerly waits for the first day to open the next envelope and, strictly following the instructions, take another step that brings her back to life: buy a new dress, take part in a karaoke competition, go to the sea.

• "The Da Vinci Code"

  Dan Brown

  The secret code is hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci...
  Only he will help find Christian shrines that gave unimaginable power and power...
  The key to the greatest mystery that humanity has struggled with for centuries may be found...
  In the novel "The Da Vinci Code", the author collected all the accumulated experience of investigations and invested it in the main character, a Harvard professor of iconography and history of religion named Robert Langdon. The plot of the current story was a night call, notifying Langdon of the murder of the old museum curator in the Louvre. An encrypted note was found near the body of the murdered man, the keys to which are hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci...

• "Eclipse"

  Stephenie Meyer

  The third book in the famous vampire saga, which topped the bestseller lists in seven countries and sold two million copies. True love is not afraid of danger... Bella Swan is ready to become the friend of her beloved Edward forever, because eternity is the life of a vampire. But then she will have to betray her best friend, the werewolf Jake, and thereby, perhaps, rekindle the ancient enmity between the “night hunters” and their primordial enemies - werewolves...

• "Godfather"

  Mario Puzo

  "The Godfather" is a classic novel about the life of one of America's powerful crime syndicates - the mafia clan of Don Corleone. Written with stunning authenticity, the book allows the reader to peer into the inner sanctum of the mafia without risking his life.

• "Eleven Minutes"

  Paulo Coelho

  A young Brazilian woman, succumbing to the persuasion of a recruiter, heads to Switzerland to become a dancer in a closed club and earn money for a farm for her parents. But everything, as usually happens in such cases, turns out completely differently...
  Pilar's story ends with a meeting with the "charming prince."
  As a rule, such meetings occur at the moment when we reach the limit, when we feel the need to die and be reborn. And when we come to despair, realizing that we have nothing to lose, the unknown appears, and our life changes its orbit...

• "Dawn"

  Stephenie Meyer

  The fourth book of the famous vampire saga, which topped the bestseller lists in ten countries! True love is not afraid of danger... Bella Swan agrees to become the wife of her lover, the vampire Edward, and accept his gift of immortality. However, after the very first days of unfading happiness, her life turns into a complete nightmare. Bella and Edward are expecting a child, and the birth of a child from a human and a vampire according to the cruel laws of the “night hunters” is a grave crime. The child and his parents face brutal execution at the hands of the vampire elders. Bella, Edward and their werewolf friend Jake understand that they cannot survive alone. But what to do?!

• "New moon"

  Stephenie Meyer

  This is the second book of the famous vampire saga, which topped the bestseller lists in seven countries. Falling in love with a vampire is scary and romantic... But losing a loved one who, at the cost of a breakup, decided to save his girlfriend from the role of a pawn in the eternal confrontation between the clans of “night hunters” is simply unbearable. Bella Swan is painfully worried about the disappearance of her lover and unsuccessfully seeks oblivion in her friendship with the Indian boy Jake Black. She does not even suspect that her best friend is the product of another “people of Darkness”. A people much more cruel and dangerous than the vampire aristocrats... Read "Twilight", "New Moon", "Eclipse" and wait for the continuation.

• “The health of the child and the common sense of his relatives”

  Evgeny Komarovsky

  This book is about a child in general. His lifestyle, his parents, his relatives. And about diseases in particular. The book talks about serious things in a fun and accessible way. Gives answers to the questions of what is good and what is bad. The book gives advice to help strengthen the nervous system of mothers, fathers, and grandparents.

• "Lord of the Rings. In 3 volumes"

  J. Tolkien

  The Lord of the Rings trilogy undoubtedly tops the list of “cult” books of the 20th century. Its author, J. R. R. Tolkien, a professor at Oxford University, a specialist in ancient and medieval English, created an amazing world - Middle Earth, which has irresistibly attracted millions of readers for almost fifty years.

  There, in Middle-earth, in a country ruled by a council of wizards, where elves sing in silver forests, gnomes mine precious mithril in deep caves, and the selflessness of good sorcerers is constantly tested - a battle between Light and Darkness flares up, the outcome of which, by the will of providence, depends from the smallest inhabitants - Hobbits.

• "The Lovely Bones"

  Alice Sebold

  “On the sixth of December, one thousand two hundred and seventy-three, when I was killed, I was fourteen years old” - this is how the most amazing bestseller of the early 21st century begins, a tragic story written on an incredibly bright note.
  The Lovely Bones has been translated into forty languages, sold millions of copies and will serve as the basis for Peter Jackson's next film project, after The Lord of the Rings and King Kong. In this novel, Susie Salmon adjusts to life in heaven and watches from above as her killer tries to cover his tracks and her family comes to terms with their loss...
  

• "Crime and Punishment"

  Fedor Dostoevsky

  Included in all school and university programs and repeatedly filmed, Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment” has not ceased to be one of the most striking and “cornerstone” works of Russian and world literature.
  This novel speaks not only about crime and punishment, but also about sacrifice, love and compassion.

• "Labyrinth of Reflections"

  Sergei Lukyanenko

  Near future. In Russia, a deep program was invented that allows the user to completely merge with the computer world, not to be an outside observer, but to become a direct participant in any virtual action. But so that a person wandering in virtuality does not die in real life, divers come to the rescue - only they can completely control this world...

• "Empire of Angels"

  Bernard Werber

  World bestseller!
  All over the world, the name Bernard Werber on the cover of a book means only one thing - a masterpiece!
  The writer has seven novels that have become bestsellers in Europe, America and Japan.
  "Empire of Angels" is one of the most sensational books by the French writer.
  The total worldwide circulation of his books is more than 10 million!

• "High School Musical"

  Before meeting Gabriella, Troy's most cherished dream was winning the basketball championship. However, from the moment they sang karaoke as a duet on New Year's Eve, Troy can't shake the thought of casting for the lead role in the school musical - and always with Gabriella in the lead female role! Gabriella also overcomes many obstacles. Her help is needed by the Scientific Decathlon team, but she really wants to sing with Troy again. Troy and Gabriella feel they have the talent to star in a musical, so why is everyone against the idea? Will Troy and Gabriella try to make their stage dreams come true? Or will they give them up in order to lead their teams to victory?

• "Mu Mu"

  Ivan Turgenev

  Deaf and mute from birth, the janitor Gerasim is accustomed to unquestioningly fulfilling all the whims of an angry and capricious lady. And even Gerasim’s tender affection for the little dog cannot overcome the fear of disobedience.
  This touching and immensely sad story will teach a child an important skill - to empathize and sympathize with another person in his misfortunes.

• "Triumphal Arch"

  Erich Maria Remarque

  Pre-war Paris. The main character, refugee Ravik, works illegally as a surgeon in a clinic, where he is constantly faced with the pain and suffering of people. Having survived the horrors of a concentration camp and the fear of loneliness, he considers the murder of the Gestapo man Haake, who hid in dungeons and tortured hundreds of his compatriots, no less humane than saving a seriously ill patient. Erich Maria Remarque's novel Arc de Triomphe was written in 1946.

• "Just together"

  Anna Gavalda

  An amazingly wise and kind book about love and loneliness, about life. Oh happiness. Anna Gavalda's second novel is an amazing story, full of laughter and tears, gracefully woven from painfully familiar everyday life, from failures and unexpected victories, from accidents, happy and not so happy.

• "One Hundred Years of Solitude"

  Gabriel Garcia Marquez

  The name of the Nobel Prize winner, Colombian Gabriel García Márquez, is inscribed in golden letters in the history of literature of the 20th century. The writer's works are loved and read all over the world. This edition publishes the famous parable novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by García Márquez. Having weaved the artistic fabric of the work from fairy tales, ancient tales and legends, fables and parables and pushing the boundaries of the real to the boundaries of the fantastic, García Márquez makes his own contribution to the formation of “magical realism”.

• "50 essential exercises for health"

  Sergey Bubnovsky

  The new book by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.M. Bubnovsky is an excellent illustrated guide for those who are already familiar with his unique patented method of treating and healing the spine and joints, known as kinesitherapy. The proposed exercises are successfully systematized by groups of diseases, so each reader can easily find those that will help him. What to do if you have pain in the neck or lower back? What exercises can be done for hypertension and prolapse of internal organs? The book contains indications and contraindications for each exercise, which will help practitioners achieve maximum training efficiency and avoid injuries. Many of the exercises can be performed at home with simple aids. The author has identified 50 basic exercises from a variety of exercises, which, when performed regularly, will help you get rid of the ailments that torment you and significantly improve your quality of life. For those readers who are caught off guard by severe back pain, the book comes with a DVD with a set of practical exercises “Acute back pain. Recommendations for home” with detailed advice from Dr. Bubnovsky. Be healthy!

• "Three Comrades"

  Erich Maria Remarque

  Before you is “Three Comrades” - the famous novel about the hostile post-war world of “Weimar” Germany by the famous German writer E.M. Remarque (1898 - 1970). For many years now, this book has remained one of the favorites for millions of readers around the world.

• "Diamond Chariot"

  Boris Akunin

  "The Diamond Chariot" was published in two volumes, with both volumes placed under one cover.
  In the first book, "The Dragonfly Catcher," the reader follows two heroes - Good (railway official Fandorin) and Bad (Japanese super-spy Rybnikov). They act in secret from each other against the background of the Russian-Japanese War of 1905 and the pre-revolutionary turmoil. The bad one wants to blow up the railway and start a rebellion in the capital, The good one wants to interfere with the villainous plans.
  The second book, “Between the Lines,” tells about Fandorin’s adventures in Japan in 1878, his unarmed conflicts with samurai and ninjas, his love for a courtesan and listening to a course of recruitment lectures on the topic “Murderers and thieves are the Buddha’s chosen lucky ones.

• “Happy baby: no sweats or diapers”

  Milana Kasakina

  The first book in the “Happy Child” series is called “Happy Child: Without Warms and Diapers” will be published by the Publishing House

Many girls sincerely believe that men who read are an endangered species. I dare to disagree with such a statement and say that the strong half of humanity also cannot resist a really good book. However, it is worth noting that guys appreciate strong and thoughtful literary works; they are not attracted by empty novels about love. So what do our men prefer?

1. American Pastoral, Philip Roth

A novel about the fragility of the traditional understanding of happiness. The Swede Leivou married a beauty and inherited, albeit not a fabulous, but not a small fortune. It would seem that one should live and be happy, but that was not the case. In a decent family, a dysfunctional child grows up who does not live up to the expectations of highly moral parents. The main characters truly believe that they are successful and continue to strive for their goals. But firm confidence in the inviolability of the American dream does not provide mental stability and does not become a panacea for all ills.

2. Hell's Angels, Hunter Thompson

The harsh book about bikers appealed to thousands of men in all corners of the world. The realities of the Angel group are far from the typical ideas of ordinary people about “demons on iron horses.” The author aims to debunk myths and bring clarity to the perception of this subculture. Hunter Thompson spent 9 months with the bikers and has the right to claim objectivity in his judgment. Their parties do not always end in massacres and certainly do not continue into satanic orgies. However, due to low social significance and the lack of any prospects, the children’s sense of self-preservation atrophied. They rush towards the wind at breakneck speeds and boldly look fear in the eyes.

3. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand's hefty multi-volume work contains a non-trivial philosophical concept that gives a sober and sometimes overly rational assessment of the reality around us. Adults, by inertia, continue to demand attention to themselves, guided by selfish childish impulses. The book substantiates the legitimacy of claims to happiness, it serves as a source of wise thoughts and, to some extent, predicts the future.

4. Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut

What our minds are fed in educational institutions is often very different from what we will encounter. Vonnegut does not romanticize war; with his prose full of metaphors, he exposes all the unpleasant aspects of military operations for everyone to see. Death is a common thing, people turn into just another dead man with “ivory legs.” The premises of the former slaughterhouse become a refuge for those who are doomed to die. A novel about a soldier, written by a man who went through the heat of war. I think comments are unnecessary...

5. The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck

The years of the Great Depression destroyed the usual way of life for many families. Farmers from Oklahoma were forced to leave their home and go in search of a better fate along the notorious Road 66. The reader becomes imbued with the story of the main characters and tries to find a way out of the current situation with them. The naked truth hurts the eye, the details of the existence of the poor make you think about the thousands of disadvantaged people trying to find the culprit of the misfortunes that have befallen them.

6. “The Count of Monte Cristo”, Alexandre Dumas

More than one worthy work came from the pen of the French classic, enriching the golden fund of world literature. The novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” tells the tragic and dangerous life of Edmond Dantes. The thirst for fair retribution oozes between the lines, from the first to the last chapter. And although revenge is a key motivating factor, the book found room for romance, descriptions of humanity and unexpected plot twists.

7. Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates

A beautiful married couple languishes in the cramped confines of suburban life. Frank, the father of the family, vegetates as an ordinary office clerk, and his wife April is entirely occupied with raising their children. Both heroes dream of more, and one day they are given the chance to go to Paris and start living again. It is likely that the popularity of Richard Yates's novel among male audiences is associated with dissatisfaction with their own relationships.

8. “Women”, Charles Bukowski

famous for its irony, abundance of hot intimate scenes and dynamic storytelling. The main character, Henry Chinaski, simply and openly talks about his greatest passion - his irresistible love for the fairer sex. He sincerely and rather rudely admires women, boasts about his bed exploits and sometimes behaves like bestials. As usual, under the mask of an immoral bastard hides immense loneliness.

9. “Life on Borrow”, Erich Maria Remarque

The abundance of dialogues is designed to more clearly reveal the essence of the characters and sharpen the sense of the transience of life. Remarque poses the question to the reader of what he would do if he had very little time left before death. Everyone will answer it differently. Some will prefer to spend time with loved ones, others will recklessly rush into all troubles. Critics accuse the author of excessive egocentrism and an ending with a taste of decay, but this does not make his works unworthy of attention.

10. “Blood Meridian, or Sunset Crimson in the West,” Cormac McCarthy

This is the first novel by the world famous American classic, Cormac McCarthy. An ordinary teenager from Tennessee dives into the whirlpool of events in America in the mid-19th century, in which robbery and wars with the indigenous population reign supreme. "Blood Meridian" makes it clear that Hollywood Westerns are far from . Entire Indian camps were exterminated in the pursuit of profit, and human life had a fixed value.

11. “Rabbit Run,” John Updike

Harry Engstrom is a former basketball star. Now the guy advertises kitchen utensils and rushes along the well-worn “work-home-work” route. One day, the dullness of everyday life gets damn boring for the main character, and he goes on the run in search of himself. In fact, the needs of “Rabbit” are quite primitive - a clean apartment, a hearty dinner and a well-groomed wife. It is precisely because everyday life does not coincide with expectations that our Harry yearns and craves novelty.

12. “Foucault’s Pendulum”, Umberto Eco

The apparent simplicity of the book has a deep sarcastic overtone. At the beginning of its existence, the Templar Order was no different from other knightly communities, but everything changed with the comprehension of the “great mystical secret.” From that moment on, those introduced to the truth, at the cost of their own lives, preserved the secret entrusted to them. “Foucault’s Pendulum” is a provocation from cover to cover and a triumph of intellect over the banalities of modern popular culture.

13. "Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey

Ken Kesey's novel caused a stir in the literary community and became an iconic symbol of the Beat generation. The cunning Randle McMurphy seeks a transfer from a public prison to a psychiatric clinic. There he encounters strict rules dictated by the evil head nurse, Miss Gnusen. The main character tries to rebel against the system, but his attempts are never successful. If you liked the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, be sure to read the book.

14. “Roadside Picnic”, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

This work gave impetus to the emergence of an entire subculture. “Roadside Picnic” was filmed by Tarkovsky himself, a series of computer games was created based on the novel, and billions of copies of specific merch are produced annually. The Strugatskys predict the course of development of our society, paving the route for modern civilization with an invisible marker. Verdict: This is an all-time great book.

15. Time's Arrow, or The Nature of Crime, Martin Amis

Dr. Todd Friendly gets into a car accident from which he is not destined to survive. The soul of the main character acts as the narrator. She watches in rewind all the events from the life of the deceased, starting from the moment of death and ending with the emergence from the mother’s womb. As the story progresses, the soul learns a terrible secret and the nature of a crime committed in the distant past.

War is a serious matter and few people have the courage to write about it with humor. Such a daredevil was Yaroslav Hasek, who created, perhaps, the best satirical work on a military topic. This book mercilessly ridicules the stupidity and senselessness of bloodshed. The author helps us take off the blinders from our eyes and learn to distinguish true patriotism from the loud pathos with the help of which the powers that be (like a whip) drive us to the slaughterhouses - to where people kill, suffer, and die. Hasek harshly ridiculed not only the army and the state apparatus, but also the pretended saints.

17. “Let the Day Perish...”, Gerald Gordon

Have you ever had moments of despair in your life when you wanted to scream at the top of your lungs: “Let the day I was born perish!”? The main characters of the book have to live with this thought. We are transported to a bygone era in the United States, when former slaves, although they received their freedom, were still considered inferior people. The tragedy of two mulatto brothers will unfold before us. One looks like his father, his skin is light and no one would suspect in him an admixture of the blood of outcasts. But the second one was less fortunate - he looks like a beautiful mother. However, life is not so sweet for the white-skinned brother. Imagine the horror that lurks in the souls of people forced to hide their origins. The constant fear of being discovered eats them up from the inside.

18. Trilogy “Desire”, Theodore Dreiser

The Desire Trilogy consists of three fascinating novels: The Financier, The Titan, and The Stoic. The cycle tells the story of the life of a wealthy financier named Frank Cowperwood, whose prototype was the famous American businessman, Charles Yerkes. Dreiser masterfully depicts the formation of the character of a determined person whose intelligence allows him not only to achieve personal success, but also to influence economic progress.

As a boy, Frank watches a lobster eating a cuttlefish. This moment becomes key for the future of our hero, because he decides to always be a predator and not a victim. Gradually he climbs the social ladder, accumulating untold wealth. Starting with small-scale speculation in his youth, Cowperwood becomes an influential entrepreneur. As is typical for rich men, there will be many women in our hero’s life. Falling in love with another beauty, Frank persistently wins her hand, but then (fed up with an easy victory) strives for a new dream girl. He is a man, he is a winner, using any means to achieve his goal.

19. “The Art of War”, Sun Tzu

The strategic treatise “The Art of War” (full title “The Laws of War of the Venerable Teacher Sun”) was created around the 5th century BC. It is believed that its author was Sun Tzu, a talented Chinese commander. For many centuries, this treatise was a reference book for military and political figures. Such works are good because they teach you to think like a tactician and strategist not only on the battlefield, but also in life. For example, according to the book, to strengthen the concept of law, it is necessary to introduce rewards and punishments - the familiar “carrot and stick” method. Using tips like this will help you achieve success when raising children or organizing subordinates at work. However, the most ingenious idea of ​​the treatise is that a good military leader should not incite wars, but skillfully avoid them. If the battle cannot be avoided, be lightning fast, because protracted confrontations are detrimental even to the winner.

20. King Solomon's Mines, Henry Rider Haggard

An adventure novel will brighten up the evening for lovers of treasure hunt stories. Sir Henry Curtis is desperately trying to find his missing brother. The man turns to Alan Quartermain, an experienced tracker and hunter, for help. They are joined by Captain of Her Majesty's Navy, John Hood. The brave trio goes to Africa, where by chance they end up in the lost country of the Kukuanas. Perhaps the heroes will be able to find not only brother Kurtis, but also a mysterious treasure? After all, on their way lie the abandoned mines of the legendary King Solomon, in which countless riches are hidden. In Africa, severe trials await them: the unbearable heat of the desert and the bitter cold of the mountains, dangerous animals and merciless enemies.

21. “Moby Dick, or the White Whale”, Herman Melville

Sailors go out to sea with horror, because they may not return to shore - to their families. The reason for this was an elusive and unusually dangerous giant whale that attacks ships. The brave captain Ahab hates the whale that crippled him. The man decides to kill Moby Dick at any cost, even if he has to sacrifice his own life. This is a story not only about devotion to your ideals, but also about how obsession can ruin your life. As a result, everyone suffers: both the person fixated on some goal and those who are not lucky enough to be close to him. The confrontation between Ahab and the killer white whale has fascinated readers around the world for many years. The very name of the whale (Moby Dick) has become a common noun and means a fixed idea.

22. “Captains of the Sand”, Jorge Amado

The novel by the Brazilian writer was published in 1937, and later, based on it, the film “Generals of the Sand Quarries” was made, which was loved by many Soviet viewers. However, the book is much more frank than the film and even angrier. Amado describes the difficult life of Brazilian street children. Street children lead an immoral lifestyle: they drink, smoke, swear, and steal. The guys are enthusiastically practicing capoeira - a complex martial dance with which you can neutralize (or even kill) your opponent. In fact, the characters in the book are young and ruthless monsters, but they became monsters because of the indifference of those around them and the greed of the authorities, which generates armies of beggars and abandoned orphans. This is how Amadou himself described his heroes: “dressed in rags, dirty, hungry, aggressive, spouting obscenities and hunting for cigarette butts, they were the real masters of the city: they knew it to the end, they loved it to the end, they were its poets.”

23. Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe

When the ship crashes on the high seas, only one passenger manages to survive - Robinson Crusoe. Having miraculously reached the shore, the man bitterly realizes that he has ended up on a desert island. Overcoming pain and fatigue, he gradually turns this corner of nature, remote from civilization, into a semblance of home. Robinson hunts, fishes, raises livestock and grows a vegetable garden. He unbearably wants to be in the company of people and, as a result, heaven listens to his prayers. But it’s not for nothing that they say “be afraid of your desires, they may come true.” Poor Crusoe could not even imagine that a dangerous tribe lived next to him!

I bet everyone at least once in their life has dreamed of being completely alone. Some of you may consider yourself lone wolves. But what will happen if, by the will of fate, you really are left completely alone? This is unbearable torture for any person, because we are social creatures and need company. The brilliant Defoe makes you think about the value of human communication and willpower. Using the example of Crusoe, the writer cultivates in the reader a love of life and teaches hard work.

24. "The League of Frightened Men" by Rex Stout

Nero Wolfe is an iconic character in the classic detective literature, recognized throughout the world. Niro is a fat man, an orchid lover, and also... a former spy and a first-class detective. Stout created about 30 novels and 40 stories about Wolfe, but we decided to add only one work to our top - the novel “The League of Frightened Men.” The second book in the series about the glutton detective is on our list not only because of the title. This is an instructive work about how sometimes you have to pay for the mistakes of the past with your own life.

Students at prestigious universities are known for their passion for fraternities, initiation rituals, and goofy antics. It was a boyish prank that caused the tragedy, because of which poor Chapin remained disabled for the rest of his life. However, the unfortunate jokers turned out to be noble people and, suffering from pangs of conscience, created the “Redemption League”, designed to help the crippled guy. Years later, someone started killing league members. Is Chapin still holding a grudge? Only Nero Wolf can figure out the mysterious case.

25. “Quiet Don”, Mikhail Sholokhov

A long but instructive work that touches on delicate issues: the confrontation between different social classes, discrimination against women in a patriarchal society, the cost of revolution, and so on. The main character is a Don Cossack who decided to join the ranks of the Reds, who promised him God knows what. The author reveals to us the stories of many destinies, talking about completely different people whose lives were forever changed by the revolution. Some were destined to escape from rags to riches, while others were destined to say goodbye to wealth and power. As sad as it is, none of the characters in the novel can be called happy.

26. Walden, or Life in the Woods, Henry David Thoreau

If Robinson Crusoe was forced to find himself alone, then the author of this book himself decided to stay away from his fellow humans. Before us is an autobiographical work by David Thoreau, in which he describes his experiment in seclusion from society. At the age of 27, Thoreau went into the forest where he built himself a hut. There, among the beautiful flora and fauna, he spent two years thinking about life and contemplating nature.

27. “Fight Club”, Chuck Palahniuk

It is no secret that psychologists recommend sending aggressive boys to sports clubs: physical activity and discipline, on the one hand, allow them to throw out excess energy, and on the other hand, they teach them to control their rage. Well, men are adult children, and therefore it is no wonder that the heroes of the novel solve their psychological problems with the help of an underground fight club. Based on the book, a film of the same name was released in 1999, which immediately became popular, since the main roles went to the brilliant Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The success of the film attracted attention to Palahniuk's work.

28. “Turkish Gambit”, Boris Akunin

Boris Akunin is an iconic Russian writer of our time. His work is characterized by immersion in the history of Russia and the creation of male heroes who influence the course of key events for the homeland. “Turkish Gambit” is the second part of the series about the adventures of Erast Fandorin. Published in 1998, the novel received positive reviews from both readers and literary critics. Although there were also those who were sensitive to the author’s love for Japanese culture. This can only remind us that Boris Akunin is a Japanese scholar. Excellent knowledge of the traditions and culture of past years allows Akunin to immerse the reader in the past. Don't worry if you don't recognize the names of weapons or ancient clothing - even without these subtle details the novel remains intriguing. Unexpected plot twists, conspiracies and battles will draw you into the whirlpool of events in the life of Erast Fandorin.

29. “Generation “P””, Victor Pelevin

It is unlikely that this postmodern novel will ever join the works of the classics. The main feature of Pelevin’s works is their topicality and “tailoring” to the Slavic mentality, while classics require universal relevance at all times and for all peoples. Nevertheless, one cannot fail to note the vigorous interest of young people in the work “Generation “P””. Not everyone can read literary works about metamorphosis and superhumans, but Pelevin managed to present these ideas to the inexperienced reader in a modern form.

What is Generation P? These are people born in the 70s of the last century. These are those who happened to find the USSR, survive perestroika, the collapse of the Unions and plunge into a new world. Not everyone managed to survive in rapidly changing conditions: some slipped to the bottom, others soared to unprecedented heights. The main character of the novel (Vavilen Tatarsky) is building a successful career in the advertising field. Starting with the adaptation of slogans, he gradually moves to a new level - advertising of politicians. But his growth does not end there, and ahead are transmental reflections on existence and reincarnation into a deity.

30. “Muhammad Ali: The American Dream of the King of the Ring,” David Remnick

Boxing is an exciting sport and champion fights are enjoyed by both sexes. However, the largest number of fans, of course, are among men. David Remnick's book tells about a boxer whose name is known even to those who have never watched boxing in their lives. We are, of course, talking about Muhammad Ali. He was called the king of the ring and the greatest among the greats. Muhammad Ali became a boxing legend, and his technique is still imitated by young athletes. Everyone is familiar with his motto: “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” However, the public's favorite and multiple champion overcame a difficult path to fame - you will learn about the hardships and victories in his life from Remnik's biographical book.

As you can see, a strong half of humanity reads various genres of literature. Only one criterion remains unchanged for all the books presented in the TOP - they polish the consciousness, turning it from a gray pebble into a sparkling diamond. Deep, brutal and categorical in their content, works are the lot of real men. If you have already read these books or want to expand your list even further, read our selection

No matter how unusual it may sound, in the modern world of various gadgets, applications and IT technologies, our youth still read books, many modern authors with a new style and approach to writing books speak about this.

What kind of books are these, or rather, stories that excite the modern reader?

Let's find out what they are - the most interesting modern books. Although it will not be easy to make a choice among the huge amount of interesting literature, we will still try to do it.

E.L. James - Fifty Shades of Gray

Well, how can we remember the most sensational and scandalous book under the intriguing title “Fifty Shades of Gray”? This half-romantic and half-erotic story of the touching and hot relationship between a journalist and a successful businessman created a real sensation, and also had the effect of an exploding bomb.

For the first time in many years, someone dared to write not only about sex, but also about the capabilities and desires of a person during times of lust and passion.

What a fitting title for this love story, as this is the problem with the modern world. Yes, yes, the Internet is a destructive web; it gives as many opportunities as it takes away. People meet, meet and communicate in the virtual world, forgetting about real emotions and experiences. And when, having met in the real world, they are not suitable for each other, they cannot understand what is the matter and why virtual love and sympathy are so different from the real world, because everything was perfect on social networks...

George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire. Game of Thrones"

We couldn’t ignore the most discussed and popular novel of the 21st century. A whole series of fantasy novels captivated the minds of young people and made an entire generation fans of this trilogy. The plot of the book unfolds around the fictional continent of Westeros and its mysterious, and I would even say, slightly mystical inhabitants. A mysterious saga about the life of seven kingdoms, where love reigns, hate reigns and the war for the Iron Throne never stops. Here, as is customary in science fiction novels, there are dragons, magicians and fearless warriors. If you are no longer a child, but still love fairy tales, then this series of books about the Magic Kingdom is just for you.

Markus Zusak - "The Book Thief"

A very touching story about a girl who was adopted as an adult. The plot takes place during the Second World War in a small German town, where everyone is afraid of death and reprisals. But a strong girl named Liesel finds strength and a great desire to comprehend science and read books that are interesting and beyond her age. Although she gets them in a not very honest and humane way, and simply put, she steals from the library of a person respected by everyone, but the end justifies all the means, doesn’t it? This book is a must read for everyone, it's easy to read and the plot is amazing.

John Green - "The Fault in Our Stars"

Love is the most important and primary feeling in our lives and throughout the world. At the same time, a very romantic and sad love story between two terminally ill people. Hazel Grace and August Waters meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. They know that imminent death will separate them, but they are happy that before leaving they experienced tender feelings and found happiness. An unusual love story, where pain is intertwined with tenderness and happiness, and which is a must read.

Pavel Sanaev “Bury me behind the baseboard”

A touching and very life story about how love turns into hatred and tyranny. The story is autobiographical, it is told by a little boy who was abandoned by his own mother, leaving him in the care of his grandparents. And they, in turn, are not too happy about this prospect, but are ready to fulfill this duty of conscience without unnecessary feelings and emotions. The strict grandmother is confident that she will raise the boy to be an obedient and emotionless robot. Only Sasha Savelyev doesn’t think so and has his own opinion on everything... Yes, you wouldn’t even dream of such a childhood... This story is on the list of books that are definitely worth reading.

Bernhard Schlink - "Reader"

Each of us has our own secrets and mysteries. The book “The Reader” is a rather complex psychological story of love, passion, hopelessness and betrayal.

A fifteen-year-old boy and a fully grown woman start an affair, they are united by an interest in books, and an educated guy reads important and interesting, in his opinion, books to his illiterate lover.

Stormy passion and unusual relationships end as unexpectedly as they begin. But fate is preparing another meeting for the former lovers, only the circumstances will not be too pleasant for them. For those who have not read this popular story, we highly recommend reading it, because this is one of the books that will make you think and touch every note of your soul.

Mitchell David - "Cloud Atlas"

The novel is on the verge of fantasy - that’s what critics dubbed it. The plot tells about six different people from different time periods, namely the past, future and present, but as it turns out later, they have one soul, it is simply subject to reincarnation and wanders, visiting first one body, then another. Everything is very confusing and the storylines are very intertwined, although the meaning and morality are still present here. But what they are is up to you to decide. But to do this, you first need to read the book from beginning to end.

Moyes, Jojo - "Me Before You"

We all have our own past, and throughout our lives we all meet the right and important person for us, who will once and for all change it beyond recognition.

This touching novel is about exactly that. Already in the first weeks of sales, more than half a million copies were sold, and the book itself entered the top bestsellers according to the New York Times. And this turn of events is not at all surprising, because we all love love stories that end with a happy ending.

Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner

The story is about the friendship that two eastern boys Amir and Hasan carried through their entire lives, despite all the differences and social inconsistency, because they are from different social strata and classes. Life has scattered them to different places and forced them to be on opposite sides of the barricades, but despite this they are faithful to their conscience and friendship.

A very moralizing and life story, which came from the pen of a talented writer, showed the whole world how to value friendship, and no matter what, not turn into blood enemies and protect friendly relationships with all your might.

Sebastian Barry "Tables of Fate"

An interesting story about how a poor old woman, who has already turned a hundred years old, living her old age in a mental hospital, keeps her own diary, where she writes down difficult and sad memories associated with her fate and the country in which she was born.

Ray Bradbury - "Dandelion Wine"

An ordinary life story that takes place in a small town. Every summer, two boys come to the village to visit their beloved grandfather and help the old man collect dandelions for his drink according to his own recipe. This interesting wine contains their family history, traditions and memories, as well as all-consuming love, friendship, quarrels and tragedies.

Colm Toibin - "Brooklyn"

The best novel of the year about a young girl and a real wanderer who returns to her native land after so many years of wandering and searching for herself. Life forces her to leave her native Ireland and settle in New York's Brooklyn. Maybe this is for the better, because the chance of finding love here is much higher.

Homesickness makes her thoughts constantly return to her native land, and when Eilis gets used to a foreign city and becomes her own in it, life circumstances return her to Ireland.

What is this? Joke or simple irony of fate? What will happen next and what trials does fate have in store for her? To find out the whole truth you need to read the most interesting novel of 2017.

Gillian Flynn - "Gone Girl"

The detective of the decade will tell us how you can live with a person for five years and not know him at all. A married and, at first glance, happy couple is preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary, but in an instant everything changes.

The thing is that the main character disappears without a trace, leaving a lot of bad evidence pointing to her death and even more questions. But we will find out the answers to them only when we read this interesting book.

Gregory David Roberts - "Shantaram"

The story of an Australian guy who chose the wrong path in life and ended up in prison. By chance, he manages to escape, and to get out of sight, he goes to Bombay. In India, a guy named Lindsay does not reform and again becomes a swindler and a deceiver. The moral of this novel is “people don’t change.” This is such a strange life story, but we will not reveal all the secrets and will give you a chance to read this book yourself.

Bernard Werber - "Empire of Angels"

We all ask ourselves the question: “Is there life after death and what awaits us beyond that?” A story that touches on this topic and gives us a chance to reflect and understand what evil and good are, why we were given life and how to use it correctly.

The main character of a science fiction novel named Michel Panson goes to heaven after death (that's lucky), and becomes a Guardian Angel and receives three wards.

It turns out that it’s not so easy to watch worldly life and be on the other side of the screen, and his new profession is not an easy one. This is the author’s imagination that brought him and his novel worldwide fame. The topic is simply very interesting and in demand. After all, we are not eternal...

Unfortunately, you don’t often see reading men these days. After all, this is a big plus in his personal characteristics.
neVipeb.cevy.4.gsr.anonimizing.com has selected a list of books with a masculine character. Although, perhaps you have already mastered it?

1. "The Call of the Wild" Jack London
Dog traffickers kidnap Beck, a young half-breed dog, from his owner's house and sell him to Alaska. The harsh land, overwhelmed by the Gold Rush, so unlike his sunny homeland, requires Beck to focus all his vital forces. If he cannot revive the memory of his wild ancestors, he will inevitably die...
2. "The Sicilian" by Mario Puzo
“The Godfather” is the most masculine read, which touches on topics close to any man: friendship, courage, women. “The Sicilian” is a continuation of the story in which Michael, the son of Don Corleone, becomes the main character, with the atmosphere and style of the author inherent in the entire trilogy.
3. "Wonderland without Brakes and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami
The book is about two people who live in two completely different worlds. Almost everything is different in them: from the passage of time to the saturation of incredible events. Two completely different, non-overlapping worlds - the Japanese idyllic City Beyond the Wall and the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, with dungeons teeming with mysteries and mysterious creatures. An incredible cocktail - jabberwogs and unicorns, neurosurgery and sex, Tokyo and Leningrad...
4. "Women" Charles Bukowski
It will be a little difficult for an unprepared reader. Many people rushed to read Bukowski after watching the TV series Californication. If you are a fan of this television story, then feel free to buy books by Charles Bukowski - you will see who David Duchovny’s character is based on. Are you an optimist or a realist? If you're an observer but don't label or grade, this book should find a place in your library.
5. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Ernest Hemingway
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is one of Hemingway's best novels. Full of tragedy is the story of a young American who came to Spain, engulfed in civil war. A brilliant and sad book about war and love, true courage and self-sacrifice, moral duty and the enduring value of human life.
6. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
“Billy went to bed as an elderly widower and woke up on his wedding day. He walked through the door in 1955 and walked out in 1941. Then he returned through the same door and found himself in 1961. He says that he saw his birth and his death and many times experienced other events in his life between birth and death.” This style alone is worth starting to read this book.
7. "Heart of Darkness" Joseph Conrad
“Heart of Darkness” is an English sailor's journey into the depths of Africa, a psychological depiction of the struggle between civilization and nature, an exploration of the “darkness of the human heart”, created by Joseph Conrad after eight years in the Congo. Based on the story “Heart of Darkness,” the script for Francis Ford Coppola’s famous film “Apocalypse Now” was written.
8. "The Shining" Stephen King
Everyone leaves the luxury hotel for the winter... except the ghosts, and the most unimaginable nightmares come true. Black as midnight, horror reigns all winter in the snow-covered hotel, cut off from the world. And woe to those who must come face to face with the souls raised from hell, for the ghosts will kill again and again!
Even men get really scared!
9. "Dharma Bums" Jack Kerouac
"Dharma Bums" is a celebration of the wilderness, Buddhism and the San Francisco poetic revival, a period in the history of the spiritual quest of a generation that believed in kindness and humility, wisdom and ecstasy.
10. "Lolita" Vladimir Nabokov
Causing a scandal on both sides of the ocean, this book elevated the author to the top of the literary Olympus and became one of the most famous and, without a doubt, the greatest works of the twentieth century. Today, when the polemical passions around “Lolita” have long subsided, we can confidently say that this is a book about great love that has overcome illness, death and time, love open to infinity, “love at first sight, at last sight, at the eternal glance."
11. "A Brief History of Time" Stephen Hawking
In his book A Brief History of Time, the famous English physicist Stephen Hawking tries to answer questions that interest us all: where did the Universe come from, how and why did it arise, what will be its end (if at all) - and he does it in such a fascinating and accessible way that that the book, written in 1988, is a bestseller to this day.
12. "Librarian" Mikhail Elizarov
“The Librarian” is the fourth and largest book by the brilliant debutant of the 1990s. This is, in fact, the first great post-Soviet novel, the reaction of the generation of 30-year-olds to the world in which they found themselves. Behind the fantastic plot lies a parable, a southern Russian tale of lost time, false nostalgia and a barbaric present.
13. "The Adventures of the Good Soldier Schweik" Jaroslav Hasek
In Schweik's adventures there is no objectivity befitting historical novels, the colors are extremely condensed, but for all this the novel is populated by living people: representatives of almost all circles of society pass before the listener. Schweik is not only a funny little man caught in the maelstrom of war, but also a national hero, a kind of exponent of the feelings and moods of the people, whose common sense exposes the falsity of the dogmas of the church, state, and official patriotism.
14. "The Road" Cormac McCarthy
The novel "The Road" makes an indelible impression. To some extent this is an emotional shock! The plot is simple. After the disaster, Father and Son walk through the scorched lands, crossing the continent. The entire book is riddled with deep, heart-piercing questions. Is there any point in living if there is no future? Absolutely not. Is there any point in living for the sake of children? This is a novel about the fact that everything in life is relative, that concepts such as good and evil, under certain conditions, stop working and lose meaning.
15. "The Catcher in the Rye" by Jerome D. Salinger
A book to look at yourself from the outside. If you are over 16-17 years old and still look like the main character of the book, then it’s time to change something about yourself.
16. “All about life” Mikhail Weller
The main thing in life is LIFE itself. The foundation of life is KINDNESS, LOVE! Not sex, but LOVE: sacrificial and all-forgiving. Everything else is just an addition, often destroying the foundation. The book shows very well how MAN becomes the main enemy of MAN in particular and HUMANITY in general.
17. "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand
A fundamental work, a monster among books, worthy of reading. It challenges people and clearly shows what can happen to a world in which people stop following their ideals and instead strive for power.
18. "White Noise" Don DeLillo
Social satire in which the author conducts research work regarding various kinds of phobias and the main paranoia of all humanity (within the inhabitants of an American city) - death.
19. "Netherlands" Joseph O'Neill
The book is told from the perspective of a Dutch financier, whose carefree existence in Manhattan ends overnight after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Critics compare this novel to Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
20. "Yellow Birds" Kevin Powers
Guardian Prize for Best Debut of the Year. The author of this novel was seventeen when he went to Iraq as a soldier. In his book, he tells the story of the friendship of two young soldiers who lead a daily struggle for survival. But, having survived the war, they do not find a place at home.
This is not just an anti-war pamphlet, but rather a touching and wise novel about growing up, about friendship and about loss.