What is the best short story you've ever read?
By atombeacon789
My favorite so far is “The Open Window.” I’ve also read “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and that one stuck with me too.
Reader discussion: Carnival
Public reader discussion about Carnival in the WeRead Catalog by Compton MacKenzie.
Books set in or around carnival/circus life
By rainmole
I’ve always been really drawn to carnivals and circuses—the people, the “magic” vibe, the whole traveling setup, the chaos of it all. If anyone’s willing, could you share some of your favorite books that take place in that kind of world, or are mostly about carnival life? Edit: I’m open to any genre. Edit 2: Thanks so much for the recs—I’m excited to get started!
Looking for a more interesting reading challenge
By Mirror_Late
Has anybody else had a rough time with the Goodreads reading challenge? I’ve done it for about 8 years now, but I’m pretty sure I’m done with it. I get that it doesn’t really matter and nobody’s paying attention if you hit the goal or not, but seeing “you’re X books behind” over and over is getting kind of annoying. Lately I keep picking short books instead of the big ones I actually want to read, just so I can stay on track, and it makes me feel kind of silly. I kind of wish the challenge had more variety instead of just being a number. Like, read from 5 different genres, read something about astrophysics, read X books by women authors, leave 1 review, start a new series, read a book my wife gave 5 stars, stuff like that. Does anyone have any ideas for a reading challenge that’s actually more interesting?
Looking for a book that features carnivals
By Seal-Field9719
Honestly, I’d love it if it’s horror (or even more gothic would be cool). I’ve been wanting to jump back into reading, and I’m really into anything carnival-related, so a story set in or around a carnival would be perfect. But I’m not totally stuck on that—if it’s got that kind of whimsical, strange vibe, that would work too. Like something with a bunch of oddball characters, maybe similar to *Home for Peculiar Children*—I just really want some weird stuff in there.
Dark Carnival - Ray Bradbury
By grand-shelf42
Hey everyone. I was just reading that R.L. Stine has an adult horror hardback called “Red Rain,” so I looked it up. I also saw that Stephen King and him were inspired by Dark Carnival (Ray Bradbury), but I can’t seem to find the actual book anywhere. Does anyone know where I can get it? P.S. If it’s available in Spanish too, even better.
Best monologues in literature?
By CrowFollows1973
I’ve been going back over Jekyll and Hyde lately, and honestly, that last speech Henry Jekyll gives is kind of jaw-dropping. So I started wondering what people here think are some of the best monologues in books. If I’m picking favorites, I’ve got to say I love Macbeth’s “tomorrow” speech and Hamlet’s “too too solid flesh” bit, but even if you leave Shakespeare out, I’m still really into the “fire, blood and anguish” speech in An Inspector Calls, the Jekyll and Hyde monologue I mentioned earlier, and some of the rambling from the Underground Man in Notes from the Underground. What about you?
A book with a magical circus or carnival
By Starlight_Mist
I can’t tell if I genuinely like this whole magical circus vibe, or if I just like the concept of it 😂 I really enjoyed Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury and Weave the Lightning by Corry L. Lee—both felt super atmospheric and kind of gritty in a good way. But I was only kind of okay with The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The romance didn’t grab me, though I did love the competition and the whole setting. And Caraval by Stephanie Garber didn’t work for me at all for some reason. The plot and setting were there, but the characters weren’t enough to pull me in. So yeah… any recommendations for the best magical circus you’ve got?
Looking for a book like carnival row
By BeanBee
Like the title says, I just started Carnival Row and I’m really into it so far. I like stories where magic and non-magic are blended together, and it feels like everyday stuff but with a little magic thrown in.
Carnivals, circuses and freak shows.
By StrangeTowerLynx
I’m trying to find a really interesting book about carnies, carnivals, and circuses. I’ve already read Water for Elephants, so I’m open to either historical fiction or something more factual.