Ten Books Set in Another Time

I remember reading this in 2014, and it still remains one of my favourite books. One thing that stands out to me is that, despite being published in 1987, Süskind’s writing has a rhythm that I really enjoy.

Set in 18th-century France, the book follows a man on a mission to create the perfect perfume—crafted from the scent of young virgin women—in his desperate desire to be loved. If you're looking for an exquisitely written, character-driven, morbid, and slow-paced novel about a serial killer, I highly recommend this book.

Trigger Warning: Murder

I still remember reading this book in just two days back in 2016. By the end, I was thinking, 'Oh my god, the sun is rising—I have to get up for work in two hours,' and 'Oh my god, how do I stop crying?' As you can see, I lost sleep over this book because I simply couldn’t put it down.

The book is told from Death’s point of view, who masterfully crafts his slow-paced storytelling about Liesel, Papa, Rudy, Max, and many others to lure you into 1940s Molching. If you're ready to read a colourful prose written to describle one of the darkest moments in history and immerse yourself in the characters' daily lives for a while, this book is for you. The story is written beautifully and I cannot praise Zusak’s writing style enough.

Trigger Warning: Anti-Semitism / Holocaust theme

I must admit, I only discovered this book’s existence when my friend dragged me to watch the movie adaptation with her. I agreed reluctantly yet I immediately looked for the book after the movie. Haha! Some time in 2018, I requested this book from my local bookstore and had to wait three weeks for the physical copy.

The late French writer Romain Kacew, better known as Romain Gary, wrote this biography as a tribute to his mother, whose love for him—despite poverty, illness, discrimination, and war—pushed him to become everything she dreamed of: a French ambassador, a pilot, and above all, a great writer.

It weaves intricate threads of beautiful prose, serving as both a homage to his mother and a collection of anecdotes about war, relentless survival, and a promise made too soon yet fulfilled all the same.

To lighten up my list of recommendations, here’s a book by T. Kingfisher that was a delight to read! If the title doesn’t catch your attention, well, what’s wrong with you?

If you're looking for a dark, whimsical narrative, this book might be right up your alley. It's best enjoyed when you're not overthinking the plot while reading. Ideal for those who need a light-hearted, slow-paced, and fun book to take a break from more serious-themed reads, it might even help pull you out of a reading slump.

The book opens with Mona, our 14-year-old protagonist, who discovers a dead body in her aunt’s bakery. Our wizard is a reluctant hero who, after a series of events, ends up being the only person who can save the city. Mona’s casual storytelling naturally evokes humor and amusement from the readers, which makes the reading experience fun.

Miller has a way with her prose that I have to keep recommending her books.

Circe is a Greek mythology retelling of her journey. She transformed from being an outcast among gods to a powerful, independent sorceress. In this book, we follow Circe as she navigated her identity and power. Madeline Miller reimagined Circe as a relatable character.

If you're looking for a Greek mythology retelling with great prose, right pacing, badass witch, self-sufficient heroine, then this is your book.

I remember reading this book in 2015 and was instantly hooked by the writing style. Yes, that's my weakness.

This book is set in 1945. It is about Daniel who picks up a mysterious book by Julian Carax and gets obsessed with the author, only to find out someone’s been systematically destroying all of Carax’s works. As Daniel digs deeper, his life starts mirroring Carax’s tragic past—full of betrayal, forbidden love, and creepy villains lurking in the shadows. Meanwhile, a sadistic cop, Fumero, is out to ruin lives, and Daniel has to navigate all this while growing up, falling in love, and avoiding getting killed. In the end, secrets unravel, history repeats itself in eerie ways, and the power of stories—and the people who tell them—takes center stage.

I recommend this to anyone looking to melodramatic prose and slow-paced plot, which I love. As warning, I would like to inform you that this book does not contain well-written women characters. I only remember two characters, but they were more of a plot device than well-fleshed-out characters.

My goodness! If it isn’t the book we’re all collectively waiting for Rothfuss to finish! We’ve been waiting for over a decade, and I can’t believe a small part of me still hopes The Kingkiller Chronicle's third book will be published. At this point, I’d even accept an AI-generated version.

Kvothe, a once-famous wizard now hiding as an innkeeper, tells his story to a chronicler. He recounts how he survived the harsh streets, mastered magic at the University, and obsessively sought the truth behind his parents’ murder by the Chandrian.

I recommend this to anyone looking for beautifully written prose and those who want to immerse themselves in a rich, atmospheric plot. As a recurring theme in my youthful reads, I must inform you that this book does not contain well-written female characters. The women in this book were more of an ephemeral presence, shrouded in mystery, and all liked Kvothe.

Ya know what? I really enjoyed this book, even though I sprained my wrist while reading it on a moving train like a decade ago or so. You know what I don’t enjoy? The lack of a final book—because WHY?! As it turns out, this was a frustrating recurrence in the books I've read, but damn, this is so good!

A Game of Thrones is about multiple noble families contending for the Iron Throne. It has political intrigue, betrayal, and power struggles across the continent of Westeros. Meanwhile, in the North, the looming threat of the White Walkers forces the Stark family to confront dangers beyond the kingdom’s borders. As alliances shift and loyalties are tested. This is the entire season one of the show, but better.

I recommend this for people who like their fantasy books with immersive world building, convoluted politics, family drama, and intricate plot.

Trigger Warning: Violence, Sexual Violence, Rape

I’ve been debating whether to post this, given the news about Gaiman. I do not appreciate his non-apology statement, and I fully stand with the victims. That said, in this post, I am choosing to separate the art from the artist. The Graveyard Book remains my all-time favorite book. While I understand that the art and the artist are two sides of the coin and can't be separated, I'm here to celebrate the book, not the artist. In case you're wondering, yes he was my favourite author. I'm on an active hunt to find a new one.

The night Nobody Owens lost his family to a murderer, he winded up in a graveyard and was raised by ghosts. As he grew older, he became increasingly curious about the living world—despite the lingering threat of the man who still wanted him dead.

I read this book in one sitting. It's dark, whimiscal, and it lingered in my head for days.

To end this list with a bang, here's another lighthearted recommendation, a book by Martha Wells. I just read it this year and this is the first book to Murderbot Series and the first book to make me like science fiction. It's my current favourite.

All Systems Red is about a self-aware android that refers to itself as "Murderbot". It is working on contract to guard and harvest the data acquired by its clients, a group of scientists called PreservationAux. When Murderbot and two of its client scientists are attacked by an unreported creature, the team investigates and discovers that some of the information files about the planet they're working on are missing. PreservationAux initiates correspondence with DeltFall, a larger survey team on the opposite end of the planet, to compare and find the discrepancies between their data. The teams maintain an open communication channel until DeltFall becomes unreachable. PreservationAux and Murderbot investigate to find out what happened to DeltFall and whether their security is also compromised.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced book that can be read in a day. Whether you're a science fiction aficionado or this is your first adult science fiction book, it is an easy read.