After
Doktor Faustus
Thomas Mann1948
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
3 of 6 directions open — nothing heavier, nothing denser, nothing slower
More like it
Same elegiac register, still historical fiction
- pace+1prose-1bleak0
Sophie’s Choice
William Styron1979
A young writer moves into a Brooklyn boarding house and befriends a Holocaust survivor and her volatile lover. He slowly learns of her past.
pace+1·prose-1·bleak0
- pace0prose0bleak0
Absalom, Absalom!
William Faulkner1936
The rise and fall of Thomas Sutpen is recounted through multiple, conflicting memories. The prose uses extremely long, complex sentences.
pace0·prose0·bleak0
- pace0prose-1bleak-1
A river runs through it
Norman Maclean1976
A man recalls his youth in 1920s Montana. He and his brother bond with their father through the technical details of fly fishing.
pace0·prose-1·bleak-1
- pace0prose-1bleak-1
Fugitive Pieces
Anne Michaels1996
A Jewish boy rescued from Nazi-occupied Poland is raised in Greece and Canada. The prose follows his life and the lives of those he touches.
pace0·prose-1·bleak-1
1 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose0bleak-1
The Souls of Black Folk
W.E.B. Du Bois1903
A collection of 1903 essays examining the psychological and social effects of racism in America through the concept of double consciousness.
Same elegiac register
pace0·prose0·bleak-1
To recover
elegiac → playful
- pace+2prose-3bleak-3
On a Pale Horse
Piers Anthony1983
After accidentally killing the personification of Death, a man must take over the office. He navigates the bureaucracy of the afterlife.
pace+2·prose-3·bleak-3
- pace+3prose-3bleak-3
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon2012
A series of short, illustrated principles for creative work. It focuses on remixing existing ideas and establishing productive daily habits.
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-3
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+2prose-3bleak-3
Big Magic
Elizabeth Gilbert2015
The author shares her philosophy on the creative process through personal anecdotes. It focuses on overcoming fear and pursuing curiosity.
elegiac → warm
pace+2·prose-3·bleak-3
- pace+2prose-3bleak-3
Apprentice to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer2024
Evie Sage assists an evil overlord while a magical threat endangers their kingdom. The story follows their workplace dynamic and a looming siege.
pace+2·prose-3·bleak-3
- pace+2prose-3bleak-3
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Steven D. Levitt
An economist uses data to investigate the incentives behind real-world phenomena like cheating teachers and falling crime rates.
elegiac → wry
pace+2·prose-3·bleak-3
Faster
- pace+3prose-3bleak-2
The Sun and Her Flowers
Rupi Kaur2017
A collection of short, illustrated poems organized into five stages of growth. It covers themes of loss, trauma, and self-healing.
elegiac → earnest
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-2
- pace+3prose-3bleak-3
Pillow Thoughts
Courtney Peppernell2016
A collection of short poems and prose pieces organized by emotional state. It focuses on themes of heartbreak, healing, and loneliness.
elegiac → tender
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-3
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+3prose-3bleak-3
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Neil deGrasse Tyson2017
A summary of the origin of the universe, the laws of physics, and the nature of space and time.
elegiac → playful
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-3
- pace+3prose-3bleak-3
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon2012
A series of short, illustrated principles for creative work. It focuses on remixing existing ideas and establishing productive daily habits.
elegiac → playful
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-3
- pace+3prose-3bleak-3
Poke the Box
Seth Godin2011
A short manifesto encouraging readers to start projects and take initiative. It argues that the greatest risk is staying in place.
elegiac → earnest
pace+3·prose-3·bleak-3