For those who can read german: “Henry Frottey, sein erster Fall, Teil 2, das Ende der Trilogie” by Jan Philipp Zymny, who is a german absurdist comedian. Its a bit like the Dirk Gently Books by Dougkas Adams, though even more absurdist and less structured. A funny, but also exhausting read.

I don’t know, if there is an english translation.

In literary fiction, it’s probably As I Lay Dying. Flowers for Algernon is also a really neat concept (and a much easier, more enjoyable read).

Station eleven had a really unique format. You could say there were multiple main characters from different timelines but I would almost argue there was not a “main” character. All of them were super fascinating in their own right and the transitions between them, and their timelines, was incredibly smooth. I didn’t find it confusing at all and I normally do with books formatted like this.

It’s a post pandemic dystopia that focuses on the role of art in helping people find purpose if you want the shortest possible synopsis.

Maybe Stalking the Wild Pendulum? It’s pretty unlike what I usually read, so it was fun/unique. I can’t say I subscribe to it, whatever that would even entail. It’s like 90% woo-ey BS probably, but…still kinda enjoyed it mostly.

Probably A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark by Harry Connolly. It’s got some fantasy/urban fantasy elements mixed with like a mystery/detective vibe. It super surprised me in the best way when I was reading it.

Lockpick Pornography by Joey Comeau. I’d never read a book from the POV of a genderqueer character before.

I never finished it, but definitely House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I’ll call it a “labyrinthian” horror story where both the narrative and physical formatting mirror the themes presented in the story. It’s hard to describe, but you have to at least find one in a bookstore and look through it. I don’t know if audio or digital versions exist, but I’d avoid them, you won’t get the whole experience.

Edit: Damn, took to long to write and somebody already mentioned it, lol.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

The broken earth trilogy by NK Jemisin is written in second person, interesting style and a good read. (Fantasy, sci-fi)

Gardens of the moon by Steven Erikson, not really ‘unique’ but he does a lot of show and tell, so if you’re willing to pay attention and think a long it’s a great read. (fantasy)

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Pale Fire by Nabokov.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine was a book that threw me just because the main protagonist had such odd perspectives.

Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera is written with segments of it like a true crime podcast. Highly recommend it as a listen.

Ive been reading a lot of books that aren’t written traditionally. Taylor Jenkins Reid books, Evelyn Hugo was written as an interview, Daisy Jones and the Six like documentary, etc. Dungeon Crawler Carl is LitRPG and best as audiobook (written primarily as such). Of Monsters and Mainframes was written with computers as main characters. Super fun.

So many good books out there. Please report back on what you’ve enjoyed the most!

“The people in the trees” lives in my head rent free, but not 100% in a good way. Huge SA trigger warning (not pervasive in terms of time spent on the topic, but yeah, if you are AT ALL squeamish about that sort of thing, give this one a pass). But it is quite unlike anything else I’ve read and stuck with me in a way other books I randomly grabbed at the library with no context generally do not. Left me very much questioning how I view people and the world and how easy it is to allow monsters to hide in plain sight.

Be here now

Clemens P. Suter’s “Heavenland” a plainly weird crime story. Entertaining though.