If there’s one show that people have not stopped talking about in recent years, it’s Squid Games. But the show was more than the viral red light, green light song, dalgona or even the money they were going to win. It was a critique of the capitalist society that seemingly gives people a “choice” to build a better life at the expense of others. So, here is The Bombay Circle Press’ guide to good fiction books to read if you liked Squid Games.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
First on the list of good fiction books to read is Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
- Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.
Koushun Takami’s notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing.
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate; this far from civilization, the boys can do anything they want. Anything. They attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin and evil. And as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far from reality as the hope of being rescued.
- 1984 by George Orwell
One cannot make a list of good fiction books to read that critique the capitalistic society and not mention 1984. A masterpiece of rebellion and imprisonment where war is peace, freedom is slavery and Big Brother is watching. The story of one man’s Nightmare Odyssey as he pursues a forbidden love affair through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls not only information but also individual thought and memory 1984 is a prophetic haunting tale. More relevant than ever before 1984 exposes the worst crimes imaginable: the destruction of truth, freedom and individuality.
- All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman
Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death.
The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magic, the most powerful resource in the world—one thought long depleted.
But this year a scandalous tell-all book has exposed the tournament and thrust the seven new champions into the worldwide spotlight. The book also granted them valuable information previous champions never had—insight into the other families’ strategies, secrets, and weaknesses. And most important, it gave them a choice: accept their fate or rewrite their legacy.
If you like this list of recommendations of good fiction books to read, check out our blog on TV shows that you didn’t know were based on novels.