- In all of my three am Eld forum wanderings, I'm glad to have found this thread!
A book I would recommend to those fond of post-apocalyptic settings and YA wold be New Orleans. I first read it years ago, but the last line stuck with me all this time and I ultimately decided to pick it up again. I found the author's world to be extremely fascinating; using it, she seemed to have gotten rid of almost all concepts of gender and race, replacing them with an almost caste-esque view on blood types. She -being the author- was also able to craft an entirely different goal than the cliche that so often plagues apocalyptic fiction; there is no grand escape, no grand romance to preserve(if my recollection is correct, there is no pinnacle romance at all, which I found sooo refreshing). Overall, it was a very good read with a fantastic ending, in my opinion. To be honest, the characters are a little lacking in depth or a bit annoying at times, but there is little deviation from "canon" characteristics. Honestly, a welcome take on the slightly stale genre.
Also, because I guess I'm just a huge nerd, let's ramble about classics!
Beginner to classic lit and want something that might be easy to stomach? Go with Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit. If you're feeling brave, maybe even Frankenstein, Dracula, and Monte Cristo! Strong adventure/fantasy/sci-fi elements, pretty clear plot arcs, and in-your-face, punch-to-the-gut themes make these classics memorable yet easy.
Would you happen to like something a little more pedestrian? Perhaps some commentary on so social standing, relationships, and the like? Jane Austen's gonna be your favourite gal pal, Jane Eyre's gonna be great, and Huckleberry/Sawyer (ft. Twist) your favourite ship. If you prefer these sorts of social commentary themes but maybe with a little bit more "spice", then Charles Dickens is your bro.
Want some #edgy social/political commentary? George Orwell's got you covered, Gatsby's got your back, and Mockingbird's holding your hand. In the most comforting of ways, of course.
And finally, shameless mythology plug: read Odyssey before Illiad, because the Odyssey has a much simpler Hero's Journey(not that "complicated is my middle name"Homer made anything easy) and it even takes on a pretty humorous aspect when you think about Penelope(Odysseus' wife) fending off rabid suitors with like, a candelabra or something, while Odysseus got cozy with a nymph. But, like, Achilles and Patroclus were definitely suuuuper gay for each other in the Illiad so one reason why you might like it better haha
These are all generalizations, of course, and only of the classics that I have read. I definitely haven't read all of Jane Austen's novels. Please, take everything with a grain of salt! ^^b