CAPTIVATION LEVEL ORGANIZATION, HIGHER IS MORE INSTANTLY INTERESTING
I MIGHT HAVE FUCKED THIS UP, I HAVENT READ SOME OF THESE FOR A WHILE
I'm absolutely CERTAIN about the ones I numbered, the rest are fuzzy
I highly recommend you either read


1. Ender's Game -- starts at 100mph and only speeds up from there. lots of psychological conflict, easily relatable
2. The House on the Borderland -- spooky ghost noises if you get past I think page 10
3. Father to the Stars (Specifically The Night of Light, I didn't read the others.) -- you learn on page like 2 that this scenario is batshit insane
4. The Things They Carried (instantly sad, but that's really the point. i cried after i think page 8?)

i put lots of space here because Brave New World is a really tough read, but instantly evokes emotion.  it's heavy, but it's also brilliantly written.

5. Brave New World -- instantly either makes you laugh, pisses you off, or confuses you.  these are normal reactions, and things only get heavier as it goes on.  if you don't know a definition, definitely look it up.  lots of double meaning here.

The Stranger (this is confusing for everyone, and is meant to be.  it's about existentialism and absurdism.  "all actions carry the same moral weight")
The Stainless Steel Rat (a straight confusing laugh all the way to the end, think James Bond level womanizer but johnny bravo level execution and underestimation and metal gear solid level stealth.  it's fuckin weird)
Redwall (this might be dull in the beginning, I only remember that it's really approachable and a classic)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (if memory serves me right, it starts off with the main character considering suicide, i'd say that's pretty intense)
Animal Farm (really helps if you understand the context, otherwise it might be a touch dull at the start)
The Green Mile (a bit of a wind-up, but once you start connecting the dots you get blindsided)
Dune (slow to start, but holy fuck does it get intense later on)
Speaker for the Dead (only captivating if you've read Ender's Game)
The Time Machine (literally only picks up about 2/3 through the book itself, but it's a great read if only for that)
Craphound (it's all lore, but a really thought-provoking piece.  no action whatsoever, be warned)
Peak (the start is a bit iffy, but when he starts climbing shit it gets real)