|
|
Book Recommendations (fiction)?
01-16-2017, 06:58 PM
|
#1
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,778
|
Book Recommendations (fiction)?
I know we must have some fiction readers in here. I searched for a thread on book suggestions, but all I found was non-fiction topics.
So, I thought I'd ask: What are your recommendations for fiction?
Here's my story, if you're interested (but you don't have to read this for purposes of the thread).
After being a lifelong non-fiction reader, I've tried to return to reading fiction in the past year. I used to read fiction a long time ago -- science fiction, mostly, and then some serious Literature when I was in college -- but it's been so long, I'm out of the loop. So I thought I'd ask for recommendations.
Here is some of what I've tried:
I tried serious Leet-erature, but it didn't take. It felt like it was written to please English majors and literary critics. (I'm not insulting English majors. I used to be one. But that was 25 years ago.)
I am looking for middle brow" stuff -- well-written but entertaining. I like good characters (those with some depth and uniqueness to them). I like books that move me emotionally.
I tried poetry, but that didn't go anywhere. I don't have a head for poetry. I get annoyed that I have to spend so much energy trying to figure out what they are trying to say. I'm a prosaic sort of fellow.
I tried science fiction, because I liked that when I was a kid. But I found it too scientific (not surprising, eh?). I guess when I was a kid, that stuff produced a "gosh wow" feeling, but now it just bores me.
I tried fantasy, and for a while, I was on a Terry Brooks kick. Really liked Sword of Shannara and the first set of books. My enthusiasm is petering out, because the books are starting to feel pretty familiar now. I have LotR on my shelf but don't feel up to it right now.
Since I like good characterization, I looked up "psychological fiction," but apparently that is mostly detective/crime fiction. That's okay, I've read some good ones. But it's also rather grim, and I don't want to spend too much of my free time reading about detectives and killers. I don't do that sort of work, but it reminds me of my work.
Anyway, just fishing around for good books/authors.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-16-2017, 07:02 PM
|
#2
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,000
|
"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 07:30 PM
|
#3
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Santa Paula
Posts: 4,067
|
Depending upon your interests, There is the "Tahoe" series by Todd Borg. The stories revolve around Lake Tahoe, and the main characters are a PI, his girlfriend who is a forensic entomologist, and a 170 pound Great Dane named Spot.
I also enjoy technothrillers by Stephen Coonts and Dale Brown.
__________________
Retired Jan 2009 Have not looked back.
AA 60/35/5 considering SS and pensions a SP annuity
WR 2% with 2SS & 2 Pensions
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 07:30 PM
|
#4
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
|
Have you read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series? You might also try stories by Kazuo Ishiguro. But my favorite recommendation is Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 08:10 PM
|
#6
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,778
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by zinger1457
|
Ah, I missed that one, thank you. I searched for "book recommendations," so I didn't catch that thread title. I knew there had to be some fiction readers on this forum, and I was wondering where the discussion was hiding.
125 pages! Yipes! That'll take me some time to go through...
Thanks for linking it.
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 08:44 PM
|
#8
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dutchess County
Posts: 1,599
|
I have been reading survivalist books recently about life after an EMP type event.
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 08:44 PM
|
#9
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,130
|
How about Dan Brown?
__________________
And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.- Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 08:50 PM
|
#10
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 979
|
Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover is an amazing book.
The Gentleman Bastard series is a good read, by Scott Lynch.
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen.
The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
Saturn Run by John Sanford.
Just to get you started.
__________________
I'm free and I like it!
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 09:17 PM
|
#11
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 805
|
Not a new title, but a recent recommendation from a dear friend. _Lonesome Dove_. Although I may never read another "western", this was so worth reading. I finished it a couple weeks ago--still thinking about the ending.
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 09:55 PM
|
#12
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 7,514
|
My favorites are Nelson DeMille and the late Pat Conroy. I think "The Charm School" by Demille is still about my favorite. I heave read all of Pat Conroy's books; all well written, character studies, somewhat biographical, all set in South Carolina. "The Water is Wide" or "Prince of Tides"; both better than the movies though they were also good.
|
|
|
01-16-2017, 10:56 PM
|
#13
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
|
Oh, yes. I second the Pat Conroy recommendation. Enjoyed all his books.
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 04:11 AM
|
#14
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,788
|
The late Elmore Leonard wrote dozens of smart, street sassy, detective stories and westerns. His movie credits include "Get Shorty", "Jackie Brown" and "Joe Kidd (Clint Eastwood). Many a smile between the covers of the ones I have read.
I also like James Lee Burke. Detective type fare and a couple of modern lawman western types. Very, very little gore.
Lee Child has an interesting ex-Army MP bad ass hero named Jack Reacher. (Couple of movies based on that character, also.) 20 some books in the series.
All 3 of these authors are regularly found at Goodwill and yard sales (Burke and Leonard mostly in HC versions), and the library is full of 'em.
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 04:14 AM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,788
|
BTW- website literature-map.com, allows you to plug in an author you like and it will provide names of similar authors.
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 04:53 AM
|
#16
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,568
|
Still up for fantasy? I recommend Robin Hobb's "Liveship" trilogy. Unusual ideas (especially if you are looking for a different form of conveyance from that elven airship), a fantasy "mystery" that will keep you guessing, and well-developed characters, including a psychotic pirate.
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 06:00 AM
|
#17
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Syracuse
Posts: 3,501
|
If you like well developed characters you can't beat John Steinbeck.
If you like off best characters, Carl Hiassen will show you the thinking's of the proverbial Florida Man.
__________________
“No, not rich. I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing"
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 06:05 AM
|
#18
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,314
|
I was going to recommend What Have You Read Recently too although it is a bit overwhelming. For someone just tuning in maybe some Google searches on 100 best thrillers, 100 best , Nebula Award winners etc will give you a few options. For the current batch of mid brow stuff keep an eye on a major newspaper book reviews section (NYT or WP) or follow Goodreads. Then order the ones that catch your eye from the library.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 08:42 AM
|
#19
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 58
|
In the fantasy category, I highly recommend The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
|
|
|
01-17-2017, 08:50 AM
|
#20
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sarasota
Posts: 259
|
Drop City by TC Boyle is an enjoyable book about the 60s/70s hippy movement
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|