Can you reccommend a good book for me?

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  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is GREAT!!! It is the story of the Trojan War as told by Achilles's companion, Patroclus. If you like or love The Iliad, you will really love this book!

    Will have to check this out
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    I like Margaret Attwood and classics as well.

    Have you read the Claudius books by Robert Graves?

    My opinions are below - hopefully you can find some prospects. :)

    Classics I Love (AKA: you've probably read this, but just in case):
    -Jane Eyre (I'm sure you've read this one, but I'm afraid not to type it)
    -North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (you can't go wrong with this author, but this one is my have)
    -****ens. 'Nuff said.

    Good Nonfiction:
    -Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (her family only eats food that they have grown/has been purchased close to their home - sounds boring, but it's really good, including recipes and articles on farming policies. In my mind, this is a must-read)
    -Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss (About the food processing industry - it's not "icky", but very informative and surprisingly interesting to read. Pulitzer Prize winning author who is matter of fact, and he enjoys eating processed food himself. Not agenda driven, just good information.)
    -A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (A funny telling of his walk along the Appalachian Trail)
    -Travels by Michael Crichton (Not what you are expecting, and IMO not mass-market at all, as you would expect. Very interesting.)
    -Turn Right at Machu PIcchu by Mark Adams (Traveling in and around Machu Picchu from a relatable, non-academic perspective, but with lots of interesting details)

    Good Fiction:
    -Beggars Series (3 books, starting with Beggars in Spain) or other books by Nancy Kress (Sci-Fi with a moral compass, very interesting and worthy of reading if you haven't)
    -The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (you'll either love it or hate it, and you'll know when you read the synopsis, but I was very moved by this book about a family who went to Africa as missionaries. Each chapter is written from the perspective of a different woman in the family. This book will stick with you.)
    -Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (magicians in victorian times - better than I'm selling it now)
    -The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst (strange and gripping, real and surreal in the same book)
    -Life of Pi by Yann Martel (I know this is pretty mass-market, but this book is a surprise and a delight, and is very well written)

    I really want to Read Animal Vegetable Miracle but I can never find it. I'm going to have to order it. Travels was awesome! Great ideas! Thanks. Will check out Dogs and Jonathan too!
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    So many posts here! Love the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell mysteries by Laurie R. King. Also the Ethan Gage novels by William Dietrich. You said you don't want just romance, but you can't beat Victoria Holt for classic Gothic romance. 8^)

    I love Sherlcok Holmes, so I will check those out.
  • Kimdbro
    Kimdbro Posts: 922 Member
    I should mention I love Joseph Conrad and Margaret Atwood. I think I have read all of their works but I'm open to anything similar.

    Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was great!

    I highly recommend Catch 22 by Joseph Heller... it's my favorite book of all time. I recently read Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk, one of the creepiest books I've ever read, but I couldn't put it down. Very captivating. Disturbing, but captivating.
  • scling83
    scling83 Posts: 26 Member
    I really enjoyed Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson. Read it a while back but it's still the first one I think about when someone asks me for a recommendation :)
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    OK, so I didn't read all 4 pages, forgive if I've got repeats in here…

    -The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (it's the start of the Baeryn series)
    -Midnight Louie series by Carole Nelson Douglas … first book is Catnap
    -anything by Jane Austin … you've read the well know classics, but have you read Mansfield Park, Persuasion, or even Northanger Abbey?
    -if you like a bit of the supernatural, try The Vampire FIles by P.N. Elrod. They are not your typical vampire stories - think 1930s private eye vampire :laugh:
    -Magic Kingdom for Sale … Sold! by Terry Brooks
    - Alanna, the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce … this first book is aimed at a bit younger audience, but as you progress through the series, the writing "grows up." I really enjoyed the series, and all the ones that followed.

    I loved Alanna and all those books still do lol
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    American gods is an awesome book :)
  • kiekokay
    kiekokay Posts: 101 Member
    Sarah Waters ~ loooove her books!
    The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
    Under the Skin by Michel Faber - both unforgetable

    Gillespie & I by Jane Harris
    We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver (or anything else by her)

    Anything by Sarah Waters, Marina Lewycka, Joanne Harris esp the 3 in the Chocolat series.
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    I should mention I love Joseph Conrad and Margaret Atwood. I think I have read all of their works but I'm open to anything similar.

    Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was great!

    I highly recommend Catch 22 by Joseph Heller... it's my favorite book of all time. I recently read Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk, one of the creepiest books I've ever read, but I couldn't put it down. Very captivating. Disturbing, but captivating.

    Will check it out.

    Yes, Heart of Darkness is my very favorite book. Can't count how many times I've read ir or how many copies I have :) Great read!
  • GeekAmour
    GeekAmour Posts: 262
    Honestly this thread is so long I would have to put a book on hold just to read it, but I did read your initial post (kudos to me right?) & based on your likes I would recommend a book I read recently called "In the Company of the Courtesan" by Sarah Dunant, about a midget & a prostitute & the sacking of Rome. Loved it. Then, if you get a taste for midgets, and who wouldn't, "Geek Love" by Kathrine Dunn.
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member
    Have you read anything by Guy Gavriel Kay. I only ask because the first thing I thought of when you said Ancient Rome was his two book set - "The Sarantine Mosaic"

    It isn't actually based in ancient Rome per se, but certainly influenced/inspired by that era.
  • lesleyoung6
    lesleyoung6 Posts: 17
    Also, I have not read all four pages of this thread... but the last book I read was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and it was really good.
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    Honestly this thread is so long I would have to put a book on hold just to read it, but I did read your initial post (kudos to me right?) & based on your likes I would recommend a book I read recently called "In the Company of the Courtesan" by Sarah Dunant, about a midget & a prostitute & the sacking of Rome. Loved it. Then, if you get a taste for midgets, and who wouldn't, "Geek Love" by Kathrine Dunn.

    I will try this one.
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    Have you read anything by Guy Gavriel Kay. I only ask because the first thing I thought of when you said Ancient Rome was his two book set - "The Sarantine Mosaic"

    It isn't actually based in ancient Rome per se, but certainly influenced/inspired by that era.

    I'll check it out. Thanks.
  • Miss_Meliss86
    Miss_Meliss86 Posts: 372 Member
    Okay, this has reminded me that I really do need to start making more time for reading for pleasure rather than research articles!

    I'll admit that I have not had a chance to comb through the rest of the thread (although I intend too as I want to see what awesome suggestions other people have), so if any of the books I recommend here are repeats, my apologies in advance!

    The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
    Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
    Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
    Sex, Mom, and God by Frank Schaeffer (great non-fiction book about the Evanglical movement)

    That's what I can think off of the top of my head :) If I think of any more I will be sure to post it! Great idea for a thread though, I love seeing what others have read/are reading/recommend to read :)
  • Maribel_1986
    Maribel_1986 Posts: 457 Member
    "Tears of Rage" - John Walsh
    "It" - Stephen King
    "Dear John" - Nicholas Sparks
  • aperrillioux
    aperrillioux Posts: 115 Member
    since this topic already exists, can anyone recommend something funny/witty?

    and no, I don't mean joke books or base scatological humour.

    For both you and OP, though I'm not sure OP will be a huge fan (based on our differing opinions of Jane Austen and Joseph Conrad. Like Heart of Darkness for you, I have way too many versions of Pride and Prejudice):

    Nathaniel Hawthorne's Blithedale Romance.

    One, it's REALLY well written. And writing is the reason I stay away from most modern literature. It usually makes me want to cringe.

    Two, It's hysterical in that the main character totally has creeper tendancies.

    Three, It's a GREAT read. It focuses around socialism but it's got a nice blend of romance and mystery in it too.

    Note: For anyone who refuses to read Hawthorne because he was a sexist, I say you are passing up an AMAZING author. It's a quick read and definitely worth the minimal amount of time.
  • Sylvitryinghard
    Sylvitryinghard Posts: 549 Member
    what about thriller? Peter James books... 1 book, 1 night lol. got me addicted. or Cody McFadyen books

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