Books

**chm2023** · 09-12-2006, 10:51 AM

Anyone have any suggestions for reading--fiction especially, I'm tired of improving my mind with history!;)

I read The Kite Runner a couple weeks ago, excellent, memorable, but haven't been happy with anything else I 've picked up. Suggestions?

**Grubendol** · 09-12-2006, 10:55 AM

The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson, starts with Quicksilver

A must read!

Also, Foucault's Pendulum...challenging but fascinating.

Also, The Jesus Papers, non fiction but an interesting read.

**Jubilee** · 09-12-2006, 11:31 AM

What are the types of Fiction you like?

I love Lois McMaster Bujold. She does some sci-fi and recently turned to fantasy. Shards of Honor is my favorite sci-fi from her, and Curse of Chalion is the first fantasy novel I could not put down. By far, Curse of Chalion is the #1 book my husband recommends.

Orson Scott Card has several different genres he writes in. Most put him with Science Fiction as well, though he has a few horror, and more historical novels as well. Just got through reading his Maps in the Mirror short story collection. Has several great series such as those with Ender (Ender's Game (also a short story), Speaker for the Dead, etc), Tales of Alvin Maker (a mix of fantasy and historical), Call of the Earth ... And some awesome singular tales such as Mikail's Songbird, and Lost Boys. I admit reading the end of Lost Boys made me cry! So beautiful, but sad...

Both of the above authors are on my automatic buy list. I either own all of their works, or working on collecting them all.

If I knew what your personal tastes in genre's are, I could make some additional or more detailed recommendations.

Cassandra

**Grubendol** · 09-12-2006, 11:51 AM

Orson Scott Card is a good call,

**hcjilson** · 09-12-2006, 12:01 PM

The Grail Quest (trilogy) is where I started with him. Remarkable historical tale based on fact. Once you get hooked, you will be reading some other stuff he wrote.He's excellent....(and now a Cape Codder as well!)

When I can't find anything current I go back and read some of the classics.If you have only seen the Godfather in the movies, try the book, its awsome.The "early" Robert Ludlum books were great. Gemini Contenders was my favorite.A lot of good stuff out there that's not new!

**rbaker** · 09-12-2006, 12:12 PM

And, of course, theres always the Boston Globe and the New York Times. Fresh new stuff every day.

x

**Grubendol** · 09-12-2006, 12:25 PM

or Fox News

**Pete Hanlin** · 09-12-2006, 12:42 PM

Now, now- we don't need to be turning this into a political thread, guys (see how I refrained from making a comment regarding Dan Rather at this point ;^)...

Anyway, if you're looking for fiction, I've really been enjoying Ken Follett's books. I would highly recommend "Pillars of the Earth," which is fiction- but historically based. I really enjoyed this book.

Steve Berry's "The Third Secret" is pretty good too- interesting, if fictional, look inside the Catholic church (seems like this institution is a favorite target of authors lately).

I also agree that Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle is a fascinating trilogy (perhaps the most unique stuff I've ever read- and I consider making it through all three books to be an acheivement), but you probably have to be a peculiar person to enjoy these works...

I just finished "The Dante Club" (forget the author), which was quite interesting, as it pitted early American authors against a villian who enacts scenes from Dante's Inferno.

**Grubendol** · 09-12-2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Pete Hanlin

I also agree that Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle is a fascinating trilogy (perhaps the most unique stuff I've ever read- and I consider making it through all three books to be an acheivement), but you probably have to be a peculiar person to enjoy these works...

Who you callin' peculiar! :hammer:

Well, yeah, the book(s) are 2600 pages and spans 1660-1715.

**chip anderson** · 09-12-2006, 12:48 PM

You can't go wrong with anything by Greg Illes, or John B. McDonald.

Chip

**RGC_man** · 09-12-2006, 02:15 PM

I'm getting into Kazuo Ishiguro at the moment and have recently read Remains of the Day and An Artist of the Floating World. Both explore the reliability of memory, with the latter being a better read, dealing with a father trying to get his daughter married in a post-war Japan. Anyone read any of his other novels?

**Jubilee** · 09-12-2006, 06:42 PM

Hmm.. seems like several of us have the same tastes :) I also like Neal Stephenson, though I wouldn't label him as my favorite. I do always check out his selection whenever I visit the book store though! I will also say that it is intellectually stimulating!

If you want some fast and fun reading, Harry Potter is an excellent series. I know many adults who enjoy this series even more than kids.

Cassandra

**CuriousCat** · 09-12-2006, 09:28 PM

James Lee Burke
Ken Follett
Margaret George
Fr. Andrew Greeley
David Baldacci

**chm2023** · 09-13-2006, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Grubendol

The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson, starts with Quicksilver

Originally Posted by Grubendol

A must read!

Also, Foucault's Pendulum...challenging but fascinating.

Also, The Jesus Papers, non fiction but an interesting read.

If you're an Eco fan, try The Island of the Day Before. I loved Pendulum--I love how he can set such a sinister tone with such beautiful language.

**chm2023** · 09-13-2006, 09:15 AM

Thanks guys--think I will look into The Grail Trilogy.

Pete--Pillars of Stone--was that the one about the buidling of a cathedral in the middle ages? That was a good read.

Cassandra--my favorite fiction authors are LeCarre, Ann Tyler, John Irving, Toni Morrison. (I'm pretty mainstream!!)

**Pete Hanlin** · 09-13-2006, 09:28 AM

Yep, Pillars of Stone is set in 12th or 13th century UK, and its characters are all more-or-less centered around the building of a cathedral. Its about 1,000 pages long, but I can honestly say there wasn't a "dead" spot in the entire book! I really hated getting to the end of that particular novel, and would recommend it to pretty much anyone who likes to read.

Eye of the Needle is another of Follett's books that is very well written- it covers a spy in England in WWII.

**Grubendol** · 09-13-2006, 09:46 AM

Pillars sounds right up my alley.

And yeah on the Harry Potter front, I'm a big ol' potterhead. In fact, I met my fiance in line for the third movie.

**Night Train** · 09-15-2006, 12:19 PM

There are not many authors that have me waiting anxiously for their next work. But there are at least two. Bill Bryson...."A walk in the woods" is by far his best and will have you laughing until you cry. The other is Philip Yancey who just completed a book on Prayer...possibly the best faith-based book I have ever read.