Book recommendations

“I need a beach book for a trip in 2 weeks. I'm currently reading Bourne Ultimatum but think I'll finish while on the trip. I'd love some recommendations.

Likes:
Ken Follett
Lonesome Dove Series
Grizzly Years author and similar books
Historical Fiction like Flashman Papers and Sharpe's series

Any suggestions? I had thought about researching at amazon.com but thought asking others would be a way to come up with something I wouldn't have otherwise thought of.”

“Read the Winter King series by Bernard Cornwell or Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles) by Cornwell also. Both are similar to the sharp series but oh so much better.”

“Alter Rock!”

“I read Winter King but not Rebel. I'll look into that, thanks.

Any other suggestions anyone?”

“or if you want to read the best fictional character ever created read The Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold. This is a fast paced SF yarn that is just perfect for vacation reading.”

“yeah, what Creek Dancer said.”

“I went to Cornwell's site and he has a series on the Grail. That might be interesting. He also has a Saxon series.”

“In spite of my techiness, I've never been able to get into SiFi. They should probably take my eng. degree away for that.

I'll read up on Altar Rock. Haven't heard of it.”

“I have them all. The grail one starts out with Archers Tale. Great series and great battles. Cornwell writes the best battle scenes of any author I have read.

The saxon stories are good, but given a choice I would choose one of the series mentioned above first. I mentioned the Starbuck series because it is a lot like the Sharpe books just set in the American civil war.”

“Oops, that was hyways book! I've read it 2x and bought it 3x.”

“yeah, Alter Rock is a bit obscure. Give The Warrior's Apprentice a try even if it is SF. Its the story and the Miles Vorkorsigan character that makes it awesome not the setting.”

“Anything written by Greg Iles...can't put 'em down once I start.

http://www.gregiles.com/”

“How about The Bridges of Madison County.”

“http://www.saragruen.com/wfeabout.htm

This is the best book I've read in a long, long time. The story is great, exciting and absolutely fascinating. The details about train circus' and the depression era are incredible. I couldn't put it down.
last edited: 7/17/07 11:39:33 AM”

“The Leatherstocking series (fenimore-cooper).”

“Leatherstocking sounds familiar. Is that the same author as Last of the Mohicans? I tried to read that once and the late 18th century language sort of put me off.


I'll look into that one Sass.


This is all exactly what I'm looking for...things I'd have never come up with.”

“I'm going to go get the Water for Elephants book at the library this afternoon. Thanks, Sass.

If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend "An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Iain Pears. Here's a link to the Amazon review:
http://www.amazon.com/Instance-Fingerpost-Novel-Iain-Pears/dp/1573227951/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7744687-4872654?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184700040&sr=8-1”

“Anything by Harlen Coban.”

“One I recently read is "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield. A historical fiction retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. Very good book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_of_Fire”

“dayhiker, I was wondering where you had been if you hadn't heard of Alter Rock. I have to tell you the author is the sexiest hunk of heaven I have ever seen and he writes that way too!”

“I felt pretty stupid because about 5x on his thread I've commented, "Hyway wrote a book, no kidding." I've been teasing him about it and then drew a blank on the name. I'll have to take your word for it on the sex appeal.”

“You might enjoy alternate history, books that say 'what if something different happens'.

Harry Turtledove is a good one. His books include a series in which the South won the First American Civil War, and his series of books start at the next American Civil War.

HOW FEW REMAIN is the title.

http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/howfewremain.html
,for an except.”

“I want to read that just for wishing fulful thinking :). Ahhh, what if?

DH, I thought you were kidding. You were the first person to post on my Shameless Promotion thread.

crazygurl, awww shucks. You shouldn't be so brutally honest. ;)”

“Hyway, the second Civil War doesn't quite work out for the South. The USA is allied with Germany and heavy tanks play a big role.”

“time to write a third book then lol”

“hyway - the funny thing is that I was actually thinking, "Alter Rock, that's familiar, now where have I heard that name?" When I realized my goof I fessed up too quick because I can see how it would've looked like I was joking again. I'll blame it on a brain fart. My brain has too much gas these days.
last edited: 7/17/07 1:15:24 PM”

“Have you even bothered to read the FREE preview? hrrrummmffff”

“It's free you say? I'll see if I can take a peek.”

“Vorkosigan rocks.
last edited: 7/17/07 1:33:14 PM”

“You know me Hyway...tell it as it is!”

“I just knew you were a Vorkosigan man, HPM.

CG, so have you finally gotten around to reading it? :)

DH, it just so happens I have a link to the preview handy. http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=686760”

“uuuummmm....uuuuhhhh Started it...does that count???? It is by my bed!”

“Whenever I see lulu I have to think of Jimmy Buffet. In the song Bama Breeze he mentions Lulu. It's his sister. She has a restaurant in Gulf Shores, AL. It used to be a dive out in the boonies and was excellent. She dun went cummercial and moved to the city.

A link you say. I'll take a peek in the next day or two.


I may check out Gates of Fire first and then follow up with the Grail series.”

“Gates of Fire sounds good. I am trying to remember a book I read about a Persian (I think) King that had Rome trembling. He would wipe out a legion and Rome would send a bunch more and defeat him. Then he would rebuild his army and wipe out the romans again. They would send a even bigger army and he would make alliances and and wipe out that army. Then Rome got really serious and threw its whole weight at him before finally doing away with him.”

“The reason I think I'll start with that one is it's the one I'm least likely to remember to go back and read, but is just as interesting as the others. I've already read a good many Cornwell books and would be likely to remember and go back and check out his books again.

I'm also behind on my Flashman Papers reading. I probalby haven't read one of those in 5-6 years.

Hyway - you just may be a brave version of Flashy. Have you read any of those?”

“Actually Treebait is a bigger Vorkosigan fan than I.”

“I would make some sort of crack about how surprised I am that treebait's favorite book isn't about cats, but I do value living. ;-)”

“SS - I made a crazy cat lady ref on the getup thread about 2 weeks ago without any rebuttle. I was a little disappointed.”

“You're lucky. ;-)”

“You will love "Gates of Fire". It is one of the best historical fiction books I have ever read. I warn you, it is difficult to put the book down. A real page turner. Are you going to Gulf Shores?”

“Travels with Herodutus. I am about finished, one of the most interesting books I've read. I will mail it to ya if you want..http://www.culture.pl/en/culture/artykuly/dz_kapuscinski_podroze_z_herodotem”

“Don't worry Dayhiker and Stovie, I made particularly rude comments about both of you. ;P”

“steppenwolf - Jamaica
birch - that'd be great, I'll send my address.
treebait - busted!”

“I picked up Water for Elephants yesterday afternoon, eagerly anticipating bedtime so I could start reading (I usually read every night before going to sleep). Today I got up at 6 a.m. to continue and have accomplished almost nothing, except to read. I am at least 3/4 of the way done. Very excellent recommendation, Sass!!”

“Richard Clarke's "Scorpions Gate" is a fun novel. Its not the best written international thriller, but the fact that its very current and written by someone in a position to know makes it lots of fun.

David Hunts book the "Magician's Tale" is a good read. It's a sort of detective novel set in San Fransisco. His description of the city and its neighborhoods and of his hero are excellent.”

“"Under the Banner or Heaven" - Jon Krakauer

This is an amazing book, a must read. He does a fantastic job discussing the world of Mormon fundamentalism. I knew little to nothing about the Mormon faith other than a lot of misconceptions. I knew even less about Mormon fundamentalism. I simply can't recommend this book highly enough.”

“Ready to join up Jimmy san?”

“I saw some of a PBS documentary on the history of the Mormons a few weeks ago. I thought it was well done and interesting.”

“Yes to both!

I think Krakauer is one of the best modern authors out there. He's shown he is quite capable of going beyond the realm of outdoor journalism and into some pretty interesting investigative and scholarly work. Definintely a good read.”

“I've been reading everything by Michael Crichton lately and enjoying the hell out of it. I read the "Andromeda Strain" years and years ago and enjoyed it to the point of actually suffering one in a basketball game back when I was younger:) I had no idea he was so young when published and he really researches his topic thoroughly.”