Any good new book suggestions ??

[+ imagooddog]

I'm just an old guy with a boring life, so I like to get lost in a new book. I tend to like novels with some historic background (whether true or fiction) or just a lot of action

that keeps one entertained. Any suggestions would be appreciated. STJ used to post interesting books.

[+ poolboy48220]

Have you read "The Pillars of the Earth"? Looong novel with lots of historical background, I was riveted. Set around building a new cathedral in medieval England. Its sequel ("World Without End", I believe) was almost as good.

[MsGuy]

If "Pillars" is the one I am remembering, I read it a few years ago and found it very readable. That's more than you can say for many novels in that genre.

[+ Charlie]

I really enjoyed Hillary Mantel's "Wolf Hall."

[MscleLovr]

I really enjoyed Hillary Mantel's "Wolf Hall."

 

Me too, and the second part of her trilogy is also excellent. Currently I'm reading "HHhH" by Laurent Binet. It's a novel discussing an historical event. I'm only halfway through the book but I can see why it won the Prix Goncourt.

[Decatur Guy]

Have you read "The Pillars of the Earth"? Looong novel with lots of historical background, I was riveted. Set around building a new cathedral in medieval England. Its sequel ("World Without End", I believe) was almost as good.

 

I read this, and I concur it was good.

 

Three more suggestions, which you may have already read:

 

"Lonesome Dove" -- One of my favorites. Larry McMurtry

 

The "Tales of the City" series -- It started out as a newspaper column in the late '70s. Armisted Maupin's look at San Francisco life.

 

Finally, there's a sci-fi writer, Ben Bova, who has done a series of books about the "future history" of man's exploration of the solar system. It's called the "Grand Tour Series." I got one of them in the middle of the series as a book on CD. I liked it it so much (and I'm only halfway through) that I ordered the first four. The reviews said the novels do stand alone, so you're not entirely dependent on the chronological order.

[Rod Hagen]

If you like historical books, these are two of the best you'll ever read "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up The Bodies". Yes even assuming you've read about King Henry and Mary and Kathryn and Anne 100 times, and seen the movies and TV Shows, you've NEVER encountered a writer on the subject as gifted as Mantel. I can not adequately explain how exceptional these 2 books are:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Hall-ebook/dp/B002UZ5K4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368208187&sr=8-1&keywords=wolf+hall&tag=651998669-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805090037/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=651998669-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0805090037

 

And, after you devour those 2 books, good news, she's almost done with a third AND BBC/HBO are putting together a miniseries. But don't skip the books just because of the upcoming miniseries, they are amazing books (did I say that already?)

 

This is the best gay book I've read in some time. Stunning prose. Cute, young, literary author:

http://www.amazon.com/We-the-Animals-ebook/dp/B005ENZ6KM/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368208363&sr=1-1&keywords=we+the+animals&tag=651998669-20

 

Enjoy!

[edjames]

Pillars of the Earth is indeed a great read. Author, Ken Follet has a new trilogy beginning with The Fall of Giants and the latest, Winter of the World. Try them.

 

Dan Drown (DaVinci Code) has a new Robert Lanfdon book out next week, Inferno.

 

One of my favorite authors Daniel Silva has a new Gabriel Allon thriller out very soon called The English Girl. If you've never read his books you migth want to give them a try.

 

Of course, there's always my stable of favorite authors, Lee Child, Micharl Connelly, David Baldacci, Steve Berry...

 

happy reading!

 

ED

[Jscott]

If you like historical books, these are two of the best you'll ever read "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up The Bodies". Yes even assuming you've read about King Henry and Mary and Kathryn and Anne 100 times, and seen the movies and TV Shows, you've NEVER encountered a writer on the subject as gifted as Mantel. I can not adequately explain how exceptional these 2 books are:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Hall-ebook/dp/B002UZ5K4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368208187&sr=8-1&keywords=wolf+hall&tag=651998669-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805090037/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=651998669-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0805090037

 

And, after you devour those 2 books, good news, she's almost done with a third AND BBC/HBO are putting together a miniseries. But don't skip the books just because of the upcoming miniseries, they are amazing books (did I say that already?)

 

This is the best gay book I've read in some time. Stunning prose. Cute, young, literary author:

http://www.amazon.com/We-the-Animals-ebook/dp/B005ENZ6KM/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368208363&sr=1-1&keywords=we+the+animals&tag=651998669-20

 

Enjoy!

 

Mantel is an exceptional writer; she deservedly won the Man Booker for Wolf Hall.... Speaking of (then) Booker Prize-winners, if you never read Persuasion, it;s absolutely stunning, beautifully contrasting modern academia 9a sly satire) with pre-Raphaelite poets.

 

And I also third (fourth) the Follett recommendations of both Pillars and World without End.

 

You specified historical fiction. I can think of other less stellar, but enjoyable efforts in the genre. but mentioning Persuasion also makes me think of university satire, and David Lodge is peerless in that regard (well, Tom Sharpe comes in a close second). Immensely witty reads. I also just fininshe the latest Chris Buckley, "They Eat Puppies, Don't They?" While not his best, it's still breezy and biting, dealing with topics that will grace historic fiction soon enough.

[+ poolboy48220]

A post in another thread reminded me of "Manhunt", about the Lincoln assassination and the nearly-two-week search for John Wilkes Booth. I really enjoyed it.

 

"Devil in the White City" is about the 1893 (or thereabouts) Chicago Worlds Fair, the work in putting it on, with a parallel story about a serial killer working in the city. I bought a copy for my Dad, then got so excited discussing it with a bartender that I gave him that copy on the spur of the moment, and bought another one for Dad.

 

Decatur Guy mentioned Tales of the City - I'll read anything Armistead Maupin writes. Whenever somebody tells me "I don't read much and I wish I read more", I recommend Tales of the City to them - they are very easy reads. I particularly enjoyed "Maybe the Moon"- I was loaned that on a camping trip with friends and basically ignored them for two days, laying in my hammock until I finished it.

 

I've recently gotten hooked on Mary Roach - a handful of nonfiction books in which she picks out a "light science" topic and investigates it in whimsical detail. I'm reading her new book, "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal", now.

 

There's always Harry Potter. :-) And I don't mean that sarcastically, they are great books. If you like audiobooks, Jim Dale's reading of those are hands-down the best audio adaptations of any book I've listened to.

[Lookin]

Not much of a fiction reader here, but I sure got lost in The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell who also wrote Cloud Atlas (another great read). His historical research is excellent and manages to bring 1800 Japan to life at a time when it was closed to all but a small Dutch trading post in Nagasaki Harbor. Another world, indeed, and plenty of action as the hero makes connections that get him rare access to the main island, where dark secrets abound.

[Njbaseballjock]

Although these are not "new" books, they were new to me and I enjoyed them. The two by William Martin are fiction with connections to historic people and places.

 

"Harvard Yard" by William Martin

The novel's hero discovers that an undiscovered Shakespeare play is hidden somewhere in the halls of Harvard University. The book covers the period from the founding of Harvard, to witch hangings, to the Civil War and the 1960's and he learns that men and women have risked death, disgrace and banishment in pursuit of this relic. Very interesting and full of historic references.

 

"City of Dreams" by William Martin

Starting in present day New York, it takes the reader back to Revolutionary War days in search of bonds that were issued by Alexander Hamilton to finance the Revolution, which would be worth millions today.

 

"Devil in the White City" by Eril Larson

A true story about an architect behind the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Many historic figures of the time had a role in the Fair in Chicago and you will reconize the names of several others who were influenced by the Fair and later became famous in their own right.

 

Hope you enjoy them.

[Jscott]

Other older books to consider that incorporate historic personalities include Doctorow's Ragtime, The Book of Daniel and Billy Bathgate. I'd also consider William Styron's Confessions of Nat Turner. If you like detective fiction (and something lighter), consider George Baxt's cheeky pastiches like The Alfred Hitchcock Murder Case and Dorothy Parker Murder Case.

[ragazzolupo]

If you like Imperial Roman History there are several series that might work for you:

 

My favorite is Lindsey Davis:

 

From 1989 to 2010 she wrote twenty “Falco Novels” They manage to convey the smell of a Roman Caupona and the taste of garum, as well as social stratification and the problems of running an empire. The historical research is impressive

 

The Silver Pigs is the first in the series:

Plot Summary

Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman ‘informer’ in 70AD, is standing in the Forum one very hot day, aiming to become a classic gumshoe in the Ancient World genre of mystery fiction… At this early point in his career, he has not only to make his way in the snobbish and dangerous milieu of Vespasian’s Rome, but to overcome the prejudice amongst publishers, booksellers and readers who are wary of historical novels and off-beat settings. Our hero takes himself to Britain; there the weather is filthy, the natives are restless, the women are angry, and his mission turns into a nightmare from which he only narrowly escapes alive. Along the way he meets brutes, traitors, his mother, sellers of seedy snacks, a blonde young lady who thinks he’s wonderful, the Emperor – and Helena Justina, whom the author had intended to be the chief conspirator – but who turned out to be far too spirited for that.

 

Then there are Steven Saylor’s thirteen novels on “Roma sub rosa” during the time of Sulla and the events leading up to the rise of Julius Caesar.

 

Finally there are the Conn Iggulden “Emperor” Novels beginning with “The Gates of Rome” A fictitious history of the rise and death of Julius Caesar.

• The Gates of Rome - released 2003

• The Death of Kings - released early 2004

• The Field of Swords - released late 2004

• The Gods of War - released 2005

A fifth book, "The Blood of Gods", will be released on 23rd May 2013.

[+ newatthis]

I've lucked into a few new (to me) authors recently who have something of a backlist -- I found them by reading reviews of their latest books. William Boyd, James Meek, and Jonathan Dee are the ones that come to mind immediately. I'm in the middle of reading Paula Byrne's "The Real Jane Austen" which I'm also enjoying very much.

[+ AceBanner]

For exciting murder mysteries I'm into books by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo. His writing style is very realistic and keeps you moving along for a real escapist experience

 

If you want something that makes you work a little, check out Faulkner. As I Lay Dying is being made into a movie now with James Franco. It is a great story by a Nobel awarded author.

[+ Charlie]

Let me add William Boyd's "Any Human Heart," one of my favorite novels of the past several years.

[Decatur Guy]

Thanks to Raggazolupe for those Roman-era set novels!

[doya66]

As it happens, this was on the Advocate web site today. I haven't read any of them.

 

http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2013/05/13/20-must-read-books-we-missed-last-year

[Rod Hagen]

by David Mitchell

 

The argument could be made and supported that he's the best writer my age currently writing English fiction. MUCH better than asshole Franzen. ANYTHING by Mitchell is worth your time.

[Rod Hagen]

Boyd was praised, now he's under-appreciated. Love him.