OT: Suggestions for Fiction
I'm a total cliche. Mid-50's. I'm the dad in the Progressive ad who reads about WWII all the time. I read a lot, but no joke, I think I've read a single novel in at least 20 years. That was "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, which I really loved. I feel sort of ashamed for never reading any fiction. Was thinking about my problem yesterday and thought "there are lots of smart dudes on the MgoBoard. I'll ask them". So, help me out? Let's skip the classics. Any suggestions of fiction you've read in the last couple of years? Many years ago I really enjoyed the Tolkien books, and Tom Clancy, and John Grisham (although after 3 Grisham books I just felt like they are all the exact same formula).
Thanks in advance. And apologies to those who hate posts like this.
Based on the reading you have enjoyed, I would suggest Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and anything by Elmore Leonard or Martin Cruz Smith.
I've always been a fan of some of the John Girsham novels, in particular The Firm.
However, I haven't read it in decades. It might have to be viewed through the lens of a "period piece" with their lack of e-mail, smart-phones, etc.
Grisham is super hit and miss lately, but "The Guardians" was pretty solid.
I'm reading "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," a spin on the murder mystery genre. So far, it's fantastic.
This was one I recommended, too! Excellent book all the way through.
The Dragonlance series was a great fantasy read when I was a pre teen. I have not read it since, however, so I'm not sure what my middle-aged self would think of it.
My favorite book in the past several years is " Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal", by Christopher Moore. It is a look at Jesus' formative years with his best friend Biff who "experiences" life on Jesus' behalf.
Up for debate if you consider Cat's Cradle a classic
I would but also found that most people don't appreciate Vonnegut enough... this is a great place to start and feeds into the next two books God Bless you, Mr. Rosewater and Breakfast of Champions.
He has a uniquely witty and sarcastic style that weaves fiction into a historical context and can make you think (Cat's Cradle explores the life of the creator of the atomic bomb and the idea of religiosity).
For sure my favorite author of all time. Enjoy if you choose to dive in.
I recommend most anything from David Gemmell. It's heroic fantasy with some very gritty characters.
Let me suggest another book in the Science Fiction section that I think will align with your interests--Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. If you like reading about WW2, this might be right up your alley. I guess I would describe the book as most resembling a Gen-X Michael Crichton--less serious and more cynical than Crichton, but the same sort of techno-thriller with engaging characters.
It jumps between several intertwining plot lines, some chapters taking place during WW2, with following several different participants in the war, and some plot lines taking place during the "present day." The present-day plot follows a Silicon Valley startup trying to establish a cryptocurrency, but is much more exciting than it sounds. Since it was written in the '90s you might expect it to be a little dated, but I don't find it to be dated at all. The way the book ties together all of these different plot lines is awesome.
It is filled with action scenes, but also filled with the author's weird and often amusing digressions.
Have you read a lot of Neal Stephenson books? He’s a good science fiction writer with interesting ideas but sometimes the books are 900 pages just for the sake of being 900 pages, with weird interludes that never come back to mean anything. I liked Seven Eves but I hated Fall.
For science fiction I like The Culture novels by Iain Banks, which is an anthology series about a civilization which takes over a galaxy. Kind of like a more hardcore Star Wars. It’s not very critically acclaimed but there’s a lot of interesting ideas and concepts.
I think I have read all of them. Did you read Reamde before you read Fall? I recommend it.
Fall was mostly disappointing for me as well; he was trying to make a point but it didn't come across very well, I think. The sub-plot about Moab, though, was spectacular--I think he captured the modern "two Americas" feeling better than anybody else could.
The Moab stuff was very interesting and it takes a current issue in society to an extreme possible conclusion, same with the divisions in the country. But that stuff could have been a stand alone novel or short story, it had zero impact on the last 300 pages.
Lots of interesting ideas, but they didn’t make a coherent story from my perspective.
Seconded. Cryptonomicon may be the greatest book I ever read. It had me literally laughing out loud at times (which got me some strange looks from the Mrs.). One of the more amazing things to me was Neal Stephenson accurately described bitcoin back in 1999! Looking forward to reading Fall next.
The ideas for cryptocurrency and blockchain were around in the late 80s and early 90s. But Stephenson is very good at keeping up with the cutting edge of obscure journal papers and their concepts. And talking with experts and then weaving that into his writing.
To help in your search, go to fantasticfiction.com. There are hundreds of authors and their works listed.
Since you like nonfiction/history, some historical fiction might be a good place to start. Others have already made some really good suggestions. A few that I’ve read over the past year that I really enjoyed were
The Order of the Day, by Éric Vuillard: A behind the scenes blend of actual history and fiction about the decisions leading up to WW2.
Tyll, by Daniel Kehlmann: One of my recent favorites. Set in the time of the Thirty Years War and based on the exploits of a legend from German folklore.
Since you’re so heavy into World War II, I'm not sure how you’d feel about fantasy, but those have been my go to for escapism. The top ones that come to mind are as follows:
A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George RR Martin (Book 1 Game of Thrones) if you enjoyed the tv series at all (But especially if you skipped it), the books are intricate and compelling.
The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (Book 1 The Gunslinger). This series is a great gateway to King’s works. If you’re familiar with pop culture, you’ll recognize lots of references to King’s other works, which could lead to you wanting to explore those works as well.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S, Lewis (Book 1 The Magician’s Nephew). I know most people think the first book is The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, but it’s not. At any rate, it’s a deep, if flawed Christian allegory.
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (Book 1 The Golden Compass) An atheists response to The Chronicles of Narnia. There are some fair criticisms of religion, some rather obtuse and unfair, but as a story it is compelling and an enjoyable read.
Harry Potter by J K Rowling (Book 1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). The series starts out very juvenile, but the themes grow more adult as the series progresses and are fun.
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien.
I’m sure since most of these are very prevalent in pop culture you’ve heard of them and may even know the stories, but they are still a great way to pass the time.
Some Fiction
Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season - Urban Meyer
Rudy : My Story by Rudy Ruttiger
If you like grittiness, as war stories typically are, Glen Cook is far and away my favorite author, especially his Black Company series.
Old Man's War recommended above is a good read, but beware the ending. Scalzi can write. Nothing like trashing the entire premise of a created universe to make a political point.
I loved those two. Thanks for reminder on The Black Company! :)
I'm in the middle of The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma and so far I like it. The comedy I wrote is free on amazon kindle unlimited too.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. That's the first book in a planned fantasy trilogy. The second book, The Wise Man's Fear is also great. Still waiting on the third book however (it's been over 10 years). He is an amazing writer and has built an incredibly rich and detailed world. It's got magic, music, politics, and mythology. One of my favorite books of all time.
Also, +1 to the Red Rising series--a ton of fun.
It is a national shame that Mark Helprin is not more well known, in my opinion he's the best living American novelist.
Start with "A Soldier of the Great War" for an amazing life journey of an Italian aristocrat drafted trench warfare. Simply my favorite novel of all time. Not really a war book, but an exploration of how life and love changes based on events.
Then "Memoir From an Antproof Case" about a Brazilian English teacher who can't speak English and carries an irrational hate of coffee. Laugh out loud funny at times.
I thought he made a pretty good case against coffee. No pun intended.
I am an older than you Dad.
Here is a couple of series I like but are more in the fantasy space:
Dresden Files – Jim Butcher - telling the story of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Chicago's first Wizard P.I - kind of a PG series
The Sandman Slim series - by Richard Kadrey is a fantasy/supernatural/occult/noir collection of novels. Features James "Sandman Slim" Stark, a half-human/half-angel magician who returns from Hell to exact revenge on the people who sent him there. - gritty with a good sense of humor
Dresden Files is good fun. I second that series sir or ma'am.
Third it!
If you love the 80's - "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline is the the most fun book I have read over the last 10 years. Terrific, fast moving read.
Funniest sports fiction book ever is "Missing Links" by Rick Reilly. If you play any golf, you will love it.
Just read "14" by Peter Clines - Terrific. Really like all of his books.
Lastly - would really recommend "11/22/63" by Stephen King. Not horror, but amazing time travel fiction. To me, there is no better fiction writer than Stephen King. His characters are incredible.
Thanks for post - reading some of the other replies gave me some good ideas, always looking for good reads.
Some of my best, in no order:
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
First in a series, of which two have been released thus far. The main character is one of the last magicians on Earth that has the power to travel between parallel worlds, specifically London(s), all of which are different and exist at the same time side-by-side. It’s part caper, part heist, really smart and the characters are likeable and its easy to read. Just finished the second book this year (A Gathering of Shadows) and it didn’t slow down.
A zombie outbreak infects the United States around the same time that regular people realize they have superpowers. When the world goes to hell, a few of these newly-formed superheroes rescue the last remaining unaffected folks and look to rebuild civilization, and a life for them, in the Paramount studios in LA. The premise sounds more far-fetched than it is, and the books are so cool. First of 5, but very easy reads compared to other weighty tomes and big, dense series. Fun, fast-paced and really great character development. Highly recommended
It’s just flat-out awesome. A huge heist needs committed, and the youngest mastermind in the city thinks he can do it, but he can’t do it alone. So he recruits five others, all amazingly different, to help him pull it off. Imagine Ocean’s 11, if they all sorta hated each other and were only doing it so they could get away. Yet, something keeps them together. Chapters are told from different characters perspectives and it’s engrossing and fun and just terrific fiction. My second-favorite book last year (by a thin margin) and a winner of a lot of awards. Note: there is another 3-book series called the Greisha series by the same author. I have read book one and I will finish, but it’s much more YA than I care for, but still very good as well. However, both series take place in the same universe in a different part of the world. You do NOT need to read one to get the other, but if you choose to do so, know that they are intertwined.
·It’s like Star Wars, Ender’s Game, Hunger Games, Game of Thrones and every other popular trope rolled into one….and then completely original. It’s really hard to describe what Brown did here, but he pulled the best ideas from other success stories and then twisted them to make his own mashup that seems familiar and foreign all at once. It’s one of the few series that I’ve read where the third book is clearly the best, and each gets better. Red Rising is excellent and makes way for books two and three, each of which get bigger, stronger, faster and more engaging. This is NOT young adult reading. Very violent and no punches pulled
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Absolutely staggering in writing, story and content. I fell in love immediately with the way he writes, and Kvothe is one of the coolest characters in fantasy. Rothfuss is an absolutely amazing writer, but he writes at GRRM speed, which is to say, his third book has been delayed multiple times. We discussed the plot in length last night but this should be an absolute MUST read this year.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
If Gangs of New York met Ocean's 11 but with an IMMENSELY likeable cast. Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen are what you wish you were with a best friend. The dialogue, banter, thought process, plans and plots will leave your mouth hanging open. It's one of the most fun books you will ever read and an absolute time sucker. No one who has picked it up can put it down. It's the first in the Gentlemen Bastards Sequence. Three are out, another one this year. One of the absolute top three books i always recommend after people read ASOIAF and keeps you in the genre but allows a bit more lightheartedness. Gripping, intelligent writing and you cannot belive that it will have taken you this long to have read this book.
One of the greatest books I’ve ever read, and you can see by its over 12,000 reviews on Amazon that most people feel the same way. Introduced a few years back as a series of short stories, the Omnibus edition puts all five short books into one. It’s an absolutely breathtaking read and features Rothfuss-like writing where no sentences are wasted. I absolutely lost myself in it and have recommended it to people for a while, all who come out the same. There are books that you can read after this, as prequels, sequels and in-betweens, but this should be a must-read this year
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
This book is a monster in so many ways, as it took the author ten years to write it. It is a very dense, challenging and sometimes frustrating read, but it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen in your life. Visually, the book itself is almost a piece of art, and it feels like it was written by a lunatic. This is not one that you can pick up and breeze through. It took me the better part of 6 months to get through it, but that’s because there are parts that haunted me so much I had to walk away for a bit. One of the most unique literary experiences of all time.
Thanks for this list.
+1 for Ex-Heroes and WOOL. Thanks for the recommendations.
Get your Vonnegut on. So many great options. For someone who likes war non-fiction, Slaughterhouse Five or Mother Night are great starting points.
Crime / Detective Novels:
- The Thin Man, Dashiel Hammet
- Double Indemnity, James Cain
- The Friends of Eddie Coyle, George V Higgins
- In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (not a novel but reads like one)
- I'll Be Gone In the Dark, Michelle McNamara (I haven't read but my wife insists it's an instant classic and she is much better read than I am)
In the Vein of Cormac McCarthy:
- Waiting for the Barbarians, JM Coetzee
- The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner
All-Time Great Novels:
- The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison (anything she writes is perfect)
- War and Peace, Tolstoy (actually a good read)
Sci-Fi / Fantasy
- Anything by Ursula K Leguin (Left Hand of Darkness is my fav)
- The Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents, Octavia Butler
- The Broken Earth Trilogy, NK Jemisin
Hilarious Literary Novels:
- The Sellout, Paul Beatty
- A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole
Personal Favorites you HAVE to read:
- The Open Curtain, Brian Evenson (amazing psychological crime thriller)
- Missing Person, Patrick Modiano (Recovering one's identity after WWII induced amnesia)
- Destiny of the Republic, Candace Millard (Not a novel, but historical *NON-fiction that is so well written it reads like one)
No Raymond Chandler in that first group? imho The Long Goodbye and The Big Sleep both live up to the hype.
Great list, though!
Never read him, but Big Sleep is on the long list of books I'll probably never get to.
+1 for the NK Jemisin shout-out. Good list, left out Terry Prachett for silly good fun.
I could never get into Discworld books, but they are super popular and beloved.
Awesome list. I just finished The Fifth Season (first of the Broken Earth Trilogy).
Love Toni Morrison. My favorite is Beloved, an absolute heartwrenching story that will leave an impression on you for life.
I'm going to add your personal favorites to my reading list
In case you haven't, definitely add Octavia Butler to your list, especially if you're enjoying Jemisin. She is quite indebted to Butler and in my opinion Fifth Season is brilliant, but the prose isn't as good as Butler's.
This list fucks. Modiano is unreal, Coetzee is excellent, Toole is great.
I don't know to feel about Morrison. Beloved and Song of Solomon are great, Bluest Eye didn't work for me.
You could easily switch out Bluest Eye with Beloved in this list. There are actually a lot of similarities in construction and storytelling between the two.
Also +1 for saying this list "fucks" that is incredible internet lingo I've never heard before, but that I will now use.
The Wheel of Time series was pretty fantastic. A bit of a slog halfway through but worth it in the end.
I'd highly recommend reading some James Clavell. Shogun, Tai-Pan, The Noble House, and King Rat were outstanding.
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, The Martian by Andy Weir. If you're looking for a series, I'd recommend the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White, the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child or the Spenser series by Robert Parker (shorter novels, but there are nearly 50 in the series).
I also read a lot of WWII history (a main hobby for me), and a lot of fiction.
Some of my favorites over time:
Starship Troopers, by Heinlein
The Forever War, by Haldeman
Old Man's War, by Scalzi
Dune, by Herbert
Riverworld, by Farmer
Snow Crash, by Stephenson
Lord of Light, by Zelazny
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Adams
Feet of Clay, by Pratchett
Neuromancer, by Gibson
The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Shea and Wilson
Ubik, by Dick
short story collections by H. P. Lovecraft
Brave New World, by Huxley
1984, by Orwell
Catch 22, by Heller
Atlas Shrugged, by Rand
The Bonfire of the Vanities, by Wolfe
The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Shea and Wilson
Maybe if Shea and Tru Wilson spent more time working on their games instead of writing novels, we'd beat OSU
/s
We've covered much of the same sf ground, I notice, though I don't read as much in that area as I did when I was younger. Lord of Light by Zelazny was a particular favorite.
David Weber writes involving space opera. Le Guin's The Dispossessed is powerful.
As expected, you guys come through. Thanks for all the great recommendations! Stay safe. GO BLUE!
Read Good Omens. Then watch the TV show on Prime.
Thank me later.
If you like intrigue and see how a spy operation works, try Le Carre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. UK vs Russia during the Cold War. Deliberate pace (reading level high school), cat and mouse, good character/plot balance
If you want a tough guy detective, Philip Marlowe and his derivatives are your guys. I loved the Long Goodbye. Kind of dated, but is modern enough, character driven, well paced/reading level middle school
If you want an epic saga and swashbuckling, try James Clavell's "Shogun" or "Taipan" - great fun, heroes, politics, armies, sea battles, intrigue. Long books but rewarding, fast paced/reading level middle/high school
If you want a swashbuckler who is an antihero/loveable scoundrel, eg a soldier who is a coward and does cowardly things but somehow ends up on the right side of things, try Flashman books. Set in actual events/battles. Fast paced/light, funny, middle school reading level
If you want a tale of life on the savage steppe with barbarians, swords and bows, based on history, try Genghis: Birth of an Empire, reading level middle school/fairly fast paced but dark. A glimpse into what a harsh life it must have been for "hunter gatherers"
If you're in the mood for barbarians, wizards, empires, swords, bows and magic, try Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself. Fun adventures, fast paced/reading level middle school, but definitely for adults
If you want something funny and like Monty Python, try Good Omens, an earthbound angel and demon conspire to stop Armageddon bc they love their earthly lives. Fast paced/reading level middle school, very PG
If you want a smaller story with funny weird characters, try A Confederacy of Dunces. Cult classic. Character driven/middle school reading level. Author committed suicide before the book was published, years later it was and then awarded a Pulitzer
If you have a couple days, don't want to commit to anything and want to have a little fun, pick up a 007 book, or an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Guilty pleasures
Good call on le Carre. The entire Karla Trilogy was great.