Recommendations for Books, Book Series, Authors

[dino]

I'm a big fan of Robert B. Parker's "Spenser" books, and Sara Paretsky's "V. I. Warshawski" books.

I also enjoy Stuart Kaminsky's "Toby Peters" series and the "Abe Lieberman" books.

 

[bonanzadriver]

Another vote for Rand, Ayn Rand....
Anthem

We the Living

Fountainhead

Atlas Shrugged

 

[cosmicbobo]

Just got Rankin's Knots and Crosses on your rec.

Louis L'Amour has been on my list for a while. I have several of his books. My attention span comes and goes. I can study a subject for days on end, reading articles and such. Reading cover to cover is getting rough on me.
Going to have to look up all the other suggestions. This is why I asked. I knew there would be things new to me.
Thanks.

 

[dmcmtk]

Just got Rankin's Knots and Crosses on your rec.

Stick with the series, there's excellent character development throughout.
Also Donna Leon's series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti are good reads.

 

[conlejm]

I typically read classics by Maugham, Steinbeck and Hemmingway, but I am thoroughly enjoying Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series of books; Napoleonic era British soldier rising up through the ranks. Lots of great history.

 

[roddypiper]

Don't know if it's a genre you'll like, but Robert E. Howard was an incredible story teller. I have read his Conan stories many times. Don't bother with the Conan books by other authors. Also silmarillion by Tolkien is excellent but overlooked by many people for some reason.

 

[cosmicbobo]

I have had my copy of Hobbit, LOTR, silmarillion since the 70's. The latter looked like it had too much "inside language" that a lot of scifi has. You either are in on it or you aren't. Howard wrote a lot of stuff, I believe some yellow peril stuff as well. Like pulp stuff.
Have not read Maugham, but have read Steinbeck's Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday, Tortilla Flat. Love the way he makes the low seem stately. Mack and the Boys had an air of nobility.

 

[nevadablue]

For sure, if you have a good attention span... being silly here, read Atlas Shrugged. I couldn't do it, but did listen to the audio book. I really like audio books. I have to listen to them when driving so I don't fall asleep and miss something. LOL... :roll:

 

[ben88]

especially mysteries?

Robert van Gulik

 

[cosmicbobo]

ben88: second only and maybe topping Sherlock. Back before the net I took a drive to Louisville (250 mi) to pick up some copies of his Judge Dee books I was missing. There are some books that have Judge Dee in, the earliest one by Lyn Yutang, called Madame Wu or Lady Wu. Can't recall. Cooney and Altieri wrote 3 books on Wu, two that have Judge Dee like you've never seen him. First book I read was Chinese Maze Murders. I was hooked. I would hit my GF's (at the time) over the head with his books till they read him and discussed him. Okay, maybe not. Xuan (wife) has read all of his books over and over again along with Edgar Wallace. She hits me over the head a lot. Especially if I cop an extra bowl of tobie.

 

[filmshooter]

W.E.B. Griffin

 

[jguss]

The possibilities are endless and highly subjective. Here are a very few favorites of mine:
For historical fiction, Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin series
For lesser known British Golden Age mysteries, Michael Innes, Cyril Hare, Edmund Crispin, Leo Bruce
For the greatest American Golden Age mysteries, Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout (already mentioned), Raymond Chandler
For classic thirties pulp thrillers, The Spider, The Shadow, Doc Savage & Operator 5

 

[cosmicbobo]

Yes, endless possibilities, but I am not going anywhere. Love O'Brian. Just nailed a copy of the 1931 movie, The Spider. I believe one is based on the other. Have not had a chance to look at it.
Have you seen the Ron Ely Doc Savage? It's actually pretty good, as well as Baldwin's Shadow. Love the Phantom. Movie was okay, but thought he smiled too much. Love the 40's serials of all the crimefighters.
Looking up Griffin now. Have heard of him, but not familiar.

 

[danielplainview]

I mostly read nonfiction. I'm currently reading Propaganda by Edward Bernays for the second time. I loves my torches of freedom.

 

[tonywiebe33]

I find Clive Cussler to be a spectacular read everytime. Considering i've been through about 25 of his books. Still have another 20 plus in my library to go . Never disappoints me. Although its more of a more of an adventure style book with lots of thrill and suspense which i do love.

 

[lifesizehobbit]

For any Louis L'Amour fans, don't miss reading "Last Of The Breed" as it's a cold-war take on Native American survival story. The protagonist is kidnapped by Soviets for intelligence purposes; they bit off more than they could chew.

 

[seitz55]

List of my top ten authors.

J.R.R. Tolkien- Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Brandon Sanderson- The Stormlight Archive and Warbreaker.

Glen Cook- Chronicles of the Black Company.

J.T. Williams- Half-Elf Chronicles and Stormborn Saga.

Clive Cussler- Dirk Pitt and A Fargo Adventure.

M.D. Ireman- The Axe and the Throne.

Paul S. Kemp- A tale of Egil and Nix.

Ben Hale- The Master Thief.

Miles Cameron- The Traitor Son Cycle.

David Eddings- Belgarath the Sorcerer.