OT: Best Book
- Thread starter bsquared24
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The Passage, the Twelve, and the City of Mirrors NY Justin Cronin. Vampire novels that really don't read like horror novels. I just started Wolf Hall, historical fiction about Thomas Cromwell.
If you're gonna go with Vampire books, you gotta consider the Ann Rice novels, beginning with Interview With The Vampire. WAY better than the Twilight series.
Just finished Camino Island and about to start Rooster Bar (read the preview chapter at the end of Camino Island). I haven't read Grisham in a long time, but Camino was good and I think Rooster Bar will be even better.
I'd have to think about the best one I've read in the past 2 years ... probably well over 100 books, but mostly novels.
I'd have to think about the best one I've read in the past 2 years ... probably well over 100 books, but mostly novels.
Ferrol Sams trilogy...
Run with the Horsemen
The Whisper of the River
When All the World was Young
Ferrol was a Georgia doctor turned author. This semi-autobiographical trilogy follows Porter Osborne, Jr. from growing up in rural GA to college frat life to med school to WWII medic.
If you don’t laugh out loud repeatedly, let me know so I know to avoid you.
Run with the Horsemen
The Whisper of the River
When All the World was Young
Ferrol was a Georgia doctor turned author. This semi-autobiographical trilogy follows Porter Osborne, Jr. from growing up in rural GA to college frat life to med school to WWII medic.
If you don’t laugh out loud repeatedly, let me know so I know to avoid you.
It was like 1,100 pages and towards the end I was wishing it was 11,000. I was head over heels in love with Sadie by the end of.
"Head over heels in love"- words previously never spoken on sps
"Head over heels in love"- words previously never spoken on sps
Papillon
Read about 45 years ago and recently (last year) re-read.
Wonderful book.
Everyone at some point should read this book.
Read about 45 years ago and recently (last year) re-read.
Wonderful book.
Everyone at some point should read this book.
Sapiens was engrossing. (Audiobook, I confess)
Papillon & the Stand I saw listed were definitely all time favs.
admittedly, I’m not the page turner I used to be.
Papillon & the Stand I saw listed were definitely all time favs.
admittedly, I’m not the page turner I used to be.
Agreed on Orson Scott Card. Although I don't think the rest of the series really gets back to the high you get off finishing "Ender's Game".
Recommended (in order of preference):
John Adams - David McCullough
Taken from the extensive letters he wrote to his wife and Thomas Jefferson. Incredible.
Undaunted Courage - Stephen Ambrose
The definitive Lewis and Clark biography. Frankly, everything I've ever read from Ambrose was/is fantastic.
Six Frigates - Ian Toll
He started to write a book about the founding of the US Navy, wound up telling a much bigger story. Just a fabulous book, especially if you've already read John Adams.
Churchill - Martin Gilbert
The. Man. 'nough said.
Theodore Rex - Edmund Morris
Not a biography, just covers the years of Teddy as President. Excellent.
The Ghost Mountain Boys - James Campbell
Ever read about the battle for New Guinea? Just a great book.
Recommended (in order of preference):
John Adams - David McCullough
Taken from the extensive letters he wrote to his wife and Thomas Jefferson. Incredible.
Undaunted Courage - Stephen Ambrose
The definitive Lewis and Clark biography. Frankly, everything I've ever read from Ambrose was/is fantastic.
Six Frigates - Ian Toll
He started to write a book about the founding of the US Navy, wound up telling a much bigger story. Just a fabulous book, especially if you've already read John Adams.
Churchill - Martin Gilbert
The. Man. 'nough said.
Theodore Rex - Edmund Morris
Not a biography, just covers the years of Teddy as President. Excellent.
The Ghost Mountain Boys - James Campbell
Ever read about the battle for New Guinea? Just a great book.
One more comment:
It sounded great and I was excited to read it, but it was awful. Great idea, lots of potential, quite possibly the most boring/uninspiring/awful book I've read in the past couple of years. I really wish someone else would tackle this subject and do a better job.
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution - Brian Kilmeade
What a waste...
It sounded great and I was excited to read it, but it was awful. Great idea, lots of potential, quite possibly the most boring/uninspiring/awful book I've read in the past couple of years. I really wish someone else would tackle this subject and do a better job.
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution - Brian Kilmeade
What a waste...
I also am going back if you haven't read them territory. Michael Crichton is probably my favorite author so Sphere, Congo, State of Fear are all great. The Jurassic Trilogy is outstanding and way better than the movies.
I just re-read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the first time in probably decades. Was even better than I remembered.
I also tend to like the classics - earlier this year, I reread the entire Conan-Doyle Sherlock Holmes collection. Those are great because a lot of them are short stories, which is perfect for me because I have two really young kids so I don't get as much extended reading time as I'd like.
I also tend to like the classics - earlier this year, I reread the entire Conan-Doyle Sherlock Holmes collection. Those are great because a lot of them are short stories, which is perfect for me because I have two really young kids so I don't get as much extended reading time as I'd like.
Honestly I have My favorite pics in the Pen Cage series, but all are very good. My honest opinion though, you need to start with the first and read through. Each book builds on characters and some characters are brought back in different books. Without reading from the beginning you can still enjoy each book but will not get the full story like reading from the first to last in order.
I would also read Turning Angel and Devils Punch Bowl after Quiet Game. The end of Devils Punchbowl kindof sets the scene for the beginning of Natchez burning
Crichton was great. Timeline was my favorite of his by far. Unfortunately, the movie was one of the worst book adaptations I have ever seen. But, I thought there were only two Jurassic books.
And I'll add Wilbur Smith books. I think I've read them all.
Surprised no one has mentioned "The Boys in the Boat" by Danial James Brown It's the story of Univ of Washington crew and how they made it to the '36 Olympics in Berlin.
After further research I realize it's only about the Kennedy Assassination (I now recall seeing the trailer for the show), and not all three of them. I'm now significantly less interested. I'm sure it's still a decent read, though. King has talent and he's better when not writing the straight horror stuff: Hearts in Atlantis, Green Mile, etc.
I understand why you'd say that. But a lot of people think Speaker For The Dead was a little better.
My bad, you are right. I have 3 because of the one that came with both books in it. Jurassic World
John Sandford's Prey series is the best series I have ever read if you like detective type stuff. Start with Rules of Prey and read the series and thank me later. Anything James Lee Burke or Thomas Perry writes is great. Perry's Metzger's Dog is my favorite novel.
Undaunted Courage was excellant, I agree. The broad skills those guys possessed really makes you appreciate how enlightened men had become at that time. Botany, drawings, navigation, mapping, military, medical and even good ol' survival skills. Amazing to think they had to tug that boat over the continental divide. Lastly, that story gives life to a part of the country (save the rockies & the west coast) that I wouldn't otherwise think about much.
Going cross country over that westerb route is on my retirement bucket list.
Going cross country over that westerb route is on my retirement bucket list.
Yeah, I've read all the "Prey" novels, plus the Virgil Flowers spinoffs. He's an excellent writer, and explains things in grisly detail.
Storm of Steel- Ernst Junger
Listened to Dan Carlin’s WW1 podcast and picked this one out of his source materials. It’s the memoir of a German officer. If you’re in to trying to get a glimpse into the life and thoughts of people as they’re experiencing the absolute worst of human experiences, it’s great.
Listened to Dan Carlin’s WW1 podcast and picked this one out of his source materials. It’s the memoir of a German officer. If you’re in to trying to get a glimpse into the life and thoughts of people as they’re experiencing the absolute worst of human experiences, it’s great.
Yea I'm not big on horror stuff. But this book is great. Other than finding away to go back in time there's nothing way out there. His characters are great. I stayed up reading til like 3am reading as I couldn't put it down. The hulu series is good but I highly recommend reading it before watching.
Back to the date 11-22-63, that was the day Bing Crosby recorded "Do you hear what I hear?"
Back to the date 11-22-63, that was the day Bing Crosby recorded "Do you hear what I hear?"
A bit off the original question, but has Ken Follet been mentioned? Pillars of the Earth, The Key to Rebecca, innumerable others.