Thread: Reading Recommendations

I just finished three short stories by Tolstoy and am starting in to some shorts by Chekov including the famous ward No. 6 . Tolstoy to me as far as short stories go has a certain brothers Grimm quality to it .

Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell.


Any Cornwell books actually. The man is a fantastic historical fiction writer, and I've read of book he's wrote and aside from a couple loaned out I own every one of his Sharpe books and all the standalone and trilogy novels.

I would definately recommend "Day of the Triffids" by John Wyndham. Thats probably my favourite book!

Right now I'm reading The Aubrey/Maturin Novels by Patrick O'Brian.
Good stuff, if you are interested in life in the Navy way back when.

I'd recommend almost anything by Ernest Hemingway. In my spare time right now I'm reading his novel 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.' Great book.

The Vikings by Robt.Wernick,a long tome at 500 pges,but fantastic,These folks were ruthless nasty people,thank God they are Gone
Of interest is thru DNA studys about 80% of them were Danish.

If anyone is interested in a novel replete with plot twists and turns, Pierre Lemaitre's "Alex" is worth a shot. It starts off a bit gory, but it is definitely a page-turner.

The 'Charlie Parker' series by John Connolly.

The 'Pendergast' series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

"The Terror" by Dan Simmons.

"Descent" and "Deeper" by Jeff Long.

Anything by:
- James Rollins
- Brad Thor
- Nelson DeMille
- Steve Berry

Christopher Moore and Carl Hiaasen are always good for a chuckle.

I find that I am less interested in specific authors as the years have past and am more interested in any novel that carries the story line through intelligent dialogue. I've had it with the overly narrative novel where it seems the author ends up contemplating the fuzz in his/her/its navel. I would be interested in receiving suggestions from the myriad members of SRP since I am sure that the taste levels are all over the place, but good dialogue happens even in the trashiest of books. Help me develop a reading list that will take me several years to complete (need something to read while I age myself to 100).

Originally Posted by dirtman775

All of this sound great gentalmen....but i was just curious as to how many of you have a 7yr old and a 4yr old running around while trying to do the pipe/reading thing. dont get me wrong i would love to find time to do that...not so much a pipe but a nice cigar but most of my time alone is spent sleeping for the next days work

I know how you feel. I remember working on the Track Department of the railroad (Translation: Hammering spikes with a 10 lb hammer, Shoveling gravel, Tamping said gravel under the crossties, etc) and then coming home to my boy. Sometimes exhaustion would set in by "after dinner". But I always took a little time to read in the early evenings for two reasons. 1) My son needed to understand that I needed my "time" a little too. I was teaching him by example that reading "is what people do".

Yes I would still read to him in bed almost every night (after the bathroom and teeth were brushed) for 15 to 20 minutes. I ended up with a son that was reading second grade books when he started kindergarden and by second grade he was reading James Michner, Mario Puzo, Louis L'Amour and more. Early on, I had gotten rid of the TV. He read and "played" He made things. He helped add on a bedroom for himself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that your taking time to read for pleasure, will be one of the best "lessons by example" you can give your children. If they see a book on the nightstand near your bed, that sends a powerful message.

By the way, I had the "rule' that he could always read in bed as late as he wanted (after I had read to him), even as early as 2 years old. Most times he would even turn off the bedside light himself.

So give yourself a certain amount of "reading time". For yourself, and for your kids.