book recommendations

[Kang]

If you like history, and want a lighter read, I'd suggest Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. About the Chicago World's fair, and also a serial killer who was operating at the same time. Fictionalized history.

If you like denser material - The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. Pure fiction. A trilogy of books set during the enlightenment. They cover a lot of ground - history, science, politics, economics and also some swashbuckling adventure. Be warned though, when I say dense I mean dense - the three books add up to something like 2100 pages. I've read them all twice now. More enjoyable the second time, as it's easier to picture how all the disparate events and characters fit together.

 

[peeler_feeler]

Any books by Harlan Coben - I just read Woods recently. Fast pace read for sure. Master of the hook and twist - from the first page he grabs your attention.

His books - http://www.harlancoben.com/static/novels/

His website - http://www.harlancoben.com/

 

[Twinklegirl]

If you're ever in the mood for a short story try "Suffer the Little Children" by Stephen King. Pretty eerie stuff.

John Saul had a book called Suffer the Children. It was creepy. Really good though

I also enjoyed Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Kind of chicky, but still a good history book

Just regular fiction:
Odd Thomas Dean Koontz
Twilight Eyes Dean Koontz
Outback by Aaron Fletcher
Kite Runner
Thousand splendid suns

That's just a few of the MANY I have read, but they are very good, and memorable for me.

 

[CocktailWiener]

Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell

 

[scouser1]

bumping this thread to keep it going for reading recommendations

 

[alexmst]

"Barney's Version" by Mordecai Richler.
"The Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen
"Nana" by Zola
"Nice Work" by David Lodge

 

[Kyra.Graves]

Payback Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood You can also listen to the Massey Lectures online, http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey/massey2008.html

Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh

 

[thompo69]

"What it Takes: The Way to the White House" by Richard Ben Cramer covers the 1988 presidential election. Brilliant book.

http://www.amazon.ca/What-Takes-Way...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237083434&sr=8-1

 

[believer26]

Orbit - John Nance
Source - James Mitchner
Pilars of the Earth - Ken Follet
Anything by Robert Ludlum, Michael Critchon, Clive Cussler, Steve Berry

 

[moviefan]

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and/or Norwegian Wood, both by Haruki Murakami.

 

[PDSAjax]

To name a few from a quick glance at my bookshelf....

Anything by Terry Pratchett
Vodka - Boris Starling
Into Hot Air - Chris Elliott
Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach
Spook, Science Tackles the Afterlife - Mary Roach
Bonk, The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex - Mary Roach
Blind Faith - Ben Elton
The Templar Legacy - Steve Berry

 

[lawyerman]

There are many Hay House authors that have written many great books.

If Youo are interested in making your life better, then I would suggest listening to web radio.

Check this out:

http://www.hayhouseradio.com/

 

[CapitalGuy]

Midnight's Children by Salmon Rushdie has been selected as the Best of the Booker Prize Winner books, both times the competition has been run, over a span of 25 years.

If you want to become a better human being, read Kurt Vonnegut's works. Start with Slaughterhouse 5 and if you like it, carry on.

V.S. Naipaul, a nobe prize winner, is a magical story teller. Try A Bend in the River or Half a Life.

For humour, you can't beat Catch 22. Funnier than the movie.

For gritty humanity that will still make you laugh constantly, read Irvine Welsh. Start with Trainspotting and carry on.

Vladimir Nabokov is the most melodic storyteller ever. His protagonists are all horrible men, but he paints words like no one else. You may as well start with Lolita. But his lesser-known works (Invitation to a Beheading, Despair, and Glory are my faves) are enjoyable if complex reads as well.

For light entertainment, I am in love with the Hercule Poirot stories.

 

[tarkovsky]

The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco. You mentioned you like history, well this is a medieval crime thriller if you can believe it or not. It's my own opinion, but I think the Davinci code kind of ripped off this book. It starts slow but you get riveted towards the end.

 

[peeler_feeler]

A bump for more recommendations