What are some good books?

Question

Like historical fiction (I just finished The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck and liked it, also loved Gone With the Wind)...or...right now I'm reading In Cold Blood, which is also interesting.

So basically, not any stupid books...any recommendations?

Answer 1

Chuck Palahniuk is the guy who wrote fight club. That is a good book. He also did Choke and Lullaby which are my favs and my wife likes Invisible Monsters.

Answer 2

Check out John Steinbeck, he's my favorite author and he ranges from serious and award winning (Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden) to funny and witty (Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row) and he's writes in the 40s-50s
Philipa Gregory is an author who i've found many women like, she writes novels based on female royalty (The Other Boleyn Girl, etc)
Philip Roth is an amazing author, won the Pulitzer with American Pastoral and his latest is an alternative historical novel called The Plot Against America
It you want to read Holocaust-based books, Angela's Ashes and The Shipping News are amazing
Anything else by Frank McCourt (who wrote Angela's Ashes) should also be historical fiction you'll like
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are witty and satiric, based in England
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitgerald (oh my, beautifully written and just so good 1920s based, American Dream)
I personally also loved Breakfast at Tiffany's the short story by Capote =)
One of the best seeling historical fiction novels out right now is called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, based in China
Charles Dickens is long, but he's really good and all his books are based in the past
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is partially based in the past, and moves forward in time, but it's an amazing book, and you'll relaly love it, it's based in Africa

I work at Borders so if you want any more recommendations, just email me and i'll be happy to recommend!

Answer 3

If you liked Gone With The Wind, you may like reading Eugenia Price. Most of her novels are set in the South. Many are pre-Civil War, and at least one takes place during the Civil War. Savannah is probably my favorite.

Edward Rutherfurd is a great historical fiction writer. If you like LONG books, he's perfect for you. Sarum, Russka, London, The Forest, Princes of Ireland, Rebels of Ireland.

Answer 4

If you like historically based novels be sure you check out James Michener. Some titles include, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Sayonara, The Source, Iberia, Centennial, Chesapeake, The Covenant, Space, Poland, Texas and Alaska. Awesome storytelling.

Then, there's the story of Michelangelo's struggle to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling based on Irving Stone's popular biographical novel.

Those should keep you entertained and informed for awhile! Enjoy!!

Answer 5

Lucy Maude Montgomery's Anne of Green Gable Series
Any detective novels written by Agatha Christie
Black Beauty by Anna Swell
Any of the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Anne Frank a Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.

Answer 6

Matthew Pearl has written two great historical fiction novels.
"The Dante Club"
In 1865 Boston, not many people spoke Italian. It was much more popular for people to study Latin and Greek; the classic works in these languages were common reading for students and academics. But the small circle of literati in Pearl's inventive novel is bent on translating and publishing Dante's Divine Comedy so that all Americans may learn of the writer's genius. As this group of scholars, poets, publishers and professors readies the manuscript, much more exciting doings are happening outside their circle. The Boston police are hot on the trail of a series of murders taking place around town. In one, a priest is buried alive, his feet set on fire; in another, a man's body is eaten by maggots. It doesn't take a rocket scientist-only a Dante expert-to realize these murders are based on Dante's Inferno and its account of Hell's punishments. Scholars become snoopers, and the Dante Club is soon on the scene, investigating the crimes and trying to find the killer. A tad unlikely, but it makes for a terrific story. Gaines gives an stirring performance, nimbly portraying some of the "Hah-vad" professors' "Bah-ston" accents and impressively reading the Italian passages from Dante's work. Although it's sometimes hard to differentiate between the various characters-after awhile each stuffy Bostonian begins to sound alike-Gaines nonetheless amuses and, via Pearl's historical references, educates.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"The Poe Shadow."
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of Pearl's bestselling debut, The Dante Club (2003), will eagerly embrace his second novel, a compelling thriller centered on the mysterious end of Edgar Allan Poe, who perished in Baltimore in 1849. Poe's ignominious funeral catches the notice of Quentin Clark, a young, idealistic attorney, who finds himself obsessed with rescuing Poe's reputation amid rumors that the writer died from an excess of drink. Clark's preoccupation soon becomes all-consuming, imperiling his practice and his engagement, especially after he learns that Poe's legendary master sleuth, the Chevalier Auguste Dupin, was modeled after a real person. The lawyer journeys to France to track down the real Dupin, in the hopes that the detective can help him solve the puzzle of Poe's death. Pearl masterfully combines fact with fiction and presents some genuinely new historical clues that help reconstruct Poe's final days. While Clark remains a little enigmatic, the exciting plot, numerous twists and convincing period detail could help land this on bestseller lists as well.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tobsha Learner's "The Witch of Cologne" is a great historical romance novel about Germany in the time of the Inquisition.

"Blood Secret" by YA author Kathryn Lasky is also about 500 years of the Inquisition.
Lasky wrote another great YA historical fiction, "Beyond the Burning Time" this one about the Salem Witch Trials

"A Coming Evil" by Vivian Vande Velde is another great YA historical fiction, this one about France during World War 2.

Jeff Shaara wrote some classic historical fiction about the American Civil War: "The Killer Angels," "Gods and Generals," and "The Last Full Measure."

Answer 7

To kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, Rain Maker by John Grisham, Final Diagnosis by Arthur Hailey, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy are the ones that I liked the best. They are of different genre. While Rain Maker and Final Digonosis are fast-paced, the other two are good for seious reading. Other contemporary authors to look out for are Dan Brown, Vikram Sheth and Jefrey Archer. Wish you good reading.

Answer 8

First of all...if you don't like stupid books, I'd suggest avoiding anything by Dan Brown. John Grisham is a touch too mainstream for me, although I liked "The Chamber". Zane is super risque. I LOVE "The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay. It's a novel set in pre-apartheid South Africa. Also, I'd suggest any of the books in the "Asian Saga" by James Clavell. These books are all set in Japan or China except the last novel, "Whirlwind", which is set in revolutionary Iran. Sadly, "Whirlwind" is the only book by Clavell that appears to be out of print, but I had no difficulty finding it in a thrift store.
As a period piece, I would also suggest the "Wagons West" series by Dana Fuller Ross. The series starts with "Independence!" and all the books are named after states. Keep in mind that these books perpetuate the stereotypes of when they were written. These books are also out of print, but every used bookstore in my small town carries them, so it's my guess that they're readily available. Lastly, in the historical nonfiction category I'd suggest "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen. It shatters stereotypes taught by both textbooks and teachers. Wonderful.

Answer 9

if you like historical fiction try Carolyn Meyer's books:

Patience, Princess Catherine
Doomed Queen Anne
Beware, Princess Elizabeth
Mary, Bloody Mary

Answer 10

Allan Eckert writes good historical fiction. There are also vintage authors Robert Chamberland and quite inexpensive