Can anyone help me out of my reading rut?

Question

I went to the library and could find nothing to read. I'm in a rut I don't like romances. I like historical novels, Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz,
John Grisham. But I need to branch out and I don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Last time I was in a rut, I went back to some of my favorite contemporary books and looked at which authors had provided a "blurb" for the jacket of the book I loved. I then found the books that those authors had written. It usually worked.

Also, some flat-out suggestions: Cloudsplitter, by Russell Banks (I love all of his stuff, but when you said "historical" this one sprang to mind). And if you haven't read Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier, that's a good one too.

Answer 2

For historical fiction try John Jakes' Bicentennial Series (aka The Kent Family Chronicles) it's a series of books loosely based on US history from the Revolutionary War through the Industrial Revolution.

For horror there is no match for Stephen King, but John Saul's earlier stuff is pretty good, or try Peter Straub. I'd also recommend The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - a slow read, but worth it.

Richard North Patterson is a good author of courtroom dramas, a la Grisham. His best is Degree of Guilt.

Answer 3

Try someone considered way over the top. A brilliant satirist and funny, but not for everyone.

Mark Leyner

Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini:
Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? More Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour
My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist: A Novel
Et Tu, Babe
The Tetherballs of Bougainville: A Novel
Tooth Imprints On a Corn Dog
I Smell Esther Williams

Answer 4

One of the best books I ever read was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It is not that long, kinda short actually by todays standards but you will not be able to quit reading it and it is historical. He won the pulitzer prize for it. Another is The Dry Gillotine and I do not remember the authors name. It is the autobiography of a man who was held in the French devil's island prison and who escaped. Both books are very good but I liked The Jungle the best.

Answer 5

Hmmm..based on the authors that you listed I'd have to suggest

Patricia Cornwell (the Kay Scarpetta Series)

The Scarpetta novels include a great deal of detail on forensics. The solution to the mystery usually is found in the forensic investigation of the murder victim's corpse, although Scarpetta does considerably more field investigation and confrontation with suspects than real-life medical examiners. The novels are considered to have influenced the development of popular TV series on forensics, both fictional, such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and documentaries, such as Cold Case Squad.

Procedural details are part of the allure of her novels. Cornwell herself worked at a crime lab in Virginia as a technical writer and computer analyst but not in any official medical or forensics capacity. Her attempts to portray herself as an expert in those fields have caused some bad feelings from those who have actual training and licensing, including Kathy Reichs, who is both a board-certified forensic anthropologist and a crime novelist.

Other significant themes in the Scarpetta novels include health in general; individual safety and security; food; and family. Although scenes from the novels take place in a variety of locations around the U.S. and (less commonly) internationally, the city of Richmond, Virginia is featured prominently.

Besides the Scarpetta novels, Cornwell has written three more light-hearted police fictions featuring Andy Brazil, as well as a number of works of non-fiction.

Cornwell is the recipient of numerous prizes for crime writing, including the Edgar, Britain's Gold Dagger Award and the Sherlock Award.

Answer 6

For historic fiction attempt John Jakes' Bicentennial series (aka The Kent kin members Chronicles) it relatively is a chain of books loosely in accordance to US historic previous from the ingenious conflict during the financial Revolution. For horror there is not any experience for Stephen King, yet John Saul's before stuff is exceptionally stable, or attempt Peter Straub. i will additionally advise The Historian with the aid of skill of Elizabeth Kostova - a slow learn, yet very well worth it. Richard North Patterson is a good author of courtroom docket dramas, a l. a. Grisham. His acceptable is degree of Guilt.

Answer 7

Kathy Reichs, the first one is Deja Dead. You don't absolutely have to read them in order, but you might as well.

Audrey Niffenegger, The Time-Traveller's Wife. It's just way cool.

Jean Auel, Clan of the Cave Bear. It's old, but I can't believe I didn't read it before a couple weeks ago--it's so good!

And I have heard that the Outlander series by Gabaldon (can't remember her first name, sorry) is not really a romance--I haven't read that one though.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, can't remember the author, told from the point of view of a 15yo boy with Asperger's Syndrome (like autism), which is quite the interesting point of view.

Answer 8

It sounds like you need some well-written sizzle. I suggest going into 1940's-1950's litterature such as: George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four", "Animal Farm" -- which are both equally excellent; Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange" -- even if you have seen Stanley Kubrick's movie, this book's grammar and vocabulary is awesome; and H.P. Lovecraft (a sometime forgotten obscur author), ("Bloodculing Tales of Horror and Macabre") which is very creepy, filled with ancient religious mythical creatures. Research his biography as well, as his life ressembles many of his characters and the mystique surrounding his own death only increases the spookiness of his tales. Of course, in case of emergency, do buy for your own enjoyment a book of collected work from Edgar Allan Poe. -- Hope this helps.

Answer 9

I found the greastest books. I've read them twice this year. They are by a woman named Jacqueline Carey. I'll give you what's on the back of the books. There are 3 that I read and they are thick books completly fiction but really good. The 3 books that I read are Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar. I just found out about the 4th book called Kushiel's Scion. I bought all books from Walmart.com. I loved the series. I can't wait to read the 4th book.

"The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.
Phedre no Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.
Phedre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phedre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phedre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.
Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of "Kushiel's Dart"-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new."

Or if you want you could read those Clan of the Cave Bear books. That series is good too.

Have fun! Good Luck!

Answer 10

Glad you asked, check these out, some authors are,
Dr. Kurt Donsbach, Peter Kelder, Robert Bell, Paul Stitt, Michio Kushi, Col. Philip Corso and Richard Milton.