Sounds like you’ve read Douglas Adams in the past. If not, worth it. Also his non-fiction book “Last Chance to See”. Urban fantasy-can’t beat Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniel’s series
High recommendation to historical fiction. Kristin Hannah just came out with a new book called “The Women” and it’s one of the best I’ve read in a while!
Oh my! The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy! Just when you think she has no more surprises up her sleeve, she gets you again! She wrote books and short stories.
Charles Dickens, known for his novels, also wrote short stories. I am an avid reader and "Charles Dickens' Best Stories" (edited by Morton Dauwen Zabel), is a most delightful read. You will be pleasantly surprised!
I found myself in the same situation a decade or so ago. To reimmerse myself, I chose the Pulitzer Prize winners from the previous ten years and read them in order.
I committed to read them all and absolutely loved most of them. My guess is that the PP winners might be a little more diverse that the NYT but regardless, I applaud your mission! Cheers!
I love magical fantasy worlds. I am into book 2 (A feast for the Starving Stone) from Beth Cato (Amazon). Book 1 was surprising and engaging imo: (A Thousand Recipes for Revenge: Chefs of the Five Gods, Book 1).
For anyone who likes mysteries and history, allow me to recommend the (closing in on #20 this September) series, The Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries, by my now-friend James R. Benn (as a fellow author, when I find something I really like, I try to reach out to the author).
For those who like World War II history, the books take a little-known event in that time and set the story there, and the history is done right, according to this published World War II historian.
Billy Boyle is a Boston PD detective who just made that rank a month before Pearl Harbor, primarily due to "family influence" in the force. His uncles, World War I vets, do not want him fighting a war for "bloody England," so family connections in the form of a distant relationship with Mamie Eisenhower were used to get him on Dwight Eisenhower's Washington staff, where the uncles thought he would be safe - except for the fact Eisenhower gets sent to Europe to carry out the plans he made to win the war, and he takes Billy along. The general likes having detective on staff who can deal with "low crimes in high places" that would harm Allied unity if they were known. The "Office of Special Investigations" has a wide reach, allowing Billy to go everywhere during the war, growing into his job.
The other two main characters are Lieutenant Baron Piotr Kazimierz ("Kaz") a Polish officer who is rich and well-educated, who becomes Billy's "Dr Watson" - those who fail to note the scar on his cheek and the look in his eye, since he's an academic who can be deadly, are in trouble. Billy's love interest is Lady Diana Seaton, a daring Special Operations Executive agent - the cross-class cross-nationality engagement between Boston Irish and British Aristocrat definitely works.
Another thing that I like in the series is that the characters interact with Real People of The Time. I just finished reading the one coming in September for a "blurb" - it has our heroes in Paris, against the backdrop of the looming Battle of the Bulge, working with Counterintelligence Corps Sergeant J.D. Salinger (who really did that during the war) against a dangerous gang of deserters (from both sides) now engaged in re-stealing art works regained from the Nazis. Billy and Kaz barely miss being guest of honor at the Malmedy Massacre, escaping that with British Army Major David Niven (who really was deputy chief of intelligence for the British 21st Army Group) driving the escape vehicle. In another of the novels, Billy gets help from Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie) and we discover we're in a Poirot novel, complete with denouement in the drawing room with all the "usual suspects."
One of my readers at That's Another Fine Mess recommended the series to me last summer and I ended up reading all 20 now, and I wish I could jump forward a year to the next one. I have a reputation for being "picky" about what I read and watch for recreation, and Billy Boyle's at the top of my list. One final thing: it's a good idea to start at #1 and work your way through chronologically, because later books reference people and events from earlier books.
As a child reading was my escape from a difficult childhood. And I have never lost my love of reading!! I can absolutely say that reading helped me grow into a better person!! Today my favorite genre is sci-fi and biographies (memoirs). But I will read anything. Even the cereal boxes if I don’t have a book. When I worked I would read 3 different books at a time. One at work. One at home. And an audiobook in the car!! Why? What would I do if I forgot my book?!!!
Many decades ago I began the ritual of having one fiction and one non-fiction book going at the same time. The non-fiction books are almost always history, often music history because the lives of great artists who create great art fascinate me. The fiction books, however, are almost always adventure-types. I started in the early 1960s with Ian Fleming and quickly discovered that he could make me taste Bond's scrambled eggs. I backtracked to Rex Stout and became enamored with Archie Goodwin & Nero Wolfe.. When I discovered Robert B. Parker I knew I had found my favorite. Spenser and Hawk. Yes, of course. Subsequently, I added all of the books of Lee Child (Reacher), Robert Crais (Elvis Cole), John Sandford (Davenport) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch). I develop a great love for the lives of the characters these authors create. These authors all make the NY Times best seller lists but never make the "best of the year" lists. But reading them and, years later, re-reading them brings great joy to this old reader. If I can read my books and hear my tunes I'm a happy guy!
Glad you liked The Bee Sting. I'd suggest Paul Murray's "The Mark and the Void" which is about the Celtic Tiger and the banking fiasco. It is really remarkable in its portrayal of the world of corrupt finances. Donald
I think you mentioned The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier in a post months ago. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. For a lighter read Open Carry by Marc Cameron is book 1 of a series that are action packed with fun characters following a US Marshall stationed in Alaska.
The only one of those five that I tried was Fraud and I too am not a fan. But I do recommend, highly, Anthony Trollope's Phineas Finn and Phineas Redux - perfectly accurate portraits of politics and politicians today, written 150 years ago. And Trollope's The Way We Live Now, with a happy ending to that period's Trump.
Sounds like you’ve read Douglas Adams in the past. If not, worth it. Also his non-fiction book “Last Chance to See”. Urban fantasy-can’t beat Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniel’s series
High recommendation to historical fiction. Kristin Hannah just came out with a new book called “The Women” and it’s one of the best I’ve read in a while!
Oh my! The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy! Just when you think she has no more surprises up her sleeve, she gets you again! She wrote books and short stories.
Charles Dickens, known for his novels, also wrote short stories. I am an avid reader and "Charles Dickens' Best Stories" (edited by Morton Dauwen Zabel), is a most delightful read. You will be pleasantly surprised!
I found myself in the same situation a decade or so ago. To reimmerse myself, I chose the Pulitzer Prize winners from the previous ten years and read them in order.
I committed to read them all and absolutely loved most of them. My guess is that the PP winners might be a little more diverse that the NYT but regardless, I applaud your mission! Cheers!
I felt the same way about The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store as you.
I love magical fantasy worlds. I am into book 2 (A feast for the Starving Stone) from Beth Cato (Amazon). Book 1 was surprising and engaging imo: (A Thousand Recipes for Revenge: Chefs of the Five Gods, Book 1).
Horse , by Geraldine Brooks.
The Master and Margarita , Mikhail Bulgakov . Both fantastic.
Thanks to all who have commented. Plenty of great suggestions ! I also love to be transported from the craziness.
For anyone who likes mysteries and history, allow me to recommend the (closing in on #20 this September) series, The Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries, by my now-friend James R. Benn (as a fellow author, when I find something I really like, I try to reach out to the author).
For those who like World War II history, the books take a little-known event in that time and set the story there, and the history is done right, according to this published World War II historian.
Billy Boyle is a Boston PD detective who just made that rank a month before Pearl Harbor, primarily due to "family influence" in the force. His uncles, World War I vets, do not want him fighting a war for "bloody England," so family connections in the form of a distant relationship with Mamie Eisenhower were used to get him on Dwight Eisenhower's Washington staff, where the uncles thought he would be safe - except for the fact Eisenhower gets sent to Europe to carry out the plans he made to win the war, and he takes Billy along. The general likes having detective on staff who can deal with "low crimes in high places" that would harm Allied unity if they were known. The "Office of Special Investigations" has a wide reach, allowing Billy to go everywhere during the war, growing into his job.
The other two main characters are Lieutenant Baron Piotr Kazimierz ("Kaz") a Polish officer who is rich and well-educated, who becomes Billy's "Dr Watson" - those who fail to note the scar on his cheek and the look in his eye, since he's an academic who can be deadly, are in trouble. Billy's love interest is Lady Diana Seaton, a daring Special Operations Executive agent - the cross-class cross-nationality engagement between Boston Irish and British Aristocrat definitely works.
Another thing that I like in the series is that the characters interact with Real People of The Time. I just finished reading the one coming in September for a "blurb" - it has our heroes in Paris, against the backdrop of the looming Battle of the Bulge, working with Counterintelligence Corps Sergeant J.D. Salinger (who really did that during the war) against a dangerous gang of deserters (from both sides) now engaged in re-stealing art works regained from the Nazis. Billy and Kaz barely miss being guest of honor at the Malmedy Massacre, escaping that with British Army Major David Niven (who really was deputy chief of intelligence for the British 21st Army Group) driving the escape vehicle. In another of the novels, Billy gets help from Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie) and we discover we're in a Poirot novel, complete with denouement in the drawing room with all the "usual suspects."
One of my readers at That's Another Fine Mess recommended the series to me last summer and I ended up reading all 20 now, and I wish I could jump forward a year to the next one. I have a reputation for being "picky" about what I read and watch for recreation, and Billy Boyle's at the top of my list. One final thing: it's a good idea to start at #1 and work your way through chronologically, because later books reference people and events from earlier books.
As a child reading was my escape from a difficult childhood. And I have never lost my love of reading!! I can absolutely say that reading helped me grow into a better person!! Today my favorite genre is sci-fi and biographies (memoirs). But I will read anything. Even the cereal boxes if I don’t have a book. When I worked I would read 3 different books at a time. One at work. One at home. And an audiobook in the car!! Why? What would I do if I forgot my book?!!!
Many decades ago I began the ritual of having one fiction and one non-fiction book going at the same time. The non-fiction books are almost always history, often music history because the lives of great artists who create great art fascinate me. The fiction books, however, are almost always adventure-types. I started in the early 1960s with Ian Fleming and quickly discovered that he could make me taste Bond's scrambled eggs. I backtracked to Rex Stout and became enamored with Archie Goodwin & Nero Wolfe.. When I discovered Robert B. Parker I knew I had found my favorite. Spenser and Hawk. Yes, of course. Subsequently, I added all of the books of Lee Child (Reacher), Robert Crais (Elvis Cole), John Sandford (Davenport) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch). I develop a great love for the lives of the characters these authors create. These authors all make the NY Times best seller lists but never make the "best of the year" lists. But reading them and, years later, re-reading them brings great joy to this old reader. If I can read my books and hear my tunes I'm a happy guy!
Glad you liked The Bee Sting. I'd suggest Paul Murray's "The Mark and the Void" which is about the Celtic Tiger and the banking fiasco. It is really remarkable in its portrayal of the world of corrupt finances. Donald
Chris— check out Ann patchett’s Instagram for her bookstore Parnassus. Best recommendations. Keep up the good work!
Two of my favorite authors are Tana French - an Irish writer and Chris Bohjalian - I've never read anything by either author that I didn't love.
I think you mentioned The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier in a post months ago. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. For a lighter read Open Carry by Marc Cameron is book 1 of a series that are action packed with fun characters following a US Marshall stationed in Alaska.
The only one of those five that I tried was Fraud and I too am not a fan. But I do recommend, highly, Anthony Trollope's Phineas Finn and Phineas Redux - perfectly accurate portraits of politics and politicians today, written 150 years ago. And Trollope's The Way We Live Now, with a happy ending to that period's Trump.