All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Takes place in France during WWII. A blind young woman navigates the world on her own and helps win the war. The book weaves together resilience, strength, family devotion, history and suspense. Also a series on Netflix with Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie.
"The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump." A group of psychiatrists and psychologists got together and did what they're not supposed to do: assess his mental state. Then they wrote a book about it.
Louise Penny's books get better and better as the series progresses. I love the series and have read it several times. I'm jealous that you're getting to experience them for the first time!
I enjoyed the audiobook- narrated for 8 hours by the author - autobiography of the late great Friends actor Matthew Perry : “Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing”. He’s a pretty pedestrian writer, but it’s still a fascinating read/listen
I’m reading A Trick of the Light , as well! I love her books. I am not a fan of winter but I would love to live in Three Pines, if it was real. Or at least visit an stay at the B&B.
I just finished the audiobook version of the Innovators by Walter Isaacson. Just wow!! From the creation of the computer to the internet. Absolutely fascinating! My first Isaacson book and definitely not my last.
If you like good mysteries and good World War II history, try the Billy Boyle World War II Mystery Series from author James Benn. A good mystery, set against solid history, and the interplay with historical characters is really good. Lieutenant then Captain Boyle, former homicide detective in the Boston PD, runs the unofficial Office of Special Investigations for his distant relative General Eisenhower (as opposed to the rumors he's a nephew), where his job is to deal with "low crimes in high places" to maintain Allied unity. Each of the 18 books (so far, Jim's currently writing #19 and I am told it uses some history he picked up reading my book "Clean Sweep: VIII Fighter Command Against the Luftwaffe") is different from the others, because the particular problem and physical/geographical setting changes, keeping them "fresh." They're also written in different takes on traditional mysteries. In the one where he meets Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie), a discerning reader will realize it is a "Poirot mystery," complete with the denouement happening in the drawing room, with all the potential suspects seated as the detective explains the case and reveals the guilty party. The supporting cast is very good, particularly Billy's "Watson," Lieutenant Baron Piotr "Kaz" Kazimierz of the Polish Army, a bookish intellectual you had best not cross.
As someone who has written successful fiction and now writes best-selling World War II history, I love these books. I have yet to find any holes in the mysteries or the history. You do have to read them in order, because later books reference people and events from previous books that do influence later events.
A very good getaway from the daily news.
And herewith a completely shameless personal advertisement: you can check out my Amazon page of World War II histories (search on "Clean Sweep" since I named it) that all have 4.5+ stars from readers.
I have got to take down American Prometheus one of these days. If you’re into this book, I might recommend one of the biographies of Richard Feynman. I’m fascinated by the Manhattan Project. It’s amazing to read how the guy would walk around the table as some of the smartest people were doing their with their slide rule and correct them like a chess master walks around the table. I also really liked the series Manhattan that played a few years ago. Lou
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. The prequel to the whole Slough House ( or Slow Horses) series. Lots of backstory on the spy business. Also fascinating language and word usage and phrases that are commonplace to Brits but a bit unusual to us across-the-ponders.
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar.
An amazing and insightful (mostly true) story about Jo(hanna) Bonger, the sister-in-law of Vincent Van Gogh, who single handedly brought his artwork to the world after his and his brother Theo’s deaths.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The book that the recent streaming hit is based on and as usual way better than the video version.
Dead Wake : the last crossing of the Luisitania by Erik Larson.
Historical, hardly fictionalized, story of a landmark event of the 20th century and an incredibly informative view of WW1 and how the US got involved in it.
Louise Penny's writing is addictive! Read the entire series. Also, if you haven't read David Grann's "Killers of the Flower Moon", do. It is excellent 'investigative journalism'.
The Oppenheimer book is in my digital stack, you’ve bumped it to the top. Thank you! And Louise Penny rocks! And the book he wrote with Hillary Clinton is pretty good, too.
You really should read David Foster Wallace’s essay “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.” The supposedly fun thing is going on a Caribbean cruise, and it’s just a fantastic (and very funny) piece. It’s good enough that I’m recommending it a second time in hopes that will bump it up on your reading list!
Democracy Awakening, and anything else that Heather Cox Richardson has written. I am hooked on her letters (and now on anything you write as well, Chris).
I highly recommend most anything written by Simon Winchester. I especially liked The Perfectionists - The History of Precision, and also The Map That Changed the World. Try also The Professor and the Madman.
I'm reading John Stamos' new memoir after reading two books about the Biden presidency: Chris Whipple's The Fight of His Life and Franklin Foer's The Last Politician
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Takes place in France during WWII. A blind young woman navigates the world on her own and helps win the war. The book weaves together resilience, strength, family devotion, history and suspense. Also a series on Netflix with Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie.
"The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump." A group of psychiatrists and psychologists got together and did what they're not supposed to do: assess his mental state. Then they wrote a book about it.
Louise Penny's books get better and better as the series progresses. I love the series and have read it several times. I'm jealous that you're getting to experience them for the first time!
I enjoyed the audiobook- narrated for 8 hours by the author - autobiography of the late great Friends actor Matthew Perry : “Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing”. He’s a pretty pedestrian writer, but it’s still a fascinating read/listen
Testimony by Jon Ward!!! A must read biography about a man raised evangelical. And is now a journalist writing about todays politics!!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78642417
I’m reading A Trick of the Light , as well! I love her books. I am not a fan of winter but I would love to live in Three Pines, if it was real. Or at least visit an stay at the B&B.
I just finished the audiobook version of the Innovators by Walter Isaacson. Just wow!! From the creation of the computer to the internet. Absolutely fascinating! My first Isaacson book and definitely not my last.
If you like good mysteries and good World War II history, try the Billy Boyle World War II Mystery Series from author James Benn. A good mystery, set against solid history, and the interplay with historical characters is really good. Lieutenant then Captain Boyle, former homicide detective in the Boston PD, runs the unofficial Office of Special Investigations for his distant relative General Eisenhower (as opposed to the rumors he's a nephew), where his job is to deal with "low crimes in high places" to maintain Allied unity. Each of the 18 books (so far, Jim's currently writing #19 and I am told it uses some history he picked up reading my book "Clean Sweep: VIII Fighter Command Against the Luftwaffe") is different from the others, because the particular problem and physical/geographical setting changes, keeping them "fresh." They're also written in different takes on traditional mysteries. In the one where he meets Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie), a discerning reader will realize it is a "Poirot mystery," complete with the denouement happening in the drawing room, with all the potential suspects seated as the detective explains the case and reveals the guilty party. The supporting cast is very good, particularly Billy's "Watson," Lieutenant Baron Piotr "Kaz" Kazimierz of the Polish Army, a bookish intellectual you had best not cross.
As someone who has written successful fiction and now writes best-selling World War II history, I love these books. I have yet to find any holes in the mysteries or the history. You do have to read them in order, because later books reference people and events from previous books that do influence later events.
A very good getaway from the daily news.
And herewith a completely shameless personal advertisement: you can check out my Amazon page of World War II histories (search on "Clean Sweep" since I named it) that all have 4.5+ stars from readers.
I have got to take down American Prometheus one of these days. If you’re into this book, I might recommend one of the biographies of Richard Feynman. I’m fascinated by the Manhattan Project. It’s amazing to read how the guy would walk around the table as some of the smartest people were doing their with their slide rule and correct them like a chess master walks around the table. I also really liked the series Manhattan that played a few years ago. Lou
Very good list. Varied and eclectic.
Here’s a few of mine:
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. The prequel to the whole Slough House ( or Slow Horses) series. Lots of backstory on the spy business. Also fascinating language and word usage and phrases that are commonplace to Brits but a bit unusual to us across-the-ponders.
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar.
An amazing and insightful (mostly true) story about Jo(hanna) Bonger, the sister-in-law of Vincent Van Gogh, who single handedly brought his artwork to the world after his and his brother Theo’s deaths.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The book that the recent streaming hit is based on and as usual way better than the video version.
Dead Wake : the last crossing of the Luisitania by Erik Larson.
Historical, hardly fictionalized, story of a landmark event of the 20th century and an incredibly informative view of WW1 and how the US got involved in it.
Louise Penny's writing is addictive! Read the entire series. Also, if you haven't read David Grann's "Killers of the Flower Moon", do. It is excellent 'investigative journalism'.
Read it and see the movie, which is really good.
The Oppenheimer book is in my digital stack, you’ve bumped it to the top. Thank you! And Louise Penny rocks! And the book he wrote with Hillary Clinton is pretty good, too.
You really should read David Foster Wallace’s essay “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.” The supposedly fun thing is going on a Caribbean cruise, and it’s just a fantastic (and very funny) piece. It’s good enough that I’m recommending it a second time in hopes that will bump it up on your reading list!
Will do!
Democracy Awakening, and anything else that Heather Cox Richardson has written. I am hooked on her letters (and now on anything you write as well, Chris).
I highly recommend most anything written by Simon Winchester. I especially liked The Perfectionists - The History of Precision, and also The Map That Changed the World. Try also The Professor and the Madman.
Oooo I enjoy this!
I'm reading John Stamos' new memoir after reading two books about the Biden presidency: Chris Whipple's The Fight of His Life and Franklin Foer's The Last Politician