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+1 for Raymond Chandler. Loved them all.
Just read "The Sisters Brothers". A warped western (no really). Very good but also an easy read.
A big fan of Iain Banks in either version - with or without the "M" (latter are sci fi but well written and intelligent, may be worth a go even if you think you "don't like that sort of thing")
And as you are thinking about Rushdie, I thought that both Midnight's Children and Shame were brilliant.
Good luck!
"midnight's children" is brilliant,i was quite surprised. i also enjoyed the siege of krishnapur, it's a good read to with a slight historical leaning.
my next book to read is "the adventures of kavalier and clay" by michael chabon, has been highly, highly recommended to me.
I, Partridge - Alan Partridge. Highbrow stuff.
The remains of the day, excellent and historical
As a "left field" suggestion try The Demon Princes by Jack Vance
For historical reference my fave is still "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa (think I've spelt that right 8O). Romanticised biography of their greatest warrior. One big book though...
For giggles +1 on the Chris Brookmyres.
Not Catcher In The Rye. it's rubbish. I gave it a try. I just didn't get it. "it" being some sort of meaningful work of poetry and thoughtfulness of the age, of being young n rebellious or something. so what. I read it, and it was rubbish. The protagonist was a dickhead. This is The Modern review right here!
Read most of Rushdie's stuff - the new(er) Enchantress of Florence is good too.
Anything by Haruki Murakami - 1Q84 is really good so far; though I've only got through book 1 and most of 2 (of 3); Xmas and my son's arrival stalled that a bit lately.
No more historical novels for you. Seems you've read enough. Try something fun which retains depth; [i]The Ginger Man[/i] by JP Donleavy would be an excellent start - there by the grace of God go I, and all that...
If you really feel the need to read an improving historical novel though, perhaps around the time of the Brontes, but without the patina of wealth, try; [i]A Scots Quair[/i] by Grassic Gibbon. There's little in the way of romance, fun or anything approaching a connection to modern life, but you'll come away from it with a satisfied glow.
just a bookmark really - although i'll recommend conn igludden for some excellent livening up of ghenghis khan/julius ceaser etc.
Vonnegut, especially Slaughterhouse 5
1Q84 is really good so far; though I've only got through book 1 and most of 2 (of 3)
I've not long finished part 3. I thought 1 & 2 were good, but it did seem like HM was occasionally treading water (though everything was still pleasingly weird). But suffice to say, Part 3 is brilliant & perfectly paced - I really enjoyed it.
Halfway through Stephen King's latest novel 11.22.63
Bloody good so far!!
2nd some of Steinbeck - over many years and readings remains nearly as vivid as personal memory.. McCarthy, Melville, Hemmingway. I seem to be in a groove of Americana - enjoy it none the less.. Run it forward to American Psycho!
About halfway through Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series, great reads so far 🙂
A few curve ball classics from yesteryear to blow your mind.....
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance-Robert Pirsig
Valis-Phillip K Dick
Electric koolaid acid test-Tom Wolfe
On the Road-Jack Kerouac
The Dice Man-Luke Rhineheart
The doors of Perception-Aldous Huxley
To Kill a Mockingbird is a beautiful novel. Also The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni.
Kevev's wonderful review of catcher is bang on. Would also work as a review for "on the road".
Thoroughly enjoyed 'The Religion' by Tim Willocks based on the seige of Malta: Historical fiction on the islam v christianity clash at Malta with great characters & action.
Also loved 'Gates of Fire' by Steven Pressfield, based on the Battle of Thermopylae (300).
Both far from high brow but right entertaining & a little bit educational (watching mastermind on TV I got a question right thanks to 'The Religion'!)
If you enjoy Chandler, then you should read Dashiel Hammett, who in my view is the king of that genre, The Maltese Falcon being a good start. Other writers in that genre would be James M Cain and David Goodis.
Raymond Carver was a truly great short story writer.
If you are after historical/political thrillers, Robert Harris is worth reading, especially Pompeii, Imperium and Lustrum.
+1 Conn Igulden
Conquerer series was really enjoyable. Genghis Khan and his clan are some mean ass mo fo's.
James Ellroy:
From the LA Quartet:
The Black Dahlia (just a brilliant, brilliant book)
The Underworld USA trilogy:
American Tabloid (brilliant)
The Cold Six Thousand (very good)
Blood's a Rover (final in the trilogy - just started it)
perhaps not quite in the historical setting but certainly "period" books; Huckelberry Finn - Mark Twain, Kidnapped- RL Stevenson, Kim - Rudyard Kipling.
And totally different have just finished Wheel of Time Trilogy - Robert Jordan.
I enjoyed On The Beach by Nevil Shute recently. A post-apocalyptic story of life following WWIII. Very good, would like to read more stories like that as I also read too few fiction books.
Nick1962 has recommended a classic book
The Diceman is awesome
I bet that you'll start making decisions using a dice before the week is out!!
It got me into all sorts of trouble 8 years back!! 😀
The Diceman is awesome
I forgot about that one. If it doesn't mess with your head, nothing will! Definately one of those 'important' novels.
Anyone mentiones 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind yet? Don't let the shite film of it put you off. It's a cracking read.
Kevkevs - I agree 'Catcher in the Rye' is nothing special.
I just read and enjoyed Anna Karinina by Leo Tolstoy - brilliant on a kindle, to heavy to hold up for long enough to read it in hard back!
I also have a first edition hard back of 'The Satanic Verses' sitting on my desk waiting for my attention to focus.
Sitrep : Finished The Long Goodbye. Great thing about Philip Marlowe detective novels is you dont have to work too hard, it's just like watching a Bogart movie, lovely.
Half way through Fear and Loathing.....couple of cup cakes.
Next up, Midnight's Children.
not really my usual fayre but I've just really enjoyed 'The Russia House' by John Le Carre (The Spy Who Came In From The Cold etc)
I always say the same to this question: Birds Without Wings, Louis de Brunettes. I never wanted to get to the end.
Also recently read The Human Stain, Philip K Dick. Very good indeed.
+1 for Haruki Marukami as well.
As I and others have previously recommended on this thread - James Ellroy. Do it.
However, if you like Amis and Rushdie, I would suggest a book by their recently departed mate Christopher Hitchens entitled 'Arguably'.
Man booker shortlist is always a good starting place. +1 for 'On the Road'. Just read and LOVED [url= http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Brothers-Novel-Patrick-deWitt/dp/0062041266 ]The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt[/url]
my next book to read is "the adventures of kavalier and clay" by michael chabon, has been highly, highly recommended to me.
I wholeheartedly agree; a fine read
[i]An Artist of the Floating World[/i] is another excellent title by Kazuo Ishiguro
Early Douglas Coupland is also good fun, although his later work often seems a little like a recycling of his ideas. I really like [i]Microserfs[/i].
i'm also a little taken aback that no-one has mentioned [i]Time Traveller's Wife[/i]. While I admit it doesn't fit the OP's historical request, it's a wonderfully simple idea beautifully executed. One of my all time favourites. Shame about the dire movie they made, but fell free to ignore that, if you can...
noteeth - Member1Q84 is really good so far; though I've only got through book 1 and most of 2 (of 3)
I've not long finished part 3. I thought 1 & 2 were good, but it did seem like HM was occasionally treading water (though everything was still pleasingly weird). But suffice to say, Part 3 is brilliant & perfectly paced - I really enjoyed it.
Hmmm, I disagree. I finished Parts 1 & 2, thoroughly enjoyed them, read a short book in between and started Book 3.
Nothing happened in the final book. Absolutely nothing. A very disappointing finish to a promising story. It came across as a beautifully written attempt to appease fans of the initial story who wanted more, and that Murakami couldn't work out how to finish the book.
I'd still recommend Murakami though! 😉
IdleJon - are you me? Exactly the same experience, I had to drag myself to the end of book three. And still nothing really happened. I guess it's too deep and meaningful for me.
James Ellroy is good, didn't get on with the writing style in the Cold Six Thousand - to stylised into short sentences. Loved all his stuff up to that.
James Lee Burke is a fave.
+1 for Louis de Bernieres..
I love this guy to pieces
Just finished kavalier and clay. One of the most enjoyable books I have read.
a very disappointing finish
Ha, it finished just I as hoped it would (don't want to give anything away...!). 😉
I suppose that being quite long, I invariably compared parts 1& 2 with the chunky [i]WInd-Up Bird Chronicle[/i], which had me entranced the whole way through. And then some.
I'm about halfway thru the complete western stories of Elmore Leonard - punchy stuff.
-1 for Louis de Berniere.
Just read Gabriel Garcia Marques intead of the cut price rip off that LdB
beej - Member
IdleJon - are you me? Exactly the same experience, I had to drag myself to the end of book three. And still nothing really happened. I guess it's too deep and meaningful for me.
I did wonder if I'd missed the deep and meaningful stuff as well, but I don't think I did. I like his writing though. He's one of the authors who could write a restaurant menu and it would make fascinating reading.
I'd also +1 Cormac McCarthy. The Crossing was one of the best , most resonant books I've ever read.
Louis de Bernieres is a fantastic writer - I love him.
JG Farrell books seem very slow but are full of character.
+1 Iain Banks, and sadly, for reasons below, George R Martin.
Martin's writing can be appalling - [i]a horse that was trained special[/i] is one phrase that clunked in Game of Thrones. The good thing is that he is an excellent story teller if you can get past the occasional poor writing. I finished Book3 Pt1 yesterday and can't wait to read Pt2, whatever it's called!
(Trying to type in work so maybe not the best explanations!)
The Crossing was one of the best , most resonant books I've ever read.
Snap. The scene where Billy and the she-wolf make their stand... amazing writing.
And the ending - a passage of such quietly devastating power, I was in a daze for a very long time.
Historical novel?
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Got given 1001 books to read before you die last year.
So far I have read two that I hadn't before. The first was the picture of Dorian Gray. Plot good, Wildes writing annoying.
To kill a mocking bird far better.
I like Stephen King and James Herbert for day to day stuff.
For something proper creepy try Desparation (king) or The Dark or The Others (herbert). Something a bit less creepy but still supernaturally try Fluke or Once
BTW.....not looking for historical novels per say, just good fiction of any genre.
My NY resolution of only reading fiction in 2012 has been updated to only fiction recommendations from STW on this thread. Going to be depressing to get to December and see how little of these I will have manged to get through.
Loads of good ones, thanks.
Just read Gabriel Garcia Marques intead of the cut price rip off that LdB
LOL.. I don't know how or why you would compare the two.. I know it's fashionable to do so.. but really..!?