|
I would recommend Frederick Marryat's works if your SO loved the O'Brian novels. Marryat actually served under Lord Cochrane, the Captain who inspired both Aubrey and Hornblower, and he wrote several engaging novels about naval life. My favorite was Mr. Midshipman Easy, but they are all worth looking into to. I read a few Kent and Ramage books, and remember them being fun, but they felt more like standard issue historical romances than O'Brian's more absorbing world, particularly in the dialog, which is admittedly inimical. However, it has been years since I read them, and I don't remember much about them.
|
#
¿
Nov 5, 2010 02:26
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 25, 2024 22:08 |
|
|
ch1mp posted:I posted in the chat thread but maybe this is the better place. It's implied that Capt. Aubrey is having an affair with his admiral's wife, but nothing direct or even remotely graphic.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 18, 2010 05:33
|
|
|
The Ninth Layer posted:I'm still a literature noob but I've been getting into a lot of postmodern work this year, starting with Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow in the summer. Since then I've read and really liked Danielewski's House of Leaves, Auster's New York Trilogy, and am just about to finish up on Wallace's Infinite Jest. I also really liked Kafka's Trial though I'm not sure it counts. I'm at a loss for whee to go next, so does anyone have some good suggestions? Have you read any Nabokov? Pale Fire was a great postmodern book, and you'll be well on your way to understanding it if you could handle the endnotes in Infinite Jest.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 2, 2011 18:10
|
|
|
Shnooks posted:I know someone asked before about books on the French Revolution, but I'm going to ask again. I was looking for books more about the events leading up to it, but nothing too textbook-y. I really enjoyed Simon Schama's Citizens. It did a great job of revealing the Revolution's roots in and effect on written and visual culture, while also giving a very readable account of the events and personalities. Link:http://www.amazon.com/Citizens-Chronicle-Revolution-Simon-Schama/dp/0679726101. If your in the mood to read an apocolyptic, almost poetic rant on the Revolution from a famous Victorian, then check out Thomas Carlyle's The French Revolution. While this is not a even handed account, it is pretty entertaining.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 28, 2011 00:44
|
|
|
funkybottoms posted:edit- poo poo, Pullman's His Dark Materials! Obviously, if you haven't read these yet go get them now! Another series I enjoyed featuring a young woman as a protagonist was Paul Park's Princess of Roumania. It took its time getting started, but the characterizations were wonderful, and the villain was very memorable. It's set in an alternate pre-WW1 era where England has sunk into the sea, and eastern Europe is the seat of power and civilization. Also magic; and a cool person who is not quite a man, a woman, or a golden retriever, but something of each. One of the most well written fantasies I've read in a while and very satisfying.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 30, 2011 06:31
|
|
|
Kontradaz posted:Can anyone recommend some books that are like or combine aspects of the following art pieces? I would love to read something unconventional from a new perspective that focuses on taboo characters, situations, and organizations. Morally ambiguous and thought-provoking books- existentialist/philosophical books would be preferred. You should probably read Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. WW2, taboo, thought provoking, etc.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 24, 2011 09:08
|
|
|
Well, The Embarrassment of Riches by Simon Schama is a very good history of the low countries, but it does focus on the United Provinces rather than Belgium. I kinda feel like a Schama shill with my recs, but the book does a great job of explaining the development of Dutch culture.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 18, 2011 05:39
|
|
|
Yeah, I really wanted to recommend something for both of you, but I haven't really found a book yet focusing on Post-Elizabethan England or the Holy Roman Empire. The closest I've found to the former was Schama's History of Britain and Norman Davies' Europe for the latter, but both works cover more ground and consequently can't go into the kind of depth on these eras that I'm sure you're looking for.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 12, 2011 19:11
|
|
|
modig posted:Check out Jack McDevitt's stuff, like Devil'ls Eye, Cauldron, A Talent For War. All the stuff that stars Alex seems to spend more time talking about his female employee Chase Kolpath, who is the more interesting characte. It's kind of like scifi Indiana Jones, but more mystery and less action. This is probably really obvious, but if like big cats eating people you'll really enjoy The Man Eaters of Tsavo by J.H. Patterson. They made a pretty good movie out of it called The Ghost and The Darkness. It's the true story of an engineer who went to Africa, and was faced with two lions who were attacking the railroad's workers.
|
|
#
¿
May 5, 2011 19:38
|
|
|
Also, if you haven't read Bruce Sterling yet, you'd probably like him.
|
|
#
¿
May 7, 2011 00:25
|
|
|
Traxis posted:I'm looking for a good modern crime drama, something like The Wire in novel form. Any recommendations? I'd also recommend George Pelecanos. He wrote for The Wire as well and has written a terrific series of books set in D.C. For crime with a Boston flavor, check out some of Dennis Lehane's work as well, particularly Mystic River.
|
|
#
¿
May 12, 2011 19:27
|
|
|
JoeWindetc posted:I loved Lehane's Kenzie/Gennaro series. I just finished the last(?) of the series, Moonlight Mile, and I'm looking for something along those lines. Not a traditional detective novel per say, but rather gritty, modern, etc. Try George Pelecanos' stuff, it's realistic crime fiction set in D.C. rather than Boston. Also, if you haven't read it yet, pick up Clockers by Richard Price, great crime novel. To the thread: I'd like to request a recommendation for a good history of the Renaissance, politics, culture, the works. Thanks!
|
|
#
¿
Jun 5, 2011 16:53
|
|
|
appropriatemetaphor posted:The Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translations are well respected. I haven't read their version of War and Peace, but their Brothers K is great and if I were snagging War and Peace I'd definitely get their translation. I'll second the Pevear and Volokhonsky recommendation. I've read their War & Peace as well as Constance Garnett's, and P & V was vastly superior. My favorite history of the French Revolution was Simon Schama's Citizens; an interesting rundown of the events surrounding the Revolution while also examining the cultural influences that formed the people and ideas involved. It also has a bunch of pretty pictures.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 4, 2011 15:10
|
|
|
Nione posted:I'm looking for a recommendation for mystery detective novels/series. My stepmom loves mysteries and has just finished reading M.C. Beaton's scottish detective series (seriously, those are among the worst-written detective stories I've ever read, wtf?). She also likes Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and the Amelia Peabody series amongst others, so primarily detective stories that have a historical/old-fashioned or British feel to them. Nothing with lots of sex or violence. Any ideas? It's her birthday in a couple of weeks and I'd love to give her a whole new series to start on. She might also enjoy Dorothy Sayers' Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mysteries; The Nine Tailors is my favorite, but they are all pretty good.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 13, 2011 16:48
|
|
|
Proteus4994 posted:Can anyone recommend some entertaining (ie. not textbook) books about European history? More of an overview than focusing on any specific period (like, the history of Joan of Arc is not exactly what I'm looking for, I'm looking more for something like England between 1200 and 1600). Ideally English or French, but honestly anything like that would be good. The kicker is that I'd really like for there to be a Kindle version of it. Norman Davies' Europe: A History is pretty great, although it covers the entire continent and from prehistoric times to the EU.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 7, 2011 15:16
|
|
|
Private Snowball posted:Can anyone recommend a good short story collection preferably by a famous author as most English language books are hard to find out here. I'm just now finishing a collection of Hemingway. Scott Fitzgerald's short stories are also pretty great if you would like to spend some more time with the lost generation, so long as you don't mind a little fetishizing of the rich.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 11, 2011 16:26
|
|
|
Cumshot in the Dark posted:Can anyone recommend a good overview of the French Revolution? I've been on a long history kick and realized I know almost nothing about it, much to my embarrassment. This is from way earlier in the thread, but I hope its still applicable: PatMarshall posted:I really enjoyed Simon Schama's Citizens. It did a great job of revealing the Revolution's roots in and effect on written and visual culture, while also giving a very readable account of the events and personalities. Link:http://www.amazon.com/Citizens-Chro...a/dp/0679726101. If your in the mood to read an apocolyptic, almost poetic rant on the Revolution from a famous Victorian, then check out Thomas Carlyle's The French Revolution. While this is not a even handed account, it is pretty entertaining.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 4, 2011 04:49
|
|
|
Hedrigall posted:Any recommendations for spy thrillers equivalent to James Bond, but in WW2 rather than the Cold War? I'm checking out John Le Carre... (edit: okay I don't think he's written any WW2-set books) There are plenty of great WWII spy novels, but they don't have much to do with kicking rear end or James Bond (at least the ones I've read). I would recommend the works of Alan Furst and Eric Ambler, particularly Ambler's A Coffin for Dimitrios.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2011 03:56
|
|
|
Lampsacus posted:May anyone recommend a novel/series set in 1910s or 1920s Europe? I'm thinking smokey train carriages and political intrigue. Thank you You might also want to check out Graham Greene's Orient Express, also known as Stamboul Train. Espionage on a train, pretty cool. Eric Ambler and Alan Furst also write really good spy thrillers set in the early 30's and 40's. I know you asked for earlier in the century, but I'm drawing a blank for political intrigue other than Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent, which is good and worth reading.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 14, 2011 00:39
|
|
|
Wiley360 posted:Over the past few weeks I have been binging on the Wire, the HBO show. I really love it and I'm familiar with David Simon's other books, but can anyone recommend any literature that's along the same lines as the show? Richard Price, George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane, and I'm sure some others, but that's what I got off the top of my head. They all wrote guest episodes for the Wire as well.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 29, 2012 19:11
|
|
|
based gaddis posted:While I'm here, looking for some Eastern European fiction. I've been reading some excellent short stories by this Hungarian dude, Geza Csath, and I realized I don't know many other authors from that neck of the woods. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm currently really enjoying Peter Nadas' Parallel Stories. It's a Hungarian epic following various characters from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 28, 2012 23:01
|
|
|
AwesomePossum posted:Royal Navy - Napoleonic Wars fiction, and anything similar? Try Mr. Midshipman Easy by Marryat. Marryat actually served with Lord Cochrane, and his books a lot of fun. For more adventure from that era, I recommend The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal, one of my favorite books; finally, for a brilliant, post-modern re-imagining, check out Mason and Dixon by the incomparable Pynchon. You might also want to give Cornwell's Sharpe series a try, they tend to be well done.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 24, 2012 02:42
|
|
|
My Bag posted:Could someone recommend me some books? I've been running out of new reading material lately. I'm not really sure what you're talking about, but it sounds like you should read Pale Fire by Nabokov.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 28, 2012 23:33
|
|
|
Mourning Due posted:Every year for the past three years, I've done a Spooktacular 30 days of October. First year it was just any old horror movie a day for 31 days, next year was 31 Hammer Horror films, next year was 31 Twilight Zone episodes, and this year I'm wanting to do 31 Horror Short Stories. Part of the whole thing is to introduce my friends to stories I've read and enjoyed, but obviously I want to discover some new, exciting ones as well. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is pretty cool, but its more of a novella than a short story. I believe its in the public domain though.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 15, 2012 00:59
|
|
|
Solaron posted:I just finished Mao's Great Famine - one of the first good non-fiction books I've read in recent history that's not something from Dawkins/Hitchens/etc. It was pretty incredible to read and struggle to comprehend the incredible struggle that China went through in those years, only 50 years ago or so. I would also recommend checking out Inferno by Max Hastings. It's one of the best histories of WWII I've read, and really does a good job on the Russian front.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 20, 2012 17:35
|
|
|
GenSpecific posted:Any good suggestions for books on negotiation and body language? This years political season made me realize I am terrible at convincing people of anything. Getting to Yes by Ury, et al. is pretty good on negotiation techniques. For the villain guy, try reading the Ripley series from Patricia Highsmith.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 29, 2012 12:30
|
|
|
Lord Hydronium posted:I'm looking for a book on the lead-up to the American Revolution. I realized that I don't know too much about it beyond the assorted bits every American picks up in grade school history classes and by osmosis. I'm particularly interested in when and how the colonists came to think of themselves as "American", separate from Britain. And preferably something covering the British side of things as well. A Leap in the Dark by John Ferling is terrific. You should also check out some of the contemporary writings, like Thomas Paine's Common Sense for a better understanding of the currents of thought leading up to the Revolution.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 4, 2012 17:26
|
|
|
Nick Cage posted:One of my regrets is not taking lit in college, and so I try to read as much as possible in my spare time, and I find like I'm sure most of you do that you get the most from a book by first reading it and then reading a bunch of crit which considers it. I liked the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism; its primary materials, but its more on the order of representative selections that give you a point of entry for deeper digging than an overwhelming presentation (although its plenty long).
|
|
#
¿
Nov 8, 2012 04:17
|
|
|
wheatpuppy posted:If you liked Tinker, Tailor the obvious suggestion would be more John le Carre. Frederick Forsyth might be up your alley too. I would second Le Carre, and also recommend Eric Ambler.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 12, 2012 00:16
|
|
|
Red Crown posted:No poo poo, I finished that last week. Great read, highly recommend it. I'm thinking more along the lines of fiction novels, or at least books that focus on more "average" people. Have you read Lolita? I mean Humbert's not just selfish, but that's certainly part of it. Oh! The Talented Mr. Ripley! I don't know, most people are really selfish, so any good book would probably meet your request. Hemingway; really pretty selfish dude, but most of his books (OK, the first couple) are really good.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2012 06:02
|
|
|
bowmore posted:What Hemingway should I start with? The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, or the short stories. All terrific, but the short stories have stayed with me the longest. Any of the collections should be a good introduction.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 12, 2012 00:43
|
|
|
Rand alPaul posted:I want to get a Lonesome Dove book for my brother for xmas. Should I start with the first book published or the first book chronologically in the series (Dead Man's Walk)? I would start with Lonesome Dove. Dead Man's Walk is cool, but I think it works better as a prequel than an introduction. Skrill.exe posted:Can I get some good recommendations on noir/hardboiled books that take place in Europe? Think The Third Man. It doesn't have to be a detective story, it can star some random dude, just lots of shady goings on in a pre-war/mid-war/intra-war/post-war Europe. Try Eric Ambler (A Coffin for Dimitrios is my favorite) or Alan Furst. Both excellent spy stories set in Europe between the wars.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 14, 2012 01:01
|
|
|
CancerStick posted:I'm looking for a good book to read related to medicine. Not the science, but perhaps the human side? Perhaps something written by a physician that discusses previous cases. Very vague, I guess, but here is something I read that I found very touching and would like something similar. Atul Gawande's Complications may be what you're looking for.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 15, 2012 18:44
|
|
|
Ulio posted:Any books for the 1870 Franco-German War? Been reading about the first world war, it seems not knowing much about 1870 sort of hampers the understanding of German-Franco standings/relations. I don't know a definitive history of the period, but Zola wrote a series of realist novels on the second empire and the third republic, one of which features Sedan. Google tells me it was La Debacle. I haven't read them yet, but this might prompt me to finally start.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 18, 2012 04:09
|
|
|
Adib posted:A few questions all at once: I doesn't really matter what order you read Hemingway in since you've already read his best novels. I would suggest reading the short stories, Old Man and the Sea, For Whom the Bell Tolls . . . maybe Death in the Afternoon or the Green Hills of Africa, but they are kinda flawed, although still interesting. I wouldn't bother with the Key West novels, they aren't very good. Murakami is interesting, but sorta repetitive, I've read Wind Up Bird Chronicles and Kafka on the Shore, and to be honest, you can really just read one or the other. I thought Wind Up was better. I hear Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World is good, but I haven't read it yet. Most of his work seems to be available in English on Kindle.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 2, 2013 02:35
|
|
|
Loucks posted:I loved Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but Clarke is taking her sweet time with a follow-up. Is there anything sort of similar? I don't usually like fantasy, but I really enjoyed the tone of JS&MN and somehow magic that isn't guys in robes throwing lightning bolts at each other is more palatable. While its not fantasy, you might like Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. It takes place during the same approximate period of time, and the language is a lot of fun. Happy Hedonist posted:I just finished The Second World War by Antony Beevor. I didn't think I'd gain much from the book considering I spend most of my free time reading about and gaming WW2. However, it really helped me develop the timeline of events in my head and I have a much clearer understanding of the war because of the book. I was really impressed and walked away satisfied. I would recommend John Keegan's The First World War for an excellent military history. If you're interested in a cultural history, Try The Great War and Modern Memory by Fussell or Rites of Spring by Eksteins. I know you're set on WWII for now, but I highly recommend Max Hasting's Inferno if you haven't already read it.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 2, 2013 19:43
|
|
|
If you like Graham Greene, try Eric Ambler, Alan Furst or John LeCarre.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2013 05:02
|
|
|
Danger - Octopus! posted:I'm looking for recomendations for espionage thrillers set during the Cold War. I've enjoyed the obvious Len Deighton and John Le Carré novels, and thrillers that veer into action territory (such as Tom Clancy's The Cardinal of the Kremlin) are good too. Eric Ambler and Alan Furst are both worth reading.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 14, 2013 03:53
|
|
|
Does anyone have a favorite novel about ancient Rome? I could swear I read a recommendation here for a series about the crisis of the republic, but I can't remember what it was. Thanks!
|
|
#
¿
Apr 25, 2013 02:03
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 25, 2024 22:08 |
|
|
Thanks guys! I see things have changed since I last posted here; Hieronymous seems to have lost his green spaceman and WGS traded in M.I.A. . .
|
|
#
¿
Apr 25, 2013 03:00
|
|