Can anyone suggest some book-titles that my father might enjoy?
My dad’s been away on business alot, and told me how lonely it gets after the work’s done. I told him to read, and that I rarely get lonely as long as I have my books. The problem is, he really only reads non-fiction, which doesn’t provide the same diversion as good fiction, especially for someone missing loved-ones.
Some of the books I read might not interest a middle-aged business man. I was wondering if you guys could recommend any fiction/sci-fi/thriller/mystery/etc titles he might enjoy? He’s read Dan Brown, if that helps…
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18 Answers
try reading the
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
it’s really intellectual
:D
The Giver, tell him to try it. trust me
I think the Ender Quartet is fantastic. (Ender’s Game / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the Mind). But that doesn’t mean that he would enjoy it. It’s not nonfiction, but it’s not pure escapism, either.
Maybe he’d like Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander series – 20 of them, in case
he loves them – could keep him happy for a long time. I love them and my big grownup sons love them – they’re so interesting and dramatic and sometimes very funny that we read them over and over again.
My father in law loved the John Gresham novels
They were fiction, but realistic and suspensful.
If he likes O’Brien’s Aubrey/Maturin series (aka Master and Commander), then he might like Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series as well. I like both.
If he likes thrillers then he might try books by Dennis Lehane, Scott Turow, Lee Child, Greg Iles, John Connolly, Michael Connelly, Ken Follett, James Patterson, Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham, John Sandford, Vince Flynn, James Twining, Mo Hayder, Wilbur Smith, Tess Gerritsen, Jack Higgins, J. A. Jance, David Baldacci, Stuart Woods, Joseph Kanon, Dick Francis, and Jonathan Kellerman.
These are all capable thriller writers who include lots of little nuggets of reality from varying life styles. Their books all tend to be swift-moving, with plot twists and turns, and are well-thought of by critics and fellow thriller writers. Most of them have several books out at the least, so if he likes one he can find others.
Hope he finds something he likes.
If he is a hippie he might like “The Monkey Wrench Gang” and “Hayduke Lives”
I’m kinda kidding about the hippie thing. But, someone that votes Republican would probably hate them.
give him Sphere by michael chrichton he’s a great writer and this us a great book it’s a sci-fi / thriller
In those genres, anything by Michael Crichton.
Oops, nysmith9 beat me. Sphere is a great book. Most of Crichton’s books are fantastic.
I’m almost done with Pillars of the Earth, and I would definitely recommend it – especially for someone who reads a lot of nonfiction. It’s fiction, but it’s so rooted in the history of the period and the science of the architecture, it would probably be appealing to him. Plus, it’s practically impossible to put down – he’ll totally forget about everything else while he’s reading!
The Good Journey and the Fiercer Heart by Michaela Gilchrest are really great historical fiction, based on diaries (I have male friends who are age 50+ career military, and they really liked The Good Journey.)
Would he like non-fiction that reads as fiction?
Devil in the White City is a great book. Reads like a novel, but is a true story and meticulously researched. I tend to read a lot of fiction, but I loved this book.
Standing Next to History is actually non-fiction. If your dad prefers non-fiction, why not indulge that preference? I got this book for my husband but ended up reading it myself. It’s written by a former Secret Service agent and is fascinating.
As for fiction, he might like Down River or The Last Child by John Hart. Both are good mystery/thrillers with some very good writing.
I also have to second (third?) the Michael Crichton suggestion. Love his books.
These are all really good suggestions. THANKS EVERYONE!!
I’ll link him the thread, and let you know what he chooses :)
Berlin – Antony Beavor link
Stalingrad – Antony Beavor link
Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer link
Dances With Marmots – George Spearing link
The Last Season – Eric Blehm link
A Billion Little Transistors
A Tale of Two GPUs
Boot, Pray, Reboot
Cache 22
Catcher in the RAM
Encarta (Paper Edition)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Hard Drives (But Were Afraid to Ask)
How to Talk to a Mac User
Lord of the Pings
Of Mice and Keyboards
Old Gamers Almanac
Overclock Work Orange
The Art of Warcraft
The Joy of SSDs
The Quadfather
The South Bridges of Madison County
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a New PC
Zen and the Art of Water Cooling
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