elderwitty (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
elderwitty) wrote2009-01-31 03:42 am
elderwitty) wrote2009-01-31 03:42 am
Entry tags:
recommended reading list
I typed these out for esophe's journal, then realized that they're the same books I rec for all the people I rec books for. So I'm keeping the list here. Feel free to ignore, but you'd really be missing out.
Mystery
Odds Against by Dick Francis. Anything by him, actually, but this is the first in a series of four books with the same lead character, Sid Halley, ex-jockey turned investigator, who is successful in his new job somewhat despite himself.
Mr. Francis was a jockey himself, and all (40 or so) of his books are connected, however tangentially, to racing. For example, Rat Race, (another favorite) focuses on a pilot whose company acts as an air taxi service to jockeys, owners, trainers, and others involved in racing, as well as many outside that arena.
Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham. Part of the series of 25 or so books about Albert Campion, who is indescribable in such a short space. Was made into a series starring Peter Davison, which aired on PBS' Mystery! Set in the 1920's - 1940's.
The "Dalziel and Pascoe" series by Reginald Hill. I'd start with some of the older stuff, as the newest 5 or so could be kind of dense without having built the background of reading the past ones. Dalziel is a crude, foul-mouthed, tough, huge (they call him 'Fat Andy,' but only where they know he can't hear them), very successful police detective. He is assigned apartner protege new subordinate who couldn't be further from his idea of a real cop. Peter Pascoe is educated, young, moral, civil, respectful, trained and untried. Was made into a series of films for tv. The very first book is A Clubbable Woman, but it's hard to find. An Advancement of Learning is next and is very good.
John Malcolm's "Tim Simpson" series. Tim is an ex-rugby player who now works in a merchant bank, and heads up the Art Fund. Oddly, whenever he goes looking for artwork to acquire, violent death follows. Very entertaining, whatever your feelings on rugby (or banking). First in the series is A Back Room in Somers Town. It's enjoyable, but not necessary to read these in strict order, although they do refer to past events.
Val McDermid's "Tony Hill" series. Tony is a psychologist who works with the police to help catch violent offenders, often serial killers. Very dark, with themes of torture and dispair. But enjoyable. Made into tv movies with Robson Green. The Wire in the Blood comes first.
If you get caught up in any of these series, I can give you the chronological order. Sometimes it's hard to get the databases to cough them up in anything other than either alphabetical or published date chronology.
I've just noticed that all of these are by English writers, and set in England. Hey, I read Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe) and Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware) too, I just didn't happen to mention them until now. :-)
"The Dragon" series by Gordon R. Dickson. Jim Eckert is a hard-working, volleyball playing TA just trying to find an affordable place to live with his fiancee, Angie. When she gets transported away during an experiment by her crazy scientist boss, Jim follows and finds himself in the body of a dragon. While trying to get Angie back, he meets Brian the knight, Arrrrgh the wolf, Carolinus the magician, and a host of other characters in the medieval land he travels through. The Dragon and the George is first
An Affair of Sorcerers by George Chesbro. This could as easily go in the Mystery column. Professor Robert (Mongo) Frederickson is a dwarf who, after a very successful career with the circus, is now both a teacher and a P.I. He tends to get caught up in cases both violent and occult. His brother Garth, over 6 feet of farm-fed NYPD detective, is often called to help with the intrigue. This series is best read in order, as the overarching mythology could be veeerrryy obscure otherwise. (Be warned, however, that these may be very hard to find.)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden is a wizard. You can look him up in the Yellow Pages. He mostly finds lost things - wedding rings, dogs, husbands. No love potions or endless purses, though people keep asking. Funny, scary, witty, wry, and satisfying. Made into a fine Sci-Fi channel series with Paul Blackthorne, but the books are better (as when are they not?).
Alan Dean Foster's "Flinx" series. Flinx is an orphan, bought by cantankerous Mother Mastiff on the planet of Moth. He finds a flying snake (an empathic Alaspinian mini-dragon, actually) in the alley, names it Pip, and the adventure begins. Turns out that he is no ordinary youngster, and there are plenty of folks trying to either take advantage of him, or take him out of the equation. For Love of Mother-Not is first in the series.
Andre Norton's "Solar Queen" series. Solar Queen is a trader spaceship. They make mail runs and cargo deliveries, and they just can't seem to stay out of the way of either the major conglomerates or trouble. New hire Dean Thorson is just learning his way around the trade, and we see most of the action through his eyes. Sargasso of Space is first.
Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series. Captain Lawrence is happily commanding a ship fighting the war against Napolean, when he is confronted with a newly hatched dragon, whom he names Temeraire. Slightly cracktastic revision of history ensues as the English fight an aerial war using the very intelligent, and mostly unsung Dragon Corps. The affection and respect that Lawrence comes to have for both Temeraire and the much maligned Aerial Corps is lovely to read. His Majesty's Dragon is first.
Psion by Joan Vinge. First of four books featuring Cat, a gutterspawn with bright green eyes and more abilities than are readily visible. Some people want to hire him, some to use him or kill him, but nobody wants to help him find out where he comes from or what he can become
Anything by Zenna Henderson. If you're lucky enough to come across Ingathering, the compendium of her "The People" stories, buy it immediately.
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Anything by her, but this is my favorite. Min is a man-hater, maybe because David just dumped her because she wouldn't sleep with him in the three months they dated. David bets Calvin, an arranger of motivational seminars, that he can't sleep with Min within a month. Calvin doesn't take that bet. Min, who needs a date to her (beautiful, thin) sister's wedding in three weeks, doesn't know Cal refused, and uses the bet to get a guaranteed wedding date that her mother will approve of. Too bad she starts to fall for the beast along the way. Cast of friends, relatives, and restaurants is sure to please. Plus, there's a one-eyed cat.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Chicago Stars" series. Each one revolves around a member of the football team, or its management (or both) finding The One. Knowledge of or love for football is completely unnecessary, thank goodness. My favorite is Match Me if You Can, but you can start with the first in the series, It Had to Be You, if you prefer. (The series veers a bit closer to the straight!romance novel than I'd like, but sometimes I'm in the mood for manipulative, nearly anti-feminest sap - what can I say?)
Historical Fiction/Classics
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C. S. Forester. I can't imagine you haven't read this, but just in case... A young man joins His Majesty's navy in the fight against Napoleon. Made into a series of tv movies with Ioan Gruffudd.
Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series. This bastard son of a whore fights in India, Portugal, Spain and France against the armies of, first, the mahratta and, later, Napoleon. He rises from the ranks to become an officer, very unusual in those times. Even more unusually, he is successful at it. Sharpe's Tiger is chronologically first. Made into a series of tv movies with Sean Bean.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read it every couple of years, just because I can. Then I watch the 5-hour BBC/A&E production with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Two unhappy Victorian housewives rent a small Italian castle (small castle, ftw) for the month of April, sharing the cost with a standoffish lady of a certain age and a beautiful flapper. Turns out they have more in common than they could have ever imagined. Made into a wonderful movie starring Josie Lawrence, Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, Polly Walker, Alfred Molina and Jim Broadbent. Magical.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Some of the later sequels get a bit draggy, but the original never disappoints. Then the tv movie with Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and the incomparable Richard Farnsworth.
Mystery
Odds Against by Dick Francis. Anything by him, actually, but this is the first in a series of four books with the same lead character, Sid Halley, ex-jockey turned investigator, who is successful in his new job somewhat despite himself.
Mr. Francis was a jockey himself, and all (40 or so) of his books are connected, however tangentially, to racing. For example, Rat Race, (another favorite) focuses on a pilot whose company acts as an air taxi service to jockeys, owners, trainers, and others involved in racing, as well as many outside that arena.
Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham. Part of the series of 25 or so books about Albert Campion, who is indescribable in such a short space. Was made into a series starring Peter Davison, which aired on PBS' Mystery! Set in the 1920's - 1940's.
The "Dalziel and Pascoe" series by Reginald Hill. I'd start with some of the older stuff, as the newest 5 or so could be kind of dense without having built the background of reading the past ones. Dalziel is a crude, foul-mouthed, tough, huge (they call him 'Fat Andy,' but only where they know he can't hear them), very successful police detective. He is assigned a
John Malcolm's "Tim Simpson" series. Tim is an ex-rugby player who now works in a merchant bank, and heads up the Art Fund. Oddly, whenever he goes looking for artwork to acquire, violent death follows. Very entertaining, whatever your feelings on rugby (or banking). First in the series is A Back Room in Somers Town. It's enjoyable, but not necessary to read these in strict order, although they do refer to past events.
Val McDermid's "Tony Hill" series. Tony is a psychologist who works with the police to help catch violent offenders, often serial killers. Very dark, with themes of torture and dispair. But enjoyable. Made into tv movies with Robson Green. The Wire in the Blood comes first.
If you get caught up in any of these series, I can give you the chronological order. Sometimes it's hard to get the databases to cough them up in anything other than either alphabetical or published date chronology.
I've just noticed that all of these are by English writers, and set in England. Hey, I read Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe) and Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware) too, I just didn't happen to mention them until now. :-)
Science fiction/fantasy
"The Dragon" series by Gordon R. Dickson. Jim Eckert is a hard-working, volleyball playing TA just trying to find an affordable place to live with his fiancee, Angie. When she gets transported away during an experiment by her crazy scientist boss, Jim follows and finds himself in the body of a dragon. While trying to get Angie back, he meets Brian the knight, Arrrrgh the wolf, Carolinus the magician, and a host of other characters in the medieval land he travels through. The Dragon and the George is first
An Affair of Sorcerers by George Chesbro. This could as easily go in the Mystery column. Professor Robert (Mongo) Frederickson is a dwarf who, after a very successful career with the circus, is now both a teacher and a P.I. He tends to get caught up in cases both violent and occult. His brother Garth, over 6 feet of farm-fed NYPD detective, is often called to help with the intrigue. This series is best read in order, as the overarching mythology could be veeerrryy obscure otherwise. (Be warned, however, that these may be very hard to find.)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden is a wizard. You can look him up in the Yellow Pages. He mostly finds lost things - wedding rings, dogs, husbands. No love potions or endless purses, though people keep asking. Funny, scary, witty, wry, and satisfying. Made into a fine Sci-Fi channel series with Paul Blackthorne, but the books are better (as when are they not?).
Alan Dean Foster's "Flinx" series. Flinx is an orphan, bought by cantankerous Mother Mastiff on the planet of Moth. He finds a flying snake (an empathic Alaspinian mini-dragon, actually) in the alley, names it Pip, and the adventure begins. Turns out that he is no ordinary youngster, and there are plenty of folks trying to either take advantage of him, or take him out of the equation. For Love of Mother-Not is first in the series.
Andre Norton's "Solar Queen" series. Solar Queen is a trader spaceship. They make mail runs and cargo deliveries, and they just can't seem to stay out of the way of either the major conglomerates or trouble. New hire Dean Thorson is just learning his way around the trade, and we see most of the action through his eyes. Sargasso of Space is first.
Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series. Captain Lawrence is happily commanding a ship fighting the war against Napolean, when he is confronted with a newly hatched dragon, whom he names Temeraire. Slightly cracktastic revision of history ensues as the English fight an aerial war using the very intelligent, and mostly unsung Dragon Corps. The affection and respect that Lawrence comes to have for both Temeraire and the much maligned Aerial Corps is lovely to read. His Majesty's Dragon is first.
Psion by Joan Vinge. First of four books featuring Cat, a gutterspawn with bright green eyes and more abilities than are readily visible. Some people want to hire him, some to use him or kill him, but nobody wants to help him find out where he comes from or what he can become
Anything by Zenna Henderson. If you're lucky enough to come across Ingathering, the compendium of her "The People" stories, buy it immediately.
Romantic Comedy
NOT ROMANCE NOVELS, BECAUSE....JUST NO. Much closer to When Harry Met Sally or Miss Congeniality than Love Story. Snappy, not sappy.Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Anything by her, but this is my favorite. Min is a man-hater, maybe because David just dumped her because she wouldn't sleep with him in the three months they dated. David bets Calvin, an arranger of motivational seminars, that he can't sleep with Min within a month. Calvin doesn't take that bet. Min, who needs a date to her (beautiful, thin) sister's wedding in three weeks, doesn't know Cal refused, and uses the bet to get a guaranteed wedding date that her mother will approve of. Too bad she starts to fall for the beast along the way. Cast of friends, relatives, and restaurants is sure to please. Plus, there's a one-eyed cat.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Chicago Stars" series. Each one revolves around a member of the football team, or its management (or both) finding The One. Knowledge of or love for football is completely unnecessary, thank goodness. My favorite is Match Me if You Can, but you can start with the first in the series, It Had to Be You, if you prefer. (The series veers a bit closer to the straight!romance novel than I'd like, but sometimes I'm in the mood for manipulative, nearly anti-feminest sap - what can I say?)
Historical Fiction/Classics
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C. S. Forester. I can't imagine you haven't read this, but just in case... A young man joins His Majesty's navy in the fight against Napoleon. Made into a series of tv movies with Ioan Gruffudd.
Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series. This bastard son of a whore fights in India, Portugal, Spain and France against the armies of, first, the mahratta and, later, Napoleon. He rises from the ranks to become an officer, very unusual in those times. Even more unusually, he is successful at it. Sharpe's Tiger is chronologically first. Made into a series of tv movies with Sean Bean.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read it every couple of years, just because I can. Then I watch the 5-hour BBC/A&E production with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Two unhappy Victorian housewives rent a small Italian castle (small castle, ftw) for the month of April, sharing the cost with a standoffish lady of a certain age and a beautiful flapper. Turns out they have more in common than they could have ever imagined. Made into a wonderful movie starring Josie Lawrence, Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, Polly Walker, Alfred Molina and Jim Broadbent. Magical.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Some of the later sequels get a bit draggy, but the original never disappoints. Then the tv movie with Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and the incomparable Richard Farnsworth.