Posted on 09/27/2013 12:03:41 PM PDT by Hugin
Hi everyone,
Recently I've found myself with a lot of spare time on my hands, so I've been doing a lot of reading, and I'm looking for recommendations. I'm not looking for anything heavy, but basically escapist fiction, with my favorite genre being historical fiction. I've read everything by most of my favorite authors; Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe's Rifles, Saxon Tales, etc.), Conn Igulden (Emperor, Genghis series), Stephen Pressfield (Gates of Fire, Afghan Campaign, etc.), and also Michael Crichton. So I'm looking for recommendations and who better to ask than Freepers?
Marshal M. Ney-See this link for a short bio and links to books:
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/1800sarmybiographies/p/ney.htm
On line source for names and sources:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34400/34400.txt
GREAT resource:
Revolutionary and other officers:
http://www.arcdetriomphe.info/officers/
Murat:
http://www.napoleon-series.org/index.html
Tons more all over the net
I used to read a lot of sci-fi, including most of Niven’s books, but I got bored with it eventually. Still, if it’s well written I’ll occasionally read one.
And thanks to everyone else. Far too many good suggestions to respond to everyone. Got to go now, I’ll check back later.
OK
Thank you.
I just realized “escapism” isn’t the right word to describe Matt Bracken’s novels except for maybe “Castigo Cay”.
Well you must have read the foundation books The fourth add on, not so bad, the last add on...painful.
I used to thoroughly enjoy vietnam war stories from the men who were in the special forces, seals, llrps, etc in paperback back in the day.
I noticed you did not mention having read Michael Shaara’s “Killer Angels”.
Please give it a look if you have not already read it.
“Marching Through Culpeper, by Virginia Morton, is a lesser known historical fiction title about the Civil War which I enjoyed (but I might be biased since I spent 22 years of my life in Culpeper and I really love that part of Virginia).
And, while I’m on a Civil War “kick” I’ll also recommend Shelby Foote’s “Shiloh”.
I also very much enjoyed “1812-Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia” by Paul Britten Austin.
Anything by the late Vince Flynn, may God bless his soul.
Oh, and how could I forget “Ill Met By Moonlight” by W. Stanley Moss.
I know it is not historical fiction, since the story the author tells is true and he was a participant — but it is very well written, the story is well-told and it moves along like an action novel. I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying: “truth is stranger than fiction” - with this book, it’s more like “truth is more exciting than fiction”
I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Here is a partial description from amazon:
“Ill Met By Moonlight” is the gripping account of the audacious World War II abduction of a German general from the island of Crete. British special forces officers W. Stanley Moss and Patrick Leigh Fermor, together with a small band of Cretan partisans, kidnapped the general, then evaded numerous German checkpoints and patrols for nearly three weeks as they maneuvered across the mountainous island to a rendezvous with the boat that finally whisked them away to Allied headquarters in Cairo.
I’ve recently reacquainted myself with Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. It is a children’s book but it is still a wonderful story about the birth of the American Revolution.
... and finally, I also highly recommend “Long Remember” by MacKinley Kantor, a historical novel set at the battle of Gettysburg, and which pre-dates Shaara’s “Killer Angels” by about 40 years.
“Will” by G.Gordon Liddy. I have a signed copy. Used to get his radio show here. He offered to sign stuff by mail.
I have just checked a book out from our church library “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis. I have heard it referenced so many times, I have to read it for myself. I am sure you’d like that one too.
“Happy Happy Happy” by Phil Robertson. Available on Amazon for a small price. A very enjoyable read.
“Lawless” by Matthew Bondurant. True story of prohibition era moonshiners in Virginia, written by a grandson of the three Bondurant brothers. See the movie, too, terrific film.
I recommend “The Devil in the White City” which interweaves the story of planning and building the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with that of a serial killer....
And “In the Garden of Beasts” about the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party as seen from the viewpoint of the American Ambassador to Germany and his family.
Both by Erik Larson.
For light reading: anything by Robert B. Parker (miss him - and Vince Flynn...), Robert Crais, David Baldacci and Michael Connelly.
*SNORT*
Also, anything by George Orwell and Sinclair Lewis.
In the Garden of the Beasts was indeed a winner.
Someone mentioned Lonesome Dove and I will have to second that. I read it during a family vacation years ago when we were tent camping and my sons would say, “Dad, quit reading that book in the mornings, you are laughing and waking us up.”
I read mostly history and narrative history, but for pot boilers I read John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/lucas-davenport-series-in-order
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