Novels FReepers Love (discussion)

April 4, 2004 | me

[Long Cut]

Over at THIS THREAD, discussing Tom Clancy's movies, one FReeper lamented the lack of threads discussing books we all might like, like Clancy's, or those of Clive Cussler, Matt Reilly, Patrick Robinson...The list is almost endless, as writers with a conservative tilt have long produced works that appeal to a wide audience of Americans, not just conservatives.

So, ever willing to help out, herewith such a thread. I'm not totally motivated by altruism here, as I am working on my first book right now, and opinions matter to me. Also, I love discussing my favorite works. I started reading at the tender age of four, and kept most of the books I read starting with Treasure Island. I married an English Lit major, and even today I attempt to consume as many books as possible.

What say you , FReepers? Let's chew on some books, shall we?

[Jeff Head]

My guess is that there are a whole lot more.

In addition to Freeper authors, I also liked:

The entire "Narrative of America" series by Alan Eckert

Thom's work in "From Sea to Shining Sea" and "Panther in the Sky", as well as "Long Knife"

Tyone Martin's, "A Most Fortunate Ship" about the USS Constitution.

Saberhagans "Empire East"

...and would recommend highly the "Prelude to Glory Series" by Carter about the Revolutionary War period.

Outside of the Sci-Fi, "Empire East", there's lots and lots of good all American reading there that is true to the historical foundations of our nation and liberty.

[Long Cut]

I think John MacDonald had a lot more influence than some sceenwriters are willing to admit.

McGee's ghost can be seen in hundreds of works, if you look. Rockford Files, Magnum: P.I., Riptide, all of these shows and more owed their existance to the captain of the Busted Flush.

[MamaB]

I enjoy reading William W. Johnstone who recently died. He is the writer of the famous Out of the Ashes series, the Westerns with Smoke Jensen, etc. I enjoyed writing him and he would answer when he felt like it. I also write his niece. Some of my other favorite writers include: Patricia Cornwell, Grace Livinston Hill, Max Lucado, the Left Behind series, Sean Hannity, etc.

[PJ-Comix]

I read Popcorn Books for relaxation but I read the great works for REAL stimulation. Read All The King's Men and you will be AWED by the literary power of Robert Penn Warren. Yes, it's about politics but it is a GREAT work of literature. Makes you look at the ordinary books as, well, ordinary.

[Long Cut]

Taking a break to do some errands. Back in a while, talk amongst yourselves!

[Tribune7]

Magnum: P.I.,

You're absolutely right.

[PJ-Comix]

You still have a month to join the Freeper Reading Club and read Robert Penn Warren's All The King's Men. SUPERB literature about a corrupt politician.

[grellis]

ALL things Tolkien, many things Shakespeare, The Wind in the Willows, Watership Down, the Bible, really old cookbooks, just about anything by Max Schulman (I can't read Anyone Got a Match? without a minimum of three spit-takes--a must read for smokers, former smokers, football fans, and anyone who went to college or knew someone who went to college), birding guides, political biographies, and everything John Dickson Carr ever wrote.

[steplock]

The link below will take to the book by Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK)

Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders

It is a MUST-READ book for everyone, especially conservative Republicans interested in national politics! I am just a few pages from finishing it, and I recommend it HIGHLY.

[grellis]

Short Cut, at 8 mos. old, takes most of her time these days.

Well God bless you all! Ours are 6, 4 and 2. There are some days when a few minutes on FR are the closest thing I have to an adult conversation until hubby (FReeper AshfieldK) comes home.

[HairOfTheDog]

Love Tolkien, of course...about due for a re-read of that, it has been since the year Fellowship came out.

This year I read Seabiscuit, which was a really interesting look into both that era in our history, and into horseracing.

I used to read a lot of Grisham's legal thrillers... I love court dramas and mysteries.

[Travis McGee]

I'll throw in my favorite unknown (in America) novelist: the Brit Gerald Seymour. I'm strongly influenced by his realistic suspense thriller genre, which is so different from the Ludlum/Grisham/Clancy macro comic-book hero novel. I would recommend Archangel, Harry's Game or The Contract as starting point. DeMille is good, but his action scenes are totally farfetched and unrealistic. Stephen Hunter is fun to read, but is getting repetitious with the Bob Swagger saga. Ignatious writes pretty good spy novels.

[stands2reason]

Preston and Lincoln Child? Those two have put out a bunch of really engrossing novels, beginning with The Relic

Fantastic book. I couldn't put it down.

[stands2reason]

Have you read his 13th Warrior? A brilliant novel!

[stands2reason]

A novel that I go back and re-read occasionally is Zen and the Art of Motorvycle Maintenance

Two I've bought more than once...

[Travis McGee]

Dean Koontz "Dark Rivers of the Heart" is a CLASSIC. Great secret govt agency skullduggery novel.

[Travis McGee]

John D. McDonald
Probably my favorite writer.

(Travis McGee strongly agrees.)

[Travis McGee]

I think John MacDonald had a lot more influence than some sceenwriters are willing to admit. McGee's ghost can be seen in hundreds of works, if you look. Rockford Files, Magnum: P.I., Riptide, all of these shows and more owed their existance to the captain of the Busted Flush.

I agree. The late great John D. is probably the most ripped-off without credit writer in history.

[cavtrooper21]

Good reads, even if they are SF mind candy, are the various David Drake / SM Stirling books. SM by himself isn't bad, but Drake adds something of the "...been there, done that" touch.
Currently working on Sir Winston's History of WW2, and am awaiting the arrival of his "History of English Speaking Peoples"
Oh, and Jerry Pornelle, (I think I spelled that right..) always a good read.
There is a book I read here a while back by this new author named Matthew Bracken... very good, but I think he's holding out on the sequel... ;^)

[Jet Jaguar]

Favorite books of mine. (Some not conservative)
Earth Abides-Stewart
Lord of the Rings-Tolkien
The World According to Garp-Irving
Treason-Coulter
The Screwtape Letters-Lewis
Senatorial Privledge-Danmore
The Stand-King
Servant of the Bones-Rice