I need some book suggestions. Not political!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

I read a book about every three days. I'm going to Costa Rica for two weeks and I'm told that books are very expensive there so I need to take some with me. I eat, sleep, drink, breath politics. Air America is on 24 / 7. If I'm on the puter, D.U. is up. I need a brake from the constant political angst.

I like stuff like Ludlum, Follett, Patterson but have read almost everything by them and others. I need some new authors, some good writers. Have you read anything really wonderful that I might consider? Tell me about it please Any topic, fact or fiction, just NO politics.

Thanks for your time. I go book shopping Monday and leave Tuesday.

Bud

[XemaSab]

1. Ruth Rendell and/or Nevada Barr

Both mystery writers, both really fun. :)

[Sugar Smack]

30. Have you read The Crocodile Bird?

It's one of Ruth Rendell's dark, beautiful mysteries that sticks in the back of your mind. Her language is some of the most memorable I've ever read.

[Sabriel]

2. Try young adult novels for a change

Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia trilogy is very good:

The Thief
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia


Or Garth Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy:

Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Or His Dark Materials.

A trilogy: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass

One of the most interesting, creative things I've read in a long time.

[bertha katzenengel]

3. James Michener. My faves are _Centennial_ and _Alaska_. Also

Apollo 13. I found it at a rummage sale. It has a photo from the movie on the front, so I thought it was one of those "based on the script" books. It turns out that it is the book Jim Lovell (with a ghost) wrote, originally titled Lost Moon. I don't like some things about the ghost writer's style, but the story -- even though we know how it turns out -- is well written. Riveting.

Also, catch Sara Paretsky. Her character V.I. Warshawski is my heroine. :hi:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. Have you read The Right Stuff?

It's excellent.

[applegrove]

4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Amazing book. You just have to go with the flow

and you will be amazed.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

22. Duly noted. The title intrigues me. On the list

Is it's at the recycle book store I'll check it out.

Edited for spelling. I read a lot, you would think I could spell.

[tigereye]

5. The Secret Life of Bees - it was excellent

it's a story of a young girls journey to find out about her mother, but it has a lot of great characters and a view of the 60s south.


I'm a big fan of Tony Hillerman books - they have a fair amount of action, and some philosophical pondering.

[Maestro]

8. Forget the book!

Take your camera and take lots of bird pictures for me! ;) I wish I could offer you a good book but I don't have one at the moment although the last adult book I read was by Gabriel García Márquez. You might want to check him out. He is a Nobel winning writer.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

21. Oh believe me, I'm taking two cameras with big mem cards

If you are serious about the bird pics pm me and I'll hook you up.
Bud

[China_cat]

9. Cormac Mccarthy

No Country For Old Men (book, not movie), The Border Trilogy (All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, Cities of the Plain), Blood Meridian. It'll take you a lot more than 3 days to get through Blood Meridian, I guarantee it.

[nomorenomore08]

10. 'Blood Meridian' is amazing!

Probably the most relentlessly violent novel I'd ever read, until I read 'American Psycho' just recently.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

24. Oh good! I love books that last, the longer the better

On the list!

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. Have you read any Lee Child books?

His Jack Reacher character is quite intriguing and there are a bunch of his novels out in paperback. Easier to transport.

Have a wonderful time in Costa Rica. A friend of mine lives there and can't say enough good about the country.

[FloridaJudy]

16. Another vote for Lee Child

And if you like thrillers/procedurals Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch novels. Echo Park, The Narrows, The Concrete Blonde, The Black Echo: there are over a dozen of them.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Special Agent Pendergast books also never fail to entertain me. Available from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-2041571-1149257?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Preston+Child&x=19&y=19) as well as your local bookstore.

All of these have been around long enough to be out in paperback, and readily available in used book stores. What I do when travelling is stock up on cheap used paperbacks and pass them on when finished - either to a local who wants to improve his/her English, or to a fellow English speaking tourist. You'll need that empty space to pack souvenirs, laundry, and other purchases anyway.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

26. It is exactly my intent to leave them all in CR

And these will be on my list.
Thanks

[SKKY]

12. "The Alienist" By Caleb Carr, and "Dirty White Boys" by Stephen Hunter...

...great reads. Real page-turners.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

27. I loved the Alienist!

Couldn't get through his second book though

[1gobluedem]

13. Anything by Bill Bryson

I always read his books when I travel; they are so entertaining.

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Yes!

Especially "A Walk in the Woods" and "In a Sunburned Country"!! :rofl:

[1gobluedem]

15. In a Sunburned Country is SO good

But, my sentimental favorite will always be Lost Continent because it's the first one I read.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. Right now I'm reading "Neither Here Nor There:

Travels in Europe" :thumbsup:

[1gobluedem]

20. Another classic...

I've read 'em all -- each one many times.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

28. With all those recs I'll have to check it out

My, it is soooo good to hear of new authors. I've burned all the old ones up!

[Orsino]

17. Declare or Three Days to Never...

...both by Tim Powers. Magical spy thrillers.

[Whoa_Nelly]

19. Anansi Boys

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OlttZSUQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Anansi-Boys-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060515198/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196553185&sr=8-1

[bicentennial_baby]

23. Will I *ever* get around to reading that?!

I've had it for a year, still haven't read it, even though I've re-read American Gods in that span of time...My Ex was here recently and chided me for not having read it yet...sigh, I'll get to it eventually.

[Richardo]

25. Michael Connelly, Carl Hiaasen

two of my contemporary favorites - crime fiction, Connelly = serious; Hiaasen = hilarious

[Taverner]

29. I really liked La Carre's Russia House

I also liked Tony Hillerman's Reservation Cops series (Jim Chee and Leaphorn)