Book Chat - don't post if you don't read ( Archived) (75)

I have never heard of Diana Gabaldon, unfortunatly, which is surprising as I consider myself well read. Obviously, "The Davinci Code" is Dan Browns best, I still think about the premise of the story all the time as it is solidly based on fact, although it is a fictional novel...you must read it!
Another big favorite of mine is Michael Crichton, and I have just started reading "State of Fear"

Unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever you prefer, I have never been into romance novels and such...I much prefer either thrillers, novels about actual historical events, and autobiographies....

I haven't read Michel Crichton recently, which is an
omission I should rectify. If you like historical novels,
and Stephen King you will definitely like Diana Gabaldon,
which is about a woman to travels back in time to
18th centure Scotland, and is stuck there, and has to
live it and it is portrayed in great realism. It ia a
great favourite a great favourite of many women, and
I should not enjoy it, but I do. Get the first,
"Outlander", quite thick but thin compared to the rest,
and it will knock your socks off. I should have gotten
a woman to recommend it to you, so you don't blame me
for the crueler pasages. I didn't enjoy them, and that
was why I asked my question the way I did. But I am glad
I read the whole series, all 8 inches of it in paperback.

dpw

I am very fond of autobiographies myself, yes, and
historical novels, or just plain history. Depending
on your politics, the autobiogaphies of H.G.Wells and
George Bernard Shaw and other people of that school
are fascinating reading, Isaac Asimov, a similar
person of a later date, too. If you prefer a woman,
and your politics is such that you can stand reading
it, the autobiography of anarchist Emma Goldman is
fascinating.

dpw

That "Outlander" series sounds very interesting indeed...I will look for it as soon as I am finished with "State of Fear". I sometimes have a problem with too much eagerness and start reading two books at the same time, and I don't really like to do that as I find it important to focus totally on the books I read.

Yes, I used to stack them up, and I also used to read to
fast, and take pride in how fast I could read, whereas
now I try to slow down and enjoy it, sometimes forcing
myself to go back over something to make sure I really
understood it as well as I thought I did. Sometimes
I didn't! Best to take one book and enjoy it alright.

dpw

I find myself gravitating towards historical novels about English history, especially the Tudor era....and things in history that were beyond belief to our modern minds, i.e., the black plague, Why the Alamo had to occur, and various topics withing the same thread....I like to read about medieval life and the american west...
As for autobiographies, I enjoy reading for people who have survived during the worst times in our history and have lived to tell their tales...they don't have to be famous, just honest and open...

I like reading history, but I've not read a lot of
older autobiographies like you're talking about.
Sounds fascinating. Hard to find?

dpw

OK, I follow you. Yes, I think I have read several of
those over the years, though not too recently. I have
spent more time writing that reading recently, of course,
though Diana Gabaldon sure took a lot of reading, and
I can think of a few other long books I've gone through.

If you like historical novels, just about my favourite
novel is a short historical novel set in WWII, called
"The Camomile Lawn", by Mary Wesley. British television
made a 6 part miniseries out of it, though it is quite
short. Clever, worth reading twice, to get at the full
meaning.

dpw

Hi all...

I too love books. I read an autobiography about a rich lady in China who when the power changed to communism, she was put in jail for many years just for being rich. I can't remember off the top of my head what the title was, but it was a great read.

I really love books by Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich (for a lighter fare reading style), although Patricia's last book Blow Fly was a huge disappointment.