Recommend a book!

If you like detective fiction, Michael Connelly is solid and Robert Crais is outstanding. His Elvis Cole novels have a poetic melancholy that can just about make you cry. Harlan Coben's novels are electric but feeling kind of one note, except his Myron Bolitar books are still great. Originally Posted by gulflover

I just could not get into this for some reason. I honestly gave it the old college try and finally gave up. Not sure if I just couldn't relate to the character? I am beginning to think I only really like any detective/mystery type books with female leads/female authors, maybe it's a it's just more relate able?

Exception being the Dresden Files, because that is an awesome series, of course!

You couldn't get into the Harry Bosch series? Did you start from the beginning? It may not be your cup of tea.

For female lead, the Jack Daniels series from J.A. Konrath is pretty good. Male author, though.

I loved "South of Broad" by Pat Conroy...one of the my all time fav's..

I also enjoy almost anything from Harlan Coben...
and a great girly book I read a while back.."Here on Earth" by Alice Hoffman

You couldn't get into the Harry Bosch series? Did you start from the beginning? It may not be your cup of tea.

For female lead, the Jack Daniels series from J.A. Konrath is pretty good. Male author, though. Originally Posted by gulflover

I started reading 'The Black Echo' and I am about 3/4 though. I start to pick it up again and just get 'meh' with all the Vietnam drama stuff. Does the series improve? If so, I'll try to get through the book!

I'll check out the other series mentioned. I don't have anything against male authors, just noticed when I was thinking about this thread the ones I have liked the most have been female auths with female leads.

Oh and forgot to mention below, but agreed on Anita Blake. It's a nice 'world' but the sex stuff gets pretty contrived after awhile. I think I preferred her Merry Gentry stuff after awhile....sex fairies instead of sex vampires.

I started reading 'The Black Echo' and I am about 3/4 though. I start to pick it up again and just get 'meh' with all the Vietnam drama stuff. Does the series improve? If so, I'll try to get through the book! Originally Posted by Liliana Vess

I think so. I seem to remember the one I thought was really good was Concrete Blonde.

I'll check out the other series mentioned. I don't have anything against male authors, just noticed when I was thinking about this thread the ones I have liked the most have been female auths with female leads.

No problem, I was trying to think of female fiction authors I read and can't think of much. Alex Kava comes to mind. Now for fantasy, Jennifer Fallon and Fiona McIntosh are both quite good. The Aussies are exporting some interesting stuff from women authors.

Oh and forgot to mention below, but agreed on Anita Blake. It's a nice 'world' but the sex stuff gets pretty contrived after awhile. I think I preferred her Merry Gentry stuff after awhile....sex fairies instead of sex vampires.

Yeah, when she focused on the "As you look into the Abyss, the Abyss looks into you" aspect, it was quite good. And Edward, and the necromancy. The 'world' is great. Charlaine Harris does similar world building without as much sex (in the books)

Not sure if this has been referrenced already, but I am almost through with it and love it for many reasons.

Non-fiction:

"Guns, Germs and Steel"; a book describing the way the developed world evolved from ~12,000 BC to the present.

"1491" A book discussing the state of the Americas before Columbus. Read it, its not what you might think.

"Deep Survival" A terrific book about the psycology of survival from disastrs of all kinds. A little grim in places, but facinating.

Well, those may be books for dudes (who am I to say), so look at these:

Author C.J. Cherryh
"Chanur's Venture"
"The Pride of chanur"
"Chanur's Legacy"

Now, these are Science Fiction, so know that going in. But they were written by a woman during the 1980s when woman's roles in society were changing. The main characters are all femal space pilots and traders . . .tough and assertative though distinctly femal.

Really different and entertaining.

Guns Germs and Steel was very interesting as was

The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. It was written by a Christian Arab and has an interesting perspective.

Not a book but I am enjoying The Vikings series on TV.

I am currently digging on the W.E.B. Griffin series of books.

And as always the "How to Figure Out Hooktard Math" by yours truly is always a good funny read..

Guns Germs and Steel was very interesting as was


The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. It was written by a Christian Arab and has an interesting perspective.


Not a book but I am enjoying The Vikings series on TV. Originally Posted by Rockydoc

Arab Eyes? I worked in the middle east in the early 1980s so this may be another one for me. Christians are catching a lot of persacution over there again.

Guns Germs and Steel? Then you WILL enjoy 1491. They compliment each other in many ways.


Like Vikings? Me too.

It helps to get onto Wikipedia and fill in the gaps with search terms like: Leaf Erickson, Eric the Red, Sutton Hoo, Beowulf and so on.

Out on a limb- by Shirley MacClaine