I love Tom Clancy so much. Please recommend me other authors that write military-style books. RIP.
Harry Turtledove has some really good alt-history military/war books. Guns of the South is a very interesting take on how a white supramacist group from South Africa(I think I'm remembering this right) time travel back to the Civil War and equip Lee's army with grenades and AK 47's. Its a VERY captivating story. Also How Few Remain depicts a 'what if' scenario of Lee not losing the Battle of Gettysburg(I think I spelled that right, haaa)
He also has a lot that carry the Union/Confedarcy over into WWI/II
I love Tom Clancy so much. Please recommend me other authors that write military-style books. RIP.
It's fantasy, but Glen Cook's The Black Company series is some seriously great military-style writing. Author was a military man, and his the way he writes is very much informed by his experience and it's apparently really popular among military members because of that. If you're specifically looking for modern war stuff, then this won't be what you're looking for, but if you just want to get down and dirty with a bunch of soldiers being soldiers (with a healthy dose of dark humour), then I definitely recommend it.
Is there a particular area of non-fiction you're interested in? I've recently read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (About her life pre-death, and then about her cells. Very interesting considering I have friends who work with HeLa regularly). Also relatively recently read Just Mercy which is a really interesting look at the US justice system and its problems. (Both of these are a bit US-centric)
In the past year or so I've read some of Régine Pernoud's stuff on the middle ages and enjoyed it quite a bit. Glancing at wikipedia translations are available.
@Allyrianne anything that's accessible to the casual reader. I'm trying to expand my reading and mental horizons.
I've read too much fiction, especially on the fantasy/sci-fi spectrum. I have trouble getting into classic literature and I'm extremely picky about reading things in that genre.
You could try "Life in a Jar" by Jack Mayer. It is an interesting story about a difficult period of time in the world's history, and a very courageous woman who risked her life to rescue children. Her story was essentially unknown for quite some time until a much-later group of children found a few scattered references while trying to do a school project and brought it to the world's attention.
I am like you in that I am pretty much entirely sci-fi/fantasy and do not really ever touch non-fiction, but this one came up in a book club I was in. I ended up pressing my mother and sister to read it, and now my sister uses it as part of her curriculum.
Edit: Note that part of it is still a bit fictionalized, as it is based on the play / script the children put together, but the basic story is all based on true events, about unsung courage with no expectation of recognition, and how even students just trying to do a school project can do something exceptional.
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SylandraJoin Queue for Mafia GamesThe Last Mafia Game
Joan Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem was interesting nonfiction. It's a collection of essays about California in the 1960s, and even though it was assigned reading for me, I found it very compelling.
I also enjoyed Richard Blanco's memoir, The Prince of Los Cocuyos, about growing up the child of Cuban immigrants in Miami. It's both quite funny and touching, and has a kindness to its honesty.
"Oh yeah, you're a naughty mayor, aren't you? Misfile that Form MA631-D. Comptroller Shevat's got a nice gemstone disc for you, but yer gonna have to beg for it."
Thanks for the suggestions. I've been reading a lot more so I'm burning through books every 3-4 days... damn books are expensive. Need to cut back on my bar time to afford all these books.
Picked up a few of the books from the Dorothy Must Die series to feed my love of all things Oz. They're pretty decent so far, powered through the first book, about halfway through the second now.
The Wilderness Family: At Home with Africa's Wildlife by Kobie Kruger is a beautiful and hilarious book by a woman whose husband was a game ranger in Kruger National Park, South Africa for almost twenty years, about their family and adventures and the wildlife. I absolutely adore this book, and so far everyone I have ever forced to read it has also loved it and a surprising number have gotten copies for friends/relatives.(I know this number is at least 6) It's just incredibly touching, beautifully written, and the author's sense of humour and love for South Africa really shine through.
Call the Midwife and sequels by Jennifer Worth, about working as a Midwife in East End London in the 1950s. I haven't read all of them, but so far I do recommend.
James Herriot's heavily fictionalised memoirs about his life as Yorkshire vet in the 1940sish are also pretty entertaining. I think it's probably easiest to find the first one under the title of "All Creatures Great and Small" at this point.
I'm re-reading Calculating God by Robert J Sawyer. I was forced to read it in school, and I was 'meh,' but I'm really into it now that I'm doing it for pleasure and not just an assignment. Really good book.
I love Tom Clancy so much. Please recommend me other authors that write military-style books. RIP.
Lee Child, with the Jack Reacher boots. As well as Clive Cussler with the Dirk Pitt books.
The apple is cold, crisp, and sour as the juices fill your mouth. As you consume the fruit, you glimpse, for a moment, a massive, shadowy figure, Her snow-white hair framing a perfect, icy-eyed visage. Beneath you, a vast, perfect web of silken strands lies - and, for a moment, you realize that you too are part of it, weaver and strand both - and home.
I'm reading the new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book. As well as the rest of the first book by R.A Salvatore about Drizzt Do'Urden.
The apple is cold, crisp, and sour as the juices fill your mouth. As you consume the fruit, you glimpse, for a moment, a massive, shadowy figure, Her snow-white hair framing a perfect, icy-eyed visage. Beneath you, a vast, perfect web of silken strands lies - and, for a moment, you realize that you too are part of it, weaver and strand both - and home.
If you want something funny, I highly recommend reading Subtle Disaster. It's perfect for passing the time.
Here's a teaser:
Viravain, Lady of the Thorns shouts, "And You would seize Me? Fool! I am the Glomdoring! I am the Wyrd, and beneath the cloak of Night, the shadows of the Silent stir!"
Finished Ancillary Mercy (<3<3<3) and Shadows of Self (<3<3<3), next up is She Walks in Shadows - the last one from October releases I've been dying for. Then back to the Expanse, book 3!
I just started the third book of the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. Last two books were amazing, but this one is starting off kind of slow... hoping it'll get better sooner rather than later.
Tonight amidst the mountaintops And endless starless night Singing how the wind was lost Before an earthly flight
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SylandraJoin Queue for Mafia GamesThe Last Mafia Game
"Why Does He Do That?" By Lundy Bancroft. Holy crap. This dismantles a lot of myths about abusive behavior and explains how those myths actually feed into those abusive behaviors. I kind of feel like everyone should read this.
"Oh yeah, you're a naughty mayor, aren't you? Misfile that Form MA631-D. Comptroller Shevat's got a nice gemstone disc for you, but yer gonna have to beg for it."
@Rancoura if you liked that, i strongly reccomend kim harrison' kelley armstrong's otherworld series. it's got werewolves, vampires, witches, world building, sassy female leads, romance, steamy bits, and adventure.
i also suggest you try the rachel morgan series. jenks is my favorite character!
@Xeria Funnily enough, I've read a lot of Harrison's Rachel Morgan series.
And if you liked all of those series, I'd suggest giving Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series a try. More about Celtic-style fae with a lot of political drama and (and a bit X-rated due to some other things), but with an equally strong female lead. I haven't read her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series, but I'm sure it's also good!
Tonight amidst the mountaintops And endless starless night Singing how the wind was lost Before an earthly flight
@Rancoura sorry that should read 'kelley armstrong' otherworld series. not kim harrison.
you'll also like the sookie stackhouse, southern vampire series. @Celina i think you would too! if you're into cheesy zombie books at present. plus they made a tv series out of it. it's good. got drama, along with characters you love to hate PLUS plenty of man candy fanservice. if you catch the uncensored version online.
i've read laurel k hamilton's merry gentry and anita blake series a few years back but now i've forgotten must of it. i have to agree with @Enyalida, it tends to end as a porno with the anita blake series. i liked merry gentry at that time, and i'll revisit it. i thought the ending was a cop out! so many lose ends not tied up and too much focus on the 'happy ever after'
keven hearne - iron druid. ancient celtic druid surviving his ancient enemies by blending in with modern times. loki, thor, and odin make an appearence. so does baby jesus dressed as a mexican and the virgin mary as a nun feeding the homeless. please, please please do yourself a favour and get the books as audio books narrated by luke daniels. his impression of oberon the irish wolf hound is spot on. in fact, enjoy the books as audiobooks first THEN buy the actual books.
andrea k host - touch stone trilogy. girl walks through a rift and ends up on an alien planet as a displaced alien with magical powers. very well written. it's realistic. features strong female leads.
Comments
If you've never read any Lee Child books, you might really enjoy them.
Turtledove, as has been mentioned.
I'll go through my bookshelves later, see what other authors spring out. Since most of what I read is military sci Fi.
I've read too much fiction, especially on the fantasy/sci-fi spectrum. I have trouble getting into classic literature and I'm extremely picky about reading things in that genre.
I am like you in that I am pretty much entirely sci-fi/fantasy and do not really ever touch non-fiction, but this one came up in a book club I was in. I ended up pressing my mother and sister to read it, and now my sister uses it as part of her curriculum.
Edit: Note that part of it is still a bit fictionalized, as it is based on the play / script the children put together, but the basic story is all based on true events, about unsung courage with no expectation of recognition, and how even students just trying to do a school project can do something exceptional.
I also enjoyed Richard Blanco's memoir, The Prince of Los Cocuyos, about growing up the child of Cuban immigrants in Miami. It's both quite funny and touching, and has a kindness to its honesty.
Tonight amidst the mountaintops
And endless starless night
Singing how the wind was lost
Before an earthly flight
i also suggest you try the rachel morgan series. jenks is my favorite character!
Tonight amidst the mountaintops
And endless starless night
Singing how the wind was lost
Before an earthly flight
you'll also like the sookie stackhouse, southern vampire series. @Celina i think you would too! if you're into cheesy zombie books at present. plus they made a tv series out of it. it's good. got drama, along with characters you love to hate PLUS plenty of man candy fanservice. if you catch the uncensored version online.
i've read laurel k hamilton's merry gentry and anita blake series a few years back but now i've forgotten must of it. i have to agree with @Enyalida, it tends to end as a porno with the anita blake series. i liked merry gentry at that time, and i'll revisit it. i thought the ending was a cop out! so many lose ends not tied up and too much focus on the 'happy ever after'
other reccomendations in the same vein:
patrcia briggs - mercy thompson. native american skin walker. strong female leads, romanc
keven hearne - iron druid. ancient celtic druid surviving his ancient enemies by blending in with modern times. loki, thor, and odin make an appearence. so does baby jesus dressed as a mexican and the virgin mary as a nun feeding the homeless.
please, please please do yourself a favour and get the books as audio books narrated by luke daniels. his impression of oberon the irish wolf hound is spot on. in fact, enjoy the books as audiobooks first THEN buy the actual books.
andrea k host - touch stone trilogy. girl walks through a rift and ends up on an alien planet as a displaced alien with magical powers. very well written. it's realistic. features strong female leads.
michael saagara - chronicles of elantria.