# Book suggestions need for my grandfather **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031 "2009-11-18T15:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/1 "2009-11-18T15:41:16Z")
My Grandfather’s getting harder and harder to buy new books for, so I’m turning to The Dope for help. Here’s the criteria: 1. He enjoys Tom Clancy-esque spy and thriller novels, Kathy Reich-esque criminal procedurals, and James Patterson-esque murders. But he’s read all of those particular authors, so I’m looking for something off the best seller lists. 2. He enjoys nonfiction, but with frustrating unpredictability. He liked _Agent Zigzag_, but didn’t like _Manhunt_. 3. He HATES 1st person narrative. He won’t even bother. Other random info: He watches a lot of History channel and westerns on TV. He’s a WWII/Korean war vet. He lives in Montana. I live in NYC and he is interested in the city because of that reason. Any suggestions will be soundly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/2 "2009-11-18T16:01:15Z")
I bet he’d like [Nelson DeMille](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nelson+demille&x=0&y=0). DeMille is prolific (like Clancy, Patterson, and Reichs) but his books are actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/3 "2009-11-18T16:03:34Z")
The Men Who Stare at Goats. It’s 1st person, but non-fiction so I’m guessing that’s different. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/4 "2009-11-19T00:02:17Z")
try mathew reilly, james rollins, or douglas preston lincoln childs (preston childs write books together and sep.). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/5 "2009-11-19T00:06:39Z")
I’d try one J.A Jance mystery novel. She writes great characters and the mysteries are decent. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/6 "2009-11-19T00:11:42Z")
If you’re looking for some Tom Clancy like books, try Kyle Mills, Brad Thor, and Vince Flynn. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/7 "2009-11-19T01:00:18Z")
The subject of the book is a bit south of Montana and different from what he has been reading, but my Dad loves this guy: > **[Basin and Range: McPhee, John: 9780374516901: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Basin-Range-John-McPhee/dp/0374516901)** > > Basin and Range \[McPhee, John\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Basin and Range ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/8 "2009-11-19T02:35:00Z")
Grandfather + likes westerns + needs books = Zane Grey books for Grandpa. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/9 "2009-11-19T13:20:56Z")
Older but wonderful: the Horatio Hornblower series by C S Forester, wonderful sea stories set in the Napoleonic Wars. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/10 "2009-11-19T15:16:15Z")
Was he in WWII? My 85-yr old Dad loved the video of _Band of Brothers_. You just gave me a great idea for a present for him. I’ll get the book! ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/11 "2009-11-19T15:30:41Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > Was he in WWII? My 85-yr old Dad loved the video of _Band of Brothers_. You just gave me a great idea for a present for him. I’ll get the book! He was in the navy in WWII, in the Pacific theater. I believe there’s a new and extensive book about the Battle of Midway out last year… Hmmm… Thanks everyone for the recommendations so far! I’ll have to check them all out! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/12 "2009-11-19T15:39:09Z")
For some very entertaining non fiction, how about [Charlie Wilson’s War](http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Wilsons-War-Extraordinary-Operation/dp/0871138549)? Lots of Cold War adventures (with bonus drugs, booze and hookers). The movie was a very limp adaptation. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/13 "2009-11-19T16:01:22Z")
If he likes mystery and thriller stories but you would like to give him something a little different to read try Relic and Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It is a fun, exciting read and involves science and monsters! What red blooded man wouldn’t like that? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/14 "2009-11-22T14:03:51Z")
“in harm’s way” is a very good book about the uss indianapolis. i was able to meet the author and a survivor of the indianapolis at a book signing/reading. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-need-for-my-grandfather/518031/15 "2009-11-22T15:31:45Z")
Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure, the story of HST’s road trip to DC and New York.