I work at a small retail clothing store, with 5 other people. The store manager is an intelligent woman and we enjoy talking to one another about all kinds of stuff. She recently asked me for a book suggestion, “something different,” and while I’d love to reccomend something, my taste in books runs towards the latest Star Wars or Battletech/Mechwarrior novel.
She’s worked as a book store manager for a local business and for Barnes & Noble at different times, and is very well-read, so I don’t think my usual tastes would be very appealing for her. So I’m turning to you fine folk for reccomendations.
Notes that might be helpful:
1.) She won’t read Dune or Tolkien, she’s tried both and they don’t hold her interest
2.) She enjoys sci-fi, but isn’t fixated with it.
3.) She’s read a lot of the Nero Wolfe series of books, and was a big fan of the A&E show (I’ve only seen the show, and yeah, I loved it).
4.) She just finished a book titled 1776 which dramatized the writing of the Declaration of Independence (but is not associated with the musical)
5.) She was recently telling me about a trilogy of books, one of them is titled the Golden Compass, that she enjoyed.
I work with her tonight, I’m gonna ask if she’s read the Hitchhiker’s Guide series, and if she hasn’t then I’ll get some other info that might be of further aid.
I assume that this is refering to the David McCullough book, which is not actually a dramatization (though it is a great book). If she is looking for just a general book I would suggest McCullough’s John Adams as a wonderful biography. If she is specifically looking for fiction she could look into other pulp detective novels, especially something by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett.
You do say she is looking for ‘something different’ though so I may as well suggest some of my favorite books that differ from what you list.
Notes from the Underground - Fyodor Dostoevsky
A fairly quick read that consists of some very entertaing existential rantings
The Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
A controversial satire of religion
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
I can’t really give a good synopsis as I just started it this week, but it is quite enjoyable and I am loving Wilde’s well renowned wit.
There should be another dozen suggestions for me to make but for some reason I am completely blanking right now. Though I do fully support your idea of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, you can never go wrong with Douglas Adams.
Would non-fiction be something she’s interested in? Maybe, as she’s “well read”, she’s already familiar with it but I found Minding The Store by Stanley Marcus to be completely enjoyable and, for her, topical. It’s not new but some things, like good marketing, service and good management, are timeless.
Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller - superbly written period drama, with elements of magical realism. One of those books that is so brilliant and imaginative that I found it difficult to believe it had been created by a fellow human being.
Last chance for sword+sorcery would be Larry Niven’s Warlock series.
Two opposite ends of the sci-fi spectrum are Asimov’s original Foundation trilogy (written decades ago as a magazine series) and ‘Neuromancer’ by William Gibson (with a spooky view of computers and drugs in future society).
Either Conana Doyles’ Sherlock Holmes (classic detective) or Robert Parker’s Spenser (hard-boiled private eye with a soul).
One of the no-fail book recommendations I’ve seen here (and enjoyed myself) is The English Passengers by Matthew Kneale. Originally recommended by Twickster, it’s about an Englishman who decides the Garden of Eden exists, and that it’s in Tasmania. Adventures ensue. The book is alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and sad, but most important, it’s readable.
You said she liked the His Dark Materials trilogy. That was the first fantasy I’d read since the Oz books in childhood and it opened a whole new genre. I’d recommend Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, The Book of the New Sun (four books) by Gene Wolfe, and if she’s a patient reader, the Malazan Empire books by Steven Erikson. The first one is Gardens of the Moon.
Or maybe George R. R. Martin’s series, beginning with The Game of Thrones. Those aren’t so bewildering as the Erikson books.
If you think she’d like to keep it light and simple, Robin Hobb’s a good choice. Or Lynn Flewelling.
I was mistaken about my schedule, I don’t work with her again till later in the week. I’ll definitely mention your suggestions to her! I’ll let you know if I have anything new to add, but I guess this thread’s kind of done for.
Still, if anyone has any more ideas, I’d be happy to see them. Frankly, I’m thinking of maybe checking some of these out myself, I need to start reading more than non-fiction history books and pure-entertainment sci-fi sometime, right?
May I point out the Straight Dope books? No, I don’t get a commission from them…but I’ve given out SD books even before I got online, and they’ve generally been very well received. There’s a lot of subjects in the books.
Has she read The Art of War by Sun Tzu? Everyone should read this book.
There’s the Nero Wolfe cookbook, which is out of print as far as I know, but you can’t have my copy.
And I’d second Ingenious Pain; perhaps I wouldn’t recommend it quite as wholeheartedly as jjim, as I remember finding the plot slightly flawed, but it was, overall, a superbly imaginative piece of fiction.
None of these suggestions are particularly related to the information you gave about your colleague - if you’ve got any further pointers from her, let’s have 'em!
Is nonfiction off the table? If not, I recommend Alan Davidson’s Oxford Companion to Food to every literate I know.
Otherwise, how about Jeff Shaara’s Rise to Rebellion a novel of the American Revolution and the first book of a darn good series if it gets its hook into you.
It is indeed out of print, but there are some secondhand copies here:
From a review:
‘All of the recipes presented here were initially developed by chef Michael S. Romano and tested personally by Rex Stout and “New Yorker” food critic Sheila Hibben. And it’s all there, from Eggs au Beurre Noir, griddle cakes, and apricot omelet to Fritz Brenner’s various duck, duckling, and pork dishes, Wolfe’s “relapses,” and even the complete menu served by Fritz on the occasion of the annual Ten for Aristology dinner in “Poison a la Carte:” Blinis with Sour Cream (of course without the fatal dose of arsenic someone had added, to Fritz’s eternal horror and shame, to one of the guests’ plates!), Green-Turtle Soup, Flounder Poached in White Wine, Mussel and Mushroom Sauce, Roast Pheasant, Suckling Pig, Chestnut Croquettes, Salad with Devil’s Rain Dressing and Cheese. ’
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is a very fun book, and will appeal most to someone who is reasonably well read. It’s sort of a mystery-science fictiony-adventure book.
Errrr, no, the OP wanted GOOD book suggestions. The person s/he’s giving suggestions to is an intelligent person, and well read. I won’t even read books that Lackey has collaborated on. She relies entirely too much on idiot plots and wish fulfillment for my taste. Everything just works out too perfectly for the hero/ine. :dubious:
In a fantasy vein, I’ve always found Robin Hobb interesting, as well as Robin McKinley. I also like Sheri S. Tepper, though her books usually have quite a heavy message in them, and are sometimes depressing.
