# I need book suggestions \[urinating dog\] \[urinating dog\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2002, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244 "2002-06-21T11:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/1 "2002-06-21T11:01:35Z")
In addition to my need for more [Audible.com](http://Audible.com) audio books, I also need regular books. I am all out of new stuff and it makes me itch to not have a book in my hands. So what are your favorite books? I prefer fiction but I’m pretty open as long as it’s good. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/2 "2002-06-21T11:24:32Z")
Hmm, well, looking at your title, I’d guess you’re already a Pratchett fan, so I won’t bother recommending him 😃 Aside from him (who rates as my fave author) here are some of my current favourites: 1. Raymond E Feist - Riftwar and SerpentWar sagas 2. David Eddings - Read any one of them, but not more than one series, or you’ll figure out it’s the same story and characters… 3. Hi Opal! (I don’t normally go in for this as I’m a newbie who wasn’t around when it started, but under the circumstances…) 4. Robin Hobb - King’s Assassin series 5. David Gemmel - British Fantasy Author, I especially recommend the Drenai tales, particularly ‘Legend’ 6. Ian Irvine - ‘Shadow on the glass’ sereis - just finished reading this myself, and I found them (4 big books) a very good read 7. RA Salvatore - I’m a big fan of Drizzt Do’Urden (although not enough to check i spelt that right) 8. Weis & Hickman - Dragonlance Chronicles/tales etc 9. Timothy Zahn - I like his Star Wars books 10. Tom Clancy - Jack Ryan books - better than the films by miles hmmm, I have a lot of favourite books… methinks I spend too much time reading… nah! ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/3 "2002-06-21T11:27:23Z")
ooooH! I forgot: 1. Tom Holt - If you like pratchett, you’ll love these - ‘Flying Dutch’ is my favourite 2. Robert Rankin - Really surreal, british and funny! The ‘Brentford Trilogy’ - about 5 books by now, I think - makes me laugh just thinking about some scenes…cowboy night at the flying swan…\ 3. Douglas Adams - need I say more? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/4 "2002-06-21T11:37:20Z")
Woohoo! Of the above I’ve only read the Weis & Hickman stuff and the Tom Clancy. :::jotting down stuff::: ---
**Author:** ![jmizzou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@jmizzou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmizzou)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/5 "2002-06-21T14:16:32Z")
There’s another thread on recommended fantasy series [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=121623). For non-fantasy, I’d suggest John Grisham. He has a _lot_ of good books, particularly (IMO) _The Rainmaker_ and _A Time to Kill_. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/6 "2002-06-21T14:20:51Z")
I don’t really care for John Grisham… the stories are good until the end… he doesn’t know how to end a book. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/7 "2002-06-21T14:31:27Z")
Definitely Harry Turtledove’s Great War series, an alternate history of World War I between the U.S. and the Confederacy: How Few Remain (prequel) American Front Walk in Hell Breakthroughs American Empire: Blood & Iron The Center Cannot Hold (coming June 25) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/8 "2002-06-21T14:44:27Z")
You didn’t mention him, but do you have any aversion to Stephen King? Don’t laugh out there! I recently rediscovered the Dark Tower series, and that led to a book called _The Stephen King Universe_, by Wiater et al. All of which makes me want to go back and read others by him. Since he’s so prolific, it’s easy to miss one (and doubly so because he chooses odd ways of distributing or marketing a book, such as Riding the Bullet, The Green Mile, and so forth). I also recommend anything by James Patterson after _Kiss the Girls_. Don’t recommend the earlier stuff, because some of it’s just pure dreck. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/9 "2002-06-21T15:00:10Z")
The Stand by Stephen King is one of my all-time favourites ---
**Author:** ![Canyon\_Surfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Canyon\_Surfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canyon_Surfer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/10 "2002-06-21T15:03:06Z")
There are some very good novels by [Michael Crichton](http://my.linkbaton.com/bibliography/crichton/michael/) apart from the obvious _Jurassic Park_. Surprising how many have been made into movies. _Disclosure_,_Congo_,_Rising Sun_ and more. There is one Grisham book that is unlike all the rest, That is _A Painted House_. Not a lawyer in sight. One of my favorite books is _Dragon’s Egg_ by [Robert L. Forward](http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/books/forward_000328.html) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/11 "2002-06-21T15:04:25Z")
Jurassic Park, my fave book. Far better than the movie, and I loved the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/12 "2002-06-21T15:05:56Z")
Woohoo! Simul-post ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/13 "2002-06-21T15:40:56Z")
How about… _To Say Nothing of The Dog_ by Connie Willis? Sorry, somebody had to say it. LOL Another good Alternate History series is S.M Sterling’s Novels _Island in the Sea of Time, Against the Tide of Years,_ and \* On the Oceans of Eternity\* ---
**Author:** ![welby1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@welby1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/14 "2002-06-21T16:06:26Z")
Let me point out that I’ve read all of the books by all of these authors, but I’m posting my favorites. It’s tough to pick just a few authors because I’m voracious and my library contains roughly 1500 books. Favorite books on my shelf: Niel Gaiman: American Gods Stardust Sand Man: Book of Dreams (edited by) Larry Niven: Footfall The Mote in God’s Eye The Gripping Hand The Legacy of Heorot Beowulf’s Children Greg Bear: Eon Blood Music Michael Shaara: The Killer Angels For The Love of the Game Jeff Shaara: Gods and Generals The Last Full Measure Gone for Soldiers Rise to Rebellion Tom Clancy: Without Remorse The Sum of all Fears Orson Scott Card: Enders Game Ender’s Shadow Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus The Worthing Saga The Tales of Alvin Maker Gregory Benford: In the Ocean of Night Across the Sea of Suns Tides of Light Great Sky River Furious Gulf Sailing Bright Eternity ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/15 "2002-06-21T16:28:03Z")
Damn, Epimetheus beat me to it. I susptect you would truly enjoy _To Say Nothing of The Dog_ by Connie Willis, if you haven’t already read it. I would also recommend \* The Doomsday Book\* same author. Welby has some great suggestions, and to continue in the Civil War vein, _Traveler_ is an interesting boook. I can’t remember the author’s name, same guy who wrote _Watership Down_. Oh yeah, in the fantasy thread, I forgot to mention Barry Hugart’s \* Bridge of Birds\* ---
**Author:** ![welby1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@welby1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/16 "2002-06-21T16:28:04Z")
David Brin and the books of his uplift series. Great reading. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/17 "2002-06-21T16:49:28Z")
I’ve read everything David Brin has written. He is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read a lot of Michael Crichton, Tom Clancy, John Grisham (even though I don’t like him), Larry Niven, Orson Scott Card… I’m keeping a list of the new stuff that you guys are suggesting 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/18 "2002-06-21T17:12:00Z")
I have so many favorites I’m always recommending, but I don’t think I’ve put these on any list threads like this: - **The Executioner’s Song** by Norman Mailer. You’d have to have a taste for this, but this is one of my all-time favorite books. It tells the story of Gary Gilmore, the man who challenged the ruling on executions and was put to death in Utah in the late '70s for killing two men. It looks at the crime and all the legal battles, protests, etc. as well as his personal story and the stories of his family. Also his relationship with Nicole, a real trashy slut who is also quite fascinating! His brother is Mikal Gilmore, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. (Or was; I don’t read it any more.) - **Ahab’s Wife** by Sena Jeter Naslund. You don’t have to have read Moby Dick to like it. It’s a long, engrossing tale peopled with real and fictional characters. It’s got one of the best opening lines I’ve read. - **Prodigal Summer** by Barbara Kingsolver. This is my favorite of her works, though The Poisonwood Bible is also good. An earthy, outdoorsy book with good characters and a definite message. Ellen’s Perennial Favorites: Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt; The Journeyer (or anything else) by Gary Jennings; To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee; The World According to Garp, John Irving; The Stand, Stephen King. All of these books have characters I have to go visit every once in a while. I miss them too much if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/19 "2002-06-21T17:17:19Z")
I have so many favorites I’m always recommending, but I don’t think I’ve put these on any list threads like this: - **The Executioner’s Song** by Norman Mailer. You’d have to have a taste for this, but this is one of my all-time favorite books. It tells the story of Gary Gilmore, the man who challenged the ruling on executions and was put to death in Utah in the late '70s for killing two men. It looks at the crime and all the legal battles, protests, etc. as well as his personal story and the stories of his family. Also his relationship with Nicole, a real trashy slut who is also quite fascinating! His brother is Mikal Gilmore, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. (Or was; I don’t read it any more.) - **Ahab’s Wife** by Sena Jeter Naslund. You don’t have to have read Moby Dick to like it. It’s a long, engrossing tale peopled with real and fictional characters. It’s got one of the best opening lines I’ve read. - **Prodigal Summer** by Barbara Kingsolver. This is my favorite of her works, though The Poisonwood Bible is also good. An earthy, outdoorsy book with good characters and a definite message. Ellen’s Perennial Favorites: Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt; The Journeyer (or anything else) by Gary Jennings; To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee; The World According to Garp, John Irving; The Stand, Stephen King. All of these books have characters I have to go visit every once in a while. I miss them too much if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244/20 "2002-06-21T17:23:35Z")
_Whose Song is Sung_ by Frank Schaefer is a enjoyable book. Written from the perspective of a Dwarf it tells the story of Beowolf and his fight against the Grendel. Beautiful prose and a moving story. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-book-suggestions-urinating-dog-urinating-dog/115244.md?page=2)