# Seeking Two (unrelated) Book Recommednations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250 "2008-12-15T16:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/1 "2008-12-15T16:13:38Z")
I turn to my fellow Cafe Society Dopers in hopes that you have some suggestions for me. 1. For a gift, I am looking for a book that is “like _the DaVinci Code_.” Now, I am one of those annoying people who goes into a fit of the vapors over _The DaVinci Code_, and now my snobbery is coming back to haunt me because I need to get a gift for a person who likes books like _The DaVinci Code_. The elements that I think she likes about it are: the religious themes, the historical themes, the conspiracy themes, general mystery/adventure, and fiction. I don’t think she would like a non-fiction book about similar topics, as I gather what she likes about the _The DaVinci Code_ in the first place is that it is fiction so you can suspend your disbelief. In a perfect world, I would like to find a new novel that is currently (and easily) available in hard cover. 1. This request is a little stranger … I’m looking for a children’s book, or a YA book, that deals with issues related to being popular in school (middle school or high school). In my head, I feel like I read about a million of these books when I was a kid … but now I can’t remember any specific ones. I would especially like to find some titles that look at things like how you learn to be yourself in the face of pressure to be like the crowd in order to be popular. Current or older titles are fine. The catch is that I need to use these in a presentation to a mixed-age group, so I would rather not get into any situations that are too mature in terms of sex, drugs (or rock and roll, I guess). ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/2 "2008-12-15T16:39:09Z")
In response to 1, I give my highest recommendation to [The Man Who Was Thursday](http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Was-Thursday-Nightmare/dp/0375757910/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229358785&sr=1-2), by G. K. Chesterton. On the surface level it is a story about an English Policeman who adopts a double identity to infiltrate a worldwide terrorist organization. However, that would be kind of like saying that _Hamlet_ is about a guy who sees a ghost. It does have everything your friend is looking for: history, religious themes (in spades), conspiracies, adventures, and mystery, as well as high doses of humor and weirdness. Overall I would say that it’s the best short novel I’ve ever read. It’s not new, since it was published in 1908, but it has been in print ever since then (which tells you something) and should be available in any bookstore. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/3 "2008-12-15T16:46:33Z")
Can’t help with the YA book but _Gospel_ by Wilton Barnhardt has everything your wife is looking for. It’s about the search for a lost gospel and goes back and forth in time from the present to the first century. There’s a conspiracy and some action/adventure stuff, and it’s also funny. The first century protagonist is a right hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/4 "2008-12-15T16:55:16Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > 1. For a gift, I am looking for a book that is “like _the DaVinci Code_.” [The Name of the Rose](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0307264890) often gets compared to “Da Vinci Code”. It’s considered a little more “intelligent” than DaVinci Code. (However, some people would substitute “intelligent” with “pretentious complexity.”) It comes in hardcover via Everyman’s Library edition which I like. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/5 "2008-12-15T17:00:05Z")
How about [The Chocolate War](http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-War-Readers-Circle/dp/0375829873/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229360349&sr=8-1) for the YA novel. It’s sort of a classic in that schoolyard genre. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/6 "2008-12-15T17:15:53Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > [The Name of the Rose](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0307264890) often gets compared to “Da Vinci Code”. It’s considered a little more “intelligent” than DaVinci Code. (However, some people would substitute “intelligent” with “pretentious complexity.”) Among Eco books, [Foucault’s Pendulum](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Foucaults-Pendulum/Umberto-Eco/e/9780156032971/?itm=1) is, IMO, a closer comparison. It’s got everything - secret societies, occult conspiracies, theories on religion. It’s one of my all-time favorite books, but I admit it can be a bit difficult to get through at times. Well worth the effort, though. Another suggestion is [The Crying of Lot 49](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Crying-of-Lot-49/Thomas-Pynchon/e/9780060913076/?itm=1) by Thomas Pynchon. Lots of humor to go along with all of the conspiracy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/7 "2008-12-15T17:25:32Z")
Several of Steve Berry’s books are _Da Vinci Code_-like. _The Templar Legacy_, certainly, and _The Alexandria Link._ ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/8 "2008-12-15T17:53:28Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions (and for tactfully not mentioning the typo in the thread title) – that gives me a lot to get started with! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/9 "2008-12-15T19:13:57Z")
I haven’t read it but when _The Historian_ by Elizabeth Kostova was published there were many comparisons made to _The Da Vinci Code_. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/10 "2008-12-15T19:44:56Z")
_The Historian_ is pretty much a vampire book. It’s not bad, though it’s very, very long, but I wouldn’t compare it to _Da Vinci_. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/11 "2008-12-16T16:36:41Z")
> [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > Among Eco books, [Foucault’s Pendulum](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Foucaults-Pendulum/Umberto-Eco/e/9780156032971/?itm=1) is, IMO, a closer comparison. It’s got everything - secret societies, occult conspiracies, theories on religion. It’s one of my all-time favorite books, but I admit it can be a bit difficult to get through at times. Well worth the effort, though. Without a doubt, _Foucault’s Pendulum_ is one of the great head-benders of all times. I first read it eight years ago and I’m still trying to grasp how the plot actually works. (On the downside, there are a few scenes that violate the family-friendly requirement.) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/12 "2008-12-16T17:05:29Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > In response to 1, I give my highest recommendation to [The Man Who Was Thursday](http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Was-Thursday-Nightmare/dp/0375757910/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229358785&sr=1-2), by G. K. Chesterton. On the surface level it is a story about an English Policeman who adopts a double identity to infiltrate a worldwide terrorist organization. However, that would be kind of like saying that _Hamlet_ is about a guy who sees a ghost. It does have everything your friend is looking for: history, religious themes (in spades), conspiracies, adventures, and mystery, as well as high doses of humor and weirdness. Overall I would say that it’s the best short novel I’ve ever read. It’s not new, since it was published in 1908, but it has been in print ever since then (which tells you something) and should be available in any bookstore. Great book, one of my all-time faves, but it’s a little more challenging to read than I would think the Da Vinci Code is (not having reading the Da Vinci Code due to a lack of red-hot pokers.) About the same level of difficulty as Lot 49, another all-time fave. ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/13 "2008-12-16T18:02:49Z")
For Da Vinci Readers: The Eight by Katherine Neville > **[Amazon.com: The Eight: A Novel: 9780345419088: Neville, Katherine: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Novel-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345419081)** > > Amazon.com: The Eight: A Novel: 9780345419088: Neville, Katherine: Books The Instance of the Fingerpost > **[Amazon.com: An Instance of the Fingerpost: 9781573227957: Pears, Iain: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Instance-Fingerpost-Iain-Pears/dp/1573227951)** > > Amazon.com: An Instance of the Fingerpost: 9781573227957: Pears, Iain: Books The Shadow of the Wind > **[The Shadow of the Wind: Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Lucia Graves: 9780143034902:...](https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zaf%C3%B3n/dp/0143034901)** > > The Shadow of the Wind \[Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Lucia Graves\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Shadow of the Wind The Club Dumas > **[Amazon.com: The Club Dumas: 9780156032834: Perez-Reverte, Arturo: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Club-Dumas-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/015603283X)** > > Amazon.com: The Club Dumas: 9780156032834: Perez-Reverte, Arturo: Books For YA readers How to be Popular by Meg Cabot > **[Amazon.com: How to Be Popular: 9780060880149: Cabot, Meg: Books](https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Popular-Meg-Cabot/dp/0060880147)** > > Amazon.com: How to Be Popular: 9780060880149: Cabot, Meg: Books Chocolate War by Robert Cormier > **[Amazon.com: The Chocolate War: 9780375829871: Cormier, Robert: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-War-Robert-Cormier/dp/0375829873)** > > Amazon.com: The Chocolate War: 9780375829871: Cormier, Robert: Books how old are the kids you’re presenting to going to be? If they’re older, you might try: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky > **[The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Stephen Chbosky: 9780671027346: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/0671027344)** > > The Perks of Being a Wallflower \[Stephen Chbosky\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Perks of Being a Wallflower I haven’t read this just heard really good things about it so I don’t know what kind of sex/drugs/rock 'n roll content it contains. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/14 "2008-12-16T18:03:40Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Several of Steve Berry’s books are _Da Vinci Code_-like. _The Templar Legacy_, certainly, and _The Alexandria Link._ I read this as **Dave Barry**. Hee. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/15 "2008-12-16T18:11:06Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > For Da Vinci Readers: > > The Eight by Katherine Neville > [Amazon.com: The Eight: A Novel: 9780345419088: Neville, Katherine: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345419081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449791&sr=1-1) > > The Instance of the Fingerpost > [Amazon.com: An Instance of the Fingerpost: A Novel: 9781573227957: Pears, Iain: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Instance-Fingerpost-Novel-Iain-Pears/dp/1573227951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449846&sr=1-1) > > The Shadow of the Wind > [http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafón/dp/0143034901/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449946&sr=1-2](http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zaf%C3%B3n/dp/0143034901/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449946&sr=1-2) > > The Club Dumas > [The Club Dumas: Perez-Reverte, Arturo: 9780156032834: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Club-Dumas-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/015603283X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229450021&sr=1-1) > For YA readers > > How to be Popular by Meg Cabot > [Amazon.com: How to Be Popular: A Hilarious Novel About Choosing Friends Over Popularity for Kids: 9780060880149: Cabot, Meg: Books](http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Popular-Meg-Cabot/dp/0060880147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449730&sr=1-1) > > Chocolate War by Robert Cormier > [Amazon.com: The Chocolate War: 9780375829871: Cormier, Robert: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-War-Readers-Circle/dp/0375829873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449655&sr=1-1) > how old are the kids you’re presenting to going to be? If they’re older, you might try: > > The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky > [The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Chbosky, Stephen: 9780671027346: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/0671027344/ref=tag_csr_cc_itdp_rpsy_i) > > I haven’t read this just heard really good things about it so I don’t know what kind of sex/drugs/rock 'n roll content it contains. Solid list - I came in to mention \*\*An Instance of the Fingerpost \*\*- both it and \*\*The Name of the Rose \*\*are far better written vs. DaVinci… ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/16 "2008-12-16T19:11:10Z")
It would be a riot to read what Dave Barry would come up with as a historical conspiracy book! This is a great list and some of them I am putting on my own list (isn’t that the worst thing about shopping for holiday gifts?). For _The DaVinci Code_-esque book, _The Club Dumas_ is looking like the front-runner based on the fact that a nice hard cover copy is available at the closest possible bookstore to me. Thanks again for all your suggestions! One mental note I made for myself is to ask sooner the next time this comes up so that I will have time to order titles if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/17 "2008-12-16T20:52:38Z")
I just read a YA novel that might fit. It’s called _How Not to be Popular_, by Jennifer Ziegler. It’s about a girl who is tired of losing friends every time she moves so she decides not to make any friends at all. Not a brilliant book, but solid and light on the objectionable content. For the DaVinci Code lover, how about _Angels and Demons_, also by Dan Brown? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/18 "2008-12-16T21:06:45Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > For Da Vinci Readers: > > The Eight by Katherine Neville > [Amazon.com: The Eight: A Novel: 9780345419088: Neville, Katherine: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345419081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449791&sr=1-1) > > The Instance of the Fingerpost > [Amazon.com: An Instance of the Fingerpost: A Novel: 9781573227957: Pears, Iain: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Instance-Fingerpost-Novel-Iain-Pears/dp/1573227951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449846&sr=1-1) > > The Shadow of the Wind > [http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafón/dp/0143034901/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449946&sr=1-2](http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zaf%C3%B3n/dp/0143034901/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229449946&sr=1-2) > > The Club Dumas > [The Club Dumas: Perez-Reverte, Arturo: 9780156032834: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Club-Dumas-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/015603283X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229450021&sr=1-1) That’s funny. I have every one of those books on my to-read list. I didn’t even know I liked conspiracy theories that much. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/19 "2008-12-16T21:18:21Z")
Katherine Neville has a new sequel to \*The Eight \*called _The Fire_; takes place 30 years later. One of the chess pieces has resurfaced! Game on! ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250/20 "2008-12-16T21:25:57Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Katherine Neville has a new sequel to \*The Eight \*called _The Fire_; takes place 30 years later. One of the chess pieces has resurfaced! Game on! What did you think of this? I was so looking forward to it … but it didn’t meet my expectations at all. I am a big fan of _The Eight_, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-two-unrelated-book-recommednations/477250.md?page=2)