OT:Books

[Greg the byzantine]

We frequently get reccomendations for religious scholarly books here on TAW. While I like religious books, I was wondering if you all had reccomendations for some non-religious books. If you could post the title, author and maybe a little summary that would be great ;)

[gzt]

Sure. I read a lot of books. Well, okay, my first recommendation is sort of religious, it's Brothers Karamazov. It is about three brothers in 19th century Russia. One of them is accused of murdering their father, though he is innocent. Two of the brothers are typical 19th century nihilists, the third is a pious young boy whose elder is modeled after St Tikhon of Zadonsk and the Optina elders. Universally acclaimed as one of the best novels ever. Go for the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation.

Another novel I would recommend is Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. It is the story of two young girls adopted by their aunt, who is a transient. A reader from our tradition would certainly be reminded of the monastic feeling of homelessness in this world and of holy fools. At the very least, it's a ripping good yarn.

I would also wholeheartedly recommend the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, starting with Master and Commander. It is a series of twenty novels (no need to read them all! but it is better to start in order) about a ship captain and a doctor around the year 1800 and their adventures at sea. The depth of characterization is amazing and O'Brian is an underrated master of English prose. The series follows both of their careers as they advance in the service. O'Brian weaves his characters into the true history almost flawlessly, if you pay attention to such things. They are slow to start with, but very rewarding once you get into the flow of it all.

Hope that helps.

[Dorothea]

John Jakes:

The Kent Family Chronicles
North & South

Nora Roberts:

Three Fates
The Reef

Forget the Author's name...sorry:

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

John Grisham:

A Painted House



These aren't exactly wholesome, Christian-based books, but more secular, romantic suspense, and historical books (in John Jakes' case).

[nutroll]

Not knowing what kind of books you like, it's hard to give recommendations, but if you like Science Fiction, I highly recommend the Dune series by Frank Herbert, as well as Contact by Carl Sagan. If you like a really quirky and funny book, you should definitely check out the Hitchhiker's Trilogy (all 5 books) by Douglas Adams.

[elizabethevangeline]

Anything by Jane Kirkpatrick (http://www.jkbooks.com/). She writes historical fiction inspired by real women/circumstances...mostly western/pioneer/native american themes. Her website has a great blog as well.

Sharan Newman books. She writes medieval mysteries with a female herione sleuth, mostly set in 12th century France, with excursions to Scotland, Germany, etc. She does a good job of incorporating history, religious/political issues, and murder. :)

Alexander McCall Smith, any series, makes me smile. I like stories that are just as much about the characters as the plot line.

I also like Ellis Peters-Brother Cadfael mysteries, and Doroty Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey stories).

[Akathist]

Clive Cussler's fictional books. The Dirk Pitt ones are my favorite. Dirk works for a government agency that deals with underwater stuff... he dives and brings up old ruins. In the midst of this work he and his crew go on adventures to prevent bad guys from doing this or that bad thing. From stealing artifacts, to preventing the selling of slaves, to bombing cities, etc etc.

Vince Flynn books. I understand his first book was lousy. But all of his Mitch Rapp books are great reads. Mitch works for a counter terrorism division of the CIA. And he deals with terrorists in all forms. Lots of adventure and more harder killing stuff then Cussler IMO.

Nevada Barr's series about the State Parks worker Anna Pigeon. Her earlier books are better. The last two are too dark for me. In these books Anna, a park ranger deals with bad guys in various state parks. Lots of outdoor adventure dealing with bad guys and wild animals and the elements.

Dan Brown didn't just write the Divinci Code. His Deception Point book is just awsome. Think about the ramifications of scientists discovering a fossil inside a meteorite located deep in the artic ocean? Fascinating read, deals with some bad guys and is very adventurous but well thought out too. And, not one comment about religion or the Catholic Church to be found.

The Cat Who books by Lilian Braun. I posted about them in another thread. I will go find my post and edit this to add what I said before about them.

Recent favorite nonfiction:
The Gift of Fear (http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-Becker/dp/0440226198/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198909542&sr=8-2) by Gavin De Becker. This book teaches about how to protect yourself using no violence.


The Biggest Loser Fitness Program: Fast, Safe, and Effective Workouts to Target and Tone Your Trouble Spots--Adapted from NBC's Hit Show! (http://www.amazon.com/Biggest-Loser-Fitness-Program-Spots-Adapted/dp/1594866953/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198909665&sr=8-1) I actually joined the biggestloserclub on the internet and got a lot more information then this book has. But the membership there was $25 dollars and I didn't end up thinking it was worth that much a month, so I dropped it. But the book has great workouts that are easy to understand and lots of good tips for beginner people who are really out of shape.

[flod logic]

Lately I've been reading Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, who talks about the relationship between music and the brain. And despite the subject matter, it's interesting and pretty easy to understand. I like it a lot so far.

Description I found on amazon:
"In this book, Oliver Sacks explores the power music wields over us–a power that sometimes we control and at other times don’t. He explores, in his inimitable fashion, how it can provide access to otherwise unreachable emotional states, how it can revivify neurological avenues that have been frozen, evoke memories of earlier, lost events or states or bring those with neurological disorders back to a time when the world was much richer.
This is a book that explores, like no other, the myriad dimensions of our experience of and with music."

[Andrew21091]

Nikolai Gogol's works. Very good stories. I'm reading the Overcoat and Other Short Stories, very interesting.

[rusmeister]

I've already mentioned Chesterton - here's a special thread devoted to him and his works. They're not all religion-specific, although certainly they are informed by his faith.
http://foru.ms/t6362814-gk-chesterton-101.html

Summaries or links to summaries can be found there.

Anything by C.S. Lewis - he wrote a lot more than just the Chronicles of Narnia.
For fiction, try his 'space' trilogy. The first book requires a little slogging through, but the end is mega-worth-it. After that, well... you're already hooked!

[Nichole]

I have enjoyed all of Ann Brashares books and Cecelia Ahern!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[ClementofRome]

I have been immersed in JD Salinger since Thanksgiving.... I have been following the exploits of the Glass family through "9 Stories", "Franney and Zooey" and "Raise High the Roofbeams, Carpenters/Seymore: An Introduction."

Salinger's ability to layer and his incredible use of the parenthetical phrase just blows me away.

[hiImEric]

I have been immersed in JD Salinger since Thanksgiving.... I have been following the exploits of the Glass family through "9 Stories", "Franney and Zooey" and "Raise High the Roofbeams, Carpenters/Seymore: An Introduction."

Salinger's ability to layer and his incredible use of the parenthetical phrase just blows me away.

Ugh. The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I've ever read. I couldn't tell you why, it's just beautiful. I'm an odd individual, I know.

[gzt]

Eric: most likely because you're 16 years old.

[hiImEric]

Maybe, but it will forever by my favorite book. It's still an extraordinary book, no matter what age. That you cannot deny.

[rusmeister]

On any question regarding age, a good litmus test is to imagine someone much younger than ourselves saying something, and then see how the much-older person sees what we say.

That doesn't mean ontological superiority of older individuals, but all other things being equal - sin, foolishness, special knowledge, accumulated life experience is undeniably an advantage of age. (Edit - this used to be common sense, but now has to be stated and defended.)