Book Recommendations Wanted!
 

Sadly I am still troubled by chronic insomnia and once again I come asking for book suggestions as I typically go through about 3 per week. I have vision issues and so listen to audio books, it is amazing how many books are now released on audio at the same time as hardcover as opposed to 20 years ago. Recently I was looking at quilting themed t-shirts and there was one something about "if I could only find a way to combine reading and quilting my life would be perfect" -- well audio books do that!

I find new books/authors in many ways but I really like quilter recommendations. I don't mind short stories but want longer reads than snippets like "Chicken Soup for the xx". I am willing to explore pretty much all genres but do a lot of "action" like Clive Cussler or Lee Child/Jack Reacher and legal/cop/courtroom like Michael Connolly. I dabble in some horror, some biographies and non-fiction, find prolonged "adult content" to be rather icky in audible format. I also like strong female/feminist stories (more than non-fiction). There are cozy mysteries I enjoy, sewing/quilting themed, on and on but new books or missed old favorites are out there too :)

In the last couple of years I'm current with CJ Box and Game Warden Joe Pickett. Just this last year I found William Kent Kruger and (former sheriff) Cork O'Connor, almost done with the available books there. I stopped reading Alex Delaware novels when my eyes went bad and am going back to those... talk about prolific authors Johnathon Kellerman along with wife/partner Faye is one of those so I have 10-20 unread ones in the series :)

In no particular order, some of the books I've found recently that made impressions on me were:

The Physicists Daughter by Mary Anna Evans,I also like her Kaye Longchamp series
Chronicles of St Mary's (series) by Jodi Taylor -- time traveling historians
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet -- series by Becky Chambers, also Monk + Robot series
When Women were Dragons, Kelly Barnhill
Gilded Age, Sara Donati -- I really liked her wilderness series, this is a different set of stories
Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnine Garmus

So what's made an impression on you??

A few newer books, to me, I read I really enjoyed.

The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield,

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The Bees: A Novel by Laline Paull

Thanks Onebyone! I'm just about to go out and meet some quilters but stopped here online first.

I did read Jonathan Strange, which I didn't find as satisfying as I had hoped from reviews and lists but was ok.

I just borrowed The Bees to be my next book, which is read by Orlagh Cassidy who I really like from Jacqueline Winspear (and other) books. BTW, I did rather like The White Lady which is a non-Maisie Dobbs Winspear book.

I also put The Thirteenth Tale on my wish list/bookmarks page -- you seem to have a grasp on the type of books I'm hoping to find :)

I go to the thrift store almost every week on half off day I get books for 13Cents each I usually buy 10 at a time I buy almost anything one of the girls calls them fluff! I have only found one or two that were not very good. I read almost every day in the summer at least one a day.

I like Child and Preston thriller series. The ones they write together are exciting to read and keep you guessing. If you like The Bees then read an older book, The Beast by Peter Benchley. I don't care for romance novel but do like historical fiction. when I start a good book, all I do is read until I'm finished. I can't listen to audio books, I tend to start thinking and have no idea what was said for several chapters. I have to search to find what I last remembered and star over.

You might like Kyla Stone books one leads into another It starts with /edge of Collapse. I think there are 12 or 14

For a while I was reading lots of series set in the outdoors - Alaska, national parks, etc. I think this was mostly during the height of the pandemic, which makes sense since I wasn't going anywhere.

Dana Stabenow with the Kate Shugak or Liam Campbell series
Sue Henry with the Jessie Arnold series
Nevada Barr's series featuring Anna Pigeon
James Doss series with Charlie Moon

I also read Lisa Jackson, Wendy Corsi Staub, Karin Slaughter, Harlan Coben, ... mostly mysteries/thrillers.

Some great recommendations for me! Audio books are not for everyone. they take longer for me to listen to than my reading speed, narrators and/or narration style can give you another reason to like or dislike books, and I've really grown to dislike "long silly name" fantasy books. As a long time reader of fantasy books, I find a lot of them just don't do so well when narrated and I don't appreciate 50 pages of the planet's history and social organization full of names that don't really have anything to do with the story once they get to it. Having said that, I do still listen to long fantasy books and series. If only George RR Martin would actually finish the Game of Thrones...

I do read a lot of the Nordic authors, I do have an upcoming Jo Nesbo book on hold (pre-release) but I haven't finished the Harry Hole books, probably haven't finished the Wallender books by Mankell either. I think the new author for "The Girl with" books is fine (original author passed) and read them as they come out. I think I'm confused between Camilla Lackberg and Sara Blaedel -- one set of characters/author I really like and haven't been as happy with the other.

Preston/Child books both as individual authors and together with Special Agent Pendergast are a big favorite. I am current on Pendergast and have Preston's newest non-fiction book The Lost Tomb on hold as pre-release.

As sort of a combination of Pendergast and Jack Reacher, I like Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger books. But with more of a Stephen King style, I really recommend his Pine Deep Trilogy.

Sadly my library doesn't have much Kyla Stone :( I can look on Audible to see if they have more options for me.

I do like the Dana Stabenow books, sadly I am current with them. Along with Joe Pickett and Cork O'Connor I also like Paul Doiron's Mike Bowditch books, about a game warden in Maine. For another "outdoor" series, I rather like Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. Have some quibbles about the landscape which sounds a lot more like the rain forests of British Columbia than the forests of the Yukon, but once I get past that I'm generally favorable and I've started reading her other books.

The Longmire series from Craig Johnson!! This is the series that they created the tv show from. There are 19 books, so plenty to keep you entertained for a while. And the narrator, George Guidall, has a WONDERFUL voice.

This is the description of the first book in the series:

"New York Times best-selling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming's Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, full of memorable characters. After 25 years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire's hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody has been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle. With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all."

Tap Code is on my list, but I haven't gotten started yet.

I usually go for the Great Series courses on whatever topic sounds interesting (they have everything from history, culture, nutrition, religion, physics, writing, speaking, etc etc.) I tend to lean towards linguistics, mythology, and human pre history things.

The Bronze Horseman trilogy
Pillars of the Earth the Kingsbridge series
Calico Palace
If I were you
Call your daughter home
Orphan Train
A Column of Fire
War And Remembrance
Follow the river

Try the Marc Camerson books - Arliss Cutter series or the Jericho Quinn series. Also look for the Slough House series by Mick Herron

I second the Longmire series by Craig Johnson. One of my favs. I also love the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd (actually a mother/son writing team) and Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. There are tons more series and stand alone's that I read, but that's a start.

I have realized that to me the no book for me people are very different then readers or audio book listeners. Their personality has a flatness that stands out to me. I started noticing it in high school. I call it my book-dar. I could tell the non readers of all my co workers over the years.I would ask if they would like a book I finished. Everyone I could tell didn't read said no thanks, I don't read.

Our last bookclub book pick was Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery.

Every person at the bookclub loved it. One even said it was her favorite book our bookclub has ever read in the 35 years we have been meeting. I highly recommend it.

My current favorite author is Fredrik Backman. I especially liked Britt Marie Was Here and Anxious People.

I had a nice visit with a quilt group that meets at a local library yesterday. Again, combining books and quilting :) I met the host/driving force while I was at an auto repair because she was wearing a quilting t-shirt and we were chatting.

I agree, Longmire books look like a good fit to me and I like that there are quite a few of them! Also the Marc Cameron books.

Tap Code sounds fascinating but as the daughter of Viet Nam veteran, I largely avoid that point in history. My father went twice, was never captured but was injured/shot. Families back home pay a price that is rarely mentioned. I can handle other conflicts better, like maybe Herman Wouk books.

I have listened to several of the Great Series courses and among scientific genres I keep pretty well up on various concepts in physics and some mathematics.

My brother is huge into Ken Follett, haven't listened to Pillars of the Earth but have done another book or two. He tells a good long story.

Sadly some of the books mentioned are not available (through my library at least) on audio. Granda Gatewood's Walk is one of those. But I did laugh hysterically over parts of Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods.

About the readers/no readers, my husband was definitely in the no reader camp of things and thought all history was boring until recently, When he went keto and was successful in his weight loss he started listening to podcasts, mostly about food and nutrition and the keto view. He was able to listen to them at work and quickly went through his favorites, so started listening to books by some of the hosts and guests. In the last couple of years he has branched out into fiction and is seeing a point in more history, or as I say "we are living in history now". LOL and PBS helps too! I was watching Call the Midwife and he went by and got pulled in. Also he really likes the James Herriott/All Creatures stories. For years I would quote James Herriot at him and I thought he understood the references, and now he does!

Poor husband, with our moving and staying in small B&Bs he is being subjected to more and more of my insomnia listening. On the good side of things, he actually has found some of my books interesting and has checked them out for himself! Even including some of my physics sort of subjects and has asked for some introductions. Pretty much anything by Michio Kaku and Neil deGrasse-Tyson is interesting and accessible.

You can get it on Amazon with a free Audible trial:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=grandma+g...ref=nb_sb_noss

The Outlander series is on audio as well as printed plusof course DVD as I have them all. These books are huge up to 700+ pgs each so I doubt if you would be able to finish one in a week unless you read all night. The Outlander series on TV has become a big hit these days. Diana Galbaldon (I think I spelled her name correctly) is the author.

It's not anything to do with quilting or sewing but a great read just the same.

I am reading Preston and Childs newer book The The Cabinet of Dr. Leng (Agent Pendergast Series) The library had the e version available. I rarely buy hardbacks unless a older cloth or leather bound classic I find at thrift shops. My husband is an avid reader. He downloads the new releases of his favorite authors as soon as they are available. I bought him his first Kindle years ago and he hasn't been in a library or bookstore since.

I love to read. I even have Kindle on my phone. I have been a Stephen King fan ever since Carrie. His last book, Fairy Tale, was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I was reading it, I began wondering when the strange would kick in. It did. It is not like The
Shining.
I have been a fan of Ken Follet novels ever since reading Pillars of the Earth.
I enjoyed the audio book written by Dolly Parton/Patterson because of her voice.

I loved early Stephen King but I stopped reading him after awhile, it seemed like each book went along well for 350 pages and then there was some explosion and time to wrap up the story in a quick 50 pages... I think it's time to go back for his later works. I did read 11/22/63 (about JFK assassination) recently and found it fascinating.

I listened to Dolly Parton Songteller, My Life in Lyrics which I don't think is the one aashley was referring to (different author credit). It was interesting listening anyway, but you felt like you were sitting chatting with her. I've always been a big fan of Dolly and her abilities. Maybe I should see if there is something on Audio about Charo aka The Cuchie Cuchie girl -- she was a fabulous flamenco guitarist with a similar persona.

The problem with prolific authors and some series is you are bound to be getting a dude here and there. I really enjoyed the Beekeepers Apprentice and several of the earlier stories about Mary Russell/Mrs Sherlock but I'm thinking maybe I am done with those. As I wrote this thread I was listening to Pirate King book 11 of 16, it just wasn't doing much for me. For those familiar with the books, are there gems ahead of me??

And speaking of Bees, I did listen to Onebyone's recommendation of The Bees. While the hubby sleeps through most of my insomnia listening, he liked what he heard enough to borrow the book himself! In another coincidence of timing he found a local small farm near our new house that has free range chicken eggs and they keep bees too :)

Next up is the first of the Longmire books -- library estimated it would be 3 weeks before a copy was available but it turned out to be 3 days!

Have you tried Kristin Hannah? Well researched historical fiction. Not romance novels

I have read a lot of the books by the above authors, but two of my favorites are Linwood Barclay and Shari Lapena. I think Shari Lapena has only written about six books. They are mysteries. I think I have read all of Linwood Barclay’s books.

Peace Like A River by Enger

So Brave Young and Handsome, also by Leif Enger

Fredrik Backman is my new favorite author. “Britt Marie Was Here” and “Anxious People” were the most enjoyable.

Thanks IceBlossom, for starting this thread. I have a lot more books on my library list now. I used to get audio books when my kiddos were young to listen on car trips. We worked our way through the Magic Treehouse series. I have a DD who has Down syndrome and a reading level of 3rd grade. She loves to read but books at that level always involve talking animals or fairies. Maybe she would go for some more challenging stories if we tried audio books. I'm going to check it out.

First off, I started the Longmire books last night. From the first writing/narration I was drawn in. I haven't seen the tv series yet, I think maybe I thought it was a Yellowstone spin-off -- not that there is anything wrong with that.

Pam S -- while Audible (through amazon prime) gives you a couple books a month, check what you might have via your public library or maybe even school system. My old system has a very large number of YA (young adult) and children's books, down to very low reading level. I think some people use some of those instead of rereading some of those for the 1000th time for the kids that really enjoy 1000 times, the kids can "read" along with the physical copy.

Keep in mind a lot of the YA books still include talking animals or faeries (Harry Potter or the Redwall series by Brian Jacques come to mind as having broad appeal). There are also tons and tons of (fantasy) series about teens discovering they have super powers, not exactly super powers but the Hunger Games books are popular because they tell a good involving story. Many classics are also available as audio.

Stitchnripper -- I'll have to check out Kristen Hannah, especially check into Audible to see if Firefly Lane (the first one, the second is available in my library). The story is set in exactly my growing up years, as I say while condsidered to be the end of the boomers, my age group is exactly That 70s Show. I did put one of the other books on my wish list. I've previously recommended the Wilderness series by Sara Donati -- it skirts perilously close to be Historical Romance as opposed to Historical Fiction but I found it very satisfying -- it takes characters from The Last of the Mohicans/Leatherstocking tales and spins a rich yarn of early-pre-American states.

Other mentions -- Peace Like a River sounds fascinating. My library has 3 books by the author, I put Peace on my wish list and Virgil Wander on hold, should be available in a week or three.

I'll have to look more into Fredrick Backman, so far all I've read is the novella The Deal of a Lifetime. Thanks for the mention!

I have read several of Shari Lapena, and have been exposed to Linwood Barclay through a short story collection.called Face Off where several pairs of authors collaborate on stories where their main characters meet. If you're a mystery fan who also likes short stories it's a fun romp of not just fan fiction but actual authors meeting up.

Somewhat related, I've gone through most??/all of Lucy Foley. Not related at all but it came to mind while writing this, it took me a little to get in to it, but I loved and highly recommend The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. It is a bit stark for YA, but the heroine is a Native American girl in Michigan at the crossroads of high school and college and all sorts of good and bad stuff going on around her.
https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-en...-all-time-list

If you have an Audible membership you can listen to Grandma Gatewood's Walk free from the Plus catalog.

I was going to suggest Lessons in Chemistry but you already listed it.
I don't know if you have Hoopla or not but they have many audiobooks that Libby doesn't have. Hoopla is also a part of the library.
I just finished The Many Lives of Mama Love which I found interesting (non-fiction).

Listening to audiobooks is a game changer for me. When my boys were little I worked part-time at our library while they were in school. That's when I heard about audiobooks. I still love to sit and read but listening can be done while I'm doing something else. But I agree they aren't for everyone.

Joyce Maynard is a favorite author of mine. Gosh, there are so many though!

Years ago, I was given a Nook (Barnes & Noble's version of Kindle) with it came an optional subscription to this:
free Nook books:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/fre...ok/_/N-ry0Z8qa

Not long after I received a Kindle. And signed up for free books here:
https://www.bookbub.com/ebook-deals/free-ebooks

My email inbox was filled daily (or weekly) with customized by me lists of books (about a half dozen, more or less) to download for free.
Included with the free lists were other books the algorithm picked out for me (not free). That list included the best online sites with the best prices to buy them.
I ended up with hundreds and hundreds of books-nearly all free- on those two devices. I did buy a few that were suggested.

Sorry tho....don't think they do audio....yet.
Here are some free audio book sites I found in a search, but I haven't tried any:

https://librivox.org/

https://www.digitalbook.io/audiobooks/popular

https://www.overdrive.com/ (this one I have used...it' connected to the library, and has a limited number of copies available-this sometimes requires signing up on a waiting list to check them out)

https://www.storynory.com/ this one includes lots of talking animal books

https://lightupyourbrain.com/stories/ audio stories for children

https://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks this one doesn't seem to have a search feature...just an alphabetical list of authors....

https://www.lifewire.com/free-audio-...online-1357952

there are others.....
:)

Don't forget to come up on occasion for air, water & food

If you are in the mood for very interesting science fiction try Andy Weir (Hail Mary was my first of his books) and/or Blake Crouch (Upgrade). Hail Mary happens in outer space and Upgrade is a typical dystopian future on Earth.

Thank you for this thread! Great suggestions in here!

I'm glad other readers are getting something from this thread! And nothing wrong with duplicate/reinforcing suggestions. For example, Lessons in Chemistry was awesome. The series will be starting on Apple TV (one of the streaming services I don't have) in October.

Speaking of things I don't have, I have a number of books on pre-release hold through Libby and my old library system. I'm going to keep using that until they run out/the end of the year. My new library system uses Hoopla, neither of them do both. With my holds the books seem to come in as feast or famine! I do have Amazon Prime and access to Audible.com, but I try to mostly use my King County library system so I don't miss anything coming off hold.

The audible Grandma Gatewood’s Walk is on Hoopla. At least it is where I live.

Longmire predates Yellowstone by a decade. The only thing that Longmire and Yellowstone have in common is the location. I loved both shows, but Yellowstone is a lot more... edgy, I guess would be a good word. Longmire is more realistic.

Not sure if this is on Kindle or Audible. Look for Jana DeLeon. They are funny mysteries. Start with the 1st - Louisiana Longshot. She has 25 now & they are fast reading. Usually between pg 5-10 I start laughing at the situations the main characters get into. Can't wait for the next one, maybe I'll do a purchase request at the library.

Somehow I missed the show when Longmire was originally aired. With the moving and the heat wave(s!) and staying in Air BnBs instead of my home cable options I've been doing a lot of streaming for the first time,. It has popped up in the "recommnded for you" section.

Speaking of streaming, I have enjoyed The Lincoln Lawyer (also read the books by Michael Connolly), The Witcher, and we have just been chilling to Stranger Things most recently. Really enjoyed the first two seasons, was sort of meh on 3, but picked up again in 4 -- final season to go!

My library system has a ton of books by Jana DeLeon, unfortunately all are text and no audbile. I will put it on my "explore on other options" list :)

Not sure if they are in the same vein, but in terms of Cozy Mysteries I have really enjoyed the Magical Cats books by Sophie Kelly, and the Monica Ferris Needlecraft mysteries. Both sets of books are set in Minnesota :)

I spent a long weekend with my son and his family. I excitedly told my DIL that I had THE book for her. She said " I have THE book for you!" Well, it was the same book!!!!!!!!!!!
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Omg, I'm loving it and so is my dil- can't wait to see how the rest unfolds.

From my daughter-in-laws's book club (all available on e-book thru my local library)

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt (I loved it)
"The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah (I loved it)
"November 9" by Colleen Hoover (still reading)
"Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (just checked out thru library)
"The Measure" by Nikki Erlick (loved it)