Books worth Giving.

[42]

I need help deciding on what I should give my parents this year. Both are avid readers. My Dad likes historical fiction and my mom loves mysteries.

Suggestions? Please. New authors welcomed.

[MsFish]

My favorite Historical Fiction is The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton.  Not new, but very good and well written.

[Archon]

I assume your mom has exhausted Holmes and Poirot?

[42]

My Mom has read every Agatha Cristie book ever published. Also exhausted: Anne Perry, Josephine Tey, and Elizabeth Peters

And my Dad already has The Great Train Robbery.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Patrick O'Brien's Master and Commander? (Early 1800s British Navy...and spies...and romance...) I just finished the Nth book tonight on the way home.

Oh yes, and I second the below. I listened to the #1 Ladies Detective Agency, and Karen three or more of them. They are quite good.

[Nessa]

The best new series for mystery are the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" (there's about 6) by Alexander McCall Smith. Another mystery series by him is "The Sunday Philosophy Club" (there's 2). I love these books.

Oh! Look, you can even get a boxed set:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679789758/qid=1134013252/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-0718014-6935265?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

I will have to hint to my husband...

[42]

My dad has already read the Master and Commander series.

My mom has already read the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

But thanks for the suggestions. Anymore?

[Nessa]

Caveat: I have read some of these, but the rest are on my to-read list and have come recommended.

Mystery:
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by PD James
Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers
Amelia Peabody Egyptologist series by Elizabeth Peters (she's probably heard of this, though)
The Alienist by Caleb Carr (also might count as historical fiction)
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Fiction (historical or based on real-life events):
The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker Conway
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Tender at the Bone, Comfort me with Apples and Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Pretty Birds by Scott Simon

[Shrain]

I love the William Monk series, Victorian mysteries written by a British woman named Anne Perry. She's LDS actually, but I didn't find this out until later.
The books are spectacular. I'm not usually into mysteries but these hooked me, big time. So insightful about the time period, very funny, and intense. The first one is called Face of a Stranger.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I love the William Monk series, Victorian mysteries written by a British woman named Anne Perry. She's LDS actually, but I didn't find this out until later.
The books are spectacular. I'm not usually into mysteries but these hooked me, big time. So insightful about the time period, very funny, and intense. The first one is called Face of a Stranger.

Yeah, she's also written a somewhat dull fantasy novel.
Plus, trivia, she was convicted for killing her friend's mother.

[42]

thanks for the list Nessa.

My parents have read about half of those books already, but there are some new one there that I could research. Yes my parents are very well read--they read about 15-20 books each per year.

And again, my mom has already read everything by Anne Perry.

Trivia: Anne Perry's seedy past is also the subject of a Peter Jackson movie where she is unfortunately played by Kate Winslet.

[Nessa]

Oh, also, don't forget anything by Bernard Cornwell, who wrote the Richard Sharpe books. They take place during the Napoleanic Wars in Spain and they are fabulous. He's also written other novels.

[House of Mustard]

For historical fiction, how about Bernard Cromwell?  His Sharpe series is great, and I hear is other stuff is just as good.

[House of Mustard]

Crap!  One minute too late!

[Nessa]

I love the Richard Sharpe stuff. I even own several of the DVDs.  

(It probably helps that Sean Bean is so hunky.)

He had a series about an archer that takes place in the 1400s, I think. Kind of a holy grail story.

I think he also wrote a book about the making of stonehenge, a historical fiction. It's OK.