Literary gift suggestions. Something with amazing style and flavour...

[Locut0s]

Hi guys!

I'm looking for some literature suggestions for a Christmas gift. My father is an avid reader and loves a wide variety of literature. Some of his favourite genres would be biography, history, magic realism, classic literature, and more. Some of his favourite contemporary authors include Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen, Zadie Smith, Junot Día and many more.

Sadly while our tastes are very similar I haven't been reading enough recently to know what's out there. Both of us love style and flavour in our writing. Anything that can capture you and blow you away with its literary power, while not giving way to excess or purple passages.

I asked on DU some years back and got some good suggestions so I thought I'd do so again this year. Thanks for any help!

I realize everyone has different tastes and I haven't given a lot to go on but don't worry we are both very open to all kinds of things and like I said my own tastes are similar enough to his that I will know when something looks interesting.

Thanks!

Merry Christmas everyone!

[SoCalDem]

1. "The Generals" looks to be interesting...and timely

[Sekhmets Daughter]

2. Has he read any of

the Lyndon Johnson biography by Robert Caro...volume 4 came out this year. Fascinating reading.

[PETRUS]

3. Check out Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem. That might fit his tastes. nt

[Locut0s]

7. Thanks. I'll keep this one in mind, at first glance it does look interesting. Thanks!

[Brickbat]

4. The Yiddish Policemen's Union was great for magical realism and great writing.

The USA trilogy by Dos Passos is also excellent.

[Locut0s]

8. Ahh right. I've been meaning to take a look at "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" myself, thanks!

[panader0]

5. 'The Given Day' by Dennis Lehane

Well written historical novel.

[Locut0s]

12. Thanks, that looks fascinating actually. nt

[Paulie]

6. Couple contemporary to try

Ghost in the wires by Kevin Mitnik

The Dark Conspiracy trilogy by Michael A. Stackpole (or his novella In Hero Years... I'm Dead)

His dark materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman

Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman

Cod, a biography of the fish that changed the world by Mark Kurlansky

One of the Bill Bryson books like Life and times of the thunderbolt kid or I'm a stranger here myself.

[Locut0s]

10. Thanks I'll have to take a look at some of these, funny he's already read...

a couple of these and commented on liking them, specifically "His dark materials" trilogy (he read these while tutoring some children) and "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman".

[enough]

9. Has he read Zadie Smith's current novel called "NW" ?

Very interesting and compelling. I also really liked Ford's latest, "Canada," which is quite different from his earlier stuff. You've probably thought of both of those already.

I recently read "No More Parades" a long work, actually a trilogy, by Ford Maddox Ford, about the WW1 era. Very good.

Also "The Book of Ebenezer Le Page" a novel by G.B. Edwards.

For history/politics my favorite this year is "American Nations" by Colin Woodard. Full title: "AMERICAN NATIONS, A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America." Absolutely fascinating.

[Locut0s]

11. He's read Canada I believe and really liked it. I don't think he's read NW...

Thanks for the suggestions!

[yodermon]

13. This thread needs recs! Hope it's OK if I mooch off or your list :)

K&R

[Locut0s]

14. Not at all. The more the merrier :P

[Coyotl]

15. Get him an empty journal and ask him to write a book for you.

And to give it back to you next Christmas. Something you can pass on maybe.

[Mc Mike]

16. P.G. Wodehouse is funny classic period lit. Jess Walter is modern award winning.