Looking around my office I see about 100 books I still have to read. Those I have enjoyed the most and recommend are: "Shantaram" by Gregory Roberts. Last Christmas a friend bought me this book as she heard me say I need to do more reading. I was told I wouldn't be able to put it down and she was right.
The strange thing I found was nothing had really happened yet I felt it would on the next page. This happened for many pages yet I found the descriptions of the people and places kept me reading.
"The first thing I noticed about Bombay, on that first day, was the smell of the different air … it's the smell of gods, demons, empires and civilisations in resurrection and decay. It's the blue skin-smell of the sea, no matter where you are in the Island City, and the blood-metal smell of machines. It smells of the stir and sleep and waste of sixty million animals, more than half of them human and rats … It smells of ten thousand restaurants, five thousand temples, shrines, churches and mosques, and of a hundred bazaars devoted exclusively to perfumes, spices, incense and freshly cut flowers."
When the "action" did eventuate to me it played second place to the people.
As the author was a convicted criminal it caused me to create what was to become a totally false idea of the story. Many of my own beliefs about India were brought into question. Roberts writes with a combination of intelligence,hardness,love and an understanding of the mosaic that is India. This novel is a must read.
By Genre: Historical fiction : Anything by James Michener especially The Source, The Covenant. He is a master storyteller and factually so well researched
The Hope, The Glory both by Herman Wouk. Provides a riveting account of the history of Israel, the various wars and the political intrigue.
Fantasy: I originally avoided this genre like the plague then I discovered David Eddings. I literally stayed up till 3 am reading his stories. Eddings is the master of this genre. His books have a touch of magic, humour, sadness excitement etc
Anne McCaffrey is also a very good writer in this field. Her books about Pern are well worth a read.
Something different: Laurens Van Der Post - books based on the bushmen of the Kalahari are worth a read. If you like Wilbur Smith you should enjoy these.
Now for two gems: Both are picture books but are vastly different from each other.. "The Window" by Jeannie Baker shows the growth of a person by the view from a window on his birthday each year. After showing this book to our son we all agreed to do the same and take a photo from the same spot in the front and back yard each year. Its amazing just how much people forget until a photo reminds them.
The last book is titled "Zoom". This is a what's it a picture of type book but don't be put off by my somewhat unflattering description. I have never seen a book have such a marked effect on its audience. If you have children ask them to tell you what the picture is about. Do this every time you turn the page then watch and listen to them closely. The book's impact is unbelievable.
