Talk of The Villages Florida - Looking for Book to Read

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"Pegasus One" by Ed Wingham
available at Lulu

This historical fiction is about an NSA employee who is a brilliant computer architect and partially responsible for a predictive analysis program to keep tans on America's enemies. Access to the super-secret program is compromised as Iran and Israel vie for supremacy. Please respond if interested......

Ed Wingham

The Hail Mary Project by Andy Weir. If you liked The Martian, this is even better. I love the way he poses problems for his characters and has them work through the solutions.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. An interesting take on how life can change based on the decisions one makes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 1972360)

May I suggest Erik Larson. I have seen a review that called him “the master of narrative non-fiction.”

Larson somehow weaves a “story” in with his non-fiction topic. His research is meticulous, but he makes non-fiction read like a novel. (He, of course, includes an extensive bibliography of his reference sources.)

The one I read was The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. (pub. date 2003)

Serial killers and true crime are not my thing to read about, but I could not put this book down. Set in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, Larson tells the true story of a psychopath, but most of the book is about the fair itself and the people who planned it — and the human nature of the crowds who attended.

That is the only Larson I have read, but Mr. Boomer has read almost all of them. His recent read was the newest one by Larson, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. (pub. 2020) When he starts reading a book by Larson, he finishes it fast.

Thunderstruck (pub. 2006) is about Marconi along with the story of what the synopsis calls “a very unlikely murderer.”

Isaac’s Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History (pub. 1999) is about the hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900.

In the Garden of the Beast: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin (pub. 2011)

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania (pub. 2015)

I included the publication dates because you might be able to find a “gently used” copy at a good price — if you are into book-books. :) (I have become increasingly into Audible and Kindle but know many others who like a book in their hands.) The Fruitland Park branch of Lake Co. Public Library used to have a nice store, but I have not been in for a while.

You can learn a lot of history from Larson, but there is nothing dry about the way he writes it.

Marian Boomer

The Splendid and the Vile is a favorite for me. Highly recommend. Churchill was masterful creating a sense of fearlessness in Great Britain. Fascinating accounts of wartime in Britain and the Nazi propaganda machine that counter each other's perspectives.

Delia Owens wrote “Where the crawdads sing”. I thought it was a wonderful read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donaz1 (Post 1972655)

One of my favorite books. A great read about a family escaping the War between the states. It is remarkable of their survival with the help of the Seminoles.

I too liked A Land Remembered. Another book about Florida history that I found most interesting is Bubble in the Sun by Christopher Knowlton (2020). Subtitle is: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression." The era was one of excess and describes the developers of Coral Gables, Boca Raton and Miami. The chapters on Addison Mizner, an architect who designed and built the great mansions in Palm Beach (including Mar-a-Lago) were intriguing. He held court at a cocktail hour daily with the rich and famous. There are several descriptions of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas and her environmental efforts to save the Everglades.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynnschindel (Post 1972701)

Anything by Nelson Demille, especially The Gold Coast. His books are full of adventure and fun. He's my favorite.

I think I've read everyone of Demille's books. Particularly enjoyed the John Corey series. Great dry humour from the Corey character.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betty Wagner (Post 1973034)

The Outlander series. And Greg Iles.

Greg Iles is awesome. Highly recommended.

The Alex Delaware books by Jonathan Kellerman and the Virgil Flowers books by John Sanford.

Beach Book Bonanza

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davonu (Post 1972275)

You folks gave me such great feedback in my Looking for TV Series to Watch thread I figured I'd do the same regarding my search for a good book to read...

I read quite a bit and of course have my favorite authors and such, but I'm very interested in what all you readers out there consider your favorites. I like mysteries, thrillers, science fiction on occasion, but I'm absolutely open to all genres. Guess I've said enough. Can't wait to 'hear' what you have to 'say'. :icon_wink:

You are in luck! The Writers League of The Villages' Beach Book Bonanza starts Sunday, July 18 and runs through 7/25. You can download free books, shop all of your favorite Villages authors, buy books for the holidays and more, all at Writers League of The Villages – Helping Writers Tell Their Stories

You may want to listen to a FREE audiobook on YouTube. Here is an excellent murder mystery :
BLACK SCREEN SLEEP- 8 PERFECT MURDERS - YouTube
I like the free audiobooks so as to not strain my eyes.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - plus anything she writes.
Anything by Mary Clearman Blew

I think she might be talking about "One for the Money" Stephanie Plum is the main character, series by Janet Evanovich. I read all of them, Cute, easy reading

Quote:

Originally Posted by memoriestgs@aol.com (Post 1973131)

Delia Owens wrote “Where the crawdads sing”. I thought it was a wonderful read.

My sister raved about this book. I started to read it ... most depressing book I have come across in a long time. Returned it to the library.

FWIW.

k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathyspear (Post 1974022)

My sister raved about this book. I started to read it ... most depressing book I have come across in a long time. Returned it to the library.

FWIW.

k.

I hope you return all books to the library.

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1972436)

If you can find it, try Condominium by John D. MacDonald published in 1977 and 2014. A novel, but very similar to what recently happened in Florida

retiredguy123,

It has been several weeks since I took your advice to try Condominium by John D. MacDonald, and I want to say thank you.

I had never read anything by MacDonald before. I had no idea what to expect. But now I know that MacDonald is a truly gifted writer.

I listened to the book on Audible -- which I use when I walk or am doing jobs around the house. But after hearing MacDonald's words, I had to actually see some of them in print, too, so I ordered the paperback.

It is especially interesting to look at this book from the perspective of now. Because of the 1977 copyright, it is fun to hear the money talk about the prices of those condos and the numbers in the shell games the weasels play. Money-talk numbers sure have changed in the past 44 years. . .

MacDonald has a perfect grasp on human nature and all that entails. He makes his characters come through in a way that is just as relevant in 2021. Of course, human nature, unlike condo costs, never changes. There are only so many different types of us -- in fiction or in real life.

As a bonus, the intro to Condominium was written by Dean Koontz who compares it to what Arthur Hailey did with Hotel and Airport -- which I think I will download next. I think those two books are even older than Condominium, but it is nostalgic to revisit the 70s -- the 1970s when we boomers were so daggone good lookin'. (sigh)

Speaking of Hotel, a book was recommended to me by a hotel desk manager I happened to meet. The book is Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky. . .

That book is nowhere near the quality of writing that we get from John D. MaDonald (or even Arthur Hailey) but it most certainly is an enlightening read. :shocked:

Anyway, thanks again, retiredguy123, for introducing me to John D. MacDonald.

Boomer