Book recs for dads and daughters

[trinityofone]

My dad is impossible to shop for, and as always happens around this time of year, I’m faced with the one-two punch of Father’s Day and his birthday, which are only about two weeks apart. I’ve been wracking my brain for gift ideas, but haven’t come up with much beyond getting him some books to read on the road, as he’s got about a billion business trips scheduled this summer. (Just the other day he was at the Canadian Consulate in Detroit interviewing Mounties. Dude! SO CLOSE!) He doesn’t read too many novels, but I think he would enjoy a break from Serious Books About Serious Issues. Still, I’m not really sure what to get him.

My original idea was to buy him Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson, as my dad’s a political junkie and would, I think, enjoy those aspects; however, I think the science would make his eyes glaze over, and since, as I said, he rarely reads fiction, I don’t think the first book of a trilogy’s such a good idea. So, my question for you is: what are some other books he might like? Well-written novels that would make good plane reading and deal with some of his interests:

*Politics
*History (though mostly American history and/or the histories of indigenous peoples in Mexico/South America)
*Religion
*Jazz

Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated!

…And while I’m soliciting book recs, I might as well ask for some myself. I’ve lately been very disappointed with pretty much everything I’ve read. There are a number of reasons for this, but chief among them is the fact that everything I’ve been choosing has turned out to have only the most shallowly developed characters. Do you have any recs for books with really awesome, fucked up, wonderful characters? I’m looking for an experience like when I first started reading the Lymond Chronicles. I’m not feeling too picky about genre; I just want someone I can fall in love with. Be my literary matchmaker, please!

Comments

[reginagiraffe]

Have you read "Touchstone" by Laurie R. King? It's not part of her Holmes/Russell series and it's quite good.

[whiskeypants.livejournal.com]

Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon (first in series)
Same Author: Market Forces (standalone)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I haven't! There were lots of things I liked about King's writing in the first Russell book, but some of the "bad fanfic" elements really bothered me. It might be a good idea to try something that's less likely to carry those problems. Thanks!

[blueraccoon.livejournal.com]

I'd also recommend "Folly" by her, or the Kate Martinelli series (although the earlier books were better than her latest).

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I've actually read Altered Carbon; I had mixed feeling about it, but have been meaning to read the next book in the series. Maybe I'll give Market Forces a chance, too.

I assume you mean these for me and not my dad; I think his head would explode. ;-)

[polaris-starz.livejournal.com]

Our dads sound a lot alike in both the timing and interest ways! My dad's birthday is the first week in July, so I'm looking for things for now and then.

History-wise, he might like Lies My Teachers Told Me or anything by David McCullough, assuming he hasn't read that stuff already; Team of Rivals is also good.

[polaris-starz.livejournal.com]

Oh, also: Isaac's Storm and Devil in the White City, both by Erik Larson.

Have you read World War Z or any Emma Bull?

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

There's a seriously cheeky book about British history that was in a prominent place *in every bookstore* when I was in London two weeks ago - it is called "An Utterly Impartial History of Britain or 2000 Years of Upper-class Idiots in Charge" by John O'Farrell. I don't know how good it is, some of the amazon.co.uk reviews suggest it's not that well researched on the historic aspects. Not fiction, but certainly not Srs Bzns, either.

[reginagiraffe]

I second this. There's also a sequel (kind of) called "Keeping Watch".

[reginagiraffe]

Has your dad ever read "Good Omens"? How does he feel about British humo(u)r?

[tahariel.livejournal.com]

Try Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy - first person urban fantasy, with a very strong voice and well-developed (I thought) main character.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

homg, _Stern Men_ by Elizabeth Gilbert. It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of how she's written the book, but I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. The characters were *awesome*. And so fucked up! And cray and funny! And the central protagonist is a woman who defies just about all womanly ideas in fiction ever, even while doing things that women often do. LOVED this book.

Did you read _Peace Like a River_ by Leif Enger? If not, HIE thee to a bookstore pronto. It is glorious. He has a new book out - um . . . So Brave, something and Handsome? (Clearly 'something' is not in the title). I did not like it so well as Peace Like a River, but if it's characterization you're looking for, you'll love the men he conjures up, since that was my favorite part of it.

I just finished Honor Moore's tangled up memoir of herself and her dad - he was the Episcopal Bishop of New York for a long time, and ends up, he was gay, as well as being married and having nine children. It's called _The Bishop's Daughter_ and I loved it - made me very thinky. Beautifully written. Her dad was at the forefront of addressing civil rights, gay rights, and women's rights in the Episcopal Church, so it's a commentary on America changing as much as anything else.

_Mayflower_ by Nathaniel Philbrick (I think that's the right name) is a good look at the first settlers in New England - severe lack of women's history in that book, but I still enjoyed the detail he went into.

One of my favorite favorite FAVORITE books ever is _1831: Year of Eclipse_ by Louis P. Masur. He tells the history of just that one year from a variety of perspectives (it's American History) and it's *fascinating*. Absolutely amazing and a good read - not a dry, academic tome.

I'll think of some others!

[(Anonymous)]

Claire Tomalin writes terrific biographies. Try Hardy for yourself and Pepys for your dad?

Also this series - http://www.philrickman.co.uk/page6.html
Proper characters who change as the series goes on and a wonderfully strong sense of place in the Welsh borders.

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

I don't think I can make a suggestion for your dad, but for you, my favorite contemporary author is Margaret Drabble, and my favorite Drabble is her trilogy starting with The Radiant Way (http://www.amazon.com/Radiant-Way-Margaret-Drabble/dp/0804103658). I love those characters so much; I feel as though they are old friends. Next is Natural Curiosity, and the last one is Gates of Ivory. Highly, highly recommended.

Hmm. I am reading Blackwater (http://www.amazon.com/Blackwater-Rise-Worlds-Powerful-Mercenary/dp/1560259795/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213206632&sr=1-1) right now; if you're dad is interested in politics, he might like it -- though "like" wouldn't be the right word. I can only read a few pages at a time before my brain begins to boil with rage. So maybe I can't help.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

God, I wish I could get him to read that book. Hmm...it might be worth a shot! I don't think he's tried much British humor in print form (though he likes Monty Python), but my mom's got him reading Gerald Durrell, so it's not outside the realm of possibility!

[neery.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Elizabeth Bear's Science Fiction trilogy? The first one is called Hammered. I really liked her characters.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

My dad might be put off by the fact that I'm pretty sure he has no idea who Clarkson is. ;-) But it's a thought!

I love Douglas Coupland, though jPod wasn't among my favorites of his. Have you read any of his other books?

I need to read more Scalzi!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

My dad's birthday is the first week in July

July 6th represent?

I think my dad's actually read all of those history books! (Well, maybe not every David McCullough, but several at least.) Our fathers really are alike!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

World War Z and Bull's Territory have been on my TBR for a while. (Actually, so has Devil.) I guess I should bump them up!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Pooh, that's not available in the U.S. yet. FAIL, AMERICA!

*wishlists it on BookMooch for self anyway*

[reginagiraffe]

Oh! How about "The Gunseller" by Hugh Laurie (yes, *that* Hugh Laurie)? It's got humor and politics and action.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Cool, I'll check it out. Thanks!

[elbomac.livejournal.com]

For your dad - has he read any Jon Krakauer? I just finished Under the Banner of Heaven and it was really interesting.

Have you read Wally Lamb? I love his books - talk about fucked up, awesome characters to fall in love with!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Whee, thanks so much for all the recs! I just added a bunch of stuff to my BookMooch wishlist. You're definitely not the first person I've heard mention Peace Like a River (or perhaps I've heard you mention it before?) so I'll be keeping an eye out.

Elizabeth Gilbert...the same one who wrote Eat, Pray, Love, right? It's probably bad that I had a totally snobby "I hate popular books!" reaction to that, isn't it?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oooh, a mystery series! *wishlists* Thanks!