All Genre Book Recommendations - Part 2

This video is a part 2 of 2 videos giving recommendations in 10 different genres of which I feel confident I can recommend good choices. One of my secrets of reading 100+ books is moving in and out of genres frequently, to keep my reading fresh. Let me know if you have any to add to this list and put those in the comments below!

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[Johanna_reads]

I love your recommendations so much! The Warlord Chronicles is on my short list of series I want to start this year. I remember seeing my dad read and love The Pillars of the Earth many years ago, and I also remember thinking the book seemed intimidating to me. I love historical fiction, and I especially love time travel books that have a mix of historical fiction. 11/22/63 is a great example, and I see that on your shelf. I loved that book, especially for the ways in which King showed some of the darker aspects of 50’s and 60’s America and brought to life characters and settings that felt authentic to those eras. I’ve course I really don’t know not having lived that long, but it felt real to me as a reader! That might be a good entry point for plot-driven readers or King fans.

[debbiemurphy]

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I was so happy to see you recommending GWTW and Pillars of the Earth. There are so many wonderful things about GWTW; it’s my second favorite book after To Kill A Mockingbird. Reading historical fiction in the correct context is so important and not many people do that. My favorite eras are Tudor England and the Civil War. Also, I love Pete Hamill and I have Forever on my Kindle; I just haven’t gotten to it yet. I loved North River and Snow in August by him. Great author. Thanks for these recommendations!

[Aluminatihusker]

This month, I’m going to read Lonesome Dove for a western. For historical fiction I’m finally going to read Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles. I’m usually a sci-fi/fantasy/horror (Stephen King) reader, so these books I’m hoping will be great reads for avoiding any reading slump. I’m excited to read these for the first time! I hear nothing but great things. Btw, great video! You have great recommendations!

[Paromita_M]

Nice recommendations.
Arthur Conan Doyle is amazing. And Agatha Christie is one of my all-time favourite authors! I can read her books any time, even when I don't feel like reading! That's a very important distinction you made between mystery and thrillers, I've realised I definitely gravitate towards the former.

Magical realism and I have been doomed so far (Marquez, Rushdie, Murakami) but these sound unique and less intimidating. Noted.

[JamesI]

Real glad to see gone with the wind here. I just found it for a couple dollars at a thirft store and picked it up due to how highly regarded it is, even if it wouldn't normally be something I read.

[RekindledReader]

I'm so happy I've read a lot of these, and that we agree on how amazing they are. I wrapped up The Winter King, and it will likely be an all time favourite (the trilogy will probably). Pines was exceptional and I've recommended that a lot myself to people. Pillars of the Earth shot up my tbr, so thanks for that one!

[thepapertraveler]

I love magical realism and Forever sounds like just the type of book I want to read. A historical fiction I read last year that made my top favs list was The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili. It’s translated from German and is a multigenerational family saga focusing on Georgian history. It is a big one at 944 Pgs though!
Thanks for the recommendations!

[MarionHill-vqxu]

Here are my recommendations for Part 2 of this video.

Historical Fiction:
1) The Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
2) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Historical Fiction is another least read genre for me but I plan to read more going forward. The Johnson novel looks at the Atlantic Slave Trade from the perspective of a freed slave who sneaks abroad a slave ship heading back to Africa. The freed slave is escaping a forced marriage. Tough subject but Johnson provides humor and a philosophical depth in a novel that just over 200 pages. Very well done!
The Hannah novel is one of the best WW2 stories I have ever read. Hannah would have never been on my radar to read. However, The Nightingale changed that for me.

Mystery:
1)A Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
2) The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

Mystery is becoming one of favorite genres to read. These two novels come to mind immediately. The Mosley novel is the first in the acclaimed Easy Rawlins series. Mosley brings to life a post WW2 Los Angeles that is vivid and authentic.
The Penny novel was my entry point into the world of Three Pines and Inspector Gamache. I have never been to Eastern Canada before and after reading this one made me want to visit.


Thriller:
1) A Last One by Alexandra Oliva
2) Recursion by Blake Crouch

Like you Josh…I don’t usually read the hot book of the season or highly publicized book when it first comes out. However, I read both of these when they were first published and enjoyed them.


Magical Realism:
1) A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
2) A Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll
3) Oracle Night by Paul Auster

All of three these authors are on my favorites list and have completely different styles of magical realism. Each book is my favorite of their work and highly recommended.


Short Stories:

I totally agree with you about including short stories into my reading life. They add another dimension to your reading life and makes you appreciate fiction in a different form than novels.

1) Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
2) Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint

Both of these short story collections are excellent. Sabrina & Corina explores Latina & Indigenous women from Colorado in thoughtful and provocative ways.

Dreams Underfoot is the first of several short story collections set in De Lint’s fictional city of Newford. This is the best of those collections and introduces all the main characters from that city.

Those are my recommendations. I’m glad you posted these 2 videos and I more readers get to see them.

[davorstojmirov]

Man i was ready to give up on you if you don't recommend Chehov for short stories....but at the end you delivered.Just kidding i love your videos.

[veronicagarcia]

OMG, I felt the same way about Gone with thw Wind, i didn´t want to like it either (there´re a lot of issues in it, toxic relationship, unlikeable characters, racism and so on ). But the writing style is wonderful and engaging, that why is one of my favorite books of all time (my 5 top are all historical). Definitely historical fiction is my Gem...I like better Sherlock homes than Poirot (just a personal preference) but both are good options... About magical realism, i just can not get into it. I´ve been trying to like it but just can´t . I read a few of them, like one humdred years of solitude (i have to as a Latin American reader 😅) and i can understand the importance of it, is a unique book but i just couldn´t connect with the world . Not for me. And for russian there are no enough room to express my enjoyment for Russian writers...As always your videos generate a great discussion!!! Thanks

[Tomcre]

Some historical fiction I can recommend are the Shardlake books by CJ Sansom and the Aubrey/Maturin books by Patrick O'Brian. Two great series

[RekindledReader]

Josh, am I able to start with The Poet, if I've never read a Connelly book? I know it's the first McEvoy book, but will it ruin Bosch, or should I perhaps work my way through Bosch first?? Thanks in advance my friend 🙏🏻

[Yesica]

New viewer here. It's great to see someone speaking positively of Gone With the Wind! It's is one of my favorite books and films of all time. And I am one that has zero interest in romance stories. That was never the draw for me. The world and the characters are so vivid. It's a big book but it never feels that way. As you said, you feel like you are right there!

I've been re-reading it since at least 8th grade. I only know that because my ancient, battered copy has my 8th grade classroom number scrawled in it. That poor thing is literally falling apart. But I couldn't bear to get rid of it because it has been with me for so long. I put it in a plastic bag and it's put away. A few years ago I bought a new (to me) hardcover as well DVD set. I know at some point it will either be outright banned for "offending" someone, or it will become too difficult/expensive to find. They'll be prying my copies from my cold, dead hands.


Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations. Believe it or not, it's getting difficult to find Booktubers that actually focus on BOOKS. So many channels have become full of commercials for stuff and/or they talk about the same few books that are popular at the moment.

[Yesica]

Thanks for explaining magical realism. I've heard the term but I've never understood how it differs from just regular fantasy. I've never heard of "Forever" but it does sound intriguing! If I ever get out from under the 334784613643 books I am currently reading I may check it out.