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Original poster

Help me choose a book for my dad

35 replies

IceandIndigo · 31/10/2022 16:56

My dad, who is in his 70s, is due to have an operation that will see him immobilised for a time while he’s recovering. He is asking for books to read. However I always find him difficult to buy for as his tastes are quite particular. Basically he likes literary fiction but it has to be quite plainly written, avoiding overtly lyrical or poetic language, and definitely nothing too experimental or lacking in punctuation etc.

Examples of books I know he has enjoyed:
Normal People, Sally Rooney
A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
The Buried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro
Wolf Hall and sequels.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:
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PacificState · 31/10/2022 21:36

Francis Spufford is truly brilliant and I was also going to suggest Le Carre although your dad may well already have read him.

Bit of a tangent but if your dad likes cricket - I bought my dad Beyond a Boundary by CLR James last Christmas and he loved it.

Pallisers · 31/10/2022 21:14

oh and Dh absolutely loves the Bruno books by Martin Walker. bits of history and lovely descriptions of french food/cooking in with the murder mysteries.

Pallisers · 31/10/2022 21:12

BobStrangeNameforaGirl · 31/10/2022 17:44

Anything by Amor Towels.

came on to say this. He'd love A Gentleman In Moscow

I also think he'd love Kate Atkinson.

There was a great piece on Philip K. Dick in the NYT book section on Sunday. Some of his might be fun to read if he is into sci-fi.

Also agree with Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - one of the most beautiful books I have read.

If he likes history there is a novel called In A Dark Wood Wandering by Helle Haasse which is fabulous. Also A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman - actually anything by her.

Topbird29 · 31/10/2022 20:47

Jonas Jonasson - the "hitman" books were also a surprise hit. Nordic crime farce. I usually pick his book presents, and like to go a bit off piste occasionally.

Hope his op and recovery goes well. Let us know what you pick.

EvilRingahBitch · 31/10/2022 20:46

The Terror by Dan Simmons, which is a horror-tinged but otherwise very well-researched retelling of the Franklin Expedition is worth a try.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terror_(novel)

CMOTDibbler · 31/10/2022 20:46

If he likes polar exploration books, I very much enjoyed Ranulph Fiennes biography of Shackleton (and in fact Ranulphs other books) and I have Michael Palins Erebus in my to read stack.
I haven't read it, but The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida was short listed for the Booker this year, and after listening to a R4 discussion about it I have it on my list.

Sadik · 31/10/2022 20:40

My dad loved Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov & said it was one of the best books he'd read for ages. It's short post-Soviet satire, set in Ukraine and it is both definitely literary and definitely plain in language.

PermanentTemporary · 31/10/2022 20:38

Vastly Grossman

Oh - I bet he would like Francis Spufford too. Golden Hill is great but my personal favourite is Red Plenty which is an extraordinary faction hybrid, can't recommend it enough.

PermanentTemporary · 31/10/2022 20:36

Based on my late dh who sounds similar in his tastes -

Stoner by John Williams
Brooklyn by Colm Toíbìn
Life and Fate by Vasily something sorry will look it up

Topbird29 · 31/10/2022 20:33

@IceandIndigo - the sci fi book was "The wandering earth" by cixin liu. He does also like easy books like dan brown and richard osman books. And the shardlake series.

DesMoulinsRouge · 31/10/2022 20:33

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir was really good if he likes a bit of sci-fi. Also The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell.

Original poster
IceandIndigo · 31/10/2022 20:29

@Topbird29 your FIL sounds a lot like my dad in his tastes. He used to read a lot of sci fi as a younger man - I know he loved Arthur C Clarke - although I’m not sure he reads much now.

Sounds like A Gentleman in Moscow is definitely one to go for. It’s on my TBR list too.

OP posts:
Topbird29 · 31/10/2022 20:19

Erebus as suggested by pp would be a good shout if he likes polar regions. Bought this for fil a couple of years ago. Some of my suggestions are based on what he likes! He also quite likes a bit of sci fi - a couple of years ago got a sci fi book (hard sci fi too) for mil to give to dh. She got in a muddle, gave it to fil and he loved it! Also likes Philip dick and Arthur c clarke,and Terry pratchett.

And "a gentleman in Moscow" is excellent." The count is such a good character.

Also some good suggestions for things to get fil for Xmas.

TheaBrandt · 31/10/2022 19:29

It has a history angle too. The main character is inspirational he’s an aristocrat bullied by the communists and takes it in good part!

TheaBrandt · 31/10/2022 19:27

He will love A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I got it for my dad and uncle both 70 somethings and well read and both said it was one of the best books they had ever read <smug>

donttalkaboutbookclub · 31/10/2022 19:25

Marilynne Robinson is a wonderful American writer that might be new to him - the first novel of a quartet by her is Gilead (nothing to do with The Handmaid's Tale!) Or Kent Haruf is also a less mainstream writer he might enjoy - Plainsong would be the novel to start with. Both writers are ones to read slowly and savour.

Original poster
IceandIndigo · 31/10/2022 19:25

He also loves history, so accessible popular history books would also be a possibility.

So many interesting suggestions here, I think I need to come up with a shortlist and check it against what’s already in his bookcase

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Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 31/10/2022 19:20

Still Life?

Skeldale · 31/10/2022 19:18

All The Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr
The Luminaries Eleanor Catton

Something Polar based try
Erebus by Michael Palin the story of HMS Erebus voyage to discover the Northwest passage.

CatChant · 31/10/2022 19:15

JG Farrell’s wonderful Empire trilogy, each of which can be read as a stand-alone novel. They are: Troubles, The Siege of Krishnapur and The Singapore Grip.

Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo trilogy - Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street.

Charles Palliser’s The Quincunx.

Patrick O’ Brian’s Aubrey and Maturin series, beginning with Master and Commander.

CS Forester’s Hornblower series, beginning with Mr Midshipman Hornblower.

Allan Mallinson’s Matthew Hervey series beginning with A Close Run Thing.

Original poster
IceandIndigo · 31/10/2022 19:13

@senua yes he has read the Kate Atkinson and I think he quite liked it.

@Topbird29 In terms of a special place he has always been quite interested in the history of polar exploration, beyond that I’m not sure. Whenever I ask him to what he likes he just says “I like good writing”, which isn’t terribly helpful Halloween Confused

OP posts:
blitzen · 31/10/2022 18:54

Shuggy Bain by Douglas Stuart

Topbird29 · 31/10/2022 18:44

How about any of the "sharpe" books, or books by John le carre.
Is there any particular place or time he has a special interest in?

LetUsPounce · 31/10/2022 18:39

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

OneCup · 31/10/2022 18:37

Something by Ernest Hemingway ?
Middle England by Jonathan Coe
Jonathan Franzen?

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