Help me choose a book for my dad

[IceandIndigo]

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.

Jack Reacher - by Lee Child sounds like would suit him. There are 27 books so far

I’m surprised he likes Wolf Hall if he’s not into stylised writing. Anyway simply written literary fiction:
Ishiguro - Never let me go
Francis Spufford - Golden Hill
Ian McEwan - Atonement
Hannah Kent - Burial Rites
George Orwell (?? Too old? ) 1984
Philip Roth - The Human Stain

Also William Boyd and Sebastian Faulks. Sorry it’s so random.

How about Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell or Sister Song by Lucy Holland if he has enjoyed historical novels before?

He does sound rather hard to buy for - that list is rather random - in a good way though!!

An Officer and a Spy
The Five

The shardlake historical novels are great by CJ Sansom, very readable.

Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth.
Or others by the same author.

Anything by Amor Towels.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! A few I don’t know and will look up.

Yes Ian McEwan is another writer he has enjoyed.

I think Lee Child and CJ Samson would not be literary enough for his tastes. He doesn’t really read popular fiction at all, definitely not interested in crime/thrillers.

He’s read Hamnet, not sure what he thought.

Has he read Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson? Suits his age group (protagonist born 1954), clever writing, literary themes and motifs, funny.

Mosquito Coast
The Corrections
poisonwood Bible
Bonfire of the Vanities
Hamnet

Not Lee Child

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

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

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?

Shuggy Bain by Douglas Stuart

@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

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.

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.

Still Life?

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

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.

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>

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!

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.

@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.

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