If you Like Barbara Kingsolver's Books and Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One

[Anonymous]

So my top 3 books of all time are: The Poisonwood Bible, The Lacuna, and The Power of One. I think this gives you an idea of what I like. I like reading books that have historical relevancy, beautiful writing, BUT that are entertaining.

Does anyone have any reccomendations? Contemporary writers that write beautifully, deeply, while remaining entertaining?

[Anonymous]

The Power of One is on my all time list .....
as is:
The Brother's K
http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-K-David-James-Duncan/dp/055337849X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298405413&sr=1-1

Angle of Repose - Wallace Stenger

Straight Man - Richard Russo

[Anonymous]

Wow, it's great to see other people talk about Power of One. It's one of my favorites too. Has anyone read the sequel book (Tandia?) or any of Courtenay's others? I have not found any from the library, and I'm wondering whether they're worth buying.

For OP, I'd recommend the following authors. I've read most of them, but there are a couple who have been suggested to me, and I have not gotten to yet.
Lauren Hillenbrand
Amin Malouf (Leo the African?)
John Grisham's nonfiction
Pat Conroy
Cormac McCarthy
Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner and others)
Michael Pollan (not historical or fiction, but a really good writer)
Ann Patchett

[Anonymous]

I LOVED the Power of One and just recently got a copy for my stepdaughter.

Two books that remind me of it, in feel at least, are Kalimantaan (about Borneo) and Map of Love (about Egypt).



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalimantaan

http://www.ahdafsoueif.com/Books/the_map_of_love.htm

[Anonymous]

I heard that The Power of One was Courtenay's masterpiece and that the others fall flat, but HOW could one follow that up?

I wish the whole world would read that book, it is so inspiring, it was so powerful and moving. I really think that is the best book ever written, I love to read and spent a lot of time reading the classics and truly I have never found a better story and someone who weaves words together so beautifully. I was so sad when it ended.

If anyone else wants to read more on Africa and liked the Power of One, another two AMAZING books that are tied together are by Peter Godwin:

1. Mukiwa:A White Boy in Africa
2. When a Crocidile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa

The story of Zimbabwe is fascinating and if you liked the Power of One you will most definitly love the two works of art by Godwin.

[Anonymous]

Those are some of my favorites, too. Other you might like:

Anil's Ghost, Michael Ondaatje (I don't love his others, except for Divisadero).

The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy.

The Hungry Tide, Amitav Ghosh.

The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga.

Wolf Hall, Hillary Mantel.

The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey.

Shadow Country, Peter Mathiesson (kind of like the western Florida version of The Poisonwood Bible).

The Lotus Eaters, Tatjana Soli.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wrobleski.

Incendiary, Chris Cleave (the author of Little Bee, which I also enjoyed. This is not an easy read for a parent, though.)

Imaginings of Sand, Andre Brink.

[Anonymous]

Have you read any Louise Erdrich? I love her writing, stories and Native American point of view.

I also loved The Book Thief.

[Anonymous]

16:06 again. I take it back, don't read Incendiary. Even just thinking about the plot line and reading a review on Amazon to make sure I got the author right is making me tear up. It's written as a letter to Osama Bin Laden after a (fictional) bombing of a soccer stadium in the UK that killed the narrator's husband and 4-year-old son. As I said, not an easy read.

[Anonymous]

I just love Bryce Courtenay and have read all his books including The Power of One. Other really good reads are by Jennifer Donnelley. The Tea Rose and the Winter Rose. I've not read The Wild Rose, I'd like to attempt it.

[Anonymous]

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:06 again. I take it back, don't read Incendiary. Even just thinking about the plot line and reading a review on Amazon to make sure I got the author right is making me tear up. It's written as a letter to Osama Bin Laden after a (fictional) bombing of a soccer stadium in the UK that killed the narrator's husband and 4-year-old son. As I said, not an easy read.

But it is AMAZING!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this thread OP! I have similar tastes and just finished a book and was looking for something good to read - lots of choices here!

I love all of John Irving's novels and would recommend those if you haven't read any of them (esp. Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany).

A little different, but also one of my many favorites: Angela's Ashes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those are some of my favorites, too. Other you might like:

Anil's Ghost, Michael Ondaatje (I don't love his others, except for Divisadero).

The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy.

The Hungry Tide, Amitav Ghosh.

The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga.

Wolf Hall, Hillary Mantel.

The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey.

Shadow Country, Peter Mathiesson (kind of like the western Florida version of The Poisonwood Bible).

The Lotus Eaters, Tatjana Soli.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wrobleski.

Incendiary, Chris Cleave (the author of Little Bee, which I also enjoyed. This is not an easy read for a parent, though.)

Imaginings of Sand, Andre Brink.

PP we have very similar tastes! I highly recommend that you try A Fine Balance by Rohintin Mistry. Amazing.

[Anonymous]

PP we have very similar tastes! I highly recommend that you try A Fine Balance by Rohintin Mistry. Amazing.

Oh, that's such a good one too!!! (I'm the John Irving lover PP). I higly recommend A Fine Balance as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's great to see other people talk about Power of One. It's one of my favorites too. Has anyone read the sequel book (Tandia?) or any of Courtenay's others? I have not found any from the library, and I'm wondering whether they're worth buying.

For OP, I'd recommend the following authors. I've read most of them, but there are a couple who have been suggested to me, and I have not gotten to yet.
Lauren Hillenbrand
Amin Malouf (Leo the African?)
John Grisham's nonfiction
Pat Conroy
Cormac McCarthy
Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner and others)
Michael Pollan (not historical or fiction, but a really good writer)
Ann Patchett

I have read everything that Bryce Courtenay has written. Love ALL OF THEM. Most Remarkable is the Potato Factory and the two sequels of that. You must read him. Libraries will order him in for you. I read half of them from libraries.