Book Recommendations

[TNK]

The Lonely Silver Rain by John D. MacDonald. This title is the last Travis McGee novel published 1985. It is perhaps the most "libertarian" novel of the series with its rants against the War On Drugs, the societal cost of a government currency, the price of cultural decline with economic development, and the depression that often goes with growing older, being a survivor.

The plot is rather convoluted, worthy of Raymond Chandler, and the dialogue could be better, but the story gets at the heart of the corruption that was the 1980s. MacDonald has an insight into what makes people tick, and this motivation is not a good one. You are on your own.

[LittleLebowski]

This might be getting out of hand...

https://www.amazon.com/Bacalao-Salte.../dp/B000LRKOXA

[NWshooter]

The Stand by Stephen King


Appropriate for 2020

[NWshooter]

This might be getting out of hand...

https://www.amazon.com/Bacalao-Salte.../dp/B000LRKOXA

I’m going to buy some salted cod today.

Bacalao salad is a must on Christmas Eve

[blues]

I’m going to buy some salted cod today.

Bacalao salad is a must on Christmas Eve

It was a big deal in the kitchen of my late mother-in-law on X-mas eve. She was a great Sicilian cook.

[NWshooter]

It was a big deal in the kitchen of my late mother-in-law on X-mas eve. She was a great Sicilian cook.

I do a salad with cod, olive oil, some parsley. Then one that is baked with leeks and San Marzano tomatoes.

My ex is Italian and her mom taught me how to cook. Miss that lady. But not my ex.

[Half Moon]

@blues

Thank you for the recommendation on Child 44! Just finished it a couple minutes ago. It was a good page turner. It fell a little short of excellent needing some polish and maybe to lose some coincidences. Overall, a satisfying read though. May have to see if Citizen X is still available on Prime Video for a comparative (based on the real life serial killer that inspired Child 44). Don't remember much of it other than Donald Sutherland as a militia officer plus the scene with the villain getting his "nine grams" at the end.

For dystopian detective novels, have you read Fatherland by Robert Harris? Been about 30 years since I read it but remember it being a pretty good and having a more powerful ending than it's movie version.

[blues]

@blues

Thank you for the recommendation on Child 44! Just finished it a couple minutes ago. It was a good page turner. It fell a little short of excellent needing some polish and maybe to lose some coincidences. Overall, a satisfying read though. May have to see if Citizen X is still available on Prime Video for a comparative (based on the real life serial killer that inspired Child 44). Don't remember much of it other than Donald Sutherland as a militia officer plus the scene with the villain getting his "nine grams" at the end.

For dystopian detective novels, have you read Fatherland by Robert Harris? Been about 30 years since I read it but remember it being a pretty good and having a more powerful ending than it's movie version.

@Half Moon

My pleasure.

And yes, I did read Fatherland and enjoyed it. (Never saw the movie.) I also liked Roth's "The Plot Against America".

I'm not a huge fan of Harris but I also think "An Officer and a Spy" was a very good read, and I also recall enjoying "Enigma" as well. But especially "An Officer and a Spy" which centers on the Dreyfus Affair but in a very fresh manner, imho. Give it a look if you haven't read it.

[MickAK]

This might be getting out of hand...

https://www.amazon.com/Bacalao-Salte.../dp/B000LRKOXA

You can make your own considerably cheaper than that, if you're so inclined.

[jetfire]

The Stand by Stephen King


Appropriate for 2020

CBS adapted it to a TV show too that either just started airing or is airing soon