I recently read an article online about 5 different reading types that people fall into. While it was a good article, I found it to be limiting and I seemed to fall into more than 1 category. So here I’m giving 14 different reading types (and I’m limiting myself here) and recommending some books for each type. Let me know what you think.
Conspiracy Theorist
In your world, the government is controlled by Big Business, successful people are members of underground organizations and even your preacher has ulterior motives to his pulpit messages. You’re not in need of medication, you just like a good mystery and these reads will leave you with plenty.
Vertical Run by Joseph R. Garber (!995) (A Fave of Mine) David Elliot is a former Vietnam Veteran turned successful business man who is going about his rigidly routine day when suddenly he finds that people are out to kill him. Dave uses his old military skills to host a siege in his own high-rise office building until he can figure out why these people are after him. The question is: Is this really happening? Or has Dave gone off the deep end thanks to inevitable flashbacks from his Vietnam days?
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1962) Although not one of Anthony Burgess’s favorite works, this is a world classic. Fifteen year old Alex is leader of a violent gang of boys. They are criminals and commit assaults, rapes and burglaries on their fellow townspeople. The state, in an effort to stop the violence, subject Alex to controversial experiments in order to rid him of his violent tendencies. Now eighteen, Alex is returned to society where he feels lost in his old world and laments his youthful self. Alex is no longer a violent criminal, but at what cost?
American Conspiracies by Jesse Ventura and Dick Russell (2010) You may have heard of government cover-ups for things such as 9/11, the JFK assassination and the “too big to fail” bailouts. Jesse Ventura explores these conspiracies and more to see if there is a difference between what the government actually knows and what the media is releasing to the public. Warning, you may end up with even more questions after you finish this read.
The Series Reader
You like to take your time getting to know the characters in a story and will to read book after book in order to keep the characters and their stories alive as long as possible.
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (2007 – 2010) A series of 7 books, we follow the orphan Harry Potter from his first year as a new student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to his defeat of The Dark Lord. Every book is one more year of school in which Harry deals with his muggle family’s antics, survives his final exams and once more thwarts Lord Voldemort from coming to absolute power.
Lust Money & Murder by Mike Wells (2010) Elaine Brogan is a super-hot Secret Service Agent who seeks revenge for a counterfeiting ring that lead her father to commit suicide inside a prison after he was caught passing counterfeit notes to a bank in Pittsburg. Elaine may be beautiful, but she’s an enemy to be reckoned with. After being thrown to the lions, Elaine has to choose whether she will join the counterfeiting ring and lead a life of luxury or work on the inside to bring it down once and for all. And with even more novels promised in this series, Mike Wells will keep you wanting more and more.
The North and South Trilogy by John Jakes (1982 – 1987) (A Fave of Mine) This historical series of books follows the Hazard family, an industrial family who owns a steel mill in the North and the Mains, a plantation owning family of South Carolina as their friend is torn apart thanks to a Civil War that puts the Confederates of the South against the Unions of the North. Bonus: Jakes actually created a 4th novel as a spin-off from the series called On Secret Service (2000) which chronicles the birth of the American Secret Service organization.
The Escape Artist
Life is stressful and you yearn to use entertaining and engrossing stories to create an escape from your normally mundane life. Each of these novels have some element of fantasy in order to take you from the world you know now to a place and time you would never even dream of.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (1950 – 1956) (A Fave of Mine) A total of 7 books, C.S. Lewis wrote this series to showcase in chronological order the interactions that his London-based characters have to the parallel world of Narnia, a mythical place ruled over the God-like figure Aslan who appears in the form of a lion. Each book offers stories of adventure, magic and a true good vs. evil story.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954 – 1955) (A Fave of Mine) Middle Earth is being threatened. The Eye of Sauron in Mordor is seeking the most powerful of 7 rings that was part of an ancient legend of times when Men, Elves and Dwarves fought together to defeat their common enemy. Frodo, by way of his Uncle Bilbo, has unwittingly taken possession of the ring and now must do something that Hobbits never do – leave the Shire and face mortal danger in order to destroy a power that is stronger than he may be. Frodo will need to rely on the assistance of his friends, Men, Elves, Dwarves and Wizards. Bonus: Tolkien got so caught up in this story line he created maps, history and a language for each of the different creatures represented.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (1997) Jon Krakauer takes us on his journey from Katmandu to the perilous summit of Mt. Everest during one of the deadliest seasons in which climbing legends would fall victim to the unpredictable weather of the tallest mountain in the world. FYI, Jon provides footnotes, maps and pictures to assist readers, but if you are unfamiliar with climbing lingo and procedures you may do well to keep a dictionary handy during your read.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844) Edmond Dantes is young French sailor from Marseilles, during the detainment of Napoleon, who has everything going for him – a promotion at work, a beautiful girl and wealthy and powerful best friend. When he is betrayed by his best friend and sent to Chataeau d’If as a political prisoner he vows to seek revenge to whomever is responsible. His daring escape from the prison isle is just the beginning of his adventures as he returns to Paris laden with gold as the Count of Monte Cristo in order to eliminate those responsible for his capture and imprisonment. As unlikely as it seems, this thrilling story is actually a romance story.
The World Traveler
You may be a world traveler and therefore enjoy reading novels about the places you’ve been or you may long to travel and therefore read about places you wish you could visit. Either way, these reads are for you.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) Amir and Hassan couldn’t be more different. Amir is the son of a successful Afghani business man and Hassan is the bastard son of his father’s servant. Amir is artsy and enjoys writing stories. Hassan is naturally athletic and brave. And both boys, growing up in the same house during the Afghanistan Revolution and the Russian Invasion, are best friends. In the years before the Revolution these boys are local legends in their kite fighting and kite running abilities, but a betrayal on Amir’s part drives the boys apart and forces them to separate. Eventually Amir and his father seek political asylum in the U.S. After learning the truth of Hassan’s parentage, Amir risks his life by returning to Afghanistan to save the life of Hassan’s only son.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1868) An apprentice if Victorian England, Pip suddenly finds himself very wealthy thanks to the death of a wealthy benefactor. He moves to London in order to pursue a life amongst the upper class and his “great expectations.” However, through his interactions with the wealthy upper class characters in the novel, Pip discovers his true identity, and it wasn’t what he had hoped for.
The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato (2008) The descendant of one of the famous glassblowers of Murano from the 1680’s, Leonora moves from London to Venice, Italy in order to become a glassblower on the island of Murano. Though she understands the controversy her gender creates for her there, Nora is determined to earn the respect of her colleagues. But does her ancestral past on this island make it impossible?
Dirt Bags by Teresa McWhirter (2007) Spider invites us into the underside of Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada as she befriends an unlikely group of young Canadians whose only goal in life is to keep the party going. But will Spider survive her young adulthood when the party becomes a drug-induced and consuming nightmare? This novel offers a rare look at a part of this big city that tourists never see.
Historian
World War II, the American Civil War and the American Revolution are just a few of your favorite subjects to read on. These historic novels will offer you an entertaining yet educational look at some of your favorite places and times in history.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (2011) Erik Larsson brings to life the story of William E. Dodd, America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany, using excerpts from letters written to and from Dodd and the diary entries of him and those of his family members. While initially charmed and pleased by the efforts of the Nazi Regime, Dodd finds that things are slowly becoming a diplomatic nightmare for him and his Allied Ambassadors.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (1974) (A Fave of Mine) No one has done more for bringing the stories of the American Civil War to life for those of us now living than Michael Shaara and his son. This story concentrates on the Battle of Gettysburg, the battle that changed the war, and focuses on characters from both sides of the line. You’ll read accounts of soldiers from both sides, from Generals to foot soldiers. Shaara offers maps of battle tactics and troop placement in order to assist the reader in understanding what is taking place.
Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein (2011) Lisa Klein attempts to answer the question of what may have happened to the first colonists in Virginia, known as the Lost Colony of Roanoke. She follows the story of a fictitious character, Lady Catherine, who is sent to the New World as punishment from Queen Elizabeth for winning the heart of her favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh. Cate becomes a savior for the colony as they run out of supplies, are attacked by enemy natives and face societal controversies. Will they give us their civilized ways and live as savages in order to survive?
The Jester by James Patterson & Andrew Gross (2003) Loosely based on The Crusades of the Catholic Church in the 11th Century, this is the story of Hugh De Luc, a French Inn Keeper, who returns from the Crusade to find his wife and son have been murdered. He seeks revenge on the one he believes responsible, his region’s Lord, by posing as a Court Jester. As he infiltrates the castle of his sworn enemy Hugh learns that everything is not as it seems. Now Hugh must fight for the freedom of his people as well as to find the true identity of the one who lead to the death of his wife and son.
Did I mention a reading group who you think you belong to? If not, stay tuned as I’ve got two more posts coming soon.
