Recommend me some books.

[PsychiatricCase]

I like reading classics such as Sherlock Holmes, which has mostly no mention of bedroom matters or romance, which is why I like them. I do not venture out to read books that are otherwise. I'm a religious Roman Catholic so do not want to read books that are anti-religion either. I love short stories mostly, but do not mind novels if they are sophisticated and very good. I like many genres, including detective fiction, speculative fiction, sci-fi, comedy like Wodehouse (though I found some parts offensive), etc.

I've been recommended Solar Pons series, though the August Derleth books are currently out of stock in most stores here in India. I've already read Father Brown, and look forward to reading the spec fic by Tim Powers. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Billi]

I can only offer you a general advice (but it's a good one!).

You could visit the "Book club" subsection here and browse the monthly book nomination threads of both of the two book clubs. There you will find a wealth of good books to keep you entertained for some time.

[Luffy]

May I suggest some very well known books, notably almost all the output of Agatha Christie.

[Angst]

The Father Brown series by G. K. Chesterton.

[Luffy]

You could read Sherlock Holmes stories written by modern writers, like Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Series by Laurie R. King.

[Rbneader]

Andre Norton's books are good sci-fi / fantasy. You can get several for free from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/7021 and many others from Baen.

Seconding Agatha Christie for mysteries, particularly her Miss Marple books. Also, Dorothy Sayers wrote good murder mysteries.

Timothy Zahn writes good action / adventure. His Star Wars series is probably best known and excellent. I also liked The Icarus Hunt.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by Luffy

May I suggest some very well known books, notably almost all the output of Agatha Christie.

+1
I was gonna suggest the same thing.

[crich70]

John Buchan's Richard Haney books, Earl Derr Bigger's Charlie Chan books and Anne Katherine Green's Mystery books all come to mind as far as older Mystery & Detective books. They should all be available here at MR as well.

[gwhite]

Originally Posted by PsychiatricCase

I like reading classics such as Sherlock Holmes, which has mostly no mention of bedroom matters or romance, which is why I like them. I do not venture out to read books that are otherwise. I'm a religious Roman Catholic so do not want to read books that are anti-religion either.

Now with respect, I find the above puzzling in the extreme in that for me at least one of the most important aspects of reading is to find views which challenge my own and hopefully change my existing prejudices. After all, someone once said that the truly educated person is one who has some idea of how much they don't know, and I agree with that definition. For me, the purpose of reading is to give me some insight into the mind and the experiences of others, experiences that I would otherwise be denied. It is such insights which will increase my ability to empathise with others in much more difficult positions than myself and I see this as a good thing.

That said, each to his/her own I suppose.

[crossi]

Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton series (but only the 5 written by him). A very funny and sweet cozy mystery series.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by gwhite

Now with respect, I find the above puzzling in the extreme in that for me at least one of the most important aspects of reading is to find views which challenge my own and hopefully change my existing prejudices. After all, someone once said that the truly educated person is one who has some idea of how much they don't know, and I agree with that definition. For me, the purpose of reading is to give me some insight into the mind and the experiences of others, experiences that I would otherwise be denied. It is such insights which will increase my ability to empathise with others in much more difficult positions than myself and I see this as a good thing.

That said, each to his/her own I suppose.

Your'e right. To each his own.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by gwhite

Now with respect, I find the above puzzling in the extreme in that for me at least one of the most important aspects of reading is to find views which challenge my own and hopefully change my existing prejudices. After all, someone once said that the truly educated person is one who has some idea of how much they don't know, and I agree with that definition. For me, the purpose of reading is to give me some insight into the mind and the experiences of others, experiences that I would otherwise be denied. It is such insights which will increase my ability to empathise with others in much more difficult positions than myself and I see this as a good thing.

That said, each to his/her own I suppose.

I think that idea goes back to the ancient Greeks. i.e. "the wisest man is the one who admits he knows nothing." Quite a bit different from the mentality of the world today where every 'expert' claims to know exactly what should be done in situation x. And of course those who point out how little the experts do know are rarely appreciated. Just ask Socrates. He made a life work out of asking questions which exposed how little the wise men of his day knew about things they claimed to be experts in and he ended by being served a cup of hemlock. That said we can't really debate topics relating to religion in this forum. That's what Politics and religion is for.

[gwhite]

Originally Posted by crich70

I think that idea goes back to the ancient Greeks. i.e. "the wisest man is the one who admits he knows nothing." Quite a bit different from the mentality of the world today where every 'expert' claims to know exactly what should be done in situation x. And of course those who point out how little the experts do know are rarely appreciated. Just ask Socrates. He made a life work out of asking questions which exposed how little the wise men of his day knew about things they claimed to be experts in and he ended by being served a cup of hemlock. That said we can't really debate topics relating to religion in this forum. That's what Politics and religion is for.

Heaven forfend.

But where is there any mention of religion in this thread other than the OP?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by gwhite

Heaven forfend.

But where is there any mention of religion in this thread other than the OP?

I only meant that such topics as what is truth etc. often take that turn at one point or another.

[Catlady]

It bothers me that the OP's reasonable preference for books that are not anti-religion seems somehow to have been interpreted as evidence of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

All of us have preferences and dislikes in our reading.