Peter Steinberg's Favorite Novels
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
shelved under
Personal Favorites and
Fiction
Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stegner
I first read this book in the Summer of 1990 — it was recommended by the owner of the bookstore where I worked. I think I went back and re-read one more time but ever since, I've been afraid to re-read it... what happens if it doesn't live up to my memories how amazing it was??
Run with the Horsemen
by Ferrol Sams
This book, and the second in the trilogy, tell the story of a very, very bright boy growing up on a family farm in rural Georgia during the Great Depression.
While it started a little slow — I recall questioning the book for about 50 pages — it soon picked up and then held my attention straight through for all 1,000+ pages of the trilogy. As an added bonus, it's not only one of my favorite books of all time, it's also one of the funniest books I've ever read.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by Michael Chabon
Three of the major sub-currents running through this book are New York City, the comic book industry of the 1940s and Judaism.
Being a Jewish life-long fan of comic books who lives in New York City... well the book was more or less written just for me.
It would be selfish of me not to share it with you though — it's an excellent, Pulitzer-prize winning book. Extremely well-developed characters, a great love story, a pretty big surprise a good way through... and I don't know how Chabon does it, but somehow he gives the entire tone of the book that sort of broad-shouldered, thugs and dames, Tracy/Hepburn movie feel.
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
Jessi W. from Michigan says:
Despite the somewhat controversial subject (abortion vs. adoption), this book shows the deep love and affection people can have for one another, and the lengths they will go to prove that love. It's a charming story that everyone should read.
I've read all of Irving's books after reading "...Owen Meany" in high school and falling in love with it, but I think "The Cider House Rules" is my favorite.
P.S. I've been know to quote "Goodnight my Princes of Maine, my Kings of New England" — to which I usually get strange looks!
Youngblood Hawke
by Herman Wouk
I recently described this book as "a big hot mess of a novel". Set in New York City during the glamorous post-war mid 20th century, it's the story of a wildly popular young new author. Sort of a Hemingway meets... Wouk? Regardless of plot, it's a page-turner that will keep you up until the wee hours.
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Stacy from Dallas,TX says:
If you've ever felt like the underdog, you know Ender. If you've ever been the guy pummeling the underdog, you will get to know an Ender someday (and that means you're toast). Ender's Game is THE underdog story about a young boy ripped from his home and sent to military school to fight an enemy he doesn't really know. All he does know is the enemy in the next bunk is almost as dangerous as the one he's being trained to fight.
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
S. K. Edman from Manassas, VA says:
The prose is lovely, and manages to be lush and crystal clear at the same time. The story is at times hilarious and at others heartbreaking; Helprin is a master at locating private tragedy within the context of public history and drawing out the connection between the two. I was reading a book the other day in which the main character, suddenly drawn into a civil war after her marriage, realizes that the problem with recorded histories is that they do not answer the question of what happens to people's babies. Helprin does, and does it beautifully.
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime.
more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life
Peter Steinberg's Favorite Novels
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
shelved under
Personal Favorites and
Fiction
Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stegner
I first read this book in the Summer of 1990 — it was recommended by the owner of the bookstore where I worked. I think I went back and re-read one more time but ever since, I've been afraid to re-read it... what happens if it doesn't live up to my memories how amazing it was??
Run with the Horsemen
by Ferrol Sams
This book, and the second in the trilogy, tell the story of a very, very bright boy growing up on a family farm in rural Georgia during the Great Depression.
While it started a little slow — I recall questioning the book for about 50 pages — it soon picked up and then held my attention straight through for all 1,000+ pages of the trilogy. As an added bonus, it's not only one of my favorite books of all time, it's also one of the funniest books I've ever read.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by Michael Chabon
Three of the major sub-currents running through this book are New York City, the comic book industry of the 1940s and Judaism.
Being a Jewish life-long fan of comic books who lives in New York City... well the book was more or less written just for me.
It would be selfish of me not to share it with you though — it's an excellent, Pulitzer-prize winning book. Extremely well-developed characters, a great love story, a pretty big surprise a good way through... and I don't know how Chabon does it, but somehow he gives the entire tone of the book that sort of broad-shouldered, thugs and dames, Tracy/Hepburn movie feel.
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
Jessi W. from Michigan says:
Despite the somewhat controversial subject (abortion vs. adoption), this book shows the deep love and affection people can have for one another, and the lengths they will go to prove that love. It's a charming story that everyone should read.
I've read all of Irving's books after reading "...Owen Meany" in high school and falling in love with it, but I think "The Cider House Rules" is my favorite.
P.S. I've been know to quote "Goodnight my Princes of Maine, my Kings of New England" — to which I usually get strange looks!
Youngblood Hawke
by Herman Wouk
I recently described this book as "a big hot mess of a novel". Set in New York City during the glamorous post-war mid 20th century, it's the story of a wildly popular young new author. Sort of a Hemingway meets... Wouk? Regardless of plot, it's a page-turner that will keep you up until the wee hours.
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Stacy from Dallas,TX says:
If you've ever felt like the underdog, you know Ender. If you've ever been the guy pummeling the underdog, you will get to know an Ender someday (and that means you're toast). Ender's Game is THE underdog story about a young boy ripped from his home and sent to military school to fight an enemy he doesn't really know. All he does know is the enemy in the next bunk is almost as dangerous as the one he's being trained to fight.
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
S. K. Edman from Manassas, VA says:
The prose is lovely, and manages to be lush and crystal clear at the same time. The story is at times hilarious and at others heartbreaking; Helprin is a master at locating private tragedy within the context of public history and drawing out the connection between the two. I was reading a book the other day in which the main character, suddenly drawn into a civil war after her marriage, realizes that the problem with recorded histories is that they do not answer the question of what happens to people's babies. Helprin does, and does it beautifully.
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime.
more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life
Peter Steinberg's Favorite Novels
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stegner
I first read this book in the Summer of 1990 — it was recommended by the owner of the bookstore where I worked. I think I went back and re-read one more time but ever since, I've been afraid to re-read it... what happens if it doesn't live up to my memories how amazing it was??
Run with the Horsemen
by Ferrol Sams
This book, and the second in the trilogy, tell the story of a very, very bright boy growing up on a family farm in rural Georgia during the Great Depression.
While it started a little slow — I recall questioning the book for about 50 pages — it soon picked up and then held my attention straight through for all 1,000+ pages of the trilogy. As an added bonus, it's not only one of my favorite books of all time, it's also one of the funniest books I've ever read.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by Michael Chabon
Three of the major sub-currents running through this book are New York City, the comic book industry of the 1940s and Judaism. Being a Jewish life-long fan of comic books who lives in New York City... well the book was more or less written just for me. It would be selfish of me not to share it with you though — it's an excellent, Pulitzer-prize winning book. Extremely well-developed characters, a great love story, a pretty big surprise a good way through... and I don't know how Chabon does it, but somehow he gives the entire tone of the book that sort of broad-shouldered, thugs and dames, Tracy/Hepburn movie feel.
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
Jessi W. from Michigan says:
Youngblood Hawke
by Herman Wouk
I recently described this book as "a big hot mess of a novel". Set in New York City during the glamorous post-war mid 20th century, it's the story of a wildly popular young new author. Sort of a Hemingway meets... Wouk? Regardless of plot, it's a page-turner that will keep you up until the wee hours.
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Stacy from Dallas,TX says:
If you've ever felt like the underdog, you know Ender. If you've ever been the guy pummeling the underdog, you will get to know an Ender someday (and that means you're toast). Ender's Game is THE underdog story about a young boy ripped from his home and sent to military school to fight an enemy he doesn't really know. All he does know is the enemy in the next bunk is almost as dangerous as the one he's being trained to fight.
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
S. K. Edman from Manassas, VA says:
The prose is lovely, and manages to be lush and crystal clear at the same time. The story is at times hilarious and at others heartbreaking; Helprin is a master at locating private tragedy within the context of public history and drawing out the connection between the two. I was reading a book the other day in which the main character, suddenly drawn into a civil war after her marriage, realizes that the problem with recorded histories is that they do not answer the question of what happens to people's babies. Helprin does, and does it beautifully.
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life