My Favorite Books (Fiction)

Last year I made a list of my favorite personal development books. This time I would like to share with you my favorite books of fiction. This list is by no means complete as I am a very avid reader, but this list should give you some good tips of you if want to try out a new writer or a new book.

I have tried to categorize the books, but some books are not that easily labeled. If you would like to read more about the books, just follow the links to Amazon.com.

• Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy [science fiction / comedy]- Great fun, even when you are not into Science Fiction.
• Dan Brown – Angels and Demons [thriller] – This was the first Dan Brown book I’ve read. A real page turner.
• Steven Brust – The Book of Jhereg [fantasy] – My introduction to the world of Vlad Taltos. This collection includes the first three published books.Another great book by Steven Brust is To Reign in Hell, about the struggle between God and Satan prior to the creation of Earth.
• Jim Butcher – Storm Front [fantasy/detective] – The Harry Dresden books are detective stories with fantasy elements. Fun to read.
• Jonathan Carroll – White Apples [fantasy] – One of my favorite writers, so it is hard to pick one book. All of his books are well worth reading. This is not fantasy as in dragons, medieval settings, et cetera. Most of his books are about ordinary characters experiencing weird things. Highly recommended!
• Harlan Coben – Gone For Good [thriller] – A twist at the end of every chapter, this is the ultimate page turner. Harlan Coben’s series about Myron Bolitar are also great to read – good stories with great humor. Start with the first book in the series – Deal Breaker.
• Michael Connelly – The Black Echo [thriller] – I read this book at a time when I thought that reading police thrillers was not something I was interested in anymore. This book changed my mind. The Black Echo is the first book in the Harry Bosch series.
• John Connolly – Every Dead Thing [thriller] – His books about Charlie “Bird” Parker are not always easy to read, but are most rewarding. The mood is dark and that is how I like it.
• David Czuchlewski – The Muse Asylum [literature] – Like Jonathan Carroll this author can change your view on how you look at the world.
• Umberto Eco – Foucault’s Pendulum [literature] – One of my favorite books. This book references about anything esoteric, gnostic and occult you can think of.
• Raymond E. Feist – Magician [fantasy] – Classic fantasy. This book is sometimes published as two parts: Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master.
• Neil Gaiman – American Gods [fantasy] – What would happen if the old gods of European mythology were still alive and living in America? This great book won several awards. Neverwhere is also highly recommended.
• Terry Goodkind – Wizard’s First Rule [fantasy] – This is the first book in the classic series The Sword of Truth. The TV series Legend of the Seeker is loosely based upon this series.
• John Grisham – The Rainmaker [thriller] – There was I time when I read just about everything John Grisham wrote. This was by far my favorite book.
• Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time [literature] – The world seen through eyes of an autistic child. Highly recommended.
• Daniel Hecht – Skull Session [thriller] – Like John Connolly his books are not always that easy to read, but very rewarding. This is one of my favorite books.
• Tami Hoag – Ashes to Ashes [thriller] – Real page turner. If you like this one, you can also read the next book in this series – Dust to Dust.
• Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Apprentice [fantasy] – The first book in one of my favorite fantasy series. This is one of the books I always recommend when people ask me for fantasy book tips.
• Stephen King – The Stand [fantasy] – This is by far the best book I have read by Stephen King. Make sure you read the extended version.
• Dean Koontz – Odd Thomas [fantasy] – The first book in the series about Odd Thomas and also the best in the series. Horror, fantasy and great humor.
• Stieg Larsson – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo [thriller] – The first book in the Millennium trilogy. I will not tell you to also read the other two books. When you have finished this book, you will immediately go out and get The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
• Sergei Lukyanenko – The Night Watch [fantasy] – This great book (the first in a series of books) by this Russian author has also been made into a great movie.
• Mankell, Henning – Faceless Killers [thriller] – The first book in the series about Kurt Wallander. Recommended if you like police/detective stories.
• George R.R. Martin – A Game of Thrones [fantasy] – My favorite fantasy series. This is epic fantasy at the highest quality.
• James Patterson – Kiss the Girls [thriller] – A real page turner. The book has more twists than the movie.
• Terry Pratchett – Small Gods [fantasy] – All books in the Discworld series are recommended. This is one of my favorites. Great combination of fine storytelling, fantasy and a lot of humor.
• Preston & Child – Brimstone [thriller] – All Preston & Child books are recommended, but my favorites are the ones with Special Agent Pendergast. This book is my favorite, but you might like to start with the first book in the series – Relic.
• Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials [fantasy] – The first book in this series has been made into a movie – The Golden Compass. The books have so much more to offer compared to the movie. Highly recommended.
• Anne Rice – Interview With the Vampire [fantasy] – I read this book after I watched the movie. From then on I read most of the other books in this series. If you don’t mind some controversial reading, try out Memnoch the Devil where the vampire Lestat meets Jesus and the Devil.
• Patrick Rothfuss – The Name of the Wind [fantasy] – Probably my favorite book of the last few years. Too bad the second book in this series has not yet been published.
• J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [fantasy] – The Harry Potter books are not just for children and young adults. This series has now been completed so you can find out what happens to Harry without having to wait until the last movie has been made.
• Donna Tartt – The Secret History [thriller] – One of my favorite books of all time.
• J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings [fantasy] – No introduction needed, I think. Classic fantasy and highly recommended.
• Carlos Ruiz Zafón – The Shadow of the Wind [literature] – One of the best books of the last ten years. I have not read The Angel’s Game yet, but that one is on my wish list.

Let me know what your favorite books are.

Gerber