And Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

 

To date, this is the only book by this author. If I see her name on anything else, I will definitely check it out. This is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in my longish life as an avid reader.

The story is set during World War II, and on two hemispheres. The author handles this challenge flawlessly. Truthfully, I am cautious about reading WWII stories. But this one humanizes everyone and creates a fascinating look into what must have been a desperate and uncertain time for so many throughout the world.

This book is a joyful read, not because of any lack of seriousness, but because it is a well told story, and the time spent within the pages is quite honestly riveting.

Stuart Woods: Stone Barrington, Holly Barker, Will Lee, etc

Stuart Woods is frivolous, totally frivolous. If you take yourself at all seriously, you will not want to read his work and you will certainly not want to admit it in erudite company. However, if you are looking for light reading, he is just the ticket. He has written several series, but they overlap quite a bit. The most voluminous of these is the Stone Barrington series. 
 

Exotic foods, expensive wines, luxurious travel, and extravagantly tailored clothing are part of the fantasy formula for the Woods stories. Hollywood movie stars and wealthy producers also add to the overall embarrassment of riches. Realism plays no visible part in these books, so if you read for escape, Woods’ books are the perfect exit from reality. The women are all athletic, trim and perpetually in their 30's, while the men range into 50's and 60's. The stunningly gorgeous females fling themselves at the middle-aged and elderly men with abandon - possibly the most fantastical feature of the stories.

Woods’ plots are a blend of Boxcar Children, James Bond and Murder, She Wrote with a little sprinkling of West Wing. These books are television for people who would rather read than watch TV. There are no loud commercials and you can get up for a snack or a drink whenever it suits you. They are technically mystery/detective/crime stories, in the same way that Scooby Doo is a mystery/detective/crime series.  

And just when you think you know people, you discover this!

Woods first book was a masterpiece. This book is in the same league with To Kill a Mockingbird, seriously. This portrayal of old Georgia, written in 1981, is a gem. Chiefs is set in three separate time periods: 1920's, post WWII, and early 1960's. It got enough attention to warrant a TV mini-series in 1982.

Frivolity or good literature, take your pick. 

Kingsolver

Poison wood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a great book. I read some lukewarm reviews, but I cannot think of a reasonable criticism for this book. It is a terrific story, creatively done, and the fact that Kingsolver had parents who were missionaries lends the book a quality of authenticity.

Red Tent

Red Tent by Anita Diamant
An excellent work of fiction done by a Biblical scholar, who used her vast knowledge to construct an Old Testament story from a feminine perspective. It receives good reviews from all quarters. She has written another book called Good Harbor, which is about friendship in middle America between two women.

Historical Fiction

The Far Pavilions by Mary Margaret Kaye
This one book doesn't actually comprise a category, but it does rather stand in a class by itself. I have read some historical fiction, but nothing quite like this. It's very long, (even longer than Michener) but it offers a very good look at the history and culture of India. It is one of the best things I've read.