For a swashbuckler character in English read something like Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser.

Such a good game. I'm not much of a gamer but the story really sucked me in.

There are always exceptions. It tends to be more universally true for books written originally in English. For translation the translator can choose a more modern style and vocabulary than a contemporary English speaking author would have used.

I don't know the Hoover books. I read a lot as a young teen, but including Jean Auel books with explicit sex scenes and mostly it worked out fine. The two exceptions I can think of, the Godfather and Aztec had content I really wasn't ready for, but I survived the experience. I would look closely at reviews of the books and make sure there isn't something truly disturbing in them.

People mean different things when they say a great read. Any book from before the 20th century is going to be slow. But people still appreciate paintings even though we now have television. The stories can be worth the effort.

But for classic novels I would start with something shorter like the death of Ivan Ilyich

At one time I was super into the Deverry books by Kerr.

Thanks for your perspective. Carson's Silent Spring appeared just a little later in 1962. The 20s produced both Dorothy Day and the Great Gatsby. There is a wide range of cultural icons and goals in every generation. But yes, selfish individualism has been a trend in American literature and philosophy from Ayn Rand to Bonfire of the Vanities. I agree with your analysis of the book but not that it is especially Boomer to be that way.

Can you tell me where I can find out more about Stoker's sexuality?

The Japanese got love for doing this. The Moroccans should be praised too.

I'm still not visiting Morocco though. That's travel on hard mode.

My best ever selection also includes Death of Ivan Ilyich, Animal Farm, 1984, Death of a Salesman, Count of Monte Cristo

r/printsf does really good tailored recommendations if you explain what books you have liked.

Seth Castle Underwater Dogs

All Quiet on the western front, Wharton a Son at the Front, McMeek July 1914.

Any book from that time period has long descriptions. The only visual art they had was painting and sculpture. Readers had time on their hands.

Glad you enjoyed the story.

I hate Goodreads. I am content with the 8 or so book related subreddits, but have heard good things about Storygraph.

I haven't read him, but I am in love with the Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

If you are having problems with attention I suggest reading the book Stolen Focus by Johan Hari. Thank you for highlighting Carver. I will look into him.

Read it. Thank you. Also if it's the same book, I was not ready for some of that Aztec religion. This was before Google was a thing and I didn't think to check an encyclopedia. Well done book but brutal and shocking.

Suggest you go over to r/suggestmeabook and search their archives for some of the many threads listing favorite short stories.

Edit my personal favorites are Nightfall by Asimov, to Build a Fire by London, BD 11 1 86 by Oates, the Mysterious Stranger by Twain and anything by Edgar Allan Poe

Thank you for your perspective. I had one moment when what the main character did broke immersion for me, and I'm like yeah no you would be dead doing that. But I got back into the story. It isn't the best book ever, but a lot of it was fascinating.

I already know Cadillac Desert. Thanks for mentioning Water worth fighting for

I had to do a little digging on Amazon to find the kindle version but it exists and I downloaded it.

I think it had a couple of maps but otherwise not much.