Best Books for Fathers Day 2015

Dear BookBrowsers,

As we know, Dads come in all stripes. There are the ones who anoint themselves King Of the Grill and flaunt their culinary skills with their barbecue magic, some others who find nothing more refreshing than a day out on the golf course, and yet others who use Father's Day as a free pass to tinker away in their workshops. Most Dads we know are a combination of all of these, but best of all are the ones who love to get absorbed in a good book. Keeping every kind of father in mind, we have culled ten intelligent recommendations to make his day extra special. And if you're a Dad, Happy Father's Day! Hope it is filled with happy times with family -- and great reading.

Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed by John F. Ross Paperback May 2015. 416 pages. Published by St. Martin's Griffin Dad can execute loops and rolls all without leaving the creature comforts of his cozy hammock. The daredevil adventures of one of America's greatest aviation and racing enthusiasts is brought to vivid life in this hang-on-to-the-edge-of-your-seat narrative. Overcoming life handicaps and accusations of being a German spy, this lover of machines and all-American hero went on to earn the Medal of Honor for his enduring courage. More info

A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre Paperback May 2015. 384 pages. Published by Broadway Books A snake in the grass would hardly begin to adequately describe Kim Philby, a master spy who headed British counterintelligence efforts all while working secretly for the Russians. He also managed to win the trust of his professional equivalent at the CIA rendering his eventual betrayal that much more nefarious. That his close friends refused to leave his side right until the sordid end makes this true story truly devastating. More info

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan Paperback Apr 2015. 352 pages. Published by Vintage Exploring an infrequently visited region where World War II played out, this Man Booker prize winner is set on the Thailand-Burma border where an Australian surgeon discovers essential life truths while interned in a Japanese POW camp. Moving back and forth between its WWII setting and contemporary Australia, this BookBrowse favorite is an affecting portrayal of human frailties juxtapositioned against a larger canvas. More info

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides Paperback May 2015. 496 pages. Published by Anchor Books Hot where you are? Dad can cool off with this daring expedition to the ends of the earth. The vivid details of this Gilded Age endeavor to chart the last unmapped region of the planet will satisfy even the most adventurous man. Imagine being marooned a thousand miles north of Siberia with only the barest of supplies. Yup, this is one survival story that will give Dad the shivers. What's more, it is a BookBrowse favorite. More info

The Bone Clocks: A Novel by David Mitchell Paperback Jun 16, 2015. 656 pages. Published by Random House Granted David Mitchell is not everyone's cup of tea but if Dad has never read any of the brilliant writer's work, this would be the perfect entry point. Traveling across time and other dimensions, all while delivering gorgeous, tightly knit prose, this is one heck of a roller coaster ride that he's sure to love. It just might prompt him to dive into the author's impressive backlist or wait for Slade House, Mitchell's upcoming fall release.. More info

The Storm Murders: The Storm Murders Trilogy (Volume 1) by John Farrow Hardcover May 2015. 320 pages. Published by Minotaur Books With so many books dealing with severe weather, a whole new crop of "cli-fi" (climate fiction) books have been making their mark. Add this first of an anticipated trilogy to the list. Things look very suspicious to the Canadian Hercule Poirot when two people are found dead in an abandoned farm house after a massive blizzard -- and no tracks can be found either to or away from the house. Full of twists and turns to keep even the diehard conspiracy theorists satisfied. More info

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese Hardcover May 2015. 256 pages. Published by Milkweed Editions A fractured father-son relationship and the efforts of a dying father to salvage what remains of it, might sound like the basis for a depressing story but this profoundly moving novel elevates the plot with plenty of nuance. Woven with Native American traditions and gifted storytelling, this is a book that is sure to be a winner not just with Dad but with anyone who respects the value of meaningful relationships.. More info

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen Hardcover Apr 2015. 384 pages. Published by Grove Press The Fall of Saigon, which just marked its fortieth anniversary this April, forms the anchor for this mesmerizing debut by the son of Vietnamese immigrants. In nuanced prose, richly loaded with atmospheric detail, we see not just the unraveling of the American plan in the Southeast Asian country but the ripple effects of a long-ago war on the Vietnamese diaspora even in our times. Destined to be a contemporary classic and a valuable addition to literature about one of America's most defining wars. More info

The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures by William deBuys Hardcover Mar 2015. 368 pages. Published by Little Brown & Company If Dad needs a staycation, look no further than this travelogue that transports the reader to the lush jungles of Southeast Asia, to the Laos-Cambodian border in search of the elusive saola. Saturated with descriptions of the stifling humidity and the many splendors of nature, this is a perfect read for a lazy summer afternoon. Just be sure to add a large pitcher of iced lemonade. More info

Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral by Mary Doria Russell Hardcover Mar 2015. 592 pages. Published by Ecco A deeply divided nation. A shamelessly partisan media. A President despised by half the populace. Sound familiar? Aah, but this lively Western is set in the America of 1881. Revisiting the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the dry desert plains of Arizona, this is a fine work of historical fiction you will want to lasso for all lovers of Westerns or simply a well-spun tale. More info