Other than Fantasy and Science-Fiction, another genre that I often delve into is Historical Fiction. And one of my favorite authors in this genre is Edward Rutherfurd. Think James Michener from a British perspective. In some respects I like Rutherfurd's writing more simply because of the fact that the subject matter is more akin to what I'm interested in, namely the history of England and the areas surrounding England. I have always been a bit of an Anglophile, so Rutherfurd's books are right in my wheelhouse. Sarum is fantastic and gives you a glimpse of the area of Salisbury through the years from prehistoric times to modern day. We see such historical events as The Roman occupation, The Saxon Invasion, The building of the Salisbury Cathedral, WWII, etc... all through the eyes of the various families involved. I recommend Rutherfurd's stuff without hesitation. It's not dry textbook type of history, it's fun, light, and most of the time you don't even realize you are being given a history lesson because the story is so entertaining. Loved it.