I don't like mesquite, but that's just a personal taste, nothing wrong with it. Actually more than anything I'm just a die hard fan of hickory. If no hickory just plain oak.
And ain't nothing wrong with lighter fluid either. You don't need to soak it down like most people do I put a little on a small pile then when its going good I add more charcoal....now, their way with a starter is better, but don't let them tell you the fluid is a NO NO and your neighbors are laughing at you. That ain't why they laughing at you.