tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post802252395849320583..comments2024-03-29T02:44:01.604-07:00Comments on Musings of a Bookish Kitty: Sunday Salon: What Would You Recommend to a New Reader?Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-92166579877589598632009-02-14T23:24:00.000-08:002009-02-14T23:24:00.000-08:00Carrie K. - That must mean it was meant to be. :-...<B>Carrie K.</B> - That must mean it was meant to be. :-) Thank you for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Eliza</B> - I hope you do get your rain! He just might enjoy a thriller. Something fast paced. My husband isn't too keen on thrillers, but he does like mysteries, so I may go that route too. Thanks for your input!<BR/><BR/><B>Kay</B> - Grisham is a good one. And Ludlum's books, although I haven't tried himself yet. I do like Dean Koontz. Thanks for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Nikki</B> - That's a good idea! And you are definitely right; Ken Follett has written quite a variety of books. Thanks for the idea!<BR/><BR/><B>Amanda</B> - My husband can be rather picky too. Thank you for the recommendation!<BR/><BR/><B>Tara</B> - I really like Jon Krakauer's writing, and my friend might too. Thanks for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Mariel</B> - Something like that would probably capture his interest. Thanks for the recommendations!Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-22759265529893795802009-02-14T23:23:00.000-08:002009-02-14T23:23:00.000-08:00Lynne - I've read one of Steve Kluger's books and ...<B>Lynne</B> - I've read one of Steve Kluger's books and enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation.<BR/><BR/><B>Megan</B> - Dean Koontz would be a good one for him to try. I've read a couple of his books myself and I really liked them. Stephen King is another good option. Thanks for the recommendations.<BR/><BR/><B>Staci</B> - You're in the perfect position to make book recommendations! I imagine it can be hit or miss sometimes. I find that to be true with my husband now and then. He's rather picky about what he likes and doesn't like, sometimes surprising me. Thanks for your recommendations! I will be giving him my recommendations this next week. Hopefully he'll discover a love for reading. :-)<BR/><BR/><B>Cecilia</B> - Catch-22 is a good one. I hadn't heard of the Richard Hooker book, but it sounds like something that he might like. Thanks for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Booklogged</B> - It would be interesting to know if the student in your high school class still reads, I agree. Dean Koontz would be a good one to try. Thank you for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Teabird</B> - That does sound like a good one! Thanks for the recommendation.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-67066297580943713492009-02-14T23:16:00.000-08:002009-02-14T23:16:00.000-08:00Trish - Thanks for the recommendation!Samantha - W...<B>Trish</B> - Thanks for the recommendation!<BR/><BR/><B>Samantha</B> - We'll find him something. :-) I don't think it's a matter of not finding something that interests him, rather just his lack of interest in reading at all over the years. <BR/><BR/><B>N. vasillis</B> - I hadn't thought of Dave Sedaris. That's a great idea! Thank you too for your other recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Mangomissives</B> - I hope you are able to find something your husband might enjoy. <BR/><BR/><B>Jen</B> - He isn't really into movies, I'm afraid, although he does like some of the older ones.<BR/><BR/><B>Bryan</B> - Thank you for your input. I'm fairly certain one of the books I recommend will be Things That They Carried. It seems to be a popular choice. :-)Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-43184725385413081622009-02-14T23:03:00.000-08:002009-02-14T23:03:00.000-08:00Dar - How neat! I am glad your father is enjoying...<B>Dar</B> - How neat! I am glad your father is enjoying Steinbeck's of Mice and Men. And thank you for the reading ideas for my friend! I have been thinking he might enjoy a war story. I know my own father enjoys those kinds of books (and quite a few others as well).<BR/><BR/><B>Suey</B> - I hadn't thought of that one! Thanks for the recommendation.<BR/><BR/><B>Sandy</B> - And I don't want to recommend something to him that will turn him off of reading. It can be challenging. Thanks for the recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Suzanne</B> - Thank you for the recommendations! I actually have a copy of Whistling Season on my shelf. I could loan him my copy. :-)<BR/><BR/><B>Nymeth</B> - Douglas Adams' books are good! And although I haven't read Terry Pratchett before, I imagine Good Omens is quite funny. Both great recommendations. Thanks!<BR/><BR/><B>Lezlie</B> - Those both sound good! Thanks for the recommendations.<BR/><BR/><B>Priscilla</B> - I think he might like The Things They Carried. I'm pretty sure that will be one of my recommendations to him. Thank you too for the baseball related recommendations!<BR/><BR/><B>Kristy</B> - It is difficult coming up with books I think he might enjoy. It's so easy with my husband and father since they both like to read and I am familiar with their reading tastes. Thanks for the ideas!Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-7405810324460216272009-02-10T05:19:00.000-08:002009-02-10T05:19:00.000-08:00I'm thinking a really entertaining and gripping th...I'm thinking a really entertaining and gripping thriller would be good. Something to really sweep him up. I used to read a lot of Tom Clancy and Jack Higgins when I was younger and went through a no reading phase! They helped.marielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00153519657364894012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-34394891037531753022009-02-09T14:39:00.000-08:002009-02-09T14:39:00.000-08:00For some reason the book Everest by Jon Krakaur co...For some reason the book Everest by Jon Krakaur comes to mind. Since it's a man, I'm thinking nonfiction, but a real pageturner. If I had any clue, I'd suggest something sports related. My husband enjoyed Dick Schaap's autobiography (sports guy).Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208766776468157501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-56518431769855482352009-02-09T10:02:00.000-08:002009-02-09T10:02:00.000-08:00Well my husband has been critical of every book I'...Well my husband has been critical of every book I've lent him except The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver. He LOVES that one and recommends it to everyone.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-4421936626664532852009-02-08T23:21:00.000-08:002009-02-08T23:21:00.000-08:00Maybe something by Ken Follett? He has a wide var...Maybe something by Ken Follett? He has a wide variety of books.<BR/><BR/>I love reading during a rainstorm while my husband is still asleep, too. It's almost perfect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853980637566992330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-6942216528341201682009-02-08T22:01:00.000-08:002009-02-08T22:01:00.000-08:00I think the early Grishams, especially THE FIRM wo...I think the early Grishams, especially THE FIRM would be a good recommendation. Also, the Bourne books by Robert Ludlum or even the Lee Child books (my husband really likes those). Dean Koontz recently had one with a dog in it, written after his own dog died I think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-49993156748648868492009-02-08T21:40:00.000-08:002009-02-08T21:40:00.000-08:00I just wrote about wanting it to rain so badly :)I...I just wrote about wanting it to rain so badly :)<BR/><BR/>I like the Slumdog movie, it's nice but not as good as the hype. Hope you liked it (I guess it must be Sunday night there, I am not sure).<BR/><BR/>I am really bad at recommendations. But I think any good thriller work best with guys, something with more of a plot than just beautiful writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-78911551054707926992009-02-08T21:10:00.000-08:002009-02-08T21:10:00.000-08:00The Things They Carried was the first book that ca...The Things They Carried was the first book that came to my mind, too. In spite of the fact that parts of it are based on O'Brien's experiences in Vietnam, it is actually a work of fiction.<BR/><BR/>My dad loves adventure stories, and Clive Cussler and Douglas Preston are two of his favorite authors. They're fairly light reading and draw you right into the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-12266141313709628052009-02-08T20:26:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:26:00.000-08:00I'd suggest Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Go...I'd suggest Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin. She writes so engagingly about her childhood as a Dodger fan - everyone I know, male and female, has enjoyed it!teabirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789062795176641187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-53319567377130250752009-02-08T19:28:00.000-08:002009-02-08T19:28:00.000-08:00I suggested Dean Koontz to a male student in my hi...I suggested Dean Koontz to a male student in my high school study skills class. He read two. During the 2nd he said to me that he knew what I was doing; that I was trying to make a reader out of him but that it wouldn't work. I wonder today if he ever picks up a book. Speaking of Dean Koontz, my husband loves the Odd Thomas series.<BR/><BR/>A book that was suggested to me was Mort by Terry Pratchett. Great storyline with some really good humor. <BR/><BR/>An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg is an excellent book that he may like.<BR/><BR/>I think it's great that he's seen you and his daughter reading and feels the desire to stick his nose in a book. I wish him well.Bookloggedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00651016653247142255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-15272249731633048222009-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:002009-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:00I was thinking Catch-22 by Joseph Heller or M*A*S*...I was thinking Catch-22 by Joseph Heller or M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker if he's a war veteran with a sense of humor. They're both pretty entertaining :)<BR/><BR/>If he wants something serious and literary but still with war themes, I really enjoyed All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.<BR/><BR/>ceciliaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17446862423234144625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-77104370100848561332009-02-08T16:57:00.000-08:002009-02-08T16:57:00.000-08:00Have you ever inspired someone to try his or her h...Have you ever inspired someone to try his or her hand at reading? I am always trying on a daily basis due to my job as the librarian at my son's middle school. Some days I can hit a home run while other days I totally strike out. But I shake the dust off and go back out to bat the next day. I have had kids tell me that they loved the book I told them about so much that they stayed up way past bedtime to finish it. And when they come back to me looking for more help...that totally makes me feel like I've done my job!!<BR/><BR/> Recommended a book that got someone hooked? Oh yeah, I have all sorts of kids who are addicted to Tamora Pierce, D.J. MacHale, Joseph Delaney, Meg Cabot, Shannon Hale, Anthony Horowitz, Gary Paulsen, my list could go on forever...<BR/><BR/>I find that I have a much easier time recommending books to 5th-8th grade than I do for adults but I noticed where one of your commenters suggested The Things They Carried and that sounds like a winner, Carl Hiassen's books are pretty fun reading, and John Grisham's early stuff is great. Make sure you let us know what you eventually decided upon and what he thought about it when he was finished!!Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-27902372409827703272009-02-08T16:45:00.000-08:002009-02-08T16:45:00.000-08:00I'm generally not great at recommending books to p...I'm generally not great at recommending books to people who aren't much into reading, but I can tell you what the "not big readers" in my life generally like. My dad is hooked on Dean Koontz's <I>Odd Thomas</I> series. He doesn't read too much, but he's always after me to read this series. They totally suck him in, and he reads them *fast* even when the TV is on! So - if you think the fast-moving thriller type thing might do the trick, I'd definitely think about trying those. Oh and Dean Koontz loves dogs, and they can usually be found playing big roles in his stories - not sure that is the case with the <I>Odd</I> books, but it's quite likely! <BR/><BR/>One of my best friends is not much of a reader, but she got hooked on books full of Stephen King's short stories (i.e. <I>Skeleton Crew</I> or <I>Everything's Eventual</I>, and I wonder if short stories might seem less daunting to someone who hasn't read a whole book in quite some time....<BR/><BR/>Anyhow, hope you find something he'll like. Let us know how it goes! =)Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07751131767729086158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-21947604565395629202009-02-08T16:27:00.000-08:002009-02-08T16:27:00.000-08:00Since he's a baseball fan with a great sense of hu...Since he's a baseball fan with a great sense of humor, I bet he'd like<BR/>LAST DAYS OF SUMMER by Steve Kluger. Great book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-60849510549075693002009-02-08T15:43:00.000-08:002009-02-08T15:43:00.000-08:00I was going to weigh in earlier, but wow, I'm behi...I was going to weigh in earlier, but wow, I'm behind. I concur with many of the choices, especially the O'Brien (Things That They Carried) of which I've only heard good things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-82575050397230448212009-02-08T15:35:00.000-08:002009-02-08T15:35:00.000-08:00My mom was a non-reader most of my life but I fina...My mom was a non-reader most of my life but I finally got her hooked a couple of years ago. Just find out what his favorite movies are or favorite movie genre. That's what I did.Ladytink_534https://www.blogger.com/profile/14317480621483829078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-56115139383498040782009-02-08T15:18:00.000-08:002009-02-08T15:18:00.000-08:00My husband who is not a reader recently asked me t...My husband who is not a reader recently asked me to pick out a book to get him started. I've been trying to decide. Great to read people's suggestions!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-25277212440280164602009-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:002009-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00This is hard! What bout Dave Sedaris because he ha...This is hard! What bout Dave Sedaris because he has a sense of humor or Stephen King or Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck or The Grapes of Wrath? Good luck. Please tell us what happens.Vasillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08463689838763126048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-66898739839756334452009-02-08T13:23:00.000-08:002009-02-08T13:23:00.000-08:00I hope he is able to find a book. It seems a sham...I hope he is able to find a book. It seems a shame that he can't find anything that really interests him. I've been planning on reading Woman in White but after reading your thoughts I'll have to remember that it moves slowly. Enjoy your movie :)samantha.1020https://www.blogger.com/profile/04124614710493747821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-64006818707358795102009-02-08T13:22:00.000-08:002009-02-08T13:22:00.000-08:00I read somewhere that men seem to really enjoy Lon...I read somewhere that men seem to really enjoy Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. Might be worth checking out.trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688001590373132381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-70098842750942504362009-02-08T13:18:00.000-08:002009-02-08T13:18:00.000-08:00I can't wait to see what you think of the movie, e...I can't wait to see what you think of the movie, especially after reading the book. As far as your co-worker, men non-readers are so hard. I perused my shelves and all I can think of is Cormac McCarthy or Brad Meltzer. I haven't read Meltzer yet, but my boss likes Meltzer, but my brother would be more drawn to McCarthy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-53581589008126194752009-02-08T12:41:00.000-08:002009-02-08T12:41:00.000-08:00For non-fiction, I agree with the other commenters...For non-fiction, I agree with the other commenters: "The Things They Carried" is a great pick.<BR/><BR/>If he loves baseball, Frederick Exley's "A Fan's Notes" is a good place to start. He may also enjoy Richard Ford's "Independence Day."priscillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252116621503597519noreply@blogger.com