Hey, let me recommend your favorite books

Cafe Society
1

I work at a bookstore and I’m in a rut. I recommend the same the same books over and over. I’ve sold mountains of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Soldier of the Great War, The Daily Show’s America, Regeneration, Rebecca, Preston/Child thrillers and the His Dark Materials books. I need some new fodder for the reading masses.

So, pretend you’re standing on your feet for hours on end making nearly nothing, surrounded by all your favorite books. Here are some genuine questions from the last few weeks. What would you suggest to the customer who says…[ol]
[li]My teenage son loves science fiction, but I don’t have any idea what he’s read.[/li][li]I’m looking for something light.[/li][li]I want a good historical novel. I don’t care about when or where.[/li][li]My daughter needs a book by a British author for her 11th grade English class (she goes to _______ Christian Academy, so no naughty bits)[/li][li]My son (age 12) has to read a biography.[/li][li]You know of any good mysteries?[/li][li]I want to send some books to my brother. In jail.[/li][li](…and the depressingly popular) recommend a book for my kid who never reads.[/li][/ol]

FTR, my staff choice is immutable.

2

I don’t read much that’s light, and I don’t read biographies, but here ya go on some of the others:

Science fiction for a teenager – Ilium by Dan Simmons – it’s new enough that he might not have read it, and it’s a great adventure story with lots of new concepts and characters

A good historical – get them started on the War of the Roses with Katherine by Anya Seton or The Sunne in Splendor by Sharon Kay Penman

Mysteries – I don’t read regular mysteries, but I really like Boris Akunin’s historical mysteries, and at least two have been translated to English

For the brother in jail, I’ve loaned books to folks being cared for by the county – Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and the first Song of Ice and Fire book – A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. Both will make you forget your troubles.

For the kid who never reads, Swords for Hire by Will Allan – funny, short, easy, a good first step to grown-up fantasy

3

Teen SciFi- Any Ray Bradbury story collection. Ayn Rand’s ANTHEM
Light- Jan Karon’s AT HOME IN MITFORD
Historical- PONTIUS PILATE by Paul L. Maier
British 11th Grade- (depends on how cool the C’tian Academy is) C.S. Lewis OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET, PERELANDRA, THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH or THE GREAT DIVORCE or TILL WE HAVE FACES
Mysteries- Sherlock Holmes
Brother in Jail- any of the above or below
Non-reading Kid- C.S. Lewis THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
I don’t know any 12yo boy Bios tho I’d recommend ones on a President, Douglas MacArthur, CS Lewis, St Francis of Assisi, Frederick Douglas or Booker T. Washington

4
  1. The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov. Even if the boy has already read these, Asimov is considered the gold standard of sf, so a hardback copy of his best work is a welcome addition to any sf nut’s library.

2 or 8. Terry Pratchett, if you think they can handle satirical and irreverent humor. He is also the best observer of human nature writing today.

Good luck!

5

For something light, I’d recommend Sue Grafton or Janet Evanovich. Funny, light, quick reads. They both have done series (serieses?) that are good; Evanovich’s is better, IMO.

I always recommend Ken Follett or Nelson DeMille or Jeffrey Archer for mystery/thriller type of books.

Anite Shreve and Jodi Picoult write good depressing stuff. Sort of in Chick-Lit type of stuff.
A. Manette Ansay is in that category, too.

For kids, I’d recommend The Spiderwick Chronicles (blanking on the author) or the Captain Underpants series. My 8-year-old loves them.
Holes is also good. It’s by Louis Sachar.

6

The answer to every catagory but #5 is Terry Pratchett! :smiley:

7

What a cool thread, koeeoaddi!

1- Sci-fi for a teenaged boy: Definitely Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. LeGuin’s Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are great, too, though I’m not sure how appealing they’d be to the average teenaged boy.

2- Light: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Charming and interesting, but not too serious.

3- Historical novels: I can’t recommend Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey-Maturin series highly enough. They’re set in the British Navy during the early 1800s. Wonderful adventure stories with fascinating characters and great dry humor. The first book in the series is Master and Commander.

4- British author for an 11th grader: Any British author? Watership Down is by a Brit, right? It’s an excellent book with no naughty bits, though since it’s about rabbits, the teacher might not take it seriously. I really liked Pride and Prejudice when I was in the 11th grade, but I might be an anomaly.

5- Huh.

6- Good mysteries: I love Laurie King’s contemporary (Kate Martinelli) and historical (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes) mysteries. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with Dorothy Sayers.

7- Brother in jail: American Gods by Neil Gaiman has an ex-con as the main character, plus it’s a great read.

8- Book for the kid who never reads: Holes by Lewis Sachaar. One of the best YA novels I’ve ever read.

8

That’s what I suggested, burundi, but mom nixed it because she thought it was “too hard.” She went home with Rebecca, but Watership Down would have been a great choice. So would the The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, now that you mention it.

You’ll be all set as soon as someone steps up to the plate and writes a Pterry biography. I’m amazed there isn’t one yet.

I didn’t suggest Atonement for the jail guy, but it did occur to me. :slight_smile:

The Dispossessed, Out of the Silent Planet, Captain Underpants, Master and Commander, Janet Evanovich, The Foundation Trilogy – great suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

9

  1. If he really, really, loves SF but you’re not sure what he’s read, give him something not in the genre but about it – e.g., Trillion Year Spree: The History of Science Fiction, by Poul Anderson and David Wingrove (Atheneum 1986); The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World, by Thomas M. Disch (Free Press, 2000); Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerors by L. Sprague de Camp (short bios of fantasy writers and their work; might be out of print, but worth tracking down).

  2. A Buffy novelization. (Unless “light” in this case requires no sex or violence, in which case I don’t know what to tell you and I’m glad of that. :smiley: )

  3. Mary Renault’s novels about ancient Greece (they span every period from the age of Theseus to the period after Alexander). And there’s some great stuff about ancient Rome available now: If you want a put in a lot of time reading huge tomes, try Colleen McCullough’s “Masters of Rome” novels, covering Roman war and politics from the time of Gaius Marius to the ascendancy of Octavian. If you want something shorter and more entertaining, any of several several series of “detectives in togas” novels and stories, by John Maddox Roberts (the “SPQR” novels), Stephen Saylor (the “Gordianus the Finder” books), and Lindsey Davis (the “Marcus Didius Falco” stories).

  4. Anything 19th Century is safe. Thackeray, Dickens, Austen, Bronte . . . I’d recommend Thackeray, either Vanity Fair or Barry Lyndon. Heck, even if you get into the early 20th Century, there are no “naughty bits” in P.G. Wodehouse and he’s a really fun read! :slight_smile: If you want something meaningful instead of (definitely instead of) fun, try George Orwell. I’ve never encountered graphic sex in any of his novels except for 1984. Or just go with Pratchett, can’t go wrong with Pratchett – if that’s acceptably serious for an 11th-grade English paper. Then again, although there’s no explicit sex (only hints and allegations) in Pratchett, there is a lot of wrestling with serious spiritual themes (e.g., Small Gods), which might or might not be acceptable at this school.

  5. See 3. Or try any of Margaret Truman’s “Capital Crimes” novels, set in Washington, DC.

  6. Leaving aside obvious choices like King’s “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” I’d need to know more about you’re brother’s interests, and whether there’s anything he really wants but can’t find in the prison library.

  7. If the kid’s a boy over 12, Penthouse Letters. One of the paperback collections with no pictures. He’ll start reading, all right! And exercising his imagination, too! :smiley:

10

FriarTed writes:

> I don’t know any 12yo boy Bios tho I’d recommend ones on a President,
> Douglas MacArthur, CS Lewis, St Francis of Assisi, Frederick Douglas or Booker T.
> Washington

There are no good biographies of C. S. Lewis suitable for a 12-year-old. The adult biographies are O.K., but not great. It looks like it’s going to be a while yet before we get a definitive biography of Lewis.

11

I find it remarkable that nobody has mentioned the historical novels of the Shaaras (father and son). Rise to Rebellion covers the beginnings of the Revolutionary War, a good place to start.

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[li]My teenage son loves science fiction, but I don’t have any idea what he’s read.[/li]Young teen - Heinlein’s juvies. Older teen - Asimov.

[li]I’m looking for something light.[/li]Maeve Binchey

[li]I want a good historical novel. I don’t care about when or where.[/li]Gore Vidal’s american series, starting with “Burr”

[li]My daughter needs a book by a British author for her 11th grade English class (she goes to _______ Christian Academy, so no naughty bits)[/li]Agatha Christie :slight_smile:

[li]You know of any good mysteries?[/li]John Dickson Carr. I don’t know how many are in print, but he’s brilliant, especially with locked rooms, and has great characters.

[li]I want to send some books to my brother. In jail.[/li]Another vote for “American Gods”

[li](…and the depressingly popular) recommend a book for my kid who never reads.[/li]Graphic novels? Gaiman again :cool:

13
  1. James Blish’s Cities in Flight has just been reissued. What teen could resist wrapping a Spindizzy field around Scranton Pennsylvania, blasting into space, and travelling past the end of time?
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[li]My teenage son loves science fiction, but I don’t have any idea what he’s read.[/li]
He definitely hasn’t read “The Speed of Dark” by Elizabeth Moon. If he’s mature for his age, he may like it. Another one a teenage boy is more likely to enjoy is “1632” by Eric Flint. As far as short stories go, find a collection that has “Why I Left Harry’s All Night Hamburgers” by Lawrence Watt-Evans. The main character is a teenage boy.

[li]I’m looking for something light.[/li]
“Flavor of the Month” by Olivia Goldsmith. If they’re into crotch novels, “Love Wild and Fair” by Bertrice Small actually has a plot and LOTS of words.

[li]I want a good historical novel. I don’t care about when or where.[/li]
This one’s a gimme. The Colleen McCullough series about ancient Rome! And even though the books are linked, they also stand alone. I suggest starting with “Caeser’s Women” even though it’s #4 in the series.

[li]My son (age 12) has to read a biography.[/li]
Hmm. Well, what are 12 year old boys into? Explosions, right? Why not a biography about J. Robert Oppenheimer or anyone else who helped create the bomb (Fermi, Szliard, etc.)?

[li]You know of any good mysteries?[/li]
Tell them to start with “Ritual Bath” by Faye Kellerman. It’s the first in her Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series and they’re all fantastic.

[li]I want to send some books to my brother. In jail.[/li]
“The Testament” by John Grisham. It’s about redemption. Grisham’s good in general, his books are quick reads and most are in paperback. Any Jonathan Kellerman (yes, Faye’s husband) would be good as well if the brother’s into mysteries. “The Bone Collector” by Jeffrey Deaver is disturbing but good. If the brother is a religious sort (or wants to be), I highly recommend “Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyer, however anything she writes is great. Also pretty much anything by TD Jakes, he writes a lot of stuff concerning men and he is extremely realistic about being a Christian in today’s world.

On the lighter side, anything by Dave Barry or Lewis Grizzard (sigh I miss him and Catfish). Also never underestimate the value of a good old fashioned Far Side, Dilbert, or Peanuts collection.

[li](…and the depressingly popular) recommend a book for my kid who never reads.[/li]
The Anastasia Krupnik books by Lois Lowry would be good for a girl aged 7-11. Christopher Pike’s stuff is also good; of his, “Remember Me” was my favorite.

15
  1. My teenage son loves science fiction, but I don’t have any idea what he’s read.

How about going back to some old Asmiov? Caves of Steel would be good; what’s the chance that a teenager now has read that?

  1. I’m looking for something light.

David Brin’s The Practice Effect is good light sci-fi, maybe some Pratchett would also do (Night Watch was excellent and a very easy read).

  1. I want a good historical novel. I don’t care about when or where.

The Girl with the Pearl Earring was surprisingly good & captivating.

  1. My daughter needs a book by a British author for her 11th grade English class (she goes to _______ Christian Academy, so no naughty bits)

Again, Pratchett. Maybe Small Gods would be appropriate given her background (NO… joking… actual Christians might be offended. Bad wevets! Bad!). Monstrous Regiment, Pyramids; these would be safer choices.

  1. My son (age 12) has to read a biography.

Biography for a 12 year old? Eeek… I was about to suggest Truman or American Ceasar, but I don’t think those will fly with most 12 year olds.

  1. You know of any good mysteries?

Not really my cup of tea, but they’ve recently printed a collection of the Lord Darcy stories by Randall Garrett.

  1. I want to send some books to my brother. In jail.

I second the nomination of American Gods. Plus sending as much Pratchett as possible would be good, but unfortunately they’re quick reads.

  1. (…and the depressingly popular) recommend a book for my kid who never reads.

How about Neil Gaiman’s The Books of Magic collected miniseries in paperback… don’t confuse it with the later Books of Magic books by Vess. It’s better to start with the beginning.

16

My teenage son loves science fiction, but I don’t have any idea what he’s read.

Second the recommendation for Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Would also recommend the Robert Asprin ‘Myth’ series, any of the Lord Of The Rings books, Caves of Steel and Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov, and if you can find them, the ElfQuest graphic novels (more fantasy than sci-fi, but every kid I know gets into these.) Harry Harrison’s Eden series.

I’m looking for something light.

Janet Evanovich, for sure. Also - James Herriot, Robert Fulghum, Dave Barry, Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiassen. For light romance, Teresa Medieros, Jill Barnett. Contemporary light - Marian Keyes.

I want a good historical novel. I don’t care about when or where.

Outlander by Diana Gabladon (book one of a series). Any of Anne Perry’s “Charlotte & Thomas Pitt” mysteries. Charles Todd’s “Inspector Ian Rutledge” mysteries. A lot of Maeve Binchy’s books are set in Ireland in the 50s-70s.

My daughter needs a book by a British author for her 11th grade English class (she goes to _______ Christian Academy, so no naughty bits)

No help here, sorry! Always go back to the classics for good Brits, though. Or James Herriot.

My son (age 12) has to read a biography.

Can’t go wrong with sports or music figures. If you need historical, go for war heroes - for some reason, every 12-year old boy I know is really into WWII.

You know of any good mysteries?

LOADS! The aforementioned Anne Perry books, Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series, J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) “In Death” series, M.C. Beaton’s Hamish MacBeth series. Caleb Carr’s The Alienist (its follow-up, The Angel of Death is not as good.) Elizabeth Peters’ “Amelia Peabody” books.

I want to send some books to my brother. In jail.

Terry Pratchett, Elmore Leonard.

(…and the depressingly popular) recommend a book for my kid who never reads.

Already finished the Harry Potters that are out? OK, then, how about the Time Warp Trio, Artemis Fowl, Captain Underpants, Junie B. Jones, Babysitters’ Club - all depending on age, of course. The teenage set is into vampires, and Lois Lowry. Books based on TV shows they know and love are all over the place, too - Charmed, Mary-Kate & Ashley, Alias, CSI, Buffy, etc. Again, choose by age range. Animal books - a kid who is into horses (see: girls, aged 8-12) would probably like Marguerite Henry. There’s a whole series of books that I THINK are called Animal Ark - Puppies On The Porch, Kittens in the Kitchen, etc. The Dear America series, and its companion series, which I think is called American Diaries.

17

Teenage Boy + Science Fiction = Robert Heinlein.

Try one of these:

Citizen of the Galaxy
Have Space Suit - Will Travel
Starman Jones
Time for the Stars
The Rolling Stones
Podkayne of Mars
Tunnel in the Sky
Farmer in the Sky
The Star Beast
*

If he’s an older teen, any of the above plus:
*
Double Star
Starship Troopers
The Door into Summer
The Puppet Masters
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
*

If you’re looking for something light, I recommend any of the ‘juveniles’ at the top. The bottom books are also very easy and enjoyable reads, but they cover more expansive issues or delve into characters more deeply.

18
  1. Then don’t buy him any - he’s probably read most of what I’d recommend. Get him a gift card.
  2. e by Matt Beaumont - quick read, clever, and silly.
  3. If it’s a guy, the Flashman series by George Macdonald Fraser.
  4. I’ve gotten into Christopher Brookmyre recently - he kind of Hiaasenesque, if you like that.
  5. Anything, really.
  6. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
19

Hee hee!

I remember working in a bookstore, about 15 years ago.

“Do you have Possession?” “Sorry, it’s on back-order.”
“Do you have Bridges of Madison County?” “Sorry, it’s on back-order.”

My favorite was the guy who came in looking for gift for his girlfriend. After a good minute of probing, the only clue he could offer us as to her tastes was: “She likes to read.”

I forget what we gave him, but it was somthing that wasn’t flying off the shelves at the time.

20

I also forgot to ask:

How’s your coverless paperback book collection coming along, koeeoaddi?