# Suggestions for my next read-aloud book? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365 "2005-09-06T16:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/1 "2005-09-06T16:57:56Z")
When my now-husband and I started dating, I started reading aloud to him. Almost seven years later, I’ve read fourteen novels out loud. Not that many considering how long it’s been, but four hundred page books take a lot of time. We both enjoy it. I like to read or recite aloud, and he likes to listen, usually while doing chainmail or playing computer games. So far, we’ve read _Deerskin, The Blue Sword_ and _Spindle’s End_, by Robin McKinley, the whole _Anne_ series, _The Lantern Bearers_, by Rosemary Sutcliff, _Beauty_, by Sheri S. Tepper, and _Paradises Lost_ and _The Telling_, by Ursula K. Le Guin. He’s read me Milton’s _Paradise Lost_ and _Peace Like A River_, by Leif Enger. I’m trying to decide what to read next. I’ve thought about Discworld novels, or maybe the _Little House_ series, _Pride and Prejudice_, or something by Michael Ende, but I’m undecided. What books do you think would be good read aloud? Does anyone else read aloud to their spouses/kids/SOs? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/2 "2005-09-06T17:09:07Z")
I read aloud to my spouse, and we usually opt for humor, since the reading session usually isn’t very long. We’ve had good luck with Janet Evanovich’s books about bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum, and Donald Westlake’s crime capers (very funny.) ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/3 "2005-09-06T17:39:26Z")
We read aloud all the time. My kids and I take parts and do Shakespeare plays, so perhaps we aren’t the best ones to ask \. We find it’s best to have books that aren’t too intense–otherwise people cheat and read ahead. This happened when we tried Harry Potter books and Tom Clancey novels. \*\*Jane Austin \*\* is fun because of all the conversations–I’d recommend Persuason. We also really enjoyed reading \*\*Ann McCaffrey’s \*\* dragonriders of Pern books aloud–probably start with the Harper Hall Trilogy. At Christmas we always read Charles Dickens’ **A Christmas Carol** , but we’ve tried other books of his and get bogged down. Also for Christmas time, Barbara Robinson’s \*\*The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/4 "2005-09-06T17:42:30Z")
We read to the kids every night. (Well, my daughter generally reads on her own, but she usually hangs around for younger brother’s session.) We just finished _The Half-Blood Prince_. Pratchett would be fun, of course, or maybe something by Douglas Adams. My husband used to read to me when I was pregnant. It was a good way to relax before bed. We did _The Iliad_ and _The Odyssey_ and Seamu Heany’s translation of _Beowulf_, among other things. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/5 "2005-09-06T17:44:10Z")
Seamu_s_ Heany, that is. The poet, not the whale. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/6 "2005-09-06T18:49:20Z")
Ooh, Seamus Heaney’s translation is fantastic. I’ve thought of Bill Bryson- he’s fun and chatty. Or maybe the _Mary Russell_ series, by Laurie King. Keep the suggestions coming! ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/7 "2005-09-06T22:47:28Z")
[The Golden Gate](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394549740/qid=1126047267/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/002-3929779-3362447?v=glance&s=books) by Vikram Seth. A novel about people in San Francisco, written in the form of 690 sonnets. I read this to my wife during a long car trip many years ago, and we found it intriguing and sometimes funny and touching. A beautiful book. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/8 "2005-09-07T18:34:26Z")
Vikram Seth? That sounds interesting. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/9 "2005-09-07T22:02:38Z")
[The Princess Bride](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/034543014X/qid=1126131014/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2317710-6527116?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by S. Morgenstern. I read this aloud once for the benefit of the car on a long road trip. Of course it was difficult to avoid going into a Peter Falk impression 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/10 "2005-09-07T23:02:18Z")
The _Outlander_ series by Diana Gabaldon. A romance-time travel told in the first person (for the most part). Very funny, very well-written, and there’s a big ol’ redheaded Scotsman in a kilt. Plus the love scenes, while graphic, aren’t the typical “throbbing manhood” type crap. They’re written with humor and love and tenderness and passion. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/11 "2005-09-08T00:44:31Z")
My husband reads to me. My favorite was probably “Charlotte’s Web.” He’s also read me “Enemy Mine,” quite a lot of Asimov, some Victorian erotica (that was fun!), Seuss, Milne, and an author whose name I simply can’t remember–a humorist who writes about things like hunting and fishing and who wrote a story about putting a live deer on a bicycle. Help! ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/12 "2005-09-08T01:54:30Z")
Huh. I’ll ask Mr. Lissar if he’s read _Charlotte’s Web_. He’s heard most of the _Outlander_ series aloud already, in sections. The usual response is, 'You’re reading those damn books _again_?" 😃 The new one’s coming out this month! Yay! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/13 "2005-09-08T01:59:07Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > Huh. I’ll ask Mr. Lissar if he’s read _Charlotte’s Web_. My husband couldn’t read the end without more than a bit of a hitch in his voice, though, which kinda set me off. I’m a cryer. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/14 "2005-09-08T03:17:14Z")
We both sobbed when Matthew died in _Anne of Green Gables_. And when Ruby died in _Anne of the Island_. And when Anne’s baby died. I am a sucker for tearjerk moments, but he cried all the way through FOtR (the movie), so I think I’m very slightly less sappy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/15 "2005-09-08T08:14:11Z")
My boyfriend just gave me his copies of the George R. R. Martin series: Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. There’s another one coming out soon, as well. They are really long (~800 page). I’m still on the first one, but they are compeling. We talk about them every few nights. I think he’s tapping his foot for me to finish so we can debate them more fully. The discworld books are okay, but I prefered Good Omens. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/16 "2005-09-08T08:30:54Z")
I don’t really have any suggestions, other than seconding what’s already been proposed… hang on… OK: _Good Omens_ by Pratchett/Gaiman… anyway… have you considered recording your readings? If you were to pick some public domain work and record yourself reading it, with minimal editing, it could be released as a free audio book (or you could charge for it, I suppose). I’d be happy to handle the editing if you have the means to produce a fair-quality original recording. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/17 "2005-09-08T14:24:19Z")
how about one of Jean Shepherd’s books of short stories… it may break up the usual process of reading an entire novel by reading one story in a sitting… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/18 "2005-09-08T14:37:55Z")
Hey, I do this with Mrs M. We’ve done most of the Discworld series, including one or two re-reads, plus Good Omens; most of Dudley Pope’s “Ramage” series; The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; some George MacDonald Fraser; The Mote In God’s Eye; From Out Of The Silent Planet (of course); A Christmas Carol. Can’t remember what else, but I think there have been one or two others - we’ve had about 12 years. We just read Charlie And The Chocolate Factory to our six-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/19 "2005-09-08T14:44:22Z")
I used to read to my ex-wife to put her to sleep. The book I remember best was A B Facey’s _A Fortunate life_. No doubt it will be harder to find outside Australia but here is a brief review: 'A Fortunate Life’ is the extraordinary tale of an ordinary man. It is the story of Albert (A.B.) Facey, who lived with simple honesty, compassion and courage. An orphan who started work at the age of eight on the rough West Australian frontier, he struggled as an itinerant rural worker and survived the gore of Gallipoli, the loss of his farm in the depression, the death of his son in World War II and that of his beloved wife after sixty years of devotion. And yet he believed he had lived a fortunate life! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365/20 "2005-09-08T14:49:33Z")
I used to read to my ex-wife to put her to sleep. The book I remember best was A B Facey’s _A Fortunate life_. No doubt it will be harder to find outside Australia but here is a brief review: 'A Fortunate Life’ is the extraordinary tale of an ordinary man. It is the story of Albert (A.B.) Facey, who lived with simple honesty, compassion and courage. An orphan who started work at the age of eight on the rough West Australian frontier, he struggled as an itinerant rural worker and survived the gore of Gallipoli, the loss of his farm in the depression, the death of his son in World War II and that of his beloved wife after sixty years of devotion. And yet he believed he had lived a fortunate life! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-my-next-read-aloud-book/320365.md?page=2)