|
Book challenge
Okay, I need help finding a book.
I have a friend, he's a guy, 18, and he's super smart but he doesn't like to read. I want to change that, because I think he would love reading if he found the right book. He'll read non-fiction, but that's about it. I love fiction novels, and I think he would too if he gave them a chance.
So i'm looking for a novel thats:
1. Not too long... preferably not longer than 400 pages.
2. FICTION
3. In the history or mystery genre... preferably both.
4. Award winner or finalist. (Not necessary, but those are usually the really good books.)
I want something that will make him love fiction, so any ideas would be wonderful and much appreciated.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Random Weirdos?
There's a lot out there in historical fiction and mystery. You might want to try him out on Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels or John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books, especially "The Green Ripper". The writing is very spare and stripped down, and very very good.
I'd also recommend Caleb Carr's "The Alienist": a serial-killer novel set in 1890s New York City. Lots of historical detail, good characters, and solid writing.
There's an excellent Spanish writer named Arturo Perez Reverte: his works are available in English, and they deal a lot with history and literature. He's written a series of pulp adventure novels set in 1650s Spain and Holland. The first one is "Captain Alatriste", and it totally rocks.
Finally, check out Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother". It's about a teenage kid in San Francisco who gets picked up by Homeland Security after terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge. It's funny in some parts, sad in others, and it makes you think hard. Lots of tech stuff that you can do yourself. You can download a free copy at www.craphound.com.
All these authors have won major awards in their fields, and they're just plain good.
]
The Chosen by Chaim Potock.
]
I would suggest I am Legend by Richard Matheson (it was like 600x better than the movie) or Button, Button (and other stories) also by Matheson (this is a short story collection). Button, Button is a great short story (only a handful of pages long) whose plot got completely obliterated by the movie : i'd say it's definitely worth reading.
A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler is also a great book. The author won the Pulitzer for this; it's a short story collection about Vietnamese immigrants in the US after the Vietnam war. This is pretty deep stuff but it's AMAZINGLY written; the author's american but when you read the book you don't think that at all - you truly believe a vietnamese man or woman is speakign to you.
Or how about Watchmen if he's into graphic novels?
]
Have him try a Lisa Scottoline book. I have only read one (Daddy's Girl) but it was a quick and easy read. Quite a page-turner too, so I think one of them would be a good fit.
Dean Koontz is a fantastic author. All of his books are great, so I would definitely suggest any of them. Try James Patterson too.
Good luck :)
]
More Questions: |