The one book everyone should read?!?

I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb

Only one??? Goodness!

Well, since you're a man, I'd say Moby Dlck because men seem to really love that book, but I didn't like it.

As for what I would recommend, my absolute favorites that are not gender specific would probably be either Les Miserables or the Harry Potter series. There are seven books in HP, but it's really one continuous story, so it's more like one really long book (and so, so awesome).

The Book Thief is a really good piece of historical fiction, and very powerful.

Oy. I have a BA in English literature and when I didn't have a full-time job, I used to read three or four novels a week, so you're asking the impossible from me! Check out my goodreads.com page if you want a whole list!

I second The Book Thief
I have a short attention span and usually lose interest in books easily- but this was a great book. Loved it from beginning to end.

For someone with a short attention span you like a loooong book I loved it too btw.

I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb

One of my favorites! :drinker:

And another vote for Glass Castle. Also Gone Girl and We Need to Talk about Kevin.

Moby ****
Herman Melville
The censoring is not mine.......................That is the book title!

Has anyone read The Jason Bourne books? The movies are great, but just wanted to know if the books were good as well.

The books are sooo much better than the movies! Not that I didn't enjoy the movies as well, because I did. Just be prepared to scratch your head along the way...the movies stray considerably from the books. It's a shame, since the books are so good.

John Dies at the End by David Wong.

It's weird, crude, disgusting, and hysterical. I couldn't put it down.

Sara Douglass is my favorite author but her books can be a bit difficult to get through if you're not really into fantasy or historical fiction. I always recommend trying out Threshold first if you're willing to check her out...although Beyond the Hanging Wall would also be a good introduction.

I've loved all of the books in A Song of Ice and Fire thus far. I finished them all in 6 months (which when you consider how slowly I usually read, that's a huge deal for me), but the first couple hundred of pages of the first book were incredibly boring. Had Game of Thrones not come onto HBO, I would probably never have pushed through to the good bits.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is good too.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is worth reading.

I could probably list a ton more, but I've already gone over the one you asked for.

I would suggest getting an E-Reader of some sort. You don't need the top of the line and you could maybe find one on ebay as the bookworms tend to upgrade. I suggest this because you would be able to check out many books free or very cheap and if you get some friends that also have one you can even "loan" stuff. It would let you experience multiple genres until you figure out what you really like.

Or he could just go to the library. :-)

LOL that is true. I love books and bookstores and libraries but I was trying to see it thru the eyes of someone that doesn't. It may be a little less intimidating to browse at home. At least that's how it is with my hubby who is not a reader at all. He will at least use the nook to find something he likes.

I have to have the actual books in front of me to figure it out. But he's got a whole list to start with from this thread, so he could write a few down and then head to the library.

One thing I will say is if he has a smart phone and can download the Kindle app, there are a lot of classics available for free that way and that wouldn't require spending money on an e-reader he may or may not use again.

True, But the good thing about an e-reader is actually being able to check out the books from the online library. No trips to the library, no late fees, and all kinds of books for free. The county library usually updates the catalog once a week and adds new e-books and audio books. I read about two books every four days and never pay for them. If I don't like them all I have to do is return them. Check out the online catalog of your local library, you will never regret it. Recommendations; Robert Liparulo's Deadfall or the 13th Tribe, All of Frank Peretti's, and Ted Dekker.

I get that. But you have to pay a lot of money even for a cheap e-reader. So you've spent at least the equivalent of buying four hardback books in order to read for free from the library.

I understand the concern, the thing is that a cheap e-reader like the Kindle is only $69 now, buying a book ranges from $3 to $25 (Plus clutter and space), and going to the library is time and gas = money. For someone that just wants to create a new reading habit having an easy way of finding a good book is crucial.

Additional recommendations: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Kate Daniel's Series by Ilona Andrews,and In her Name series by Micahel R. Hicks.

Game Of Thrones series

People, people, people....Did you see him say that he's not an avid reader and gets bored easily!?! There's no point suggesting some massive literary tome just so that we can impress each other with our intellect! The whole object of the thread is to give him something he will read!!!!!

:laugh:

I'm reading Rules of Prey by John Sanford. Not a massive literary tome, but an easy, maybe guy kind of, action-thriller. Great read, and I'm looking forward to reading a couple more in the series.

I've read the entire series as well as John Sandford's other books...and they are great, quick reads. Good recommend!

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams.

Yes, it's about rabbits but it's also one of the best adventure books ever written. I read it every few years. FANTASTIC!

Actually with all the sex in 50 shades you might actually like it. HAHA

Brian Lumley: Necroscope series. I have read through them twice already.

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein....its for anyone with a heart.

I would suggest getting an E-Reader of some sort. You don't need the top of the line and you could maybe find one on ebay as the bookworms tend to upgrade. I suggest this because you would be able to check out many books free or very cheap and if you get some friends that also have one you can even "loan" stuff. It would let you experience multiple genres until you figure out what you really like.

Or he could just go to the library. :-)

LOL that is true. I love books and bookstores and libraries but I was trying to see it thru the eyes of someone that doesn't. It may be a little less intimidating to browse at home. At least that's how it is with my hubby who is not a reader at all. He will at least use the nook to find something he likes.

I have to have the actual books in front of me to figure it out. But he's got a whole list to start with from this thread, so he could write a few down and then head to the library.

One thing I will say is if he has a smart phone and can download the Kindle app, there are a lot of classics available for free that way and that wouldn't require spending money on an e-reader he may or may not use again.

True, But the good thing about an e-reader is actually being able to check out the books from the online library. No trips to the library, no late fees, and all kinds of books for free. The county library usually updates the catalog once a week and adds new e-books and audio books. I read about two books every four days and never pay for them. If I don't like them all I have to do is return them. Check out the online catalog of your local library, you will never regret it. Recommendations; Robert Liparulo's Deadfall or the 13th Tribe, All of Frank Peretti's, and Ted Dekker.

I get that. But you have to pay a lot of money even for a cheap e-reader. So you've spent at least the equivalent of buying four hardback books in order to read for free from the library.

I understand the concern, the thing is that a cheap e-reader like the Kindle is only $69 now, buying a book ranges from $3 to $25 (Plus clutter and space), and going to the library is time and gas = money. For someone that just wants to create a new reading habit having an easy way of finding a good book is crucial.

Additional recommendations: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Kate Daniel's Series by Ilona Andrews,and In her Name series by Micahel R. Hicks.

If you want an e-reader, you can download the Kindle or Nook app to your iPhone (if you have one). The apps are free and you can still borrow e-books from your friends who have the real deal.

Lot's of good replys here, in fact I just started reading Ready Player One based on several. So far it's very interesting. Here's some good ones that I haven't seen anyone mention yet:

- Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher : Urban fantasy, good story lines, none of the gratuitous sex/romance found in a lot of other books of this genre.
- Kim Harrison - The Hollows series: Another urban fantasy series, also very little romance/sex
- Julian May - Pleistocene Saga: great, older sci-fi about people going back in time, esp, mental powers
- Peter F. Hamilton - Nights Dawn Trilogy - Epic sci-fi saga
- Clive Cussler - Dirk Pitt books, fun easy adventure
- Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid series, more urban fantasy, little to no sex/romance.

More to come later.