You and I both know it - one book can make the entire difference. One book can turn a "nah I'd rather watch a movie"-person into "book please"-person. They know that over at the Broke and the Bookish and this weeks TTT topic is Books I'd Hand to Somebody Who Says They Don't Like to Read.
10) "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
For teenage girls who don't like to talk and who keep to themselves, this is dark, deep YA at its best. Reading this one hurts because it is so sincere. I love it and so will most teenage girls I think.
9) "How It Ended" by Jay McInerney
This one is for the non-readers with short attention spans. Short stories that burst at the seams with energy, life and action - if this can't keep your attention grabbed, I don't know what will.
8) "Valley of the Dolls" by Jacqueline Susann
This one is for the girls who love Hollywood glamour and glossy magazines! It has more drama than any glossy and will keep them turning the pages.
7) The "Orphan Train Adventures" series by Joan Lowery Nixon
This one is for the younger (pre-teen) non-reader. I read this series over and over again when I was a small girl and they sent me on imaginative journeys into historic America. Amazing books. If you like "The Little House On the Prarie" you will love this series.
6) "Driving Over Lemons" by Chris Stewart
This one is for the adventurous and the daydreamers alike. It is the story of how Chris Stewart and his wife left the safety of their normal lives behind and sought happiness in Andalusia. Pure inspiration.
5) "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
For the teens and the imaginative adults. Not too long but full of an energy that will take even the most reluctant reader by storm.
4) "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
This series is perfect for non-readers who like reality shows and lots of action because not is the series a prime example of dystopian, dark YA, it also contains a) reality shows and b) lots of action.
3) "Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis
For the ambitious business school or finance student who doesn't see the values in books. This is a non-fiction book that is the a testament to the fact that real life is sometimes stranger than fiction.
2) "Emma" by Jane Austen
For those of your girlfriends who don't read but who can appreciate a good intrigue. If they like Blair from Gossip Girl, they will flat out love Emma.
1) The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
This is for everyone! Not only is this series about magic, about witches and wizards, it is also magical in that it has transformed legions of non-reading children into book-devouring young adults. My absolute foolproof remedy for non-readers.
So what do you recommend to remedy non-reading?
I always find your lists interesting because most of the time they contain books that I'm not familiar with. Gives me something different to think about. I've added several of these to my reading list. I have read the Hunger Games and loved it.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of what would turn someone from magazines to books, I'll have to check out Valley of the Dolls.
ReplyDeleteLike to visit my Top Ten? http://epiphanyrenee.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-ten-books-youd-hand-to-someone-who.html#comments
Valley of the Dolls is one of those old ones I haven't read yet. I must get to it. Emma too!
ReplyDeleteBecause you listed Speak on your list, I've decided your list is absolutely amazing. I thought about putting a Jane Austen book on my list, but I've come to the conclusion that if you tell someone to read a classic novel, it doesn't get them interested in reading due to the difficulty of understanding the language. But that's my opinion. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my Top Ten.
Harry Potter and Hunger Games for sure...I forgot all about Valley of the Dolls...it's been a long time since that one.
ReplyDeleteI have not read Stardust yet, I would love to get to it soon because it sounds great and I have heard it is really good. Emma is one of my all time favorites!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments. I do love Valley of the Dolls and Emma, they are the perfect girls' books without being chic lit - a genre that I don't particularly like...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stardust for sure. It was great!
ReplyDeleteThe Mortal Instruments series is definitely a book I'd give to some who doesn't like to read!
Book Filled Blog.
Nice list i liked your take on Emma i never read it but now i might give it a chance
ReplyDelete