Recommend a book for somebody who has never read one before

[Anonymous]

I loved Gentleman in Moscow and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but I don’t think they’re the right ones to start with here. If you live in DC and like murder mysteries, maybe try a George Pelecanos novel like The Night Gardener. Not mysteries really—I guess “crime fiction.” But he’s written for TV and they are plotted like TV and are very much set in DC, which is fun when you know the streets, neighborhood, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you that you have never read one book? Where are you from? What is your reading level?

I’m 35. I always used cliff notes through high school and college. I read magazines like economist and New York Times just could never focus long enough on a book. I was just trying to crowd source well-written books that might get me excited about sitting down and reading for an extended period

Any book by Mark Twain or any book by Ray Bradbury or "The Naked and The Dead" by Norman Mailer.

For a quick, fun read "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.

For quick, short, laugh-out loud stories, read anything written by Lewis Grizzard.

[Anonymous]

Elmore Leonard is fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know JK Rowling is no longer - well, you know. But I actually think Harry Potter is a great book to get people to aren't really into reading, into reading.

I was going to suggest this. I came on this forum to see if anyone had any suggestions and saw your post. I would like to read something but nothing keeps my interest. I read these with my kids when they were younger and liked them a lot. They are the only books I’ve read as an adult. I also used cliff notes back when I was in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elmore Leonard is fun.

I think this is a perfect suggestion for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nick Hornby is a good intro to novels for someone into sports. Also recommend Harlan Coben.

NP. Nick Hornby is a great suggestion. Also anything by Carl Hiassen if you want funny x action x Florida Man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nick Hornby is a good intro to novels for someone into sports. Also recommend Harlan Coben.

Nick Hornby is a great suggestion. Maybe also Bill Bryson - his travelogue books especially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nick Hornby is a good intro to novels for someone into sports. Also recommend Harlan Coben.

Nick Hornby is a great suggestion. Maybe also Bill Bryson - his travelogue books especially.

Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods would be a great choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you like murder mysteries- try the new John Grisham book, " Biloxi Boys" or any of his books. They are fun, easy reads.

I agree. I was thinking that OP said she (he?) likes sports and mysteries, and that is exactly what John Grisham likes to write about.

Agree. Given your interests, browse Grisham book descriptions and choose one that grabs your interest.

Also browse this list: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/mystery-sports

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Gentleman in Moscow

A gentleman in Moscow was boring!

+2 i hate books where nothing really ever happens.

[Anonymous]

I don't read books and the 1st one I was able to read was Silence of the Lambs.

It's easy reading/well written (no boring long lazy descriptions) and since you like murder mysteries.

[Anonymous]

Just remembered… Sidney Sheldon.

Master of the Game

[Anonymous]

This is not a book, but a really good collection of short stories of the crime/thriller kind.
Twisted: The Collected Stories of Jeffery Deaver

If you like them, try the Lincoln Rhyme series by the same author. The first few books in the series especially, are VERY good.

Other suggestions:

Primal Fear by William Diehl

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

The first few books in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell (Postmortem, Body of Evidence, All that Remains, Cruel and Unusual, The Body Farm, From Potter's Field, etc.)

Lindsay Chamberlain books by Beverly Connor (A Rumor of Bones, Questionable Remains, Dressed to Die, Skeleton Crew, Airtight Case). The Diane Fallon books are also pretty good.

Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs (Deja Dead, Death du Jour, Deadly Decisions, Fatal Voyage, Grave Secrets, etc.)

Body Farm series by Jefferson Bass

David Hunter series by Simon Beckett

Tana French is a really good mystery writer, and always worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Start with The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Easy, fun read Action and a little mystery thrown in

[Anonymous]

DaVinci Code