The Reading Challenge Group discussion

If you had a friend who has never been into reading, doesn't know what genre they'd like, but wants to give reading a try, what book would you recommend to get them started? Would you choose something different for a male friend and a female friend?

I would recommend Ready Player One for guys, Little Women for girls, and if you like fantasy The Wind in the Willows.

It depends on the person. Most of my friends arent readers. I get asked all the time by friends what I suggest. This year I have told several people The Rosie Project and Ready Player One

I'm with Roseanne, it depends on the person's tastes and hobbies; what their world view is, what kind of movies they like. Then you can direct them if they are really interested in reading. I might be over thinking this, but the possibilities are endless depending, again, what the persons tastes are.

I agree with Melissa. I tried to compose an answer to this question earlier and kept second-guessing myself because it really depends on the person, more than the gender.

I'm not really sure about this one as I think it totally depends on the person. I would need to know at least a couple of things about them to make any sort of recommendation. However, I don't think the gender makes much of a difference (based on my friend's reading preferences).

The only blanket generalization I can think of is something fairly short. But really, it would depend on the person. I wouldn't go by gender at all. I'd think about how literal-minded the person is... some people only read non-fiction. I'd think about what kind of TV and movies the person likes. I'd think about whether the person has the idea that reading is hard-- or maybe that it's supposed to be hard or else it's a waste of time.

You specified that the friend wants to give reading a try. I'd ask why. Sure, sometimes people just randomly want to check something out, but a lot of times there's something they'd like to get out of it. Seems like sometimes when there isn't anything they want to get out of it, it turns out it's just something they think they should do. Either way, that might give a clue what to recommend. Something fun? or smart-sounding? or to share your likes?

I generally do not recommend books but I would ask what their all-time favorite movie is and then try to find a book from the same genre.

Well, like everyone else, it depends on the person. If I had to go for a blanket answer, I would probably start with something popular like The Hunger Games.

I think I would recommend a book by Daniel Pennac: or the first of the Malaussène series, The Scapegoat, or The Rights of the Reader.

Agree with everyone else, it really depends on the person's interest. I would, like Brenda suggested, start with something fairly short perhaps a book that is part of a series, so that if they like it they can read more, and if they don't they haven't invested too much of their time and they will be willing to try something else.

I think it'd all depend on their personality.
If it was just someone I didn't know to well I'd still be stuck because I suck at recommending books to random people.

For "that one book" I think I'd go with The Martian by Andy Weir. It didn't make my 5* list (I gave it 4*), but it's the book that I feel is the most accessible to new readers, regardless of background.



If I'm making a personalized choice, then I might go with Jane Austen, or horror, or YA, or well, anything really... but I think The Martian is a great near future SF book that anyone can enjoy!

It totally depends with the person's interests, I'm afraid. But I read some good suggestions here, like Ready Player One for someone who is really into 80's culture and/or videogames and books by Daniel Pennac for anyone, really.

Completely depends on the person. Wants to give reading a 'try'?

I don't have a 'one book' that I'd recommend. I also don't think I have a friend who doesn't read? What on earth would I talk to such a person about? The girls at work talk about TV as if it really happened last night. I stare at them in bemusement.

The Lightning Thief without a doubt, for everyone.