Play Book Tag discussion

You work in a bookstore. Someone comes in and says, "I'm not much of a reader but want to start. I've made a new year's resolution to read some every day. I couldn't even tell you what I like to read because I never really have. Will you pick something out for me?"

What book would you pick for them? Or maybe a few options for them to pick from?

If they don't read, then they probably watch TV or go to the movies. I think that I would ask them about their favorite TV shows and movies. Then recommend the books that so many of those are based upon or inspired by. You will almost always get more insight into the storyline by reading the book. Or if you realize that a particular genre of TV/Movies is preferred, recommend some good books in that genre.

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "If they don't read, then they probably watch TV or go to the movies. I think that I would ask them about their favorite TV shows and movies. Then recommend the books that so many of those are based..."

Great idea! You would at least know if they like thrillers, comedy, etc. Another tactic would be finding out about their hobbies and interests. Do they love dogs, airplanes, cooking? That could be a good direction. Another question might be if they liked any books as a child, even if it was something they had to read for school. If they are intimidated by length or complexity of books, maybe recommend some YA to start with. They might also like audiobooks or reading a book while listening to it, if they find the actual process of reading difficult.

I have a feeling we have some librarians in the group who have experience and can chime in.

Definitely ask more questions. You cannot pick a title without knowing more about what the reader likes or expects from the experience

The other question is what they liked about the show, movie, story. I have given 5 stars to a book that happened to be set in WWII, so GR assumes I want to read lots of books about WWII. But what I liked might have been the writing style, the character, the humor, etc. I liked it in spite of the setting.

... then again, if I cannot get any useful prompts from the potential reader, I might go with one of the top authors from my now defunct Goodreads list, like Nevile Shute, or Richard Russo, or Joseph Conrad

My first thought was of course, questions.
Why do you think that you don't read? What turned you off to it?
The movies/tv question was a good one.
What are you interested in?

My first thought was what are your favorite tv shows and movies. My next would be what do you like dong - sporta, travel, hikes. Third would be do you read magazines, newspapers. Then ask about internet and pod casts.

Another words, what the persons general interests and work from there.

My husband is your theoretical non-reader who wants to start reading. About three years ago, he began reading books and is continuing. He turned to me for suggestions. He was in his 70's.

All of the questions raised here make good sense. One of the first books he read was The Godfather. He had loved the movies. He was surprised and pleased that the book added so much depth to what he had enjoyed in film. Per T.V. shows, he has enjoyed books about the making of "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Sopranos."

A crime fiction book that he liked was November Road. He's read other books about the history of the mafia here in Cleveland.

Sports are a big interest of his. He's read several non-fiction books about them, including two picks of Jason's that he liked very much.

Rock and Blues musicians' memoirs and non-fiction are favorites. He plays the guitar and loves music.

Whenever I see a review of a book that I think he'll like, I make a note of it and tell him about it.

It's been gratifying to me to see him enjoy reading!

My husband is a non-reader, too, Holly. But, during Pandemic, I got him to start reading, to help with the long idle days. I knew he liked the cowboy movies from the '50s and 60s. Another "problem" is that English is his second language, I needed to find some simple writing to help him along.

I ended up starting him with William W. Johnstone, and he read faithfully every day. He did continue for a while afterwards. But we are back to him not reading. *sigh*

I am part of that club as well. Hubby doesn't read books, except cookbooks.
He has read several sports biographies ages ago. I recently purchased Heartbreaker: A Memoir and he said he may read that.

My husband hasn't read a lot as an adult, and usually it is history, biography, musicians' memoirs, or politics. During the pandemic, he got on a reading kick and read all of the Foundation books by Isaac Asimov. But then he cut back. He reads more magazines (New Yorker, Atlantic, etc.) and online stuff than I do. My son is the same, rarely reading a whole book, although he has read some on baseball.

Interesting about all these male non-readers. My brother is one. Never was a reader of books. But he is far better reader of newspapers and magazines than I have ever been or will be. To my mind he is a reader just as much as I am. He could easily claim I am a non-reader since I don't read magazines or newspapers really. We just read different types of materials.

Funny mentioning the pandemic: I am reading now an excellent and funny book on the subject by Louise Erdrich: The Sentence. The narrator works in a bookstore during the crisis and makes a lot of very good book recommendations, including some of my favorite novels. I plan to make a list of all the novels Tookie mentions, because her taste feels very similar to mine.

Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "Funny mentioning the pandemic: I am reading now an excellent and funny book on the subject by Louise Erdrich: The Sentence. The narrator works in a bookstore during the crisis and m..."

I loved that book. Erdrich had a list of books at the end, in the copy I read.

Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "Funny mentioning the pandemic: I am reading now an excellent and funny book on the subject by Louise Erdrich: The Sentence. The narrator works in a bookstore during the crisis and m..."

Yes, that was one of the first books to cover the pandemic, as well as the George Floyd murder which happened in her town. I think it's delightful that it's set in her own store, https://birchbarkbooks.com. and she puts herself in as a minor character. It's very typical of Erdrich that there is some magical realism and Native sensibility mingled with current events.

Booknblues wrote: "I am part of that club as well. Hubby doesn't read books, except cookbooks.
He has read several sports biographies ages ago. I recently purchased Heartbreaker: A Memoir and he said..."

@Fran, when my husband sat down today to use my computer, he found the computer open to the book you mentioned on its GR page - "Heartbreaker." (I was looking at it earlier.) He blithely remarked, "I see you found a new book for me to read!"

Now, he wants to read it. ;0)

Holly R W wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I am part of that club as well. Hubby doesn't read books, except cookbooks.
He has read several sports biographies ages ago. I recently purchased [book:Heartbreaker: A Memoir|220..."

Now we will see who reads it first, your husband or mine. I'm not betting on mine despite what he said.

Fran, it's so funny to me in that I've never heard of that musician, but my husband has. I think he's going to read the book.

Holly R W wrote: "Fran, it's so funny to me in that I've never heard of that musician, but my husband has. I think he's going to read the book."

He was the guitarist in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He co-wrote a number of their songs. We were Tom Petty fans and saw them a couple of times, so I know who he is.

Like others, I'd start asking questions, but probably not with TV first. I'd start with finding out what interests them and go from there. TV and movies might come later if they don't have any interests they want to read about.