Question of the Week June 3-9, 2023

[Cheryl]

Universally appealing?

Is there a book that you can recommend to just about anyone, confident that they'll like it? Or a book that you give to just about everyone? Perhaps you have a go-to book for baby showers, or graduation celebrations? Or a book that seems to get people who don't read much back in the habit?

I know that there's nothing truly universally appealing, but some come close. For example, Old Friends is a picture-book that I just discovered, and feel confident recommending to anyone who is, or is ever going to become, a senior citizen....

[Glynn]

I'm a runner and I have recommended Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen to just about everyone. It's not just about running.

[Samantha]

I've purchased several vintage sets of the Sesame Street books (Library, Treasury, On My Way) for pre-school aged kids (including my own) for birthday gifts because I remember them fondly from my childhood and they're great teaching tools getting kids ready for kindergarten.

I've recently recommended Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary to friends who like sci-fi. I've also recommended Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff to friends who like non-fiction.

[Cheryl]

Oh, some interesting leads there! Did I make a mistake asking this question? My poor to-read lists!

[Pat of Rocks]

I really enjoyed both of the books Samantha mentioned.

Perhaps a bit less conventional, but the book I've gifted most to others is "Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat". I've read it many, many times.

[Cheryl]

Oh, yes, Calvin & Hobbes. Very popular, and deservedly so.

[Lizz]

My co-worker and I have very different book tastes. She prefers non-fiction and I prefer fiction. She recommended "Never Mind the Bullocks: Here is the Science" to me and I am really enjoying it and I recommended "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah to her and she likes it so far.

[Cheryl]

Never Mind The Bullocks, Here's The Science
The Nightingale

Hannah's book was recommended by a member of my irl book club, in which we read what we want and then booktalk our favorites.