Thanks to Julie from Booking Mama for this suggestion to a follow-up from yesterday’s post Are You An Aggressive Bookseller?
Yesterday, many commented that they do recommend books to complete strangers. As a follow up to that post, which book or series of books, are you passionate about “hand selling?”
Like I’m sure it is for many, it’s hard for me to come up with just one suggestion. The series I find myself recommending the most is the Horrid Henry Series-I recommend these books to parents of reluctant readers. My son can’t get enough of them! We recently purchased a set for his school library so other children could experience the witty fun and humor (and important lessons!) my son enjoyed.
So…which book (ok, list a few if you can’ t just think of one) would hand sell to a complete stranger?
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Oh most definitely I recommend the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson. There so much for any book lover to enjoy. The richness of the characters, the complexity of the themes and plot, and definitely the humor. I’ve have everyone reading these books at work and it’s always the first thing that comes to mind when I’m suggesting a book to anyone.
Others that I evangalize for: Michael Koryta’s Lincoln Perry novels…of course Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole series, but he really doesn’t need my help. Alafair Burke’s two series: Ellie Hatcher or Samantha Kincaid. And Thomas Holland’s Kel McKelvy series. I really want more people to know about that series. Anyone I’ve had read the books loves it, but I don’t think the word’s gotten out enough.
Well golly…I could just talk books all day to anyone!
The ones that come to mind right now are Her Fearful Symmetry (once it is actually released) and The Hunger Games/Catching Fire.
Right now it would be The Calligrapher’s Daughter, although I’m sure it it’s not for everyone. Maybe A Promised World.
If it was a teenager, John Green’s books.
The first books that popped into my head was The School of Essential Ingredients and Galway Bay.
A few for me would be:
The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Each of these were either perfect works of entertainment or inspirational, or both.
I’m sure I would hand sell a few more but those are the ones I thought of immediately.
If you were on twitter this morning, you already heard this! This very minutes it’s Olive Kitteridge (even though everyone in my book club didn’t like it as much as I did.)
Twitter: bartsbooks
says:
I’d happily recommend John Green’s books, if only to get them more widely available here in the UK (only Looking for Alaska, has been officially released over here, I believe).
The Hunger Games is a given!
But, to add something different into the mix, I think I’d plump for Jasper Ffordes, Thursday Next series.
Oh. My. Goodness. Don’t get me started! The book I would recommend would totally depend on the age of the person and what genre they were interested in. Lately I’ve been all about The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (called something else, can’t remember what, everywhere but Canada). But I also have talked up The Hunger Games a few times too.
Twitter: bookjourney
says:
Oh wow – just about anything by Harlan Coben (the man seriously rocks!) Summerhouse by Jude Deveroux is a must read and Safely Home by Randy Alcorn has made its way into a few hands by my eager description of this incredible read.
The first books that popped into my head were A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. These are both such wonderful books and I truly believe that every US citizen should read them.
I’d recommend Big Sid’s Vincati: The Story of a Father, a Son, and the Motorcycle of a Lifetime by Matthew Biberman. It’s one of those books that appears to be very “niche” oriented, and only marketable to motorcycle guys, but its really a wonderful and touching memoir about how a always contentious father and son learn to accept each other and build a strong relationship. Everyone I’ve given it to to read has loved it, from 30 year old male lawyers, to 75 year old retired grandma’s!
You are nominated! Check my blog for details.
http://fredamans.blogspot.com
Twitter: lenoreva
says:
I am always talking up Hunger Games in the store, but usually people run away frightened. May need to work on my pitch.
I think I kinda already do a bit of advocating for Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Though I tend to be more vocal online than off. I don’t know that I have the confidence to go to someone in a bookstore who is searching around and say “you should try this”. I recently read Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and loved it (review forthcoming) so I’ve started advocating for that as well.
Twitter: BethFishReads
says:
At the moment I’m pushing Willow! On Twitter today, Swapna mentioned Cloister Walk — I got at least 6 people to read that one when it first came out.
Hey Jenn, I just wanted to say that I love your blog and I have an award for you over at my blog: http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/awardsfor-me.html
Your new blog is beautiful! Nice job!
I think I would whole heartedly be behind trying to get ANYONE to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly they are both such amazing books with such great lessons!
You know, this depends for me. I don’t like to recommend just any book to anyone. First, I want to know what they like. If they like mysteries, I recommend one thing. If they’re up for anything, I recommend something else. The Likeness and The Hunger Games are both go-to favorites. But it really depends on what the person likes.