What is a good book for a average 17 male?

Question

My son is in rehab and called me to see if I could bring him a book to read. I was so surprized but don't know any good books for young guys. Would like a classic but something he could read.

Answer 1

Don't be average! Read something good, meaningful, or unusual.

**Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett are good escapist sci fi books
**The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand are both great books about people who choose to live the way they think is right instead of the easy way.
**A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers is about a man who has to take in his much younger brother when both of his parents die unexpectedly. It isn't overly sentimental, but very frank and honest about how hard that was for both of them, and his mixed feelings of love and not wanting the responsibility.
**Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984 are all shorter, classic science fiction
**It's Not about the Bike is Lance Armstrong's autobiography of his career after surviving cancer.

It 's hard to say without knowing him better. Find out what he has read that he liked already. Check back here or with your local librarian for more suggestions. Librarians are excellent at recommending books based on what you have read and liked.

Answer 2

Ender's Game is very good
the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (not a classic but an interesting read)
the Catcher in the Rye
Brave New World
the Call of the Wild

Answer 3

I'd start with humour/alternative worlds, such as anything by Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde or Ben Elton. That's the kind of thing my son (now 24) has always enjoyed. Short stories are a good choice for "novice" readers; there are lots of collections around. Choose an anthology with various authors so he can find out which writers he prefers.

Answer 4

The Locket by Evans
The Hobbit by Tolkien
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by Lewis
In His Steps by Shelton
Joshua by Girzone
Christy by Marshall

Answer 5

You could go for something upbeat and humorous. Lamb by Christopher Moore is hilarious, as is Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Answer 6

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McArthy

Answer 7

Master & Commander by Patrick O'brian is excellent and I'd have enjoyed it at age 17.

Answer 8

The book Ender's Game. I loved it.

Answer 9

i second the catcher in the rye.
also liked the great gatsby.