Check out whatshouldireadnext.com. It will allow you to input those books and come up with book suggestions.

I was up till 2:00 a.m. looking for a site similar to this! If you know of any others, I would love to know. I knew there HAD to be something out there that would take a favorite classic and recommend a recent book but just couldn't find anything.

Thanks very much for your suggestion!!

Julie

Wow. That's a pretty diverse set of favorites. Everything from all-time classics to modern humor.

Run With the Horsemen by Ferroll Sams is an obscure novel that is beloved by every single person who reads it. You might have trouble turning it up in a local bookstore though.

The Brothers Lionheart is a classic young adult novel from the 1970's by Astrid Lindgren. Also instantly beloved by anyone who reads it.

The Power of One by Bruce Courteney is a great novel set on South Africa in the 1930s. It's the story of a young white boy and an older black man who teaches him to box.

And of course you can look at whatshouldIreadnext.com -- but I think Flashlight Worthy is WAY better. ;-)

Peter
(The guy who runs Flashlight Worthy)
Flashlight Worthy Book Recommendations
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. ;-)

Thanks Peter - I've highlighted your recommendations and added it to my list. I'm new to Flashlight Worthy, but am enjoying it very much! I just couldn't find a list like what I am needing (or haven't found it yet, anyhow). And yes, his list is VERY diversified which is why this has been rather difficult.

And now I have to find music in a similar fashion - and you thought his list of books was diversified!!

Just a suggestion, Julie - he may want to browse through FLW book lists and mark the ones he would like to read. That may elicit a discussion between you that would give you more clues for the future, besides finding out more about him! Also, you (or he) can purchase books through FLWB site to Amazon. Books are reduced a lot on Amazon compared to local bookstores. AND you help FLWBooks stay available online....Good luck!

Considering the fact that he is undaunted by sometimes challenging material, I would recommend a couple by Joseph Conrad - Nigger of the Narcissus, and Heart of Darkness. Both are excellent, but I consider the former the better of the two.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Because I was so short on time (it took me a while to figure out what to do for him and the party is tomorrow), I had to go to Barnes and Noble. Now, while I can spend hours and hours there, I had a hard time finding what you suggested. BUT, I did look on the "funniest books" thread here at FLWBooks and came up with some. I ended up with the following: Tony Hawks "Round Ireland with a fridge", Bill Bryson "A Walk in the Woods" and Steve Martin "Shopgirl". The last one, I believe they suggested an older book bt I can't remember what it was now - in any case, they didn't have it there and I sort of remember hearing about Shopgirl. I also got him a few CDs.

This is for a 50th birthday, so I probably spent more than I normally do. Though, I think I have to stop, even though I would have liked to get him more of what you all suggested on this thread.

Thank you very much for all your help!

Julie