What to get your non-reader spouse for Christimas

The other day a friend asked for book suggestions for her husband that generally doesn't like to read. I can relate. I have a husband who really wants to like to read and who tries very hard to read, but is rarely captured by anything and generally falls asleep (even during the day) before he's read five pages.

There have been a few exceptions to this rule, however, and though I have blogged about these books before, I'm going to make a list of BOOKS SAM HAS STAYED AWAKE TO FINISH. I hope these might give you Christmas gift ideas for your spouse—because if reading is truly important, shouldn't everyone in the family get a book for Christmas? (Mom? Are you bringing any for me? He he he)



The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud. I love this new cover by the way. And I love this book. And I love this author. Love everything I've read of his work, and I've read everything I can get my hands on. This is high-level fantasy with a seriously sarcastic edge. I think this works particularly well for males who at one time in their lives thought reading was not cool.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Phillbrick


Sam LOVED this short book. This truly is on my list of the absolute best of the best. I challenge anyone not to love it. Only those with hearts of stone would not be moved by Freak and Max.

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

This one surprised me. It's a big fat book about—lots of stuff. Not a category I would normally choose for Sam. But Gary Schmidt is surprising. You don't understand why his books are so good or why you must keep reading, but they are and you do. The end.

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Lisa Yee


This book is funny and well-written and it's about basketball. So there you go.

Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel.


Adventure, adventure, adventure. Kenneth Oppel is brilliant.

And Sam also stayed awake through the first book of his newest trilogy:

This Dark Endeavor

This is about Doctor Victor Frankenstein and is decidedly creepy. Sam didn't love it as much as he loved Airborn, but he still couldn't put it down.

Shane by Jack Schaefer

I really have nothing to say about this. It is probably great. Sam has a little obsession with Shane, the movie and the book. I do not.

All right, Sam and I can't remember any more books he's recently read and loved, and this list is way too short. Does anyone else out there have a perpetually sleepy husband who has latched onto a few great books?
Please share if you do! We need them!