book shopping

I saw Hungerstone on some year end lists—hadn't heard about it at all, but it was just published this year—and realized it'll be a perfect gift for one of my friends. (She loves gothic literature, romance...everything this book's got!) Now I want to find another book for another friend, but I don't think she has read much of anything recently. Of course, maybe she has and just hasn't said anything or hasn't read anything particularly worth mentioning. I've certainly read enough books not worth mentioning.

Finding a book for a (currently) non-reader is hard, no? What will get them back into reading? What will be good for when they're ready to pick up a book? I think I'm going to give her a copy of Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood . I really adored that book when I read it and I don't think she has read any Atwood—just watched The Handmaiden's Tale TV show. I think Cat's Eye will be just perfect at any time.

For her boyfriend, though, who doesn't really read, but does really like The Lord of the Rings, I'm not sure what to do. A genre fantasy novella would be perfect, but everything published for genre fantasy seems like it must be part of a series. I also don't think contemporary genre fantasy is particularly good. If I can, I'll hunt down a copy of Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcok . There is a new(ish) print of the book, but it is somehow nearly 800 pages..? I assume they include some of the novellas Moorcock published and not just the first novel in the trilogy.

I was hoping to have all of this done by this weekend, when I'm seeing my friends, but the Moorcock novel may be delayed! Luckily, I have found copies of Hungerstone and Cat's Eye.