Thinking Thursday -or- Great Reads for Guys

I read a lot. When I say "a lot," I mean two or more books per week. My hubby, on the other hand, maybe reads two books in a year. But since he can get part of his library fines waived if he completes our library's Summer Reading Program by reading 4 books, I compiled a list of books I thought would interest him. So here is my collection of Great Reads for Guys:

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

If you have never read Jonathan Swift, you should. He is witty and irreverent and ironic -- all great qualities in my mind. This classic is a fun read and it isn't too long.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

My guess is more people have seen the movie than have read the book. I have not seen the movie, and I'm afraid to. I loved this book so much and I worry the movie might ruin that for me. This is a survival story that really makes you think by the end. Give yourself a couple extra days to get through this one, but believe me, it's worth it!

Hungry Monkey: A Food Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater by Matthew Amsler-Burton

If you are into non-fiction and you like good food, this is a fun read. Amsler-Burton tells his own story of raising his daughter and his attempts to get her to love food as much as he does. By the end it seems he thinks his daughter is not an adventurous eater, but I say any kid who will eat pork can be called "adventurous." I would be happy if my kid ate chicken.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I love dystopian literature and this one does not disappoint. The ending is a ambiguous, but makes for great discussion. And it is pretty short, which is always good.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Here's another dystopian future. This book (the first of a series) has been compared to Ender's Game or The Hunger Games. When describing it to my hubby, I said, "Dystopian future with children in impossible situations." That just about sums it up. But it is a suspenseful and interesting read. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read the next book in the series. So I read the entire series in a week.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

I was assigned this book is a college literature class entitled "Gender and War." This is a book about the Vietnam War, so it is obviously not a happy book. But it is a book that makes you think about the various "baggage" people carry. It is a very poignant read.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

This book was one that surprised me. If you haven't read it and can handle a bit of raunchiness and nonsense, you really should read it. I consider this the funniest book I have ever read. But it isn't just funny. It is a book about war and soldiers and death. But it is entertaining at the same time. I have never read anything like it. It's brilliant!

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Here's another classic for you. This is a great (short) novel about the downfall of a young man who seemed to have everything going for him. And it proves a point I'm always saying: "You never know what is going on inside someone else."

{Linked on One Artsy Mama, The Pink Momma, Artsy-Fartsy Mama, The Thriftiness Miss, Easy Living Mom, Joyful Homemaking, Somewhat Simple, Wait Til Your Father Gets Home}