My family traditionally exchanges books on Solstice. I’m trying to find a book that my 17 yo son will enjoy getting. He likes to read, but he’s insanely busy and mostly can’t find the time. He dances seriously (ballet), takes a full academic load, and is doing college apps/auditions. Books he has enjoyed in the past: The Bell Jar, Frankenstein, Little Women, Alvin Ailey’s biography, Apollo’s Angels (history of ballet), Dance Anatomy. He’s also interested in history and politics.
I’m looking for a book he can dip in and out of – something that he doesn’t have to read from the start to the end. Maybe something he can carry with him to read when he has a moment. Thank you for any suggestions!
by c3knit
7 Comments
I’d suggest an anthology, then!
*The Lottery* by Shirley Jackson is a collection of short horror stories.
[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6219656-the-lottery](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6219656-the-lottery)
*Stories of Your Life and Others* by Ted Chiang is a collection of short sci-fi stories.
[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others)
{{The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury}}
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I’d massively recommend Matthew Bourne And His Adventures In Dance – I’m sure that your son will be familiar with Matthew Bourne (and if he’s not, I bet he’ll appreciate being introduced to him). It’s in the form of conversations with a dance critic and first goes through Matthew’s back story and how he got into dance and choreography, which is a fabulous journey through the British dance world of the late 20th century, and then it has a chapter on each of his major works which talks through the initial ideas through to the final production. It’s an amazing book and really inspiring for a young dancer, and it’s easy to dip in and out of it.
There are two editions, so make sure you get the later version (2011), which includes all the earlier material plus catches up with Bourne’s work since the original edition.
Maybe the short stories of Ambrose Bierce
I don’t necessarily have anything to suggest but I’d like to say what a precious family tradition!
actually i dont have a book so much as a type of book to suggest audiobooks can be listened to while working out, driving, ect. i enjoy them while i work. Something that might make it easier to bring books with him is a ereader, you could always gift a ereader or a audible subscription or something.