Reader Mailbag: Book You Blindly Recommend
In the May 2025 newsletter, we asked readers what book they blindly recommend to others, regardless of a persons interests.
Here are the responses:
Chris: I have to say that I have recommended books to people before and they never read them, at least, not because of me. Not sure why that is. So, I tend to not talk about the books that I think people would enjoy–it kind of feels like the kiss of death! The last book I recommended to everyone is an older one, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. I loved the book as well as the series and I still stand by my recommendation.
Jessica: the last book I talked about my blog was Taltos by Anne Rice. But I highly recommended The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu.
Donna: The one book that I have been blindly recommending to people is “I, Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger.
I wish I could explain more about this novel, but my old brain has trouble making coherent thoughts these days. It starts with a tragic event and a seemingly weird crisis beginning to take hold of the country. I can’t remember exactly where it occurs, but I think it’s Minnesota, because Canada is mentioned.
Enger’s prose is beautiful and haunting, pulling you into the story. This is only the second book of his that I have read, and it is one of my favorites that I have read in the past year.
Teri: I would recommend the books by Joe Siple
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murry McBride followed by The Final Wish of Mr. Murry McBride and The First Wish of Mr. Murry McBride.
Mark: An easy question, one for which I have a ready answer! There are three:
1) The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. The best, most clever, and most important book I’ve ever read (key concept: life is a search for rhyme and reason); it’s been my favorite book for about 60 years now, ever since I first read it. I pick up every copy I find at garage or library sales, and give them away.
2) Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. I’ve never been able to write a description or brief review of this book that even comes close to doing it justice; all I can say is, read it! The other two books in the trilogy, The Story of B and My Ishmael, are almost as good.
3) The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan. The best overview of the nature and importance of science.
Louis: I recently recommended the Prey Series by John Sandford to an older lady who works out at our local YMCA.
strong>John: The only book in recent memory that I would blindly recommend to just anyone, because of its beauty and innate lyricism would be: All the Light we Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. The courage of the Heroine, the corrupted honor of the Hero, and the danger of following Demi-gods … Wow! I read the book a couple years ago, and its’ impact still resonates within me.
Christine: The book I last blindly recommended to everyone was Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb, even though not everyone was into historical fiction. I thought it was just such a fun read, so I thought everyone else would think so too.
Jeannie: I am a retired English teacher and I love books. They call me the Zumba librarian because I match the person with the book. Right now, I BLINDLY recommend Harlan Coben’s Nobody’s Fool. Since most of those who come to me are women I have in the past recommended, with great success, The Women (Kristin Hannah) and also her The Nightingale and The Great Alone; plus Lessons in Chemistry (Bonnie Garmus), It has been like this for the past 10 years and we often sit down after Zumba and talk about the books. Then there are those authors we get hooked on but that’s a story for another day.
Jacqueline: I am recommending Bloodmoon by Sandra Brown to my friends. A good book.
Shirley: Last one: “Stranger In Time” by David Baldacci
Have to add “A Calamity of Souls” also by David Baldacci
Love this author but “A Calamity of Souls” is right at the top of my list for recommendations.
Renni: I have few – but I’m going with ~
~ The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
Stuart: Blind recommendations = Anxious People by Fredrik Backman = The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah = The Great Santini by Pat Conroy
Marie: The Women, by Kristen Hannah.
Nancy: Love, love Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache especially The Grey Wolf. Waiting impatiently for The Black Wolf. She never misses and everyone should visit Three Pines.
Daniel: I don’t normally blindly recommend books, but I have been doing that with Kristin Hannah’s “The Women.” The story is different than other Vietnam War stories you may have seen or read. I like that it did focus on how women were affected by the war. I think that’s why it was so popular and still is. I do recommend reading it if you haven’t already.
Linda: Not current but I have been suggesting “me” Elton John’s
He is really a warm human
And so pleased he was able to kick the habit
Nancy: I would recommend The Women by Kristen Hannah.
Phoenix: This month’s question is easy. I was sitting at the counter at my favorite restaurant, drinking a cup of coffee, when a lady sat next to me and asked what I was reading. It wasn’t the book I recommended to her, but the book I DID recommend to her has made it into my “top five books I’ve ever read in my life” list. It’s called “The Lost Colony” by Irina Shapiro. It kept me absolutely riveted for the entire book, and I never saw the ending coming.
Toni: I even recommend to people I don’t know. Most people don’t want to read it because they think it’s a religious book but it is more than that and everyone loves it.
The Seat Beside Me by Nancy Moser
Hollins: My top five are the Bible, The Lord of the Rings, Dune, 11/22/63, and The Last Coyote (Michael Connelly). I have reread these several times and still enjoy them, something I cannot always say.
AJ: My blind recommendation is Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon – I absolutely love this series and find most people really enjoy it.
Eileen: TERM LIMITS by Vince Flynn
1. Entertaining and Educational
Joyce: My recommendation to everyone could have been A Calamity of Souls as well but since that was yours, I will go with Harlan Coben’s latest Nobody’s Fool. I gave it my coveted 10/10 and any that I rate that highly, I recommend to anyone who will listen. My reasoning being if I LOVED it, how could anyone not at least like it!
A book that I would blindly recommend is Still Life by Sarah Winman. I listened to it and it’s narrated by the author, who has a great speaking voice.