Oh dear, its been quite a while since I've been here, but I am in urgent need of assistance! I am almost a month late with my boyfriend's 18th birthday present (slightly justified by the fact that I've been doing A-Levels for the past month, but slightly unjustified in that so was he and he still managed to buy me a birthday present) and am beginning to think I really should sort it out. I'm buying him some form of book, but as he is the pickiest person I have ever met in my life I have no idea what to get. I looked at a couple of new releases (The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies was one) but now I think there's a fair possibility that he'd hate it. I got him Catcher in the Rye for Christmas, partially as a joke because I told him he could identify with moody teenagers, and he did really like it. Other favourites would be Count of Monte Cristo and His Dark Materials trilogy. I was thinking of The Great Gatsby (because I like it and I think he should) or the Bell Jar, but then I don't know how boys react to Sylvia Plath...Any suggestions would be most gratefully received!

Bronagh (the prodigal daughter)

In the Schiance Fiectien depahtment, I would reccommend (sp?) anything by Neal Stephenson. Also, uncategorized,

H

O

D

G

MAN

!

The Great Gatsby is a gret choice. It's the book I'd want! :)

Blow his socks off with "Alice in Sunderland". A graphic novel is the easiest way to describe it but that's the least of what it is. You'll probably have to go to a specialist comic store.

You are already late, so why not wait for First Among Sequels?

Failing that, any P.G. Wodehouse.

Dave Freer?

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'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Thank you all for your suggestions- I said I would lend him the Great Gatsby and instead I bought him "The Third Policeman" by Flann O'Brien. I haven't read any O'Brien stuff, but my dad said I would like it so I figured the boyfriend would as well, and he's a fan of Lost and it was referenced by the writers (who said it would help you understand the plot or something?). Besides, Flann O'Brien (I think his real name is possibly Brian Nolan) is quite local so I thought I'd keep it in the regional family!

Thank you for all your suggestions, I plan on following them up for myself!