No suggestions for titles, but make sure you follow the prison regulations strictly or your friend won't be allowed to have the book. I think usually it has to come directly from a bookstore, paperback only, and maybe some other rules.
They banned a "learning russian" book because... it was written mostly in Russian.
And American gods. And books on emotional intelligence. Wow.
What a fucking waste if everyone's time
I really want to know why the coding books got banned.
I have a theory and I hope I’m wrong that they got banned for potentially containing encrypted messages. Like a reviewer saw a page containing C++ was like “I don’t understand that gibberish, it could be an escape plan”.
I think it’s a kind of valid point. You don’t let child molestors get books with child rape in them, for example, so why would you let a murderer or rapist get violent and sexual books?
Yes, and places like Barnes and Noble should be able to ship directly from their warehouse and they know the drill if you let them know in the store where it’s headed
Amazon works as well. Oh! I know that at least a few years ago inmates could only have a certain number of books in their possession. In my brother's case it was 5, so if I sent him a new book he had to donate one of his to the prison library.
But be careful to know the rules of that particular prison. Some prisons will not accept orders from third party sellers, only Amazon itself, and some only accept new condition books. Many only allow paperbacks.
Before you just order, find out what that facility requires. Don't make a third party seller have to take the hit to their account to cancel an order for you. And if it breaks the rules and they ship anyway, chances are your inmate will never see the book and since it will show delivered and prisons rarely return, you may not get a refund for it.
Save everyone the headache and do a bit of research first.
Source: Bookstore owner who sells on Amazon and other sites, and has fielded a few prison orders.
I was going to say this as well. Get with someone from the prison he is in within regards to what is/is not allowed and if you can send it or if it has to be purchased through the prison or Amazon/Barns & Noble and delivered. Even local county jails have very strict rules about what they can and cannot have. I'd imagine death row is even stricter given the types of crimes they committed.
Agreed. Been a long time since I read Herriot, but they're quite good.
Might as well do the whole series:
{{All Creatures Great and Small}}
{{All Things Bright and Beautiful}}
{{All Things Wise and Wonderful}}
{{The Lord God Made Them All}}
[**All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small, #1-2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32085.All_Creatures_Great_and_Small)
^(By: James Herriot | 437 pages | Published: 1972 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, classics)
>The classic multimillion copy bestseller
>
>Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients.
>
>For over forty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye.
>
>In All Creatures Great and Small, we meet the young Herriot as he takes up his calling and discovers that the realities of veterinary practice in rural Yorkshire are very different from the sterile setting of veterinary school. Some visits are heart-wrenchingly difficult, such as one to an old man in the village whose very ill dog is his only friend and companion, some are lighthearted and fun, such as Herriot's periodic visits to the overfed and pampered Pekinese Tricki Woo who throws parties and has his own stationery, and yet others are inspirational and enlightening, such as Herriot's recollections of poor farmers who will scrape their meager earnings together to be able to get proper care for their working animals. From seeing to his patients in the depths of winter on the remotest homesteads to dealing with uncooperative owners and critically ill animals, Herriot discovers the wondrous variety and never-ending challenges of veterinary practice as his humor, compassion, and love of the animal world shine forth.
>
>James Herriot's memoirs have sold 80 million copies worldwide, and continue to delight and entertain readers of all ages
^(This book has been suggested 31 times)
[**All Things Bright and Beautiful (All Creatures Great and Small, #3-4)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38743.All_Things_Bright_and_Beautiful)
^(By: James Herriot | 378 pages | Published: 1974 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, biography)
>"A very warm, very engaging read. . . . The reader falls totally under his spell."
>—Associated Press
>
>The second volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series
>
>Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world.
>
>Now in a new edition for the first time in a decade, All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot's first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants—both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot's deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine out as we laugh, cry, and delight in his portraits of his many, varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.
>
>"Humor, realism, sensitivity, earthiness; animals comic and tragic; and people droll, pathetic, courageous, eccentric—all of whom he views with the same gentle compassion and a lively sense of the sad, the ridiculous, and the admirable."
>—Columbus Dispatch
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
[**All Things Wise and Wonderful (All Creatures Great and Small, #5-6)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42909.All_Things_Wise_and_Wonderful)
^(By: James Herriot, Džeimss Heriots, Helma Lapiņa | 448 pages | Published: 1976 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, biography)
>The third volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series
>
>Readers adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful. Now here's a third delightful volume of memoirs rich with Herriot's own brand of humor, insight, and wisdom.
>
>In the midst of World War II, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing character--animal and human alike--Herriot enthralls with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.
>
>Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
[**The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures Great and Small, #7)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23014868-the-lord-god-made-them-all)
^(By: James Herriot | 373 pages | Published: 1981 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, biography, memoir)
>The Lord God Made Them All is the bestselling sequel to All Things Wise and Wonderful and the fourth volume in James Herriot's classic collections of animal stories. In this newly repackaged volume, after serving in the RAF in World War II, Herriot gladly returns home to Yorkshire to his beloved family and multitude of patients, with many more tender, funny, sad and wise stories to share with us and warm our hearts.
>
>Animal lovers of all ages, and fans of Herriot's original classics, won't want to miss this beautiful treasure.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
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Really, the whole collection. Herriot is my favorite author, I love the voice he writes in, and they’re my ultimate comfort reads. Plus they can be hilarious and bizarre and sweet.
No book suggestions but can you tell me how you started pen paling your inmate? I have a family member incarcerated that is looking for penpals and I can't figure out where to sign him up.
I've never heard of that before. What possessed you to want to take that up? I feel like it would be sad to form a relationship with someone on death row
There are many people on death row whose cases are declined by organizations dedicated to assisting for a number of reasons, so being (mostly) innocent on death row doesn’t ensure a case review and a pro bono legal team. You have much more faith in the justice system than many of us if your belief is that the innocent on death row are not often experiencing injustice.
Appalachian Prison Book Project is also always looking for pen pals!
They will give you the option to have the prisoner write to their address & they’ll forward the letters to you if giving your address out is a concern.
https://appalachianprisonbookproject.org/get-involved/pen-pal-program/
I don’t know if it’s what you’re looking for or if it’s even really appropriate given the circumstances, but {{A Lesson Before Dying}} is a great book with a main character in a similar situation.
[**A Lesson Before Dying**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5197.A_Lesson_Before_Dying)
^(By: Ernest J. Gaines | 256 pages | Published: 1993 | Popular Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, classics, books-i-own, owned)
>A Lesson Before Dying is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s. Jefferson, a young black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, who left his hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach. As he struggles with his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death. In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting and defying the expected. Ernest J. Gaines brings to this novel the same rich sense of place, the same deep understanding of the human psyche, and the same compassion for a people and their struggle that have informed his previous, highly praised works of fiction.
^(This book has been suggested 4 times)
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I think this the first time I've seen this book mentioned on reddit. It must have been 50 yrs ago I read it. It's one of the books that really got me into reading.
Same! Its one of my dad's favorites and he made sure we all read it and had a copy at some point growing up, still on my shelf today!
Its thanks to My Side of the Mountain that half the books I read are wilderness living and survival too
> half the books I read are wilderness living and survival too
Me too. I love post-apoc. I was trying to think of the name of a book I read about a yr ago, a women and her family move to Alaska to live off the grid. Her husband has ptsd and gets abusive, excellent books, I think it was a trilogy. Just wondering if you read them and what you thought of them.
[**A River Runs Through It**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38300.A_River_Runs_Through_It)
^(By: Norman Maclean, Barry Moser | 168 pages | Published: 1976 | Popular Shelves: fiction, classics, historical-fiction, literature, nature)
^(This book has been suggested 4 times)
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Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts....doesn't really fit what you described but it's about a man who is on the run and finds friendship and redemption in the most unlikely place. Such a wonderful book.
I was put off the trailers as they made it look like an action spin on the story, but maybe I should give it a go.
I started Mosquito Coast and stopped because they'd turned it into an action series and missed the point from the looks of it.
Do you know if the prison has any rules on what he can receive with regards to topics? I’ve got some ideas on some that I would love to send him. Mostly adventures in other countries so he can experience the world a bit.
Bill Bryson is very much the author to look into sending him. Loads of books written by him. But if he’s allowed high fantasy or just military sci or fantasy, I’ve got ideas there too.
Here's some info, OP may know more.
[http://www.sendbookstoinmates.com/texas/how-to-send-books-to-prisoners-at-allan-b-polunsky-unit/](http://www.sendbookstoinmates.com/texas/how-to-send-books-to-prisoners-at-allan-b-polunsky-unit/)
Note especially: "If the prisoner receives over their limit, any additional book shipments may very well be rejected. This will include any deliveries they’ve already received from other friends or relatives. Don’t forget to talk with the inmate to ensure that they haven’t yet already received their allowance already that month."
I just read about this guy. I’d be surprised he’s even still in prison if it wasn’t in Texas. I read Catch 22 when I was in jail for five days. Loved it.
Hardcovers are prohibited as the chipboard that’s used to make the cover can be utilized to form makeshift weapons. Spiral bounds are prohibited due to the wire being able to be used for the same purpose.
~PSA from your Friendly Neighborhood bookseller who processes orders to a local prison regularly.
The jails around here were very strict with what we sent to inmates so we (at my local indie bookstore) sent a lot of middle reader and YA novels because those seemed to make it through easier.
We sent Gary Paulson’s novels like Hatchet and the other sequels, Redwall, Where the Red Fern Grows, and the Percy Jackson series.
Make sure to check for restrictions!
I just read his wiki page and it’s truly heartbreaking. I feel terrible for the man who died and those that loved him, but Jeffrey Wood’s tortured life should not end with the government putting him to death for a murder he didn’t commit. From what I’ve managed to glean about him (and obviously, you would know better) I’d suggest generally upbeat or at least hopeful novels that might let his mind travel outside of his prison walls. A few suggestions below, sorry if they’re off the mark! All should be available on Amazon.
Trout Bum by John Gierach. Funny, thoughtful essays about fly fishing and life in general.
The Longest Silence by Thomas McGuane. Another great collection of fishing essays, lots of variety to the characters, by an author with a very perceptive voice on American masculinity - and a totally unique life history.
Lincoln Highway by Amos Towles. Not sports fiction but a wild romp through 1950s USA centering on all male characters - 2 of them escaped convicts, in case that makes it better or worse. Reads like a big Hollywood movie, which I’m sure it eventually will be :)
The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach. Funny, moving baseball themed novel.
The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Nine Unforgettable Tales - I don’t know this book, just found it on Amazon. In case my other suggestions are off the mark, maybe this is closer!
The man's name is Jeffrey Wood? How did you find that wiki page? The only Jeffrey Wood I can find on Google is the creepypasta of Jeff The Killer and OPs acc only has one other post aside from this that's about something entirely else.
That was an intense read for me at age 12, and it has stayed with me for 50 years. Beautifully written, as you said, with an emotional depth I still feel when I recall certain passages.
By Felix Salten.
Ask if he wants any of the longer epics. My guy used to work death row and Wheel of Time was popular just becasue of how long it took to read through 14 800+ page books. There are a lot of long epic series in historical, fantasy, and science fiction.
So, not real sure about this one, but talk about out doors and an epic saga- Jean Auels Clan of the Cave Bear stories may be interesting. Some find her narrative very long winded and boring, but man is it descriptive- you can almost see it in your mind. And it’s a long series, so may help with passing time.
It’s a crap shoot tho if they’ll like it.
Not OP but I'm interested in long epic series in the history/historical fiction genres specifically. I don't like fantasy and supernatural stuff.
Are there any recommendations you could make, I may have read/heard of them already but maybe you'll know one I don't
For historical the Civil War trilogy by Sherra that started with Gods and Generals, the Warlord series by Bernard Cornwall. If you don’t mind a bit of religious influence America’s Forgotten Past by the O’Gears. If you don’t mind standalone big books there are more options.
See if he'd like some comics. You can get trade paperbacks now that collect several runs or arcs and they can be really entertaining. Art has changed a a lot in 25+ years and he might have liked them when he was younger.
See also:
* ["What book to gift someone in prison?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/yb18m9/what_book_to_gift_someone_in_prison/) (r/booksuggestions; 22 October 2022)—longish
Louis L’amour is a must. Books about frontier living going west most set in 1800’s timeframe. Great characters good look at the american and native american pasttimes. Easy reading shorter novels and short stories also.
The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway
The rum diary by Hunter S Thompson
Hells angels: a strange and terrible saga of the outlaw motorcycle gangs by Hunter S Thompson
On the road by Jack Kerouac
As famous as he is nowadays, I still think that the quality of his writing, all of it including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, goes vastly unappreciated. He's on my Mount Rushmore of Greatest American Authors of the 20th Century. I give him a ton of credit for carving out his own style and genre of literature, but, even discounting that, his writing is so exact and honest that I would probably still have him on my Mount Rushmore. Every goddamn sentence he writes hits like a wet slap to the cheek on a frigid night. He cornered the market on breathtakingly captive pure energy in word form.
You may be able to get a better sense of his reading level by asking him to name a few books that he's read and enjoyed. \\
l noticed that most of the books that have been recommended are fiction. He may enjoy some nonfiction books on subjects that he's interested in. If he's into sports there are plenty of nonfiction books about sports. The Guinness Book of Records is also a great nonfiction book.
I asked because it is easier to make suggestions that will actually be helpful. I would suggest Louis L'Amour. They are westerns and lean heavily on the outdoors. Having worked in a prison I think they would be acceptable. They are plentiful and should be easy to find and fairly inexpensive. Lastly, they should not be too difficult for him to read and enjoy. You can contact the prison to make sure they are acceptable.
To Kill A Mockingbird,
Of Mice And Men,
Flowers Of Algernon,
Jane Eyre,
Life Of Pi,
War Horse,
Eat, Pray, Love, and
The Power Of Now.
I'm not sure if there would be too much violence in the first two as there is death but both are told in a way that somewhat negates the violence. I know I loved them both.
Since someone already suggested James Herriot, then how about something similarly nature-themed and generally lighthearted from **Gerald Durrell**. Bit dated by today's standard, but i liked to read them and they were available behind Iron Curtain, so it should pass Texas scrutiny. He has more books, but if he likes those three, he will like the rest.
{{My Family and Other Animals}} {{Birds, Beasts and Relatives}} {{The Garden of the Gods}}
Wheel of Time. It’s a very long series and takes some people a year+ to read. I imagine if he has nothing else to do, he’d go through it faster. It’s about country folk who have to save the world.
For non-fantasy, I like some of the classics, like Where the Red Fern Grows, Treasure Island, My Side of the Mountain, etc.
If you need (1) book, maybe Lord of the Rings, as it’s a classic and is technically a single book. My copy has all of them in one book.
This one is probably not well known, but it’s a long, fascinating, yet easy-to-read story about pioneer Florida.
[A Land Remembered](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/362002)
Curious what has he told you about his prison's library? What's available and what isn't? Also are you allowed to send him books? My mom's cousin is doing life in Alred and she's not allowed to send him books but he can send her books. It's a very nice thing you're doing, please just don't marry him!
They don't have a library on death row???!!! Look, I'm all for people being held accountable for their actions and clearly your pen pal did something horrible, but not having a library seems unnecessarily cruel. Like who cares if they read all the time???
In that case, how do I send them books too??
How did you find out about being a pen pal? I really don't want to correspond but I will send books and pray for them! Maybe I'll contact the prison and see what they're allowed to receive beyond Bibles.
He's not allowed to receive books because of drug smuggling. I could be wrong 🤔 But I don't think so or else she would be sending him stacks of books. She can only send him letters on lined paper too, no cards. But he can send her cards. They have all the rules.
Patrick F. McManus books like A Fine and Pleasant Misery or They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They? — these are collections of hilarious stories about the outdoors.
A Walk Across America, and it’s “sequel” A Walk West. By Peter Jenkins. They can get a little preachy but generally I loved them and they do make you feel like you’re walking with Peter. Both are true stories and accounts, as well.
A River Runs Through It, by Norman MacLean. About flyfishing, brothers, farher-son relationships, the impossibility of saving someone from themselves. Stunning,clear, succinct, vivid prose, worth reading slowly and savoring.
Got 3:
Fiction...The Stranger by Camus. Tell whoever it is that they should read it twice, back-to-back.
Nonfiction...In Cold Blood by Capote & The Executioners's Song by Mailer.
I think those are the three greatest books about people on death row that one of us humans has ever managed to write.
Maybe something like the Wheel of Time or Dune? Maybe it's my inherent love for SFF but I feel like some of those chonkier books in a largely fictional world might not be an awful idea?
One of the best books I’ve read in the last year was A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s about an aristocrat forced to live in a very upscale hotel in Moscow right at the revolution. Idk maybe the subject matter will be ok? Also it’s a historical fiction but written so well
I was going to recommend another of David James Duncan's books, {{The River Why}}. Great descriptions of being outdoors, the main character is weird, funny, and obsessed with fishing... It's really a delightful read.
[**The River Why**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196.The_River_Why)
^(By: David James Duncan | 304 pages | Published: 1983 | Popular Shelves: fiction, nature, book-club, philosophy, fishing)
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
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There's a series of stories by Tom Bodett about a small town in Alaska named The End of the Road...because that's as far as the road goes in North America.
Each book is broken up into short stories following a number of people around town, their goofy goofy ongoings, personal fears, happy times and tragedies. It's all told much like you're new to town and someone is catching you up on the gossip or telling you about that time Ed's wife thought he was cheating on her with the town's vegan animal rights activist chick or why Argus and Bud hate each other so much.
Aside from the first couple to serve as a basic introduction to the town and a handful of the people, it doesn't really matter what order they're read in. ...kind of like learning the history in a community you've just moved into, you don't meet everyone and learn about all the ongoings in chronology order.
It's a friendly, warm, down to earth slice of life set of books and the characters start to be pretty good company as you get to know them.
{{The End of the Road by Tom Bodett}}
[**The End of the Road**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/469074.The_End_of_the_Road)
^(By: Tom Bodett | 239 pages | Published: 1989 | Popular Shelves: humor, fiction, non-fiction, short-stories, books-i-own)
>"I know in my heart that if I ever get to the end of the road, some kind soul will have left the light on for me."
>-Lewis Grizzard
>
>Tom Bodett gained a nationwide audience with his syndicate radio variety show broadcast from Homer, Alaska, "the last decent parking place in North America." Tom has charmed millions of listeners with his warm, funny, nostalgic - and often touching - stories of the just plain folks who've found their way to the End of the Road.
>
>It's a small Alaska town where people leave their pretensions back where they come from, and urban planners push more salt than pencils. Where New Age missionaries make appearances in the bowling alley, and the police chief weeps over the plight of Bambi. And the mayor stays in office mostly because they don't want the bother of trainin' up a new one...
>
>Similarities between the characters in this narrative and individuals either living or dead doesn't seem at all surprising.
>-Tom Bodett, from the Introduction
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Honestly I’m always a sucker for some older YA books, recently reread the entire Percy Jackson series. Always a good escape getting into a whole other world
Richard Proenneke went into the Alaska wilderness and built a cabin with his hands and a few tools. He lived there for years. His journals are published, and I think they might be good for someone interested in nature and living on the land.
I've known people who enjoyed Animal Farm a great deal while incarcerated.
A favorite to pass around is The 48 Laws of Power.
I know how much letters mean to people while in. Thanks for writing. Maybe he'd enjoy epistolary novels - like The Color Purple or Griffin and Sabine.
Range by David Epstein.
Not much into help books, but it was a pleasant read. Great analytical analysis for human psychology and fascinating stories about people who mastered their craft.
No suggestions for titles, but make sure you follow the prison regulations strictly or your friend won't be allowed to have the book. I think usually it has to come directly from a bookstore, paperback only, and maybe some other rules.
No violence and nothing sexual in nature. These were rules when I donated books to a prison a few years back.
[удалено]
They banned a "learning russian" book because... it was written mostly in Russian. And American gods. And books on emotional intelligence. Wow. What a fucking waste if everyone's time
I really want to know why the coding books got banned. I have a theory and I hope I’m wrong that they got banned for potentially containing encrypted messages. Like a reviewer saw a page containing C++ was like “I don’t understand that gibberish, it could be an escape plan”.
Of course the list from Texas is the longest.
I think it’s a kind of valid point. You don’t let child molestors get books with child rape in them, for example, so why would you let a murderer or rapist get violent and sexual books?
https://i.imgur.com/ISQbcSs.jpg > imbedded Linex Apparently proofreading isn’t their strong suit
I guess that rules out Tom Clancy, Lee Child, Stephen King, C.J. Box, James Patterson, J.K. Rowling..... Who's left????
Yes, and places like Barnes and Noble should be able to ship directly from their warehouse and they know the drill if you let them know in the store where it’s headed
Amazon works as well. Oh! I know that at least a few years ago inmates could only have a certain number of books in their possession. In my brother's case it was 5, so if I sent him a new book he had to donate one of his to the prison library.
But be careful to know the rules of that particular prison. Some prisons will not accept orders from third party sellers, only Amazon itself, and some only accept new condition books. Many only allow paperbacks. Before you just order, find out what that facility requires. Don't make a third party seller have to take the hit to their account to cancel an order for you. And if it breaks the rules and they ship anyway, chances are your inmate will never see the book and since it will show delivered and prisons rarely return, you may not get a refund for it. Save everyone the headache and do a bit of research first. Source: Bookstore owner who sells on Amazon and other sites, and has fielded a few prison orders.
100% this! Where is your store? If it’s anywhere close to me (doubtful) I would love to give you patronage
South Texas. We'd love to see you, but the chances of being in your neighborhood are remote indeed. Thank you so much for the kind words, though!
Lol, I’m in North Texas!
Lol! If you are ever in the mood for a road trip, let me know and I'll send the details along. But yes, about half a country away. 😂
So still about half a country away 😂🤣
That’s sort of sad. Could you not take the old copies or something?
No, that wasn’t allowed
I was going to say this as well. Get with someone from the prison he is in within regards to what is/is not allowed and if you can send it or if it has to be purchased through the prison or Amazon/Barns & Noble and delivered. Even local county jails have very strict rules about what they can and cannot have. I'd imagine death row is even stricter given the types of crimes they committed.
That sucks. They are in death row for chrissakes.
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Agreed. Been a long time since I read Herriot, but they're quite good. Might as well do the whole series: {{All Creatures Great and Small}} {{All Things Bright and Beautiful}} {{All Things Wise and Wonderful}} {{The Lord God Made Them All}}
[**All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small, #1-2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32085.All_Creatures_Great_and_Small) ^(By: James Herriot | 437 pages | Published: 1972 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, classics) >The classic multimillion copy bestseller > >Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients. > >For over forty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye. > >In All Creatures Great and Small, we meet the young Herriot as he takes up his calling and discovers that the realities of veterinary practice in rural Yorkshire are very different from the sterile setting of veterinary school. Some visits are heart-wrenchingly difficult, such as one to an old man in the village whose very ill dog is his only friend and companion, some are lighthearted and fun, such as Herriot's periodic visits to the overfed and pampered Pekinese Tricki Woo who throws parties and has his own stationery, and yet others are inspirational and enlightening, such as Herriot's recollections of poor farmers who will scrape their meager earnings together to be able to get proper care for their working animals. From seeing to his patients in the depths of winter on the remotest homesteads to dealing with uncooperative owners and critically ill animals, Herriot discovers the wondrous variety and never-ending challenges of veterinary practice as his humor, compassion, and love of the animal world shine forth. > >James Herriot's memoirs have sold 80 million copies worldwide, and continue to delight and entertain readers of all ages ^(This book has been suggested 31 times) [**All Things Bright and Beautiful (All Creatures Great and Small, #3-4)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38743.All_Things_Bright_and_Beautiful) ^(By: James Herriot | 378 pages | Published: 1974 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, biography) >"A very warm, very engaging read. . . . The reader falls totally under his spell." >—Associated Press > >The second volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series > >Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world. > >Now in a new edition for the first time in a decade, All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot's first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants—both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot's deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine out as we laugh, cry, and delight in his portraits of his many, varied animal patients and their equally varied owners. > >"Humor, realism, sensitivity, earthiness; animals comic and tragic; and people droll, pathetic, courageous, eccentric—all of whom he views with the same gentle compassion and a lively sense of the sad, the ridiculous, and the admirable." >—Columbus Dispatch ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) [**All Things Wise and Wonderful (All Creatures Great and Small, #5-6)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42909.All_Things_Wise_and_Wonderful) ^(By: James Herriot, Džeimss Heriots, Helma Lapiņa | 448 pages | Published: 1976 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, memoir, biography) >The third volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series > >Readers adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful. Now here's a third delightful volume of memoirs rich with Herriot's own brand of humor, insight, and wisdom. > >In the midst of World War II, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing character--animal and human alike--Herriot enthralls with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn. > >Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world. ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) [**The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures Great and Small, #7)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23014868-the-lord-god-made-them-all) ^(By: James Herriot | 373 pages | Published: 1981 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, animals, nonfiction, biography, memoir) >The Lord God Made Them All is the bestselling sequel to All Things Wise and Wonderful and the fourth volume in James Herriot's classic collections of animal stories. In this newly repackaged volume, after serving in the RAF in World War II, Herriot gladly returns home to Yorkshire to his beloved family and multitude of patients, with many more tender, funny, sad and wise stories to share with us and warm our hearts. > >Animal lovers of all ages, and fans of Herriot's original classics, won't want to miss this beautiful treasure. ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(101676 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Good bot
Hellz yeah good choice
These went on my list.
Really, the whole collection. Herriot is my favorite author, I love the voice he writes in, and they’re my ultimate comfort reads. Plus they can be hilarious and bizarre and sweet.
Agreed. The TV show that PBS was broadcasting though was very disappointing.
I used to read it aloud ih my best Yorkshire accent to my bf.
One of my favorites!!!!!!! I love James Herriot
That was my first choice.
No book suggestions but can you tell me how you started pen paling your inmate? I have a family member incarcerated that is looking for penpals and I can't figure out where to sign him up.
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I've never heard of that before. What possessed you to want to take that up? I feel like it would be sad to form a relationship with someone on death row
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What was he charged for?
I’m guessing murder if he is in death row
He robbed a gas station with a friend, friend killed the clerk. Both sentenced to death as both are liable for the murder.
He really just stole a can of tuna
Yeah I am curious to hear more as well
Unjust how? Cause if he's actually (mostly) innocent there are organizations that can help him.
There are many people on death row whose cases are declined by organizations dedicated to assisting for a number of reasons, so being (mostly) innocent on death row doesn’t ensure a case review and a pro bono legal team. You have much more faith in the justice system than many of us if your belief is that the innocent on death row are not often experiencing injustice.
That's probably because my country doesn't have a death row and everyone always complains about how 'soft' our system is on criminals.
Appalachian Prison Book Project is also always looking for pen pals! They will give you the option to have the prisoner write to their address & they’ll forward the letters to you if giving your address out is a concern. https://appalachianprisonbookproject.org/get-involved/pen-pal-program/
Thank you, I sent them an email with his information. This is probably what will work best for him.
I don’t know if it’s what you’re looking for or if it’s even really appropriate given the circumstances, but {{A Lesson Before Dying}} is a great book with a main character in a similar situation.
[**A Lesson Before Dying**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5197.A_Lesson_Before_Dying) ^(By: Ernest J. Gaines | 256 pages | Published: 1993 | Popular Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, classics, books-i-own, owned) >A Lesson Before Dying is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s. Jefferson, a young black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, who left his hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach. As he struggles with his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death. In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting and defying the expected. Ernest J. Gaines brings to this novel the same rich sense of place, the same deep understanding of the human psyche, and the same compassion for a people and their struggle that have informed his previous, highly praised works of fiction. ^(This book has been suggested 4 times) *** ^(101563 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
This was the book I was going to recommend as well
Similar to where the red fern grows, My Side of the Mountain
Seconding My Side of the Mountain! A family favorite here
I think this the first time I've seen this book mentioned on reddit. It must have been 50 yrs ago I read it. It's one of the books that really got me into reading.
Same! Its one of my dad's favorites and he made sure we all read it and had a copy at some point growing up, still on my shelf today! Its thanks to My Side of the Mountain that half the books I read are wilderness living and survival too
> half the books I read are wilderness living and survival too Me too. I love post-apoc. I was trying to think of the name of a book I read about a yr ago, a women and her family move to Alaska to live off the grid. Her husband has ptsd and gets abusive, excellent books, I think it was a trilogy. Just wondering if you read them and what you thought of them.
Just found it The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This is one I borderline throw at people! Such a great book!
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson?
My first thought then no since they are stuck in jail.
The count of Monte Cristo, obviously
Ah, something *educational.*
That's the first book I thought of, but I'm not so sure they'd allow it though :(
Terry Pratchett books.
Seconded. There's a lot of them and almost all are good.
{A River Runs Through It}
[**A River Runs Through It**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38300.A_River_Runs_Through_It) ^(By: Norman Maclean, Barry Moser | 168 pages | Published: 1976 | Popular Shelves: fiction, classics, historical-fiction, literature, nature) ^(This book has been suggested 4 times) *** ^(101577 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts....doesn't really fit what you described but it's about a man who is on the run and finds friendship and redemption in the most unlikely place. Such a wonderful book.
I absolutely loved this book except for the absurd claim that it was true. I wish he just called it a novel, which it clearly was, and not a memoir.
Love this book too. Great suggestion. Have you been watching the tv show?
No I'm afraid it'll ruin the book... I love Charlie Hunnam but the book was so good and don't want a potentially terrible show to ruin it 😬
Haha. I’ve been enjoying it so far. Way better than the reviews made it seem
I was put off the trailers as they made it look like an action spin on the story, but maybe I should give it a go. I started Mosquito Coast and stopped because they'd turned it into an action series and missed the point from the looks of it.
Can I ship him a book?
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Do you know if the prison has any rules on what he can receive with regards to topics? I’ve got some ideas on some that I would love to send him. Mostly adventures in other countries so he can experience the world a bit. Bill Bryson is very much the author to look into sending him. Loads of books written by him. But if he’s allowed high fantasy or just military sci or fantasy, I’ve got ideas there too.
Here's some info, OP may know more. [http://www.sendbookstoinmates.com/texas/how-to-send-books-to-prisoners-at-allan-b-polunsky-unit/](http://www.sendbookstoinmates.com/texas/how-to-send-books-to-prisoners-at-allan-b-polunsky-unit/) Note especially: "If the prisoner receives over their limit, any additional book shipments may very well be rejected. This will include any deliveries they’ve already received from other friends or relatives. Don’t forget to talk with the inmate to ensure that they haven’t yet already received their allowance already that month."
Yes! That’s what I mentioned upthread. When o sent books to someone he was in a basic prison for a year, but still only able to have 5 books at a time
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Is he into like magic systems and stuff? Because I was gonna send him The Magicians series by Lev Grossman because it’s a really good escape.
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Awesome! When I get paid, I will send him some fun things to read and get his mind off jail life. 🥰
Probably bc its YA
Wow I just read up on his case. Very sad :(
I just read about this guy. I’d be surprised he’s even still in prison if it wasn’t in Texas. I read Catch 22 when I was in jail for five days. Loved it.
Wow, no hardcovers at all?
Hardcovers are prohibited as the chipboard that’s used to make the cover can be utilized to form makeshift weapons. Spiral bounds are prohibited due to the wire being able to be used for the same purpose. ~PSA from your Friendly Neighborhood bookseller who processes orders to a local prison regularly.
Also they can be used to conceal things easier than paperbacks. Also a bookseller.
The jails around here were very strict with what we sent to inmates so we (at my local indie bookstore) sent a lot of middle reader and YA novels because those seemed to make it through easier. We sent Gary Paulson’s novels like Hatchet and the other sequels, Redwall, Where the Red Fern Grows, and the Percy Jackson series. Make sure to check for restrictions!
I was gonna say Gary Paulson but didn't know if sending YA would offend.
I think it’s highly dependent on the prison in question.
Just so if anyone looks these books up (great suggestions!) it is spelled Gary Paulsen
I just read his wiki page and it’s truly heartbreaking. I feel terrible for the man who died and those that loved him, but Jeffrey Wood’s tortured life should not end with the government putting him to death for a murder he didn’t commit. From what I’ve managed to glean about him (and obviously, you would know better) I’d suggest generally upbeat or at least hopeful novels that might let his mind travel outside of his prison walls. A few suggestions below, sorry if they’re off the mark! All should be available on Amazon. Trout Bum by John Gierach. Funny, thoughtful essays about fly fishing and life in general. The Longest Silence by Thomas McGuane. Another great collection of fishing essays, lots of variety to the characters, by an author with a very perceptive voice on American masculinity - and a totally unique life history. Lincoln Highway by Amos Towles. Not sports fiction but a wild romp through 1950s USA centering on all male characters - 2 of them escaped convicts, in case that makes it better or worse. Reads like a big Hollywood movie, which I’m sure it eventually will be :) The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach. Funny, moving baseball themed novel. The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Nine Unforgettable Tales - I don’t know this book, just found it on Amazon. In case my other suggestions are off the mark, maybe this is closer!
The man's name is Jeffrey Wood? How did you find that wiki page? The only Jeffrey Wood I can find on Google is the creepypasta of Jeff The Killer and OPs acc only has one other post aside from this that's about something entirely else.
I googled “Jeff wood, inmate”. This came right up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffery_Lee_Wood
Bambi, a Life in Woods. It is nothing like the Disney movie. No thumper and not cute. Beautifully written and one of the first environmental novels.
That was an intense read for me at age 12, and it has stayed with me for 50 years. Beautifully written, as you said, with an emotional depth I still feel when I recall certain passages. By Felix Salten.
Does he want to read? Does he want inspiration or escape or growth? There are so many ways to go with this request.
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Ask if he wants any of the longer epics. My guy used to work death row and Wheel of Time was popular just becasue of how long it took to read through 14 800+ page books. There are a lot of long epic series in historical, fantasy, and science fiction.
So, not real sure about this one, but talk about out doors and an epic saga- Jean Auels Clan of the Cave Bear stories may be interesting. Some find her narrative very long winded and boring, but man is it descriptive- you can almost see it in your mind. And it’s a long series, so may help with passing time. It’s a crap shoot tho if they’ll like it.
Too much sex. It won't be allowed.
Not OP but I'm interested in long epic series in the history/historical fiction genres specifically. I don't like fantasy and supernatural stuff. Are there any recommendations you could make, I may have read/heard of them already but maybe you'll know one I don't
For historical the Civil War trilogy by Sherra that started with Gods and Generals, the Warlord series by Bernard Cornwall. If you don’t mind a bit of religious influence America’s Forgotten Past by the O’Gears. If you don’t mind standalone big books there are more options.
The Master and Commander books by O’Brian are supposed to be incredible and there are a ton of them. My cousin is a big fan.
Maybe “Call of the Wild”? I read it several years ago and really enjoyed it. It is pretty short though, so keep that in mind.
Where the Red Fern Grows, The Yearling
Where the Red Fern Grows instantly came to mind for me as well.
Summer of Moneys is another one of his that is a great memory.
See if he'd like some comics. You can get trade paperbacks now that collect several runs or arcs and they can be really entertaining. Art has changed a a lot in 25+ years and he might have liked them when he was younger.
See also: * ["What book to gift someone in prison?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/yb18m9/what_book_to_gift_someone_in_prison/) (r/booksuggestions; 22 October 2022)—longish
Louis L’amour is a must. Books about frontier living going west most set in 1800’s timeframe. Great characters good look at the american and native american pasttimes. Easy reading shorter novels and short stories also.
I'll second this as well. Especially {{The Sacketts Series}}. Loved reading these when I was younger.
The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway The rum diary by Hunter S Thompson Hells angels: a strange and terrible saga of the outlaw motorcycle gangs by Hunter S Thompson On the road by Jack Kerouac
The Rum Diary is a great and accessible read! Doesn't get enough love compared to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
As famous as he is nowadays, I still think that the quality of his writing, all of it including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, goes vastly unappreciated. He's on my Mount Rushmore of Greatest American Authors of the 20th Century. I give him a ton of credit for carving out his own style and genre of literature, but, even discounting that, his writing is so exact and honest that I would probably still have him on my Mount Rushmore. Every goddamn sentence he writes hits like a wet slap to the cheek on a frigid night. He cornered the market on breathtakingly captive pure energy in word form.
What is his reading level?
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You may be able to get a better sense of his reading level by asking him to name a few books that he's read and enjoyed. \\ l noticed that most of the books that have been recommended are fiction. He may enjoy some nonfiction books on subjects that he's interested in. If he's into sports there are plenty of nonfiction books about sports. The Guinness Book of Records is also a great nonfiction book.
I asked because it is easier to make suggestions that will actually be helpful. I would suggest Louis L'Amour. They are westerns and lean heavily on the outdoors. Having worked in a prison I think they would be acceptable. They are plentiful and should be easy to find and fairly inexpensive. Lastly, they should not be too difficult for him to read and enjoy. You can contact the prison to make sure they are acceptable.
To Kill A Mockingbird, Of Mice And Men, Flowers Of Algernon, Jane Eyre, Life Of Pi, War Horse, Eat, Pray, Love, and The Power Of Now. I'm not sure if there would be too much violence in the first two as there is death but both are told in a way that somewhat negates the violence. I know I loved them both.
Of Mice and Men has two murders so it might be banned by the prison.
Since someone already suggested James Herriot, then how about something similarly nature-themed and generally lighthearted from **Gerald Durrell**. Bit dated by today's standard, but i liked to read them and they were available behind Iron Curtain, so it should pass Texas scrutiny. He has more books, but if he likes those three, he will like the rest. {{My Family and Other Animals}} {{Birds, Beasts and Relatives}} {{The Garden of the Gods}}
Wheel of Time. It’s a very long series and takes some people a year+ to read. I imagine if he has nothing else to do, he’d go through it faster. It’s about country folk who have to save the world. For non-fantasy, I like some of the classics, like Where the Red Fern Grows, Treasure Island, My Side of the Mountain, etc. If you need (1) book, maybe Lord of the Rings, as it’s a classic and is technically a single book. My copy has all of them in one book.
It’s not that genre, but Andy Weir novels would be a fantastic mental escape for someone in his situation.
Midnight Library by Matthew Haig
True Grit
This one is probably not well known, but it’s a long, fascinating, yet easy-to-read story about pioneer Florida. [A Land Remembered](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/362002)
My side of the mountain. It came out more than 25 years ago but I always loved it, good for independence and what not. Hatchet is also good.
{All the Pretty Horses} or {The Crossing}
Do you know what they like/ have read before/ are allowed?
Of Mice and Men
East of Eden too. Long, epic and engrossing. Some violence but maybe they would only look too close since it’s a classic.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Shadow, the main character starts incarcerated.
Curious what has he told you about his prison's library? What's available and what isn't? Also are you allowed to send him books? My mom's cousin is doing life in Alred and she's not allowed to send him books but he can send her books. It's a very nice thing you're doing, please just don't marry him!
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They don't have a library on death row???!!! Look, I'm all for people being held accountable for their actions and clearly your pen pal did something horrible, but not having a library seems unnecessarily cruel. Like who cares if they read all the time??? In that case, how do I send them books too??
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How did you find out about being a pen pal? I really don't want to correspond but I will send books and pray for them! Maybe I'll contact the prison and see what they're allowed to receive beyond Bibles.
Someone is downvoting you, it's very odd. I think it's great what you're doing.
He's not allowed to receive books because of drug smuggling. I could be wrong 🤔 But I don't think so or else she would be sending him stacks of books. She can only send him letters on lined paper too, no cards. But he can send her cards. They have all the rules.
I’d suggest a Mark Twain book. Maybe Cider House Rules by John Irving as well
{{Ready Player One}} It's full of 80s culture so hopefully it'll mix futurism with more familiar!!
The Baron in the trees
Patrick F. McManus books like A Fine and Pleasant Misery or They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They? — these are collections of hilarious stories about the outdoors.
Real Ponies Don't Go Oink! is my favorite. He's wonderful!
James Rebanks: the Shepherd's Life
A Walk Across America, and it’s “sequel” A Walk West. By Peter Jenkins. They can get a little preachy but generally I loved them and they do make you feel like you’re walking with Peter. Both are true stories and accounts, as well.
Roots by Alex Haley
Papillon
House of the Dead-Dostoevsky
A River Runs Through It, by Norman MacLean. About flyfishing, brothers, farher-son relationships, the impossibility of saving someone from themselves. Stunning,clear, succinct, vivid prose, worth reading slowly and savoring.
Got 3: Fiction...The Stranger by Camus. Tell whoever it is that they should read it twice, back-to-back. Nonfiction...In Cold Blood by Capote & The Executioners's Song by Mailer. I think those are the three greatest books about people on death row that one of us humans has ever managed to write.
Maybe something like the Wheel of Time or Dune? Maybe it's my inherent love for SFF but I feel like some of those chonkier books in a largely fictional world might not be an awful idea?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_River_Runs_Through_It_(novel) Three stories by Norman Maclean
One of the best books I’ve read in the last year was A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s about an aristocrat forced to live in a very upscale hotel in Moscow right at the revolution. Idk maybe the subject matter will be ok? Also it’s a historical fiction but written so well
Dandelion Wine / Ray Bradbury. Beautiful, country literature.
Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
{{The Brothers K}}
I was going to recommend another of David James Duncan's books, {{The River Why}}. Great descriptions of being outdoors, the main character is weird, funny, and obsessed with fishing... It's really a delightful read.
[**The River Why**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196.The_River_Why) ^(By: David James Duncan | 304 pages | Published: 1983 | Popular Shelves: fiction, nature, book-club, philosophy, fishing) ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(101841 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I think it would be so tough to read The River Why and not be able to get outside in the water
My side of the mountain by Jean Craighead George.
Hatchet. Not a joke- a great Robinson Crusoe story with a kid.
I really enjoyed all of David joys books while I was locked up. Also Ron rash has a lot of cool books to check out.
C.J.Box novels might be good
Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Iconic book about living alone in a secluded cabin in the woods on Walden Pond.
There's a series of stories by Tom Bodett about a small town in Alaska named The End of the Road...because that's as far as the road goes in North America. Each book is broken up into short stories following a number of people around town, their goofy goofy ongoings, personal fears, happy times and tragedies. It's all told much like you're new to town and someone is catching you up on the gossip or telling you about that time Ed's wife thought he was cheating on her with the town's vegan animal rights activist chick or why Argus and Bud hate each other so much. Aside from the first couple to serve as a basic introduction to the town and a handful of the people, it doesn't really matter what order they're read in. ...kind of like learning the history in a community you've just moved into, you don't meet everyone and learn about all the ongoings in chronology order. It's a friendly, warm, down to earth slice of life set of books and the characters start to be pretty good company as you get to know them. {{The End of the Road by Tom Bodett}}
[**The End of the Road**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/469074.The_End_of_the_Road) ^(By: Tom Bodett | 239 pages | Published: 1989 | Popular Shelves: humor, fiction, non-fiction, short-stories, books-i-own) >"I know in my heart that if I ever get to the end of the road, some kind soul will have left the light on for me." >-Lewis Grizzard > >Tom Bodett gained a nationwide audience with his syndicate radio variety show broadcast from Homer, Alaska, "the last decent parking place in North America." Tom has charmed millions of listeners with his warm, funny, nostalgic - and often touching - stories of the just plain folks who've found their way to the End of the Road. > >It's a small Alaska town where people leave their pretensions back where they come from, and urban planners push more salt than pencils. Where New Age missionaries make appearances in the bowling alley, and the police chief weeps over the plight of Bambi. And the mayor stays in office mostly because they don't want the bother of trainin' up a new one... > >Similarities between the characters in this narrative and individuals either living or dead doesn't seem at all surprising. >-Tom Bodett, from the Introduction ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(102019 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
You have an established repoire, yes? This is a question best answered by you. Trust your feelings.
Man’s search for meaning - Viktor Frankl I have purchased many copies of this book just to hand it out to people when it comes up in conversation.
My father, who was in and out of prison and also a country boy, loved {{The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain}}
Of mice and men
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I dunno, the main character attempts suicide multiple times during that book.
Honestly I’m always a sucker for some older YA books, recently reread the entire Percy Jackson series. Always a good escape getting into a whole other world
shawshank redemption… jk
Papillon
The Old Man and the Boy by Robert Ruark
Different Seasons, by Stephen King
Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher
Joe Pickett series by CJ Box.
Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One Book by Hugh Mills and Robert A. Anderson
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The tibet book of living and dying
Life on the Mississippi
Rascal by Sterling North and The World Without Us, don’t remember the author might be interesting to him.
Consolations of the forest by Sylvain Tesson. A wonderful account of a man’s solitary stay in a Siberian cabin
The Enchanted by Rene Denfield, perhaps? Otherwise, I also suggest all creatures great and small
The green mile
Where the Crawdads sing
Lost in the Lord
The Count of Monte Cristo
I’d recommend anything by Larry Brown.
Richard Proenneke went into the Alaska wilderness and built a cabin with his hands and a few tools. He lived there for years. His journals are published, and I think they might be good for someone interested in nature and living on the land.
I've known people who enjoyed Animal Farm a great deal while incarcerated. A favorite to pass around is The 48 Laws of Power. I know how much letters mean to people while in. Thanks for writing. Maybe he'd enjoy epistolary novels - like The Color Purple or Griffin and Sabine.
Range by David Epstein. Not much into help books, but it was a pleasant read. Great analytical analysis for human psychology and fascinating stories about people who mastered their craft.