Book ideas for friends/Christmas?

[jimthedonkey]

My friends and I do a book exchange every Christmas and I am struggling what to buy this year. We buy the same book for everyone and one for ourselves and read them kindof as a book club thing. Last year we got each other classics, the Scarlet Pimpernel, 1984, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. This year I wanted to do something a little bit different, maybe a biography or non-fiction inspirational, or modern type of book? Any ideas of really good books?

 

[Ralph]

Some recent favorites:

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson - Excellent first novel.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - Quirky and very good!
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King (seven books) - my never favorite series (Horror, Sci-Fi, Adventure all in one)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (won the Pulitzer in 08 now a movie) - but great read anyway