Father's Day gift guide
This is every guy's dream for Father's Day. Not Eva Longoria-Parker. I mean the tray full of milk shakes. With the big day just a week away, here's how the conversations have been going in my house:
Me (pointing to item in catalog) -- That would be a great gift.
Wife and daughter (exchanging incredulous looks) -- How about something nicer?
Me -- I don't want something nicer. What's wrong with this?
Them -- We're just trying to save you from yourself.
Me -- Can I help it if I have simple tastes?
Them -- Let's keep looking.
And so on ... Meanwhile, Read Streeters have had interesting comments on the question: Why don’t men read novels? Here’s what some readers said on the issue, and what they recommended as a fix:
Except for the silly manly ones, novels are about emotions — not the long suit of most males. The same two words — “Let’s talk” — grab a woman’s attention but send a man scurrying in search of a place to hide, unless the talk is about business or sports. Novels, of course, are filled with emotion-laden talking. — Patrick Lackey
Recommend Fidali’s Way by George Mastras, with male main character and manly wartime situation in Kashmir on the Pakistani-Indian border. With some romance thrown in, of course. – Harvee Lau
Books these days seem to be created specifically for a market. Oh, you’re a recent divorcee? Read this book about getting back in the dating scene? Going through menopause? Read this humorous self-help book with tips no one has ever heard before! ... Ugh. – lilisin
I know very few men who read fiction books. ... They are shocked to see my apartment walls lined with full bookcases. However, back in my Navy days, sailors loved reading books like James Bond novels when we were at sea. – John Bohnert
I think a deeper problem is the attitude toward reading that young men grow up with. Culturally, reading fiction is an acceptable pastime for little girls, but it isn’t for the vast majority of boys. – SarahAbroad
It used to be that some men said (back when most women didn’t work), women had more time to read. Bull! – stacey-deanne
Comments
My dad loves to read...but only at the beach! Every year we buy him a new John Grisham, Stephen Frey or Dick Francis book for him to enjoy on the beach. We own a place in OC, so he goes there for a week every month during the summer. He gets all his reading done in those three weeks.
I usually get him a swimsuit for Father's Day, as well. The books and swim trunks are companion pieces!
Posted by: Jenn | June 13, 2009 12:30 PM
My kids' dad LOVES to read, and I'm proud that my kids are around all the books. My 6 year-old has even taken to writing in a diary! At SIX! I love it. Books are always a favorite Father's Day gift.
Another idea for Father's Day that my kids' dad loved was the footprint and handprint custom t-shirts that I made for him over the years. He stil wears them, and one is almost 10 years old! A great site that I wished I'd known about a long time ago is WalkOnMom.Com. They have pre-printed t-shirts and fabric paints, making the whole footprint t-shirt thing a WHOLE lot easier. For only $20, too! Just an idea from another mom.
Posted by: Dee Reeves | May 10, 2010 12:16 AM