Book suggestions for someone in prison? And an appeal for anyone inclined to be a penpal with a prisoner.→[More:] I've been corresponding with a prisoner in Illinois for about a decade; we met in the course of my anti-death penalty activist work (he was on death row; his sentence was subsequently commuted to life without parole after the IL moratorium took effect).

I like to send him books now and then, but lately I have been absolutely drawing a blank. Any suggestions? Among the books that he's enjoyed are A Confederacy of Dunces, Krakauer's Into Thin Air, Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, Eye of the Needle (Ken Follett), and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. I recently revisited this AskMe thread from about a year ago and sent him The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence, both of which went over like a lead balloon. So I come to my fellow mechazens for help!

Also, I seem to recall from a long-ago thread that a number of mechatters are accomplished penpals, or would like to become penpals. In the past year or so, work and personal demands have meant that I'm not able to write him as frequently as I used to, so I wanted to see if anyone here might be inclined to take on a new penpal (email's in my profile, if you'd prefer to let me know if your interest that way). He and I have mostly just chatted over the years about books, news events, sports, etc., and I know he'd appreciate having an additional person or two sending him mail now and then. He plays chess, too, and so might be interested in a game by mail.

(Also, at the risk of sounding defensive: if you're not personally inclined to write someone in prison, that's great; you don't need to write him. If you have sincere questions about the situation, I'll answer them. But please no OMG YOU HORRIBLE CODDLER OF CRIMINALS YOU'RE AS BAD AS A MURDERER!!!!!!!! comments; I've had enough of such remarks over the years to last a lifetime. Thanks.)