How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, Pierre Bayard.

Having said that, you're probably not going to able to say anything 'valuable' about a particular book if you've not read it--though whether the assigned book merits valuable remarks or even close attention is another matter.

hellosugar7 is right, full stop. And not only is not attempting to at least attentively browse the book in some way dismissive of his/her father but OP would be missing a chance to learn something even when the person who could answer questions about it sitting there in the next room chloroforming & pinning helpless creatures to a board or watching videos of Gunsmoke episodes.