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Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 12:01:12 PM)
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Okay, my list, in no particular order.
Reader's Block, by David Markson
One of the strangest books I've read, but it's compelling. It leaves everything open for each individual to put their own thoughts into.
Dangerous Visions and Again, Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison
Groundbreaking (at the time) anthologies of science fiction and fantasy short stories. Works by Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Bloch, Fred Pohl, Samuel Delaney, Fritz Leiber, as well as Ellison himself. The intros/outros to each story, written by Ellison, are worth the price of admission themselves.
The Essential Ellison
A massive tome, covering most of Ellison's career, both fiction and non. Most of his best short stories are here, "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream", "Knox", "Jeffty Is Five", "One Life, Furnished In Early Poverty", " 'Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Tick-Tock Man", "A Boy And His Dog", and my all time favorite, "The Deathbird".
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
I like lists, I like rock music, and I like Hornby's writing.
Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton
Just what the title suggests, Blanton suggests our lives, and the world, would be far better with less holding in, and more honesty.
Desolation Angels by Jack Kerouac
Moving work by Kerouac, as good as On the Road, in my opinion.
Meetings with Remarkable Women by Lenore Friedman
Well done introduction to a number of female Buddhists that have made inroads into America with their wisdom and teachings.
Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
If we all had a Spenser in our lives, what a different world it'd be. Parker's sleuth spends his time in this book not only protecting, but teaching a youth what it means to be honorable, and self-sufficient.
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
Funny and poignant semi-autobigraphical look at the author's early life, digging deep at modern life, warts and all.
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
Explosive and beautiful writing that ripped my mind open a number of years ago.
Eat the Rich by PJ O'Rourke
Former National Lampoon funnyman explores the good and bad of capitalism and socialism.
A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson
The author hikes the Appalachian Trail, and leaves a wake of laugh out loud moments in his wake.
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Disturbing and powerful look at friendship, responsibility, and honor.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Part history lesson culled from Vonnegut's time as a POW in the German city of Dresden, which was firebombed, and and part madcap science fiction tale, this was perhaps Vonnegut's finest work.
From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman
The book deals with the ten years Friedman spent living in the middle east (five in Lebanon, five in Israel), and shines a glaring spotlight on the abundant good, bad, and ugly that is to be found there. Even-handed and exceptionally readable from page one till the end.
The Gift of the Jews by Thomas Cahill
THE GOOD: Cahill's writing. The man is genuinely gifted with a prose style that hooks me like a fish; he's funny, intelligent, profane, and bubbling over with enthusiasm for his subjects, and he gives Jewish people some MUCH overdue credit. However....
THE BAD: Some of the points Cahill tries to make, such as "The Israelites...became the first people to value the New and to welcome Surprise", not to mention saying that Jewish insight will be responsible for "Western philosophy" and "the possibility of modern science" would certainly be subjects of debate, I think. But hey, it's educated speculation like that which sometimes brings us closer to the truth.
THE UGLY: Cahill recounting the story of Lot trying to outwit the bugger-happy Sodomites by offering them his daughters. Yeww.
John Adams by David McCullough
Exceptionally well written and researched, McCullough's portrait of America's second President and Founding Father gives an expansive and honest glimpse into Adams' character, intellect, passions, victories and failings; McCullough shows the importance of Adams' family, especially of his wife Abigail; and, most interesting to me, we're presented with a devastating comparison between Adams and fellow revolutionary Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant but extremely flawed man.
McCullough also does a fine job of showing not only the big picture items (the war against England, diplomatic efforts in Europe, etc), but minutiae like Adams and Ben Franklin sharing a hotel room and debating whether or not to leave the window up during the night.
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