Top 5 Books. You would think I could be extremely cultured and pull out books like "The Art of War," "The Anarchist's Cookbook," "The Bible," "Mein Kampf," but lets face it, I read popular culture books. Does that mean I fail in reading cause I'm not learning when I read? I don't think so...I think I just enjoy the little things in life a little more than trying to prove to myself I'm better than I am. I'm not, I'm a nerd.
1) High Fidelty (Nick Hornby) -- I first read this in High School for class and I loved it then and I still do. Hornby's known for his popular culture references which sits well with me. He comments on great classic songs like "Walking on Sunshine" and classic bands like Nirvana. Stuff I grew up on. He meshes this all with a guy completely obsessed with music and how his love life is failing. Something I can relate to easily.
2) A Long Way Down (Nick Hornby) -- Is it a crime that I put two Hornby books in the same list? well this one is the Breakfast Club on steroids. 4 unlikely individuals form a group pact on not to commit suicide for a month, then 2 months, then how to continue their lives from there. The individuals range from a former Television star, a failing rock musician, an emo kid, a single mother with a disabled child. There's nothing that makes you realize there's more about life than knowing that you've got nothing to lose. Stranded on a desert island, wouldn't be a bad choice to have this in hand.
3) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (J.K. Rowling) -- Debatable. I believe the Triwizard tournament was pretty exciting. Harry up against the wall, someone on his back trying to get him in the sneakiest of ways. The return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. That's not a spoiler cause if you've read the book, you know what happens, but if you haven't read the book, you shouldn't know who I'm talking about, right? ;).
4) Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) -- Cheese. I know. Robert Langdon, a cross between James Bond and Indiana Jones, saves the world from the clutches of religion! Being a Catholic, it's interesting to read about your religion in a different light and try to cope with it. Being stranded on a desert island, where is my God?
5) Fight Club (Chuck Palaniuk) -- Anarchy, Bipolarity, Schizophrenia. This book opens lights up on how messed up society can become with just an idea of trying to feel more alive. Ironically, the main character tries to feel more alive by getting closer to dying, which I guess goes down to pain for pleasure and exhilaration. This is another book that comes down to realizing that there's more to life. Unlike the movie, the main character dies and has a conversation with God. How many books can you read that ends with a conversation with God?
Well this was actually a really tough list to make cause I clearly don't have a lot of variety in what I read! Next list will be a battle with the Top 5 Indie Bands with Female Leads (excluding male/female duets).
"Does that mean I fail in reading cause I'm not learning when I read? I don't think so...I think I just enjoy the little things in life a little more than trying to prove to myself I'm better than I am. I'm not, I'm a nerd."
ReplyDeleteI love that because it describes exactly how I feel about reading books that aren't Earth-shatteringly profound. I used to read a lot. I read a lot of profound material way back when I had a lot of time and stopped during University because I had a lot of information in my brain already and I appreciated something lighthearted.
What would be my top picks?
I would have the Quran definitely. My Quran has historical background about when verses when revealed and it always gives me a sense of overwhelming comfort. Stuck on a desert island, I'd have to say I would be in need of a lot of peace so I wouldn't go bonkers.
Definitely the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I know, I should count them as seven separate books, but no, I won't. I love them all and I am the type of person that read books I love over and over and over.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin -- I read that back in seventh grade and it was just a really good read. It's a mystery, but definitely different than so many I've ready over the years. I always wait until I forget the little details and then go back and read it again so I can enjoy it again.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean George -- I read that in third grade. I loved it. It's about a kid that runs away from his house and sets up in the wilderness near a mountain somewhere. It's about how he learns to survive with just about nothing. Kind of like Hatchet. If I was stuck on an island, I could probably learn some useful tricks from that book.
The Watchers by Dean Koontz -- I read that in the 8th grade and it's an awesome book. I like a lot of Koontz's books.
If I could sneak in a 6th book -- Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. My favorite book. It's just a comfort to read something that brilliant.
This comment is in parts because I wrote too much.
ReplyDelete"Does that mean I fail in reading cause I'm not learning when I read? I don't think so...I think I just enjoy the little things in life a little more than trying to prove to myself I'm better than I am. I'm not, I'm a nerd."
I love that because it describes exactly how I feel about reading books that aren't Earth-shatteringly profound. I used to read a lot. I read a lot of profound material way back when I had a lot of time and stopped during University because I had a lot of information in my brain already and I appreciated something lighthearted.
What would be my top picks?
ReplyDeleteI would have the Quran definitely. My Quran has historical background about when verses when revealed and it always gives me a sense of overwhelming comfort. Stuck on a desert island, I'd have to say I would be in need of a lot of peace so I wouldn't go bonkers.
Definitely the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I know, I should count them as seven separate books, but no, I won't. I love them all and I am the type of person that read books I love over and over and over.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin -- I read that back in seventh grade and it was just a really good read. It's a mystery, but definitely different than so many I've ready over the years. I always wait until I forget the little details and then go back and read it again so I can enjoy it again.
ReplyDeleteMy Side of the Mountain by Jean George -- I read that in third grade. I loved it. It's about a kid that runs away from his house and sets up in the wilderness near a mountain somewhere. It's about how he learns to survive with just about nothing. Kind of like Hatchet. If I was stuck on an island, I could probably learn some useful tricks from that book.
The Watchers by Dean Koontz -- I read that in the 8th grade and it's an awesome book. I like a lot of Koontz's books.
If I could sneak in a 6th book -- Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. My favorite book. It's just a comfort to read something that brilliant.