Tuesday, April 18, 2006

13 - 39

13) Blink, Malcolm Gladwell

Great book - I really love Malcolm Gladwell. I read this before the Tipping Point, so I didn't have that to compare it with. They are very similar, both great. Worth reading, but borrow it, you may not read it again.

14) Lost In A Good Book, Jasper Fforde
15) The Well Of Lost Plots, Jasper Fforde

Last 2 installments in Jasper Fforde's brave new alternate reality. Entertaining, but not as good as the first two, with the last 'jumping the shark'. I finished out of a desire to put it on this list.

16) I, Claudius, Robert Graves

I read this and every other Robert Graves book I could get my hands on when I was in undergrad. "I, Claudius" is still my favorite of all of his writing. Worth buying, reading, and re-reading.

17) Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides

Great book, if a little odd. About the coming-of-age of a hermaphrodite, a subject rarely covered in fiction. Seems to be well-researched, and Eugenides is a compelling author. I read the somewhat large book in a matter of days.

18) And the Shofar Blew, Francine Rivers
19) Unveiled, Francine Rivers

Anything by Rivers is really just like christian fundamentalist candy, but it reads quickly and strokes my fundie roots. The sappiness of it may make you sick, especially if you aren't a believer.

20) Gilead, Marylinne Robinson

Written in the first person as a letter/journal-like reflections of a dying minister, this book was phenomenal. Go buy it right now and read it.

21) To Own A Dragon, Donald Miller

I love Donald Miller's writing, and recently got to go hear him speak. While this isn't as heavy on the deep thinking and wry observation as "Blue Like Jazz", it is a good read. My favorite part was the introduction though, which probably says something. I'd definitely recommend it to guys.

22) Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde

See above reference about Jasper Fforde and the Thursday Next series.

23) Squids will be Squids, Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
24) We Share Everything!, Robert Munsch

I really should be ashamed about counting these, they are kids books. And by kids books, I mean less than 20 pages, with pictures and huge lettering.

25) The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

Better than "Blink", and thought-provoking. Another book to borrow. Check out gladwell.com for more of his essays and articles.

26) Where's My Cow?, Terry Pratchett

Another kids book. Illustrations are great - this book is an especial treat for anyone that loves Pratchett's Discworld series, as that is where it is set.

27) Ship of Magic, Robin Hobb
28) Mad Ship, Robin Hobb
29) Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is really a fantastic author in the fantasy genre - she really rises to the top of all the other fantasy fiction junk out there, and remains one of my favorite authors. I have read and re-read all of her books and would recommend them to anyone that likes historical or fantasy/scifi.

30) Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, Thoreau

Oooh look at me, I'm deep, I read Thoreau.

31) Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller

His most popular book, and still one I buy as a gift and give to friends. It changed the way I think about my faith and how I put it in the context of my life, actions, culture, etc. Really, really good. You'll not regret reading it.

32) Wild at Heart, John Eldredge

Not sure what to write here about this book. It really brought up lots of great questions, but irked me in places with stereotypes about men and women.

33) Searching for God Knows What, Don Miller

Follow-up to "Blue Like Jazz", and I honestly may have liked it better. Check it out, worth buying and reading.

34) Poems from the Book of Hours, Rainer Maria Rilke

I love Rilke, though I don't want to become that crazy single lady that smokes clove cigarettes in the park after hours and reads Rilke in the original German by the light of the streetlamps a block away. I may or may not have read this short collection of his in this manner.

35) Mother Teresa, the authorized biography

This book will inspire you, though I think it's really just Mother Teresa's life that is inspirational. If you are going to read a biography about her, pick a different one, this one was okay but got really tangled and hard to understand towards the end.

36) Zipporah, Wife of Moses, Marek Halter

Above the caliber of Francine Rivers, and reads more like Diamonte's "The Red Tent". Interesting and a good read, but would borrow/get from a library. Part of a trilogy.

37) Eragon, Christopher Paolini

Sorry, I can tell he was 15 when he wrote this.

38) PostSecret, Frank Warren

You really have to check this out if you haven't seen it - it is a guy that solicits anonymous postcard secrets, confessions, etc., from people.

Check out postsecret.blogspot.com for more information, to buy the books, and newly posted postcard secrets every Sunday.

39) You Are Special, Max Lucado

A fun little kids board book about the Wemmicks and Eli the Carpenter - it teaches about self-worth and is really cool. A great gift for adults and kids alike.