Ten Best
In No Particular Order (unless otherwise noted):
1. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby: "If you wanted to mess me up, you should have gotten to me sooner." This book was funny, touching, and well written. Gold Star, Nick Hornby.
2. Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson: People have been telling me for years to read Jeanette Winterson, and now I know why. How Winterson weaves this tale between the past and the present is incredibly beautiful.
3. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio. She goes a little hippy a few times, and I could have done without that, but it had some really good ideas on how to get in touch with yourself (pun intended), some wonderful references to solid resources and it was very thought provoking.
4. Sunshine by Robin McKinley: (this one is before Twilight in any order you can possibly imagine.) The main character kicks ass on her own, is a total fucking hero, And she doesn't fall in love with the undead creature, but rather becomes his rescuer/friend. Also, this book made me crave cinnamon rolls like you wouldn't believe.
5. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: I still maintain that this book as the best opening page (I think its actually four paragraphs) ever written. Nabokov is a literary genius, even if after you're done reading all the pretty, pretty words you remember this that you're reading a story about a murdering Pedophile. (And this is why Nabokov is a genius. Only a genius could make you forget what Humbert Humbert is while you're in the story.)
6. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This book was a little ridiculous, but it was fun. (Although, upon repeated readings, I would have liked more introduction to Alice so that James' revelation meant something.)
7. The Intentional Stance by Daniel Dennett. "...In fact I suspect that you wonder whether I realize how hard it is for you to be sure that you wonder whether I mean to be saying that you can recognize that I can believe you to want me to explain that most of us can keep track of only about five or six orders [of intention], under the best of circumstances. (1987:243)" This is a book about folk psychology. No, its a book about methodology. Wait, its a book about philosophy. Well, its a book in which Dennett explains his theory about the Intentional Stance. Philosophy rocks.
9. Eat Me by Linda Jaivin. Aussie erotinovel. Follows the lives and loves of four friends (before Sex and the City.). And, did I say Aussie? Enough said.
9. Survival at Auschwitz by Primo Levi. Levi's up front about the possible discrepancies between what he's saying and the historical record. But, even knowing that going into it (and, honestly, who can live through what he lived through and bother to remember dates and times.) its a harrowing tale and a testament to the strength of the human spirit. I think its good to remind yourself once a year or so of what people are capable of.
10. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo: Sure, its fiction. Sure, its about a mouse. But, I repeat: its good to remind yourself once a year or so of what people are capable of. This tale about bravery, luck, love, red thread, revenge, The power of music and literature, forgiveness and soup brought a tear to my eye. It deserves all the praise it can get.
