I was challenged recently to list my top ten books, either favorite books or books that have impacted me and stuck with me. I maintain that trying to choose a favorite book is like a parent trying to choose a favorite child.
Sin embargo, I have attempted to put together a list of my top ten books. Really, the challenge was to list my choices on Facebook. I'm still going to do that, but I wanted to expound upon my choices just a little.
And it's my list, so I get to do what I want.
- The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum. I'm also kind of including the other books in the Oz series that Baum wrote, but The Patchwork Girl is my favorite of the lot. The book works so well. There's a real reason for the characters to be exploring all the corners of Oz. There are actions and consequences. It's a brilliant piece of work.
- Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. As one of the quote blurbs says on the cover, "The Apocalypse has never been funnier." So what would happen if the Apocalypse arrived, but Heaven and Hell had misplaced the AntiChrist? I think it may go a little like this book. It's brilliant and hilarious. If you read around other people they will ask what's making you laugh out loud.
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. This is a science fiction book that takes place in the future. It also manages to be a love-letter to the pop-culture of the eighties. And not just one bit of pop-culture, it spans movies, TV shows, books, video games, and role-playing games. It's handled brilliantly.
- Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's a tour of the weirdest fetishes in America. It's hilarious. The main character is described as a shit-magnet. If something happens to him, it's going to be the worst possible thing. He's not happy to be exploring America the way he ends up doing, but he soldiers on through. There is only one admirable character in the book, and she shows up for maybe three pages. I do love reading this journey.
- The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I'm cheating a bit here. However, the three books tell one long tale. Larsson was a brilliant writer. His characters are fleshed out and believable. He brilliantly weaves a tale that manages to include mysteries, investigative journalism, love, hate, courtroom drama, and conspiracies. It all centers around Lisbeth Salander, who, in a brilliant move, is a supporting character when she first shows up. She slowly takes over the story. Her presence is felt, even when she is absent. More books not for the faint of heart. The trilogy was originally going to be called, "Men Who Hate Women." There are some truly atrocious acts carried out. The feminist in me cringes at those, but thrills to the truly brilliant acts carried out by the female characters. There are some truly admirable characters in this novel.
- Dragonsong/Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey. Another cheat, but these two books are very short and together tell the story of Menolly, a girl who isn't a proper girl, who loves music so much that she runs away from home. The growth she experiences as she learns to survive on her own is wonderful. The second book has one part that makes me completely break down and cry every time I read it. This is a powerful story to which I really relate.
- Top Ten by Alan Moore and Gene Ha. This is a comic book series. It's about the police force in a city of superheroes and supervillains. These are truly great characters. They are believable. And again, there's a part that makes me cry every time. From a comic book. It's that good.
- On Writing by Stephen King. Essential. Important. Funny. Personal. Revealing. Insights into Stephen King's writing process. I can't emphasize the importance of this book to me enough. It's a great book.
- The Jim Henson biography by Brian Jay Jones. This biography does not pull punches. It explores every aspect of Jim Henson's life, even the not-so-admirable parts. It ranges from childhood to his death. The description of his funeral makes me cry. It's a well-written and entertaining biography. How often do you get to read one of those?
- Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. It's a book about the love of books. It's a whole lot of fun to read. And the cover glows in the dark. I don't want to say too much about the story, because it might give something away, but it's worth a read. Especially if you love books and fonts.
So that's my list. It was hard to choose which books to include, but I managed.
