My Favorite Books
|
I've read a lot of books in my life and I will probably read many more before I die. This doesn't don't exactly mean I'm well-read, so don't expect to find many classics here. My reading preferences tend to be confined to rather narrow literary genres. I do enjoy a good story though and have appreciated the beauty of the written word since I was a young child. My interest began with the standard fare of children's books, such as the Hardy Boys series and classics from children's authors like Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary.
The following list is in no particular order. It is so hard to pick one particular book that I have enjoyed above all the others, so I have simply listed the most memorable ones. This list is sure to be amended in the course of future readings.
|
|
|
This classic children's novel deals with a young teenage boy who runs away from home to live in the rural wilderness of the Catskill Mountains. This book will appeal to anyone who entertained thoughts of running away from home and trying their hand at the rugged life of the mountains.
Growing up, I loved romping in the woods and exploring the various creeks and streams the meandered near my childhood home. It was easy to identify with Sam Gribley, the main character of this novel, and I imagined that I had his same ingenuity and pioneering spirit. I must have read this book dozens of times and even as adult, continue to appreciate the timeless beauty of this classic of children's fiction.
|
This is another popular children's novel about a boy and the adventures he shares with his two coonhounds. Anyone that grew up with a beloved childhood pet will appreciate the deep bond between that develops between the boy and his dogs in this book.
This one of the most touching stories that I have ever read and I'm not embarrassed to admit that I still shed a tear or two when I reach the conclusion of this masterpiece. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good fiction and look forward to sharing this story with my own children one day.
|
This is a true story written by a 16-year old boy who sailed around the world by himself. Beginning in 1965 from San Pedro, California, this novel documents 5 years and over 33,000 miles of Robin Graham's epic circumnavigation.
This is clearly one of my top 5 favorite books and I have read it numerous times. Each time I read it, I come away amazed by this young man's courage and conviction. If you've ever dreamed of dropping everything and setting sail for distant shores, you'll easily identify with the adventurous spirit this book embodies. It has something for everyone, from adventure to romance and my appreciation for it grows each time I read it.
|
This classic piece of fiction by Harper Lee was one of the few books that I had to read for school that I truly enjoyed. The setting Harper Lee choose in rural Alabama was easy to relate to, having lived in the state for over 10 years. The story itself is elegant and profound in its simplicity, told from the viewpoint of a young girl named Scout. The characters in the book are so vividly described, particularly Atticus Finch who is Scout's father.
In Finch's defense of a black man accused of raping a poor white woman, he is the model of integrity and virtue. Through his actions, he serves as the ideal role-model for his children and teaches them valuable lessons about honesty and ethics. This book never fails to move me and also helped give me a greater appreciation of the civil rights movement.
|
Ender's Game is one of those rare sci-fi novels that transcends the genre to appeal to a wider audience of readers. One of the reasons is that people can relate to the story on so many different levels. Children can identify with Ender and the abuse he suffers at the hands of his brother and classmates. Adults can commiserate with Ender's plight and gain a better understanding of how children view the actions of their elders. Above all, Ender's game is about gifted children being trained to take part in a futuristic conflict.
The setting of the story is in a future where Earth has been attacked twice by an Alien insect species called the "Buggers". After narrowly surviving the last attack, the government decides to undertake breeding experiments to create brilliant military commanders to take part in the next war. Ender Wiggin is conceived for this purpose and he is a genius among geniuses. The book is ultimately a story of Ender's training as he is prepared to lead Earth in the final conflict with the Buggers.
The beauty of the book is in the development of Ender's character. From the beginning, his extraordinary abilities alienate him from his peers and Ender resists what he feels is unfair coercion by the military. At every step, Ender feels manipulated by forces he can't control, ultimately building to a unforgettable climax that will leave you amazed.
This is one of the most powerful, thought-provoking books that I have ever read. The novel was so compelling that I instantly went out the buy the rest of the Ender series. If you love great fiction, I can't recommend this book strongly enough.
|
The 'Rama' series by Clarke is a tour-de-force of science fiction. The first novel, Rendezvous with Rama, is a classic that swept just about every literary award in the sci-fi genre. It describes humanity's encounter with an enigmatic alien spacecraft that enters our solar system. The ship is in the shape of a huge cylinder containing vast cities in it's interior. Clarke's vivid description of this alien environment is incredibly compelling and really taxes your imagination. The novel is both engaging and frustrating as the astronauts sent to explore the alien ship struggle to comprehend its mission and the absence of its creators. The novel ends with little resolution, leaving readers with numerous questions left unanswered. I think the brilliance of the book is in its accurate portrayal of mankind's encounter with a technologically advanced alien civilization.
Apparently Clarke had no intention of writing a sequel, but his prophetic ending to the original novel in which he said 'The Ramans do everything in threes', naturally led people to expect a continuation of Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke would go on to write three more novels in the series, Rama II, Garden of Rama and finally, Rama Revealed.
People seem to have mixed emotions about the series, but personally I loved it. There are encounters with numerous alien species and Clarke also manages to touch upon several social issues such as racism, the AIDS crisis and xenophobia. My only real criticism of the series is the religious overtones in its conclusion. Those who have read the series will know what I'm talking about. Overall though, it is an outstanding body of science fiction.
|
This classic depiction of a dystopia is one of the most powerful social commentaries written in the 20th century. 1984 is a story of a totalitarian society where freedom and truth are non-existent concepts, a society in which its citizens live in constant fear of being accused of thoughtcrime and becoming erased from recorded history.
It is the story of one man's rebellion, fueled by a love that blossoms in a climate of sexual repression. I read this book reluctantly on the suggestion of my sister, but quickly fell in love with it. This book should be standard reading for every high school student and will give you a renewed appreciation of the civil liberties we take for granted in this country.
|
Hyperspace is a fascinating exploration of the implications of higher-dimensional physics and its effects on how we view reality. The fields of quantum theory and relativity have always fascinated me and I found this book to be one of the most lucid explanations of some the wilder predictions of the latest scientific theories.
Obviously this book isn't for everyone, but if you are interested in expanding your perceptions of reality and challenging the conventional notions of what is and isn't possible, then you'll love this book. Kaku also explores other broader topics such as cosmology and the prospect of extraterrestrial life in our galaxy. To those interested, I would also highly recommend
The Cosmic Code by Heinz Pagels in addition to The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.
|
This is the compelling sequel to the Greg Bear's classic sci-fi thriller, The Forge of God. In The Forge of God, Bear describes the destruction of Earth by killer robots sent by an advanced civilization. Humanity finds its salvation in helper robots sent by alien benefactors who are able save some of the population, but cannot prevent the destruction of Earth. In the conclusion, the benefactors construct a starship to be sent to exact revenge against the civilization responsible for the destruction of Earth. This is the galactic law and a group of Earth children are selected to carry out the mission.
Anvil of Stars continues the story with the children now teenagers in search of the star system which is home to the race that destroyed Earth. This book is hardcore science-fiction at its best. At its heart, is the development of the children as they are prepared to carry out the destruction of an alien civilization. They are given access to technology and weapons beyond their understanding. Towards the end, some of the children begin to question the ethics of destroying an entire civilization, regardless of their crime. The ending is morally ambiguous as the children carry out the xenocide with little emotion or regard for the species they destroy.
|
Those that know me, know that I am a huge Star Trek fan, particularly of the Next Generation series. My entry into the realm of Star Trek fiction happened only recently, but I've quickly discovered that there is a great deal of wonderful fiction out there set in rich universe created by Gene Roddenberry.
The Devil's Heart is the best piece of fiction in the Star Trek genre that I have come across. It is the story of a mythical object, the Devil's Heart, that is discovered by a Vulcan archaeological team. It is believed to bestow its owner with incredible powers. The artifact has its origin with ancient Iconia, one of the oldest and most advanced civilizations in the Star Trek universe.
The coolest thing about the book is the description of the artifact's travels through history. Somehow, it jumps from world to world, only to bring misfortune to each owner. It is known to the Vulcans as the Ko N'ya and to the Klingons, it is the Pragrashtak. I love books that delve into the rich history of the Star Trek universe, particulary tales of extinct civilizations. I guess I have a little bit of the archaeologist in me and this book really captured my imagination. If I had to recommend just one book to a Star Trek enthusiast, it would be this one.
|
The story told in this book parallels that of the Star Trek: First Contact movie released several years ago, but describes an alternate history of Zefram Cochrane's first warp flight. In Federation, Cochrane makes a solo flight to Alpha Centauri, where he discovers the first habitable extrasolar planet. When he returns, he becomes the focus of a ruthless tyrant, Adrik Thorsen, who wants to use Cochrane's technology to create a super-weapon.
The great thing about this book is the way the author manages to tie together two seemingly disconnected plots that take place in different time periods, bringing Picard and Kirk face to face in the conclusion. It also describes a richer history of the earliest days of warp travel and the foundations of the Federation. This book along with Carmen Carter's The Devil's Heart are probably the two greatest pieces of Trek fiction ever written. If you are a fan, both are must-reads!
|
|
|
|
