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As promised, here is the list of my top five books from the twenty-five that I have read so far. This ranking is completely subjective and is not an attempt to say a particular book is ‘greater’ than another. These are simply the five books I have most enjoyed over the past few months. I am also trying to pick the books I think my readers would be most interested in, so I am avoiding my nerdier history and philosophy selections. With no further ado, the list.
#5: Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
Wells Tower’s collection of short stories is full of pitiful characters in depressing situations that somehow leave you in a happy mood. Tower’s prose is outstanding. His sentences have an edge to them that few seasoned writers can boast. I am especially fond of the eponymous story, which follows a middle-aged Viking on one last plundering raid. Go buy this book and support a fresh voice on the American literary scene.
#4: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre
Le Carre’s gripping tale of Cold War spy Alec Leamas is a spy novel worthy of Hemingway. This is not James Bond using gadgets to defeat supervillains and seduce chesty double agents. This is the story of a real man used as a pawn in the cutthroat game of Cold War power politics. Read it and feel glad that your life is a bit less complicated than that of poor Mr. Leamas.
#3: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
This is a novel that is almost painful to read. The utter lack of self-confidence on the part of the asylum patients is heartbreaking. Randall McMurphy is a tragic hero worthy of Shakespeare, losing his all for the sake of his comrades. The despicable “Big Nurse” Ratched is also a villain for the ages. I love the Jack Nicholson movie, but I enjoyed the book even more.
#2: Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Continuing the theme of books that will break your heart, I have selected Solzhenitsyn’s classic story of a man fighting cancer and oppression in Soviet Russia. Despite the saddest of possible lives, Oleg Kostoglotov emerges as a hero who inspires us all with his unrelenting humanity. This is not a book for someone wanting a cheerful read, but is absolutely worth the effort.
And the final, number one, best book I have read so far is…
#1: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Gibran’s book is beyond words. Despite its brevity, The Prophet is overflowing with timeless wisdom that can be applied to all our lives. A bit philosophical for some tastes, this book is nevertheless a must read. It is also my dear, sweet great-grandmother’s favorite book. In case you aren’t aware, you don’t argue with the Granny.
1 Year, 100 Books 