tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/MokoFeed2009-11-09T21:46:42+01:00tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2008-12-21:/2008/12/21/a-boy-at-war-pearl-harbor-5253147/bestbooks2008-12-21T10:42:01+01:002008-12-21T10:42:01+01:00 <p>Harry Mazar's "A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor" tells of Adam who is the son of a military lieutenant on the USS Arizona and his family has just relocated to Hawaii's Oahu island. Struggling to fit into yet another high school, Adam makes friends with Davi, an American born Japanese boy. Against his father's word, Adam meets up with Davi and his cousin Martin one Sunday morning to fish in Pearl Harbor. This fateful day happens to be December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and sunk the USS Arizona. When the three boys' little boat is shot at, Adam is separated from his friends when they are taken to the hospital. He sets off on a mission to find his father.</p> <p>Mazer's work of historical fiction is touching and real. With much description of the island and the setting, the reader gets the feeling that they too are experiencing this important day in US history. One can picture the amount of destruction from the author's account of the story. The narrative recalls the vivid attack with exceptional graphic detail and action packed events. The protagonist learns about his power of bravery and heroism when he encounters obstacles in his journey to see if his father is alive. Adam also learns valuable life lessons in friendship and discrimination. Any student who enjoys historical fiction will want to read this dramatic story. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2008/12/21/a-boy-at-war-pearl-harbor-5253147/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2008-12-10:/2008/12/10/fairytale-esque-5196578/bestbooks2008-12-10T07:55:09+01:002008-12-10T07:55:09+01:00 <p>Melissa Kantor's If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince tells the tale of Lucy who is a tenth grade girl living with her new 'wicked' stepmother and her 'princess' stepsisters on Long Island. With her father still working on a case in San Francisco, Lucy is lonely. As a brand-new student at Glen Lake High School, she buries herself in her artwork so she doesn't have to face the friendless atmosphere of the cafeteria alone. Lucy's life changes one day when she is invited to a basketball game by the star player, Connor Pearson. As Lucy's personal life finally falls into place, her home life sometimes prevents her from moving forward. While dealing with a new familial situation, Lucy's introspective view of a teenage girl is genuine, comedic, and honest. As Lucy struggles with her home life, she must figure out what will make her happy.</p> <p>Kantor tells the story from the point of view of the protagonist as she relates the common, contemporary challenges in a teenager's life of balancing family and social life. Lucy also deals with the sensitive issue of remarriage and becoming a stepdaughter/sister. One can see a change and growth in Lucy's character when she begins to refer to her twin stepsisters by their names, Emma and Amy, instead of Princess #1 and Princess #2. Kantor effectively creates a humorous tale with a serious undertone through witty lines and funny situations. The language is flowing and uses some sophisticated vocabulary words. The entire novel acts as a modernized analogy to the timeless Cinderella fairy tale. Readers who enjoy fairy tale-esque stories with a present day feel are recommended to read this novel.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2008/12/10/fairytale-esque-5196578/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2008-04-23:/2008/04/23/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town-4083983/bestbooks2008-04-23T15:33:19+02:002008-04-23T15:33:19+02:00 <p>Toby Wilson, a resident of Antler, Texas is spending the summer with his best friend Cal. Disappointed that nothing fun ever happens in their small, rural area, they are intrigued when 'the fattest boy in the world', Zachary Beaver, is brought to town. When Zachary is abandoned by his caretaker and left alone in this trailer, Toby and Cal decide to help the boy and end up forging a significant friendship. As Toby deals with his mother and father's separation, chasing after his crush Scarlett, and having Cal's brother overseas in Vietnam, he learns important lessons about life, love, and relationships. Kimberly Willis Holt's work is a timeless story set in the early 70's. She wisely tells this story from Toby's point of view to allow the reader to fully relate to the hardships and feelings that the protagonist is experiencing. Toby is embarking on new, uncomfortable aspects of life, and his first person narrative tone is emotionally truthful and adorably hopeful.</p> <p>Holt's writing is honest and fresh and displays her ability to create a classic story while involving important issues such as war, obesity, divorce, and building connections with people. Her simple writing style makes the book easy to read and will be encouraging for young adults who may be reluctant readers. Winner of the National Book Award, this novel is recommended for readers in grades six through eight who enjoy reading about the adventures of young boys exploring their youth.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2008/04/23/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town-4083983/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2008-03-24:/2008/03/24/forever-young-3930831/bestbooks2008-03-24T14:43:50+01:002008-03-24T14:43:50+01:00 <p>Judy Blume will always be a timeless author. Her books are mostly aimed toward young adult readers but she has the ability to draw in readers of all ages. Her classic books tell ageless tales that will be passed on for generations to come. Blume succeeds in writing a mature novel for the older population of young adults as she deals with topics such as love, sex, and birthday control.</p> <p>Main characters Katherine and Michael are in love. After meeting at a mutual friends' house, the two high school seniors' relationship begins to progress from dating into a real, adult relationship. As Katherine and Michael decide they want to show each other physically how they feel emotionally, she begins to casually seek the advice of her elders and take the necessary precautions as the couple becomes sexually active. While thinking about her personal life, Katherine must also prepare for her college future. Blinded by love, she can think only about spending time with Michael. The pair is put to the ultimate test when Katherine is sent to summer camp for six weeks.</p> <p>Blume's portrayal of first time love is emotional and heart wrenching. Told in first person, Katherine narrates her tale of first time love and sex. Through the couples' ups and downs, the tone conveyed is at times touching and also heartbreaking. The protagonist is tested by facing many of life's challenges such as maturing, graduating from high school, and meeting new people. When Katherine is away at summer camp, Blume wisely uses her creative ability to write the story in letter form. The reader can actually experience what the characters are feeling through their correspondence. This book is recommended for high school students and above because of its mature content.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2008/03/24/forever-young-3930831/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2008-01-03:/2008/01/03/the_bat_mitzvah~3523496/bestbooks2008-01-03T16:01:51+01:002008-01-03T16:01:51+01:00 <p>I have had the opportunity to read quite a few novels in the young adult literature category. I hadn't remembered from my childhood which books fit this genre, so i scoured the library shelves looking for books of interest. Since I usually judge books by their titles, one book quickly grabbed my attention. It is called You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, by Fiona Rosenbloom.</p> <p>Roosenbloom weaves the tale of Stacy Friedman who is reaching a milestone in her life when she becomes a Bat Mitzvah. Living in suburban Westchester, Stacy wants her party to be enjoyed by her friends, the cool kids in school, and most of all her crush, Andy Goldfarb. As her big day approaches, Stacy slowly finds out what it means to grow up and become a woman. She experiences a fight with her best friend, realizes her parents' separation will end in divorce, and discovers her brother isn't too annoying after all. Fiona Rosenbloom's work of fiction is presented in first person by the main character, Stacy. One may relate to Stacy's spontaneous thoughts to god begging for the situation of the moment and to her own opinionated statements of fact included throughout the book. </p> <p> Rosenbloom writes a realistic tale for young adults about coping with friends and family. Stacy also overcomes the typical challenges of being a young woman and trying to make a name for oneself in a social group. She struggles with the obstacle of performing three ?mitzvahs? (good deeds) before her bat mitzvah, but surprises herself when she deals with things in a mature manner. This contemporary story contains chapter titles that humorously predict what may lie ahead and the title of the work is also a good indicator for the witty language and amusing storyline. This book definitely will be liked by those who truly enjoy modern stories with pop culture references. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2008/01/03/the_bat_mitzvah~3523496/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-12-04:/2007/12/04/the_last_words_regarding_harry_potter~3392674/bestbooks2007-12-04T10:55:28+01:002007-12-04T10:55:28+01:00 <p>The Last of Harry Potter</p> <p>I am personally almost done with Harry Potter. Since the new book is (hopefully) the last in the series, this is also the last I will write on the subject. It seems that we will have to suffer through the last movies of Harry Potter as well but that is something I have decided I will not write about.</p> <p>A Salute to Harry Potter</p> <p>I would like to end this final blog article on the subject of Harry Potter with a sort of salute to Harry Potter and his creator; J. K. Rowling; Harry Potter was a cute little boy. We had the privilege of watching him grow year after year in his own unique world of magic. For a while, reading Harry Potter filled our mundane world with the scent of magic. Unfortunately, the story took a turn for the worse and even though we are forced to follow it through to the bitter end, it would seem that the end was inevitable.</p> <p>The Last of Harry Potter</p> <p>I would like to conclude with the hope that this is indeed the end of Harry Potter. We have all learnt from history that sometimes heroes die hard. Sherlock Holmes made it back from the dead and so did many other heroes. Sometimes it is the fault of the fans for not letting the hero die and sometimes it is the fault of the author. As a fan I can say that Harry has outlived his usefulness. One might hope that Rowling has the sense to let Harry rest in peace!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/12/04/the_last_words_regarding_harry_potter~3392674/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-10-10:/2007/10/10/law_librarianship_legal_research~3114630/bestbooks2007-10-10T16:24:29+02:002007-10-10T16:24:29+02:00 <p>One class that I was fortunate enough to take in library school was called ?Law Librarianship' which is actually a class given in law school called Legal Research. The library class was taught in the law school of my affiliated program. Each of us library school students felt immensely important walking up the steps to the law school; as if this gave our class the validation it needed (though we all know that each class in library school is as important as anyone else's studies).</p> <p>The teacher teaching the course was an ex-public defender lawyer who taught full time as a law professor. In addition, she holds a Masters in Library Science. Though she was tough and intense, she was one of the best teachers I had ever had the privilege of taking in the program.</p> <p>I knew I had to explain to people what classes I was taking and when I said ?Law Librarianship' they would probably go ? ?Say what?? My professor explained the course brilliantly. She said that we weren't going to learn law. We wouldn't go in depth into cases, however, we would learn how the law was organized. If we knew where cases were located, how the law was organized into bound books, and where to look up certain information, then we would be the best law librarian/legal researchers.</p> <p>I was quite thankful she explained the course this way because then I was able to tell people the same answer when they'd ask about the class. I would say, ?We learn how the law is organized.? Since technology is also improving, we learned two major law databases ? Lexis Nexis Law and Thomas' Westlaw which will indeed become helpful through my librarian profession. FYI Readers: Not only do law schools needs librarians, but major law firms employ librarians for their firm's personal library as well. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/10/10/law_librarianship_legal_research~3114630/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-09-19:/2007/09/19/a_sisterly_bond~3006603/bestbooks2007-09-19T16:12:24+02:002007-09-19T16:12:24+02:00 <p>In a recent entry I wrote about Sonya Sones' book called What My Mother Doesn't Know. Reading this book intrigued me to research the author a bit. I found that she wrote two other books in the same style as the first one i read. This book of hers hits Sones closer to home because it reflects on her sister's experiences it affected Sones firsthand.</p> <p>Sones writes this autobiographical novel about her experiences when her older sister was admitted to a psychiatric facility. Sones' memories are composed into short, intense poems that retell her everyday occurrences that reflect her tone and mood on the arising situations. Most of the poems are the voice of a scared, frustrated, and irate teenager. Though she knows she can't control the circumstances, she can't help but be angry at her sister, her parents, and most of all herself. The poems express Sones' feelings of insecurities of not being able to lead a regular young adult life. She always thought people were making fun of her or talking about her behind her back because of her sister's mental state.</p> <p> This novel marks Sones' first work for young adults and establishes her style of writing one to two page, well crafted poems. The titles of the poems are often indicative of what the reader can expect in the upcoming stanzas. The poetry is full of emotion and proves heart wrenching for any young adults reader because Sones' language creates an empathetic tone. Though the subject area is mostly appropriate high school age students, adults of all ages will appreciates Sones' real life, often complex, poetic saga. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/09/19/a_sisterly_bond~3006603/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-09-04:/2007/09/04/alex_mcknight_is_a_cool_dude_in_a_freezi~2922212/bestbooks2007-09-04T11:34:45+02:002007-09-04T11:34:45+02:00 <p>No one describes ice and snow better than Steve Hamilton. Alex McKnight - his hero - may be icy and remote but the atmosphere is always way colder. </p> <p>The frozen north woods of the United States is a favorite venue for crime/mystery writers and Steve Hamilton is the premier author representing and depicting this area of the country. Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula - where that states meets the Canadian border - Hamilton's books are all about atmosphere and locale. When I started my collection, Hamilton was already on book # 3 and closing in on the fourth, so I went back and started at the beginning, with "A Cold Day in Paradise," Hamilton's 1998 offering.</p> <p>The star of Hamilton's series is Alex McKnight, though this rugged ex-cop still has a hard time stealing the thunder from the frozen venue the books are set in. Alex could be a cliché - retired cop, tragic background, brooding loner - but Hamilton has fleshed him out and he is a multi-dimensional, real character whom we care about and root for. The book won the award for Best First Private Eye Novel of the Year in 1998 and deservedly so; even better, Hamilton has kept apace of his fast start out of the blocks and the series simply gets better and better as it goes along. Alex is highly likable, despite his solitary ways; in many ways he reminds me Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Hamilton's writing is similar to Connelly's in its crispness and no-nonsense approach. But no matter how intriguing the character, one can't help but admire Hamilton for his evocative depiction of the frigid landscape and thankless environment in which the books are set. Alex is one cool dude, but the background is always cold, colder, coldest and Hamilton is a good enough writer that the reader can just about feel his breath turn to vapor as he turns the pages. Hamilton is a terrific writer and his Alex McKnight series is one of the best.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/09/04/alex_mcknight_is_a_cool_dude_in_a_freezi~2922212/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-08-28:/2007/08/28/a_holocaust_survivor_s_tale_from_an_inte~2884233/bestbooks2007-08-28T15:18:29+02:002007-08-28T15:18:29+02:00 <p>Art Spiegelman presents <u>Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here my Troubles Began</u>, a graphic novel about his father's experiences at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Germany during the Holocaust. Semi-autobiographical, Art draws himself as he requests that his father, Vladek, tell him more about his experiences during the war. His father recounts the endless tragedies that occurred to both himself and his family. Told in a vivid voice of a first person account, this true tale is poignant and emotional because most of these events happened to over six million Jews. Vladek's report is heartbreaking as he is separated with his love and depicts the acts of bravery and courage concentration camp victims had to endure to stay alive.</p> <p> Spiegelman draws each page with precision, detailed drawings, and worded descriptions. His father is narrating the graphic novel, though the cartoon boxes contain dialogue as well. Spiegelman draws each character as animals with a different type assigned to each nationality. He portrays Jews as mice, the polish as Pigs, Germans as cats and Americans as dogs. Though the novel is depicted in black and white ink, Spiegelman makes it clear to the reader when the events are in the past by creating gloomy, dark, and heavily marked up panels. Spiegelman received the Pulitzer Prize fo his praiseworthy work. Though the subject matter is mature, students ages older than 12 are recommended to read this book to gain perspective of a Holocaust survivor.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/08/28/a_holocaust_survivor_s_tale_from_an_inte~2884233/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-08-20:/2007/08/20/what_every_daughter_should_read~2837549/bestbooks2007-08-20T10:23:38+02:002007-08-20T10:23:38+02:00 <p>One of my favorite Young Adult books is called What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones. Ninth grader Sophie tells her story of love, friendship, and maturity. Living in suburban Massachusetts, Sophie deals with high school, boyfriends and familial relationships. Sophie meets Dylan and falls helplessly in love. She daydreams constantly about kissing him or holding him and they meet up for secret rendezvous' near school or wherever they can. Soon Sophie realizes there is a difference between instant love and lust. While her best friends are away on vacation, Sophie strikes up a friendship with Murphy, the class nerd. Although she is nervous that her friends with make fun of her, Sophie becomes aware that she genuinely likes Murphy. </p> <p> Sones tells this story from Sophie's point of view and in beautiful, flowing poetry. While most conventional books are broken down into chapters, this book is a compilation of one to two page poems that tells the story. The titles of the poems describe its content and the text of the poems creates an honest, somber mood as Sophie learns life's hard lessons from her experiences. Sones sporadically surprises the reader by ending a poem with a shocking feeling of joy and laughter.</p> <p> This very moving work of literature is also aesthetically pleasing to the reader. Combined with the attention-grabbing language, the chosen font and layout is easy to read quickly, clearly making this a page turner. Occasionally, the fonts will switch to connote a change in speaker which makes it very understandable to the reader. In the last twenty pages of the book, a small sketch of a man and woman dancing appears in the lower right hand corner. This sketch correlates to the text of the story when Sophie is speaking about a flip book. When one thumbs through these pages quickly, the sketch appears to be moving and the man is giving the woman a kiss. This work is suggested for girls and boys embarking on their high school experiences, but this timeless tale, with unique storytelling capabilities, would be appreciated by any young adult or adult reader.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/08/20/what_every_daughter_should_read~2837549/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-08-02:/2007/08/02/chick_lit~2743150/bestbooks2007-08-02T11:40:23+02:002007-08-02T11:41:17+02:00 <p>Chick-Lit is a contemporary description of literature aimed especially for women and girls. They are usually about a woman who just wants to fall in love and have a successful relationship. Her work problems and family crisis are thrown in their as well. And they usually have an outrageously wealthy best friend. The novels I read in this genus usually have to do with fashion and journalism. Sometimes the protagonist is a fashion writer at a fictional magazine. One of my favorite books that fit this genre is "How to Sleep with a Movie Star" by Kristin Harmel.</p> <p>I'll admit that it was the title that grabbed my attention. Some people judge books by their covers, but I judge them on how catchy the title is. I knew this book would be just the type I like to read.</p> <p>The main character, Claire, works at Mod Magazine and is always interviewing Hollywood hotties. Claire's world becomes complicated when she mixes pleasure with business when she strikes up a friendship with one of Tinseltown's most eligible bachelors, Cole Brannon. When the photographers snap pictures of Claire leaving Cole's apartment, aspects of their ?relationship' is misconstrued in tabloid fodder. Claire feels that her job is in jeopardy as well as her reputation.</p> <p>Any romantic driven female will definitely appreciate this book. They will relate to Claire on all levels and fall deeply in love with the book's main hunk, Cole. It is definitely the type of book you never want to end. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/08/02/chick_lit~2743150/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-07-29:/2007/07/29/go_back_in_time_through_historical_ficti~2720807/bestbooks2007-07-29T13:10:53+02:002007-07-29T13:10:53+02:00 <p>One of my favorite works of historical fiction is <u>The Lady and the Unicorn</u> which was beautifully, poetically, and magnificently written by Tracy Chevalier. The title refers to actual tapestries currently hanging in Paris's <em>Musee National du Moyen-Age Thermes de Cluny</em>. Chevalier weaves (pun intended) a fictitious tale surrounding the commission of these tapestries, the creation of the works of art, and the love, secrecy, and extraordinary efforts that went into making them. Nicholas <em>des Innocent</em>s, tapestry maker, falls in love with the daughter of the wealthy man who hired him to weave the six elaborate scenes. Chevalier relays each character's story through their own narration, including Nicholas' current wife with whom he has three daughters (but no sons).</p> <p>Chevalier is known for her amazing pieces of historical fiction. Her first novel Girl with a Pearl Earring was even made into a motion picture. The story centers around the real artist Johannes Vermeer and his fictitious house made that became the title character. Chevalier describes the forming forbidden relationship between master and servant and how it may cause trouble for each of them.</p> <p>Chevalier chooses a time in history that usually has to do with an artistic, creative historical artifact. Her current novel, Burning Bright surrounds the formation of William Blake's poetic works, 'Songs of Innocence' and 'Songs of Experience' and how two small town children influenced his work.</p> <p>One will fall in love with Chevalier's works and truly respond to the time of the story. Other historical fiction novels by Chevalier include: <u>The Virgin Blue and Falling Angels</u>. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/07/29/go_back_in_time_through_historical_ficti~2720807/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-07-18:/2007/07/18/once_upon_a_time~2657450/bestbooks2007-07-18T13:14:35+02:002007-07-18T13:14:35+02:00 <p>As an avid reader, I have read a great deal of books. I would never call myself a 'book worm', but I like to settle into bed before I fall asleep and read a couple of pages (studies show this will help get a good night's rest, so turn off the TV and read). The genre of books I like to read varies immensely depending on my mood, what I pick up at the library, and what's on the best seller's list that week. My favorite type of book to read is currently labeled 'chick lit'. These novels revolve around a 20s-30s protagonist who must overcome an obstacle in her professional life while trying to land the perfect guy in her private life. Most females flock to these stories because who doesn't like a happy ending? </p> <p>My other favorite genre is historical fiction. I think people dismiss these types of books too quickly. Though I am no history buff, I like when an author weaves in a fictional story during a historical era. The reader gains a vast amount of knowledge, while enjoying some leisure reading.</p> <p>Lastly, another field of literature I enjoy reading are action/danger books. These mostly involve the CIA, scientists, the government, fighting, espionage, blackmail, deceit, kidnapping, and backstabbing.</p> <p>Books are a method of escaping from reality. Some people use TV to do this, but the method of reading and visualizing at the same time allows one's creativity to imagine how the characters look in their own mind. I will be giving recommendations of good books to read according to different genres, as well as suggestions of how to search for books one likes to read.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/07/18/once_upon_a_time~2657450/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-07-12:/2007/07/12/carl_hiaasen_s_humor_earned_him_a_specia~2621066/bestbooks2007-07-12T12:09:54+02:002007-07-12T12:09:54+02:00 <p>Rare is the writer who can make a reader laugh out loud. Carl Hiaasen's exceptional humor can tickle the funny bone like no other. </p> <p>The only writer in my collection to repeatedly make me laugh out loud is Carl Hiaasen. Technically, he doesn't even belong in the collection - he doesn't write a series with a repeating character and his lead character is usually not a detective (though it was in his first novel). But somewhere along the line the words, "funny," "hilarious," "wacky," and "hysterical," kept popping up in descriptions and reviews of Hiaasen's books so I made an exception and started at the beginning of the series. Hiaasen's been writing fiction for over 20 years (he was a reporter before trying his hand at novels) and his first attempt - "Tourist Season" - came out in 1986. That was where I started.</p> <p>Hiaasen is a master of the absurd - no one can take a "serious" matter like saving the environment and turn it into an exercise of comic relief quite like Carl Hiaasen can. Hiaasen's books take place in South Florida, a popular venue for writers, and the author is fixated on one idea - the unfortunate and tragic reality of the natural, beautiful landscape of the area being taken over and destroyed by "progress," construction, and civilization. Hiassen's characters are quixotic and determined, off-beat yet intelligent and they tilt at the windmills of the blind and clueless establishment, vexing and hand-tying them by the end of every book. This description does nothing to explain the sheer silliness and bizarreness of most of the scenes and plots of Hiaasen's books. They bomb along at an out-of-control pace, taking no prisoners, and leaving the reader shaking his or her head. The humor is not for everyone - too absurd for some and too gross for others - but beneath the insane scenarios, Hiaasen's stellar writing is the real basis of his fame and fortune. His books tend to be the same after a while - recycled plots and characters - but he can still get a giggle out of me every single time.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/07/12/carl_hiaasen_s_humor_earned_him_a_specia~2621066/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-07-09:/2007/07/09/sue_grafton_and_kinsey_milhone_are_two_w~2601054/bestbooks2007-07-09T12:06:37+02:002007-07-09T12:06:37+02:00 <p>Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone books are an easy, addictive pleasure. One can only hope the alphabet - and the series - goes past "Z." </p> <p>I have to admit that there aren't many female authors in my collection. A couple have been added in the last few years (S. J. Rozan comes to mind) but only one has been in it from the beginning - Sue Grafton. I started reading Grafton's Kinsey Milhone "alphabet" series years before I started my collection so it went without saying that I'd fill in the blanks and that her stellar series would have a starring place on the shelf.</p> <p>Grafton launched her series - with "A is for Alibi" in 1982 and she is currently working on "T is for Trespass," which is due out in hardcover at the end of this year. The series is actually stuck in the 80's and takes place in a fictitious Californian coastal town called Santa Teresa. Kinsey is the best - she is a 30-ish, single, tough, unsentimental private eye who can get down and dirty with the best of ?em. She is totally self-aware, knows her limitations, and is happy to tease herself about all of them. She is a loner ? like every hard-boiled private eye should be - and Grafton has taken pains to let her social/love life evolve slowly over the course of 25 years. Kinsey has softened somewhat over time but only a bit; essentially, she hasn't really changed mht since the series began and I think it's because her fans like her as she is - plucky, independent, brave, smart, cynical, jaded and no-frills. Everyone can relate to some aspect of Kinsey's personality and - in the end of each book - she always gets her man. The books are easy reading; not great literature but, at this point, classics of the genre. Grafton produces about one Kinsey book a year (maybe every 18 months), which means that in the decade to come the alphabet - and the series - will draw to a close. I don't want to think about it - I just look forward to the next entry.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/07/09/sue_grafton_and_kinsey_milhone_are_two_w~2601054/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-06-21:/2007/06/21/james_crumley_is_a_master_of_the_genre~2492695/bestbooks2007-06-21T12:35:59+02:002007-06-21T12:35:59+02:00 <p>James Crumley sure can write! His Milo Milodragovitch series - comprised of just four titles - is a gem in his illustrious crown. </p> <p>James Crumley is one of the best writers in the crime/detective genre, yet he produces books only once every 5 years or so. As a matter of fact, in his great Milo Milodragovitch series there are only 4 books, written over a period of 25 years(!). Yes, the first book in the series - "The Wrong Case" - was written in 1975 and the most "recent" book - "The Final Country" - was written in 2001. What this means is that every Crumley fan knows that he has to savor and appreciate every book he reads because he doesn't know when the next one is going to come around the bend, if at all. </p> <p>And, man, can Crumley write! For some reason - and I can't remember why - I didn't discover him until last year (more than 5 years after starting my collection), which is amazing considering that almost all his books are classics of the genre. But once I started, I gobbled down (definitely didn't savor) the 4 books in the Milo series within a matter of a few months; I finished "The Final Country" just a few days ago. Milo turns 60 years old in that book, but it seems like he's always been old before his time. Must be all the heavy drinking, fighting, drugs and women; Milo is as tough as nails and is always living on the edge. His books take place in Montana, the plots are original and convoluted, the characters - particularly Milo himself - are unforgettable. And the writing is pure genius - nobody turns a phrase or lays down a metaphor like James Crumley. What he brilliantly concocts is a combination of rough-and-tumble plots and brilliant imagery, spiced with humor and cynicism and a touch of self-effacing honesty. Crazy plots aside, you won't find better writing than Crumley's anywhere in the genre.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/06/21/james_crumley_is_a_master_of_the_genre~2492695/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-06-06:/2007/06/06/crais_and_cole_are_a_great_team~2404550/bestbooks2007-06-06T13:42:05+02:002007-06-06T13:42:05+02:00 <p>Crais combines humor and suspense in his Elvis Cole series. This is one no detective fan should miss. </p> <p>I'm not sure I mentioned it, but back in the late 1980s a friend recommended Robert Parker's Spenser series and, in a way, that was the real beginning of my collection. I'm mentioning him now because the next series on my shelf - Robert Crais's Elvis Cole books - reminded me so much of Parker that it was a bit annoying at first. I like my detectives either funny or noir, with a leaning toward the former, so Elvis sounded just right to me when I first read about him (like Coben and Connelly before him, I had never heard of him until I started snooping around). </p> <p>Spenser has Hawk and Elvis has Joe Pike but the similarities went beyond that coupling. The humor was the same - dry quips and smugness abound in both of the series. I started with "The Monkey's Raincoat," which took me back over 10 years to the beginning of the series and I worked my way through, watching the series get significantly better and better as it went along. By the time I was half-way through, Elvis's/Crais's voice was strong and independent and not reminiscent of anyone else in the genre. In fact, while Parker merely treads water these days, Crais and his characters keep developing and changing. By the time I was caught up, in 2003, Crais was publishing the seventh book in the series, "Indigo Slam," and I was a dedicated fan. Since then, he's written another three books to bring the series up to date (along with a number of best-selling stand-alone novels, which I haven't read) and, just a few months ago, he came out with "The Watchman," a Joe Pike novel, which I'll read even though it's not strictly part of the Elvis Cole series (it's allowable, though, 'cause Pike is a character in the Cole series). This is a series I had my doubts about at first but which has morphed into one of the strongest and best in my collection. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/06/06/crais_and_cole_are_a_great_team~2404550/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-27:/2007/05/27/the_trilogy_that_speaks_volumes~2341743/bestbooks2007-05-27T11:29:21+02:002007-05-27T11:29:21+02:00 <p>I broke some rules to get Cook into my collection but it was worth it. The Frank Clemons series is "just" a trilogy but it's a true classic. </p> <p>About a year ago, I discovered that I was pretty much caught up with all the writers I started with back in 2002 and I had to expand my collection with new writers in order to have a constant flow of reading material. I abandoned Amazon and went into Google instead and discovered a super site for my purposes - The Thrilling Detective Website (subtitled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Private Eyes and Other Tough Guys.") This site lists hundreds of PIs by their names (and not by authors) and I read through it carefully and picked out a few that I had missed over the years that sounded just right. </p> <p>In order to make the final cut for my collection, an author had to be alive, American, and the series had to be ongoing. I've made exceptions over the years and one of them was for Thomas H. Cook's Frank Clemons series. When you read a description like - "These books are true classics of the genre, one of the truly great P.I. trilogies. With these three books Cook tapped into something truly special, slipped the surly bonds of a generally earth-bound genre and truly touched the face of the gods of the genre." - it's hard to ignore the allure. Thomas H. Cook is still writing but this series spanned 3 years only - 1988-1990 - and it clearly wasn't going to be revived. Nonetheless, I was smitten by the glowing portrayal, and I bought all 3 books - "Sacrificial Ground," "Flesh and Blood," and "Night Secrets"; it turned out that they really are classics. Frank Clemons, former police detective (like so many others in this genre), is the darkest of all the characters in my collection, more noir than noir (pitch noir, as it were). If it weren't for the superb writing, the series would be downright depressing but Cook's prose rises above the ordinary and sweeps you along with him. Because I'm such a stickler and such a series-freak, I haven't read any of Cook's other books but based on these three, I'd go so far as to recommend them blindly.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/27/the_trilogy_that_speaks_volumes~2341743/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-21:/2007/05/21/harry_bosch_is_everything_a_noir_hero_sh~2307310/bestbooks2007-05-21T11:12:14+02:002007-05-21T11:12:14+02:00 <p>I've watched Micheal Connelly become semi-famous in the last few years and deservingly so. His Harry Bosch series is one the best in my collection. </p> <p>As I've said, when I started looking for crime/detectives series I was a relative newbie so just like I had never heard of Harlan Coben I also never heard of Michael Connelly, whose series sits next to Coben's on my shelves. But everything I read about the Harry Bosch series, begun in 1992, sounded perfect. And it was - is. Like Coben, Connelly has gotten pretty well known in the last 5 years; his books are reviewed in the NY Times Book Review section, if that's any gauge. He is a super writer - one of the best. I like him so much that I even bought and read his last stand-alone novel, "The Lincoln Lawyer," which I liked in spite of myself.</p> <p>But Harry is my true love. As soon as I read the first book in the series, "The Black Echo," I realized that this was a winner. Harry (Hieronymous) Bosch is a dark-souled cop, sort of like Dave Robicheaux but a tad less violent. Connelly used to be a crime reporter and his prose is spare and direct (nothing like Burke's flowery poetic writing). The books take place in L.A., the perfect, classic <em>noir</em> setting and Harry's dark persona is most fitting for the venue. Harry evolves throughout the books; he's a renegade cop and his off-again-on-again relationship with the force is an ongoing theme. I caught up with the series in 2003 at the 7th book, "A Darkness More Than Night," and I've been reading each one as they've been published. Thankfully, Connelly is a prolific writer and he keeps 'em coming at a rate of about one a year. I read his latest, "Echo Park," just a few weeks ago and it seems that Connelly and Bosch just keep getting better with age. The Harry Bosch series is one of the best in my collection; luckily Connelly is pretty young so I see a long future ahead for Harry and me.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/21/harry_bosch_is_everything_a_noir_hero_sh~2307310/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-17:/2007/05/17/myron_bolitar_rocks~2286434/bestbooks2007-05-17T14:08:20+02:002007-05-17T14:08:20+02:00 <p>Harlan Coben has become pretty well-known in the last few years. His Myron Bolitar series never disappoints. </p> <p>OK, I'm back. It's funny that in between my blog entries I always read at least 2 or 3 books and then I get to write about them, which is very cool. But first I have to tell you that I made a mistake in one of my recent entries, which has been bothering me. I wrote that when I decided to start reading James Lee Burke from the beginning of the Dave Robicheaux series I had to go back to "Neon Rain." In fact, I had to go back to "Black Cherry Blues," which is the first book in the series. A quick glance at the series on the beautiful new bookshelf that my son just built for me and I realized my error. My apologies.</p> <p>As I may have mentioned, I'll be telling you about my collection alphabetically. Burke was the first and right next to him on the shelf is Harlan Coben. When I began my search for great series back in 2002, Coben wasn't as well-known as he is now; at least I had never heard of him. I honed in on his name because of his series hero, Myron Bolitar, a Jewish sports agent. Whatever I read about him on Amazon made me think this series was right up my alley and I was right. I started with "Deal Breaker," which had been published in 1995 and I fell in love with the series right away. Sports, crime, New Jersey, funny sidekicks - what could be better? Within a few years, though, Coben was a best-selling author mostly due to his stand-alone novels like "Tell No One" and "Just One Look," at least one of which was made into a movie. But I stuck to the series, reading all 7 books that had been published already. By the time I caught up, Coben was in the middle of a 6-year break from the series - busy getting famous, I guess, and making money from his other books - and I had a few moments of fear that I'd never see Myron again. But last year he published "Promise Me" and it was great to welcome Myron back. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/17/myron_bolitar_rocks~2286434/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-13:/2007/05/13/james_lee_burke_is_one_of_the_best_aroun~2260652/bestbooks2007-05-13T09:56:47+02:002007-05-13T09:56:47+02:00 <p>James Lee Burke was the perfect inaugural writer for the Collection. I had read him and loved him so I knew he would do the Collection proud. </p> <p>I read James Lee Burke's "A Morning for Flamingos" quite a few years before starting the Collection - I think I mentioned that I had read it in my book-club days. Burke is the kind of author you don't easily forget and his books pulls you in and grab you. I had really enjoyed "A Morning for Flamingos" when I had first read it, even as a stand-alone book (at the time). So when I saw it on my bookshelf (I think I may have permanently borrowed it from the book club, that's how much I liked it) when I was about to start by Crime Collection, I was reminded of Burke's vivid writing and his great lead character, and I decided to go back and fill in the blanks of the series. This was 2002 so I had to search for and buy 11 of his original books - his series dated back to 1987! It was a pleasure. I started from the beginning - as I did with all the series - which means I had to find an old copy of "Neon Rain." It was no problem.</p> <p>Dave Robicheaux, the self-destructive, troubled and magnetic main character, is a former New Orleans detective now a New Iberia, LA, cop. Picture Tommy Lee Jones - he's for sure the guy who should play Robicheaux in the movies (and not Alec Baldwin). His alcoholic past comes back to haunt him in almost every book - and his demons always get the better of him, at some point - yet he finds happiness in his family and friends and in his own path to recovery and redemption. The larger-than-life themes in Burke's books usually transcend the plot itself and his writing is sheer poetry. It took me a few years to fill in the series and, since then, I keep abreast of his new books, which come out about once a year. Whenever I read a lesser writer - and there are, admittedly, one or two in my Collection - coming back to Burke is always a relief and a thrill. Reading "Pegasus Descending" a few weeks ago was a true pleasure, one of those experiences you want to savor forever. Burke is one of the best crime writers around and as soon as I finish one book I immediately start looking forward to the next. It's hard to wait.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/13/james_lee_burke_is_one_of_the_best_aroun~2260652/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-13:/2007/05/13/the_collection_takes_off_with_a_boost_fr~2260646/bestbooks2007-05-13T09:56:03+02:002007-05-13T09:58:24+02:00 <p>Not knowing where to start I turned to Amazon for help. That's also where I found my used books, sometimes for as little as a penny. </p> <p>So there I was, unemployed and looking for something to read. I supposed it was frivolous to buy books (when I wasn't working) instead of going to the library, but amassing a permanent Collection was part of it, too. And I didn't have a library within walking distance. And I may not have been thinking too clearly. In any case, I remembered Elmore Leonard and I took it from there. Paradoxically, his books don't have repeat characters but that didn't matter - for Elmore Leonard I could make an exception. I also thought back to a few of the books I enjoyed from my book-club days and I remembered an early Sue Grafton book and the second or third James Lee Burke and I realized that they, too, were a place to start. I went into Amazon and started looking around. I found a few promising names and I read reader comments and I amassed a list of series that I thought would be interesting and would continue to grow. Some had started many years before and some were relatively recent, but they were all ongoing and I decided to buy used books only (I was unemployed, after all). I was obsessive about the whole thing - I was determined to start at the beginning of any given series - but that was fine and even the older books weren't that hard to locate. I'd pay as little as a penny for these titles (plus, of course, Amazon's outrageous delivery charge of $3.49 for a used book). I started filling in the gaps in Leonard's long line of books and pretty soon my collection started to grow. That's what this blog is really all about. In alphabetical order. From James Lee Burke to Steven Womack.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/13/the_collection_takes_off_with_a_boost_fr~2260646/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-05-02:/2007/05/02/the_start_of_the_collection_elmore_leona~2196517/bestbooks2007-05-02T13:57:18+02:002007-05-02T13:57:18+02:00 <p>I started by Collection to combat boredom and depression. Crime was the answer and I let the hunt begin.</p> <p>OK, so here's how my Collection began. Seven years ago, I was unemployed for 18 months. It was a long, depressing period that I look back on as one of the worst in my life. But at some point, I realized that I needed to read, that it would be the best way to pass the time - that there was just so much Freecell I could play. What I decided to do was start a collection, a collection of detective/crime series books. Only books in which the main character appears repeatedly would make the cut and since I was starting from square one, I needed to do some research. </p> <p>But where did this all come from, you may ask? I've mentioned sports books, classics, trashy books and Pulitzer Prize winners; in this whole blog, I've never mentioned crime or thrillers or suspense or anything like that. True, it was a bit out of the blue but it all started with the discovery of the master himself - the great Elmore Leonard. About 23 years ago, when my youngest child was very young, I used to stroll around my neighborhood and I discovered a used-book store. The baby and I would walk over and check out their offerings. Browsing through the shelves, I pulled out a book called "52 Pick Up" and the rest, as they say, is history. Reading it was like seeing a miracle, one I believed only I knew anything about. This was in 1984, years before I had a computer at home, a decade before the Internet was widespread, and a time when I knew very few people where I lived and had very few friends. No one I knew had ever heard of Elmore Leonard. But every time I read one of his books - and I bought the three or four other titles the bookstore had in stock - I knew that I was experiencing something special. The guy is the best. Period. And he was the basis for the Collection. Stay tuned.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/05/02/the_start_of_the_collection_elmore_leona~2196517/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-04-26:/2007/04/26/slowly_getting_to_the_point_of_this_blog~2165324/bestbooks2007-04-26T15:52:13+02:002007-04-26T15:52:13+02:00 <p>Till now, dear reader (as the Bronte sisters used to say), I've written about how reading formed and informed my youth. All this is just background and a kind of long lead-in to the type of reading I do now. My taste has changed since I was a kid but I still read as much as I can. About 15 years ago I joined a book club but that didn't last long; I didn't like what the other members were choosing, in fact I hardly liked anything I'd read. In the last 20 years I can think of only a handful of books that I've really liked, among them Chabon's, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," a book so original, so dense and substantial that I couldn't understand why so few people I lent it to were able to finish it. I discovered Barbara Kingsolver and Anne Tyler (through the book club, so it wasn't a total loss), and I still read anything either of those talented ladies write. "Accidental Tourist" is a big favorite of mine and the movie was one of the few really good silver-screen renditions that I've seen of a book that I like. Rarely is the movie as good as the book, if ever. "Memoirs of a Geisha" was terrific and readable and I just finished "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," by Jonathan Safran Foer and thought it was pretty well done. What I'm trying to say is I do read best-sellers from time to time but it's not the bulk of my reading. The majority of the books I read now are part of my Collection and that's the raison d'etre of this whole blog. More to come (when I'll finally get to the point).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/04/26/slowly_getting_to_the_point_of_this_blog~2165324/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/i_was_always_way_ahead_of_my_reading_tim~2078498/bestbooks2007-04-12T14:45:45+02:002007-04-12T14:45:45+02:00 <p>Already in elementary school, I was reading books that were way beyond my supposed reading level, and that weren't always "age appropriate." (I'm not sure they even used that term 35 years ago, but that's what they would say now.) When I was about 11 years old I read "Valley of the Dolls", Jacqueline Susann's groundbreaking potboiler that pretty much put the wrap on Beverly Cleary. As a matter of fact - and this is way besides the point, but interesting, anyway - one of the thrills of my young life was meeting the author in, of all places, the Russian Tea Room in NYC. A cousin of mine took my brother and me there (don't ask me why because I really don't remember) and I recognized her from the picture on the flap. But just in case you think I was advanced for my age, when I actually went over to her for her autograph, I simply dissolved into laughter - hysterics - and couldn't get the words out, just couldn't say a thing. Luckily she figured out what I wanted (though I doubt that many grade-school-age girls were frequently asking her for her autograph in posh restaurants) and she scribbled something on a Russian Tea Room postcard. I still have it (along with a Playbill from the Broadway show "Harvey" signed by Helen Hayes and James Stewart). These things have to be worth something on eBay, don't they? Next time, I promise to get back to the subject at hand - books, wasn't it?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/i_was_always_way_ahead_of_my_reading_tim~2078498/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-04-05:/2007/04/05/reading_about_sports_always_beat_doing_s~2038074/bestbooks2007-04-05T13:30:10+02:002007-04-05T13:30:10+02:00 <p>I didn't like to run or throw balls, but I always liked reading about people who did. I've been reading books about baseball and football since I was a kid. </p> <p>By third grade I had a library card in the Brooklyn Public library, and a well-used card it turned out to be (and a proud day it was when I got it laminated). Every week I'd walk the 7 or 8 blocks with my friend Esther and we'd take and return books (and then walk back). I read whatever I could get my hands on - sometimes trying to go alphabetically - and I remember discovering and loving the "Little House on the Prairie" books. But every batch of books I'd take out and read always included at least one book about baseball, my other true love. (You can be sure I remember my first baseball game even more clearly than I remember my first book, but that's material for a different blog.) I remember this one book - it was called "Long Ball to Left Field" - that I adored. To this day I can read about any and all sports. I can pick up a copy of Sports Illustrated - it doesn't matter how old an issue - and read it from cover to cover no matter what sports are written about in its glossy pages. My all-time favorite sports book? That's a no-brainer - it's got to be Dan Jenkins' "Semi-Tough". Yes, it's about football and not baseball but it's a book I've been reading over and over again for the last 30 years, so I guess I really love it. If you've never read it, I have to warn you that it's raunchy and irreverent but so-o-o funny. And just in case you think I'm some sports-crazed, sleazy, misguided nut, the other book I've been reading over and over again - for the last 40 years - and crying every time, is "Jane Eyre." Eclectic, I guess; there's no accounting for taste. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/04/05/reading_about_sports_always_beat_doing_s~2038074/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-03-25:/2007/03/25/reading_is_fundamental~1970915/bestbooks2007-03-25T11:13:24+02:002007-03-25T11:13:24+02:00 <p>Reading out loud is not just for first graders. Books can bond mothers and children forever. </p> <p>If I look back over my life, the things that I enjoyed doing when I was young are pretty much the things I enjoy now. Well, obviously there are activities I enjoy now that I didn't partake in when I was a kid (after all, I have four kids of my own) but from an early age I loved reading, and sports. Not sports exactly - more like reading about sports. Books have a place in so many memories, from all stages of my life. I guess my earliest memory of reading was reading aloud in class; it must've been 2nd grade. I used to love reading out loud and I didn't have any patience at all when the other kids would read (with varying degrees of aptitude). So what I really enjoyed was reading ahead while the other kids did their reading-aloud act. By the time autumn rolled into winter, I was more or less done with that reader, having gone ahead right to the very end. Nerdy, but true. To this day, I like reading out loud - I can read to my grandchildren for hours (all the books I read to my own children). When the first Harry Potter book came out, my daughter was too young to read it by herself and so I read a chapter to her every night before she went to sleep. Despite the fact that she did grow up along with the series, we never gave up the tradition and so I found myself reading Number 6 to my 16-year-old daughter, a memory I'll cherish forever. It's one of the reasons I can't wait for the next and last book, which will come out a few weeks after she graduates high school and a month or so before she leaves home for points unknown. Harry will always have a warm place in my heart.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/03/25/reading_is_fundamental~1970915/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bestbooks.blog.co.uk,2007-03-20:/2007/03/20/books_helped_get_me_through_my_teen_year~1939922/bestbooks2007-03-20T15:19:59+01:002007-03-20T15:19:59+01:00 <p>Books have always been a great escape for me. From my teens till today, I can easily and happily lose myself in whatever book I happen to be reading. </p> <p>I read a lot of books all throughout high school. In fact, high school itself was a bit of a nightmare for me and books were a big help. Because my mom did a lot of recommending, many of the books were from her generation. I remember reading, "The Education of Hyman Kaplan" and "Captain Newman, MD," not exactly books that were high on the 'Cool Books for Teens' list. Looking back, I realize that there was a period of time that, as a teenager in the late early 1970s I had a reading list from the 30s and 40s. But it just goes to show that great books are timeless. At the same I had to read books for school, books that almost put me off my favorite past time forever. I remember laboring through "David Copperfield" and "Great Expectations" and finally caving in and using CliffsNotes. In fact, once I discovered good old Cliff, there were plenty of classic authors - Melville and George Eliot are two that stand out in my mind - who I never read in their entirety. Too wordy, too dry. Yet this is also the time that I discovered Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald, and Norman Mailer, authors who wrote so compellingly that they drew you in and never let you go. Sometimes writers who are considered "great," really are great. I also went through the requisite bout with the queen of angst, Ayn Rand, and that premier teen literary idol, Herman Hesse. I can't remember if I actually understood "Steppenwolf" or if I just said I did, or if I really thought I did but had no idea what I was talking about, but a guy I really liked told me to read it and I did and we had something to talk about until that subject ran dry. And I do remember really and truly believing that I could live my life like Howard Roark, dependent on no man, with no emotional bonds to hold me back. I wasn't the happiest of teens (who of us was) and "The Fountainhead" seemed tailor-made for me. Needless to say, the book's impact didn't last; I wonder if it ever does.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bestbooks.blog.co.uk/2007/03/20/books_helped_get_me_through_my_teen_year~1939922/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>