OK, Jessica tagged me for Ten Books That Changed my Life and How I Look at the World because thats actually different than My Top Ten Favorite Books which for me would be a slightly different list... 1. The Bible - need an explanation for this? Read the book. 2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - not just for the obvious theological reasons, but it opened my eyes at a very early age to the possibilities of how Fantasy can make for excellent allegory. I still read them, and discover new insights from Lewis that I never understood at younger ages. 3. How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill - Inspired me so much I actually embarked on a pilgrimage to see the island of Iona for myself a few years back. The books forward alone gives an exhilarating account of the fall of the Roman Empire, and then you get into the actual history of the monks who not only secretly preserved copies of the Bible (including the production of the Book of Kells), but practiced their Faith, shared it across Northern Britain and the Scandinavian countries, which ultimately inspired Luther and sparked the Reformation. Cahill is a brilliant historian, and the book itself is worth the read on that basis alone. 4. The Stand by Stephen King - Though It was by far the most frightening book Ive ever read, Kings post-apocalyptic-event face-off between good and evil is a standout among all such stories because it does not end as you might expect. Instead of an epic all-encompassing battle, the story instead showcases the struggle itself; Harold Lauders bitter descent into evil and the all-too-real-feeling of regret when he realizes he was just a pawn, four men who sacrifice themselves for their loved ones, or Tom Cullens simple intelligence amplified by his pure faith, and Abigail Freemantle (Nick Andros: I dont believe in God. Abigail Freemantle: That doesnt matter, Nick. He believes in you.). Part of what makes this story so great is the fact the characters on the good side are all too human while the bad guys are genuine monsters (Flagg, of course, but also Trashcan Man, Lloyd Henried, The Kid, Nadine Cross and Rat Man). Theres no sense of victory when the good side inevitably wins, only relief, and the trudging onward of the survivors. A masterpiece of Fantasy. 5. I am Jackie Chan by Jackie Chan - Are there better-written autobiographies? Definitely. And arguably, there are more interesting autobiographical stories. But there are elements to Chans story that make his so utterly compelling...rather than condemn a brutal schoolteacher from his youth, he chronicles the brutality and then expresses his understanding on why his old master used such methods. His youth was a heartbreaking experience of deliberate abandonment by his parents because they could not afford to take care of him, his confusion at why they left him in Hong Kong while they emigrated to Australia, and his rise to cinematic fame which includes a brutally honest reflection of what an ass fame turned him into. I laughed, and cried, sometimes in the same chapter. 6. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - I love the fact that we all might have different versions of this (Adams was constantly re-writing new editions for this purpose), and of course, I absolutely love every goofy concept Adams conceived (The Improbability Drive, ordering your dinner while its still alive, sunglasses that turn completely opaque when they sense impending doom so you wont have to witness it...), and I am pretty sure no other series of stories made me shake my head constantly at its comic brilliance. Beeblebrox for president. 7. Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead - A fictionalized epic about one Monks journey from Ireland to Constantinople to present a copy of the Book of Kells to the Christian Emperor. This is what historical fiction should always aspire to. 8. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clark - An alien encounter, with no aliens. A derelict craft wanders into the Solar System and a team of humans is sent to investigate. What follows is simply exploration, the adventure that happens just for the sake of exploration, and the joy of discovery. The craft is described in beautiful detail, and the reaction of each team member to whatever new problem presents itself is the focal point. This is pure science fiction. No set-up of an alien environment for the purpose of some epic battle, nor is it some idiotic condemnation of humanity because wed be more likely to shoot any extraterrestrial visitors first (something Independence Day did very well: portray humanity as extending a welcoming hand). 9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller - All my comic books that date prior to the release of this are what youd expect; run-of-the-mill superhero stories. Then this: the original embodiment of either you die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Superheroes are modern American Mythology, and while Milers concepts have been done to death and back, this was the first time I thought of what happens when a truly great man begins loses himself to his obsessions. While you may be scoffing at the idea of Bruce Wayne as a truly great man, this book made me look at the Biblical persona of David in a completely new and revealing light. 10. Imajica by Clive Barker - Not just fantasy, but literate fantasy. Probably tame if I read it today, but twenty-five years ago, it opened the doors to Fantasy as mature subject matter with a decent vocabulary. I only read it the one time. That was all I needed. I hereby tag Steve Silver, Wesley Gladden, Daniel Ruben, and anyone else who wants to do this.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 05:25:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015