I’ve been reading a lot this year—a year that I affectionately refer to as the “year of the malaise” after last year’s “hysteria about turning 40” theme. I thought I would share the best books I’ve read so far.
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Because I am from Massachusetts and my ancestors helped settle Cape Cod, and because Martha’s Vineyard is a special place in my heart, and because I too once lived miserably in Cambridge, under duress, for the sake of Learning Important Life Lessons, this book hit me on a profoundly deep level. A great historical fiction glimpse into what really happened when the religious convictions of our country’s settlers met the wild spirituality of the Native Americans, and how that clash destroyed a culture.
No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Miranda July is weird, and her short stories are creepy. And those are compliments. I wish that I wrote these stories, but I didn’t, so all I can do is hope that someday Miranda July will acquiesce to being my best friend. But she probably won’t, because she clearly doesn’t need people. I aspire.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
This book was written the year I was born—1971. I first heard about and read it just this year on the suggestion of an arbitrary stranger I met at a barbeque in Seattle. This was one of the best book recommendations I have ever received. About the adventurous spirit that settled the West and what it is like to be a woman who wants to be domestic but is an artist at heart. I related to this book so much.
And here’s one recommendation for a book never to read. I read it for you, so you don’t have to.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
I read this e-book on the recommendation of quite a few people. I was told it was about how to make more money and work less. In reality, it’s about how to leech off your friends, exploit any resources at your disposal and take advantage of people. It’s about how to put out inferior product and dupe people into paying you for it. No. This book is against everything I believe in: getting paid for doing a good job and writing things that matter. I did agree with this author on one small point: talking on the phone is an archaic form of communication.
For my list of all-time-favorite books, check out my web site.
When I graduated from college my first “real job” which ultimately became a 20 year career was working as a geologist on the oil rigs offshore Louisiana. You typically worked a 12 hour day and then you were stuck on this wretched hunk of iron with people who, for the most part, had only one thing in common: a hatred for offshore life. As a result I spent 4 1/2 years with my nose in a book. Now mind you this was 30 years ago now but some of what I read are to me treasured not just for the telling but for taking me away from my own personal hell for hours on end. I tend to go with classics so please forgive the lack of any edginess or current pretense of any kind. In fact a copious reader would probably say that some of these are “the price of admission” to the book of the month club. If thats the case fine, but I’m hoping that maybe this short list will serve as a reminder of something you’ve missed and might enjoy. If you read it and liked/loved it I’d love to hear about it.
Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote
Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Cheever Reader by John Cheever
Portnoy’s Complaint by Phillip Roth
Watership Down by Richard Adams
On the Road by Kerouac
Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
Cannery Row by Steinbeck
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues by Tom Robbins
I can read anything by Truman Capote………….maybe it’s the southern thing. His writing is amazing to me.
So awesome, Dave. First of all, why have I never read Truman Capote? Dur. Must put that on my wishlist. I’ve read Dunces, obviously (so good, one of my favorites); Portnoy’s; Watership Down (loved that one in 7th grade, but can’t really remember it); On the Road; Fountainhead; Grapes of Wrath; Cat’s Cradle (major classic favorite); 100 Years; Slaugherhouse Five; and Even Cowgirls. The rest will go on my reading list. Love this glimpse into your literary mind!
Re: Timothy Ferriss – ha-ha! A bunch of people I know, tooo, hold the book as the new bible. I haven’t read the book but checked out the author’s website and it looks like one of these get-rich-quick schemes where the person who sells the scheme is the one getting rich. There is no such a thing as easy money as an old friend of mine says – if there was then everyone would be doing it.
On the other side, you are becoming my favorite blogger to check when I have a second – quite, smart & entertaining.