book challenge
Completely forgot to post this. I've been participating in 50bookchallenge, something that I think any avid reader would enjoy. The basic concept is that everyone in the community will try to read 50 books before January 1, 2008. It's a great community because you can get recs for what to read next and post reviews and have discussions about your favorite books.
Here are the ones that I've finished so far:
1. Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel:
This memoir inspired me to do something that I rarely ever do (I can only think of one or two occasions), write in a book. Filled with amazing quotes and insights, Wurtzel holds nothing back as she bares the darkest parts of her. She spares herself no humilation and does nothing to make herself appear anything more or less that who she was. It's strange how much this book spoke to me and scared me at the same time because in certain parts I felt as though Elizabeth Wurtzel (the author) had torn a page out of my diary and typed it into her book. As someone who is currently taking Prozac, this book spoke to me on a very personal level. I feel as though this book defines depression for today's youth. 5/5
Random passages that striked me as profound:
"I will drain them and drown them until they know how little of me there is left even after I've taken everything they've got to give me because I hate them for not knowing." (page 52)
"I'm a stranger wherever I go because I'm strange to myself." (page 162)
"My gifts are for life itself, for an unfortunately astute understanding of all the cruelty and pain in the world. My gifts are unspecific. I am an artist manque, someone full of crazy ideas and grandiloquent needs and even a litttle bit of happiness, but with no particular way to express it." (page 231)
"...love is always a product and a victim of circumstance." (page 246)
"Rock bottom is an inability to cope with the commonplace that is so extreme it makes even the grandest and loveliest things unbearable." (page 288)
"One of the creepiest moments for me was discovering that six million Americans had taken Prozac. As a Jew, I had always associated that precise number with something else entirely. How would I come to reinterpret six million, to associate it with something quite different, a statistic that out to be frightening but instead starts to seem rather ridiculous?" (page 342)
Wurtzel, Elizabeth. Prozac Nation. New York: Riverhead Books, 1994, 1995.
2. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
As an avid believer in reading the novel before seeing the film, I was eager to pick up this book after hearing all my friends praise for the film. Not to mention, one of my friends is a huge Palahniuk fan and nearly forced me to read it. For all the lovers of the film, all I can say is, this book provides the inner dialogue, the mystery, and confusion that is borne from the narrators POV. The novel is shocking in its rawness, and is surprisingly easy to follow in its smooth writing style. Definately worth the read. 4/5
Random quotes:
"You wake up, and you're nowhere." (Page 33)
"Oh, the proof that one day you're thinking and hauling yourself around, and the next, you're cold fertilizer, worm buffet." (Page 35)
"Don't think of this as extinction. Think of this as downsizing." (Page 125)
Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996.
3. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Fans of Picoult will not be disappointed with her newest novel, The Tenth Circle. As a die-hard fan, I found myself devouring this book as I do with all her novels. The story circles around fourteen year old Trixie Stone who finds herself date-raped by her ex-boyfriend Jason Underhill. An investigation is underway, but Picoult is quick to throw kinks in the system. Soon, it becomes very unclear who is lying and who is telling the truth. More importantly, it is even harder to deceipher what the truth is.
Something I really loved about this novel was that Picoult incorperated the panels from her character, Daniel Stone's, graphic novel into her book. Interwoven with chapters, the comic offers insight to the inside of Daniel's mind.
This book will also be greatly loved by any fan of Dante. His Inferno and the discovery of the Nine Circles of Hell (and the additional tenth) is also incorperated into this novel.
As always, Jodi is worth the $15 for the book. 4.5/5
4. "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles
I read Antigone, the third part of this series, decades ago. So I finally figured I should read the first part since it is also very well known. Oedipus Rex is a story that most people know, and the play is definately an interesting and quick read. Reading (or watching, since it is a play) Oedipus realizing what he has done and how he damned himself is certainly something to keep you reading. If you need a quick fix of good ol' fashion Greek writing, this play will surely do the trick. 3/5
5. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
I have read many books, but A Clockwork Orange definately fits into a category all on its own. The novel is truly a brilliant read, something that will captivate and startle you. Burgess takes his time carving out the savagry and brutality that comes so natural to humans. Alex, Our Humble Narrator, is our guide through Burgess' "nightmare vision of the future."
This book is definately not for everyone. It requires a lot of attention and time. Alex, and other characters, use a slang invented by Burgess. My recommendation for anyone who reads this books is to print out an online dictionary of the slang used in this book. I used this site to help me decipher the Nadsat language. Also, be sure to get the version of the novel that contains the "controversial" last chapter, as Burgess intended. In the original American version, the editors removed the last chapter. But if you get a world edition or the Nortan one, it contains the last chapter.
My only warnings for my fellow readers is that there is rape, murder, and brutal scenes of violence in this literature, which may frighten or sicken some. But I think that it is a necessary tool to help reveal the harshness of Burgess' vision. 5/5
Random Lines that "Will Shudder You"
"They were creeching and going ow ow ow as they put their platties on, and they were like punchipunching me with their teeny fists as I lay there dirty and nagoy and fair shagged and fagged on the bed. This young Sonietta was creeching: 'Beast and hateful animal. Filthy horror.' So I let them get their things together and get out, which they did, talking about how the rozzes should be got on to me and all that cal. Then they weree going down the stairs and I dropped off to sleep, still with the old Joy Joy Joy Joy crashing and howling away" (page 46-47).
"And [listening] with different bliss than before, I [saw] again this name on the papper that I'd [ripped] that night, along time ago it seemed, in that cottage called HOME. The name was about a clockwork orange. Listening to the J.S. Bach, I began to [understand] better what that meant now, and I thought, [listening] away to the brown gorgeousness of the [ancient] German master, that I would like to have [beaten] them both harder and ripped them to ribbons on their own floor" (page 33-34)
Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange. 1962. New York: W. W. Nortan, 1986.
6. MacBeth by Stephen King
Read on a whim. I know, that's like blasphamy to read Shakespeare because you're bored. To be honest, I needed a tiny break from reading It by Stephen King (that novel is so dense, you get completely absorbed with the story... very tiring) so I went for something completely different to cleanse my pallet. And you know what? I actually liked it. As a theatre lover, my peers give me weird looks for not liking Shakespeare, but I don't. He stole everyone elses ideads and most of his stories are exactly the same. But there were some awesome lines in MacBeth and surprisingly, I don't think they were the famous ones. Personal favorite: "what, can the devil speak true?" - Banquo.
Good read, definitely one of the better Shakespeares. 4/5.
7. It by Stephen King
For anyone who has never read this book, It is an incredible read. Every step of the way, you are completely engrossed in each new turn that the book takes, every new leaf that's revealed. Carefully constructed, the plot is extremely intricate but everything fits together to create a gruesome picture of death and evil. The lucky seven guide the readers through the dark history of Derry and the cause of it all: It. It can only be evil, a horrible monster that disguises itself as 'Pennywise the dancing clown' to lure in children for consumption. The Lucky Seven, chosen for reasons unknown, stand together to defeat It and save Derry.
Stephen King is an amazing writer. Stylistically, it is a masterpiece of flashbacks and forewards, with faultless changes in POV. The book isn't for beginners or for those not willing to dedicate time-- it's 1,090 pages long and you feel every word. I'm a speed reader and it took me a month to finish this baby. 5/5-- Everyone should read this book.
8. Lolita by Vladmir Nobokov
Finally finished this one! I have to admit, it was a challenge. For all those who do not speak French, there are parts where you are going to stumble because online translators just don't cover it. I did my best though, and it was totally worth it.
The storyline is pretty well known, the older man who marries a woman in order to get closer to her eleven-year-old daughter, Lolita. The novel was nothing like what I expected... I suppose it is because Lolita was nothing like how I expected. Because it is a classic, some plot points are known, but I still found myself surprised.
Nobokov has an amazing way with imagery, they way he describes places, people, events... are simply stunning. The way the words flow together is pure music, a symphony pouring forth from the lips. Makes writers like me feel quite impotent.
Not my favorite classic, but still worth picking up. 3/5.
Amazing imagery examples:
"a distant hill scrambling outscarred by still untamed- from the wilderness of agriculture that was trying to swallow it."-pg 153
"There was elsewhere, hundreds of grey hummingbirds in the dusk, probing the throats of dim flowers." -pg 157.
9. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
I usually read the book before I watch the movie, but I was dragged to see the movie first. I loved the movie, so I was psyched to read the book. The book was just as entertaining and it was so different from the film, so the movie didn't really spoil anything. It was a lighthearted and easy read, good for anyone who needs something to read on the beach. Something to cleanse your mind, relax, and warm under the sun. 3/5.
10. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path
What a change from the previous book. I always wanted to read this book and I was so pissed that I wasn't in one of the classes that read it in high school. Every word of praise I ever heard about this book is completely true. I felt like every word related to me somehow, every situation, every pain. It was short for a classic and I felt myself hungering for more of her work. I will definitely go for another Sylvia Plath novel, as I've been reading her poems like a madwoman. Maybe even a biography about her... she's facinating. Definitely worth the time and effort. 5/5.
NOTE: Around this point, I'm too lazy busy to write reviews for the books I've read, so I'm just going to say whether or not I recommended them.
11. Beyond Genetics by Glen McGee (kind of long and winded, only recommended if you're really into genetics)
12. Paint It Black by Janet Fitch (if you liked White Oleander, you will like this. It's amazing. Also good for Jodi Picoult fans)
13. How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith (if you're a horror movie fan, this is good for a laugh.)
14. Perfect by Natasha Friend (Bullemia/Anorexia novel. Good for high school reading level.)
15. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (classic. hard to get through, put the language is amazing.)
16. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louis Murphy (MUST READ! A page turner, I hated putting it down.)
17. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (She wrote it when she was 19 and her brother in law got the credit. Not at ALL what I expected. For those of you who picture Boris Koloff, this will blow your mind. Really amazing.)
18. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (one of the BEST nonfiction books ever. Despite the morbid topic, I couldn't stop laughing. Roach is hilarious and makes puns throughout the whole thing to make the book entertaining and intelligent. MUST READ.)
19. A Model Summer by Paulina Porizkova (Nice light read. A page turner story about love, sex, drugs, and what it means to be beautiful. If the story of Gia interests you, read this).
20. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I was hesitant to read this but found that it was exactly what everyone said it was. Amazing in everyway, heartbreaking, sad, and rings so very true. An amazing look on modern day Afghanistan.)
21. Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters (A book that answers a question we all have when we walk amongst stranger's graves: who are the people behind the effigies?)
22. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kayson (Strange look at insanity. Was a little disconnected and not what I expected, but still had a charming quality to it)
23. The Fuck Up by Arthur Neresian (It's really hard to give a review of this book. It's about how easy it is to keep slipping further and further into your own demise. It struck home for me.)
24. Suburbia by Eric Bogosian (This play frightened me because it was basically my life. I stand outside of a Dunkin Donuts instead of a 7-11, but it was frightening. Anyone who has ever felt trapped by the norm, by the suburbs, by society standards should definitely pick this one up)
25. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon (This is a collection of the first five comics of the Season Eight Competition. I am really enjoying the season so far- there is a lot of interesting character development. I'm excited to see where Joss takes this)
26. Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon (This graphic novel made me so mad that the show was cancelled because it really rubbed in my face how much more could have come out of it. Amazing read and MUST read for any Firefly/Serenity fan)
27. Design Yourself by Karim Rashid (The colorful pages are bound to keep your interest if nothing else does. It's a book about spiffing yp your life but it is definitely NOT self-help. More like a kick in the ass.)
28. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (If you liked the movie, you need to read the book because it is just so much sicker and very twisted. A dark look into the mental institution system)
List of Books that I Plan on Reading (alphabetical):
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Lion in the Winter by James Goldman
- Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Party Monster by James St. James
- Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kayson
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
- Carrie by Stephen King
- The Cell by Stephen King
- The Shining by Stephen King
- The Stand by Stephen King
- Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
- The Fuck-Up by Arthur Neresian
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
- Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
- Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
- Thirteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
- Spook: Science Tackles the After Life by Mary Roach
- The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle
- The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley
- Bitch by Elizabeth Wurtzel
Here are the ones that I've finished so far:
1. Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel:
This memoir inspired me to do something that I rarely ever do (I can only think of one or two occasions), write in a book. Filled with amazing quotes and insights, Wurtzel holds nothing back as she bares the darkest parts of her. She spares herself no humilation and does nothing to make herself appear anything more or less that who she was. It's strange how much this book spoke to me and scared me at the same time because in certain parts I felt as though Elizabeth Wurtzel (the author) had torn a page out of my diary and typed it into her book. As someone who is currently taking Prozac, this book spoke to me on a very personal level. I feel as though this book defines depression for today's youth. 5/5
Random passages that striked me as profound:
"I will drain them and drown them until they know how little of me there is left even after I've taken everything they've got to give me because I hate them for not knowing." (page 52)
"I'm a stranger wherever I go because I'm strange to myself." (page 162)
"My gifts are for life itself, for an unfortunately astute understanding of all the cruelty and pain in the world. My gifts are unspecific. I am an artist manque, someone full of crazy ideas and grandiloquent needs and even a litttle bit of happiness, but with no particular way to express it." (page 231)
"...love is always a product and a victim of circumstance." (page 246)
"Rock bottom is an inability to cope with the commonplace that is so extreme it makes even the grandest and loveliest things unbearable." (page 288)
"One of the creepiest moments for me was discovering that six million Americans had taken Prozac. As a Jew, I had always associated that precise number with something else entirely. How would I come to reinterpret six million, to associate it with something quite different, a statistic that out to be frightening but instead starts to seem rather ridiculous?" (page 342)
Wurtzel, Elizabeth. Prozac Nation. New York: Riverhead Books, 1994, 1995.
2. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
As an avid believer in reading the novel before seeing the film, I was eager to pick up this book after hearing all my friends praise for the film. Not to mention, one of my friends is a huge Palahniuk fan and nearly forced me to read it. For all the lovers of the film, all I can say is, this book provides the inner dialogue, the mystery, and confusion that is borne from the narrators POV. The novel is shocking in its rawness, and is surprisingly easy to follow in its smooth writing style. Definately worth the read. 4/5
Random quotes:
"You wake up, and you're nowhere." (Page 33)
"Oh, the proof that one day you're thinking and hauling yourself around, and the next, you're cold fertilizer, worm buffet." (Page 35)
"Don't think of this as extinction. Think of this as downsizing." (Page 125)
Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996.
3. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Fans of Picoult will not be disappointed with her newest novel, The Tenth Circle. As a die-hard fan, I found myself devouring this book as I do with all her novels. The story circles around fourteen year old Trixie Stone who finds herself date-raped by her ex-boyfriend Jason Underhill. An investigation is underway, but Picoult is quick to throw kinks in the system. Soon, it becomes very unclear who is lying and who is telling the truth. More importantly, it is even harder to deceipher what the truth is.
Something I really loved about this novel was that Picoult incorperated the panels from her character, Daniel Stone's, graphic novel into her book. Interwoven with chapters, the comic offers insight to the inside of Daniel's mind.
This book will also be greatly loved by any fan of Dante. His Inferno and the discovery of the Nine Circles of Hell (and the additional tenth) is also incorperated into this novel.
As always, Jodi is worth the $15 for the book. 4.5/5
4. "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles
I read Antigone, the third part of this series, decades ago. So I finally figured I should read the first part since it is also very well known. Oedipus Rex is a story that most people know, and the play is definately an interesting and quick read. Reading (or watching, since it is a play) Oedipus realizing what he has done and how he damned himself is certainly something to keep you reading. If you need a quick fix of good ol' fashion Greek writing, this play will surely do the trick. 3/5
5. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
I have read many books, but A Clockwork Orange definately fits into a category all on its own. The novel is truly a brilliant read, something that will captivate and startle you. Burgess takes his time carving out the savagry and brutality that comes so natural to humans. Alex, Our Humble Narrator, is our guide through Burgess' "nightmare vision of the future."
This book is definately not for everyone. It requires a lot of attention and time. Alex, and other characters, use a slang invented by Burgess. My recommendation for anyone who reads this books is to print out an online dictionary of the slang used in this book. I used this site to help me decipher the Nadsat language. Also, be sure to get the version of the novel that contains the "controversial" last chapter, as Burgess intended. In the original American version, the editors removed the last chapter. But if you get a world edition or the Nortan one, it contains the last chapter.
My only warnings for my fellow readers is that there is rape, murder, and brutal scenes of violence in this literature, which may frighten or sicken some. But I think that it is a necessary tool to help reveal the harshness of Burgess' vision. 5/5
Random Lines that "Will Shudder You"
"They were creeching and going ow ow ow as they put their platties on, and they were like punchipunching me with their teeny fists as I lay there dirty and nagoy and fair shagged and fagged on the bed. This young Sonietta was creeching: 'Beast and hateful animal. Filthy horror.' So I let them get their things together and get out, which they did, talking about how the rozzes should be got on to me and all that cal. Then they weree going down the stairs and I dropped off to sleep, still with the old Joy Joy Joy Joy crashing and howling away" (page 46-47).
"And [listening] with different bliss than before, I [saw] again this name on the papper that I'd [ripped] that night, along time ago it seemed, in that cottage called HOME. The name was about a clockwork orange. Listening to the J.S. Bach, I began to [understand] better what that meant now, and I thought, [listening] away to the brown gorgeousness of the [ancient] German master, that I would like to have [beaten] them both harder and ripped them to ribbons on their own floor" (page 33-34)
Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange. 1962. New York: W. W. Nortan, 1986.
6. MacBeth by Stephen King
Read on a whim. I know, that's like blasphamy to read Shakespeare because you're bored. To be honest, I needed a tiny break from reading It by Stephen King (that novel is so dense, you get completely absorbed with the story... very tiring) so I went for something completely different to cleanse my pallet. And you know what? I actually liked it. As a theatre lover, my peers give me weird looks for not liking Shakespeare, but I don't. He stole everyone elses ideads and most of his stories are exactly the same. But there were some awesome lines in MacBeth and surprisingly, I don't think they were the famous ones. Personal favorite: "what, can the devil speak true?" - Banquo.
Good read, definitely one of the better Shakespeares. 4/5.
7. It by Stephen King
For anyone who has never read this book, It is an incredible read. Every step of the way, you are completely engrossed in each new turn that the book takes, every new leaf that's revealed. Carefully constructed, the plot is extremely intricate but everything fits together to create a gruesome picture of death and evil. The lucky seven guide the readers through the dark history of Derry and the cause of it all: It. It can only be evil, a horrible monster that disguises itself as 'Pennywise the dancing clown' to lure in children for consumption. The Lucky Seven, chosen for reasons unknown, stand together to defeat It and save Derry.
Stephen King is an amazing writer. Stylistically, it is a masterpiece of flashbacks and forewards, with faultless changes in POV. The book isn't for beginners or for those not willing to dedicate time-- it's 1,090 pages long and you feel every word. I'm a speed reader and it took me a month to finish this baby. 5/5-- Everyone should read this book.
8. Lolita by Vladmir Nobokov
Finally finished this one! I have to admit, it was a challenge. For all those who do not speak French, there are parts where you are going to stumble because online translators just don't cover it. I did my best though, and it was totally worth it.
The storyline is pretty well known, the older man who marries a woman in order to get closer to her eleven-year-old daughter, Lolita. The novel was nothing like what I expected... I suppose it is because Lolita was nothing like how I expected. Because it is a classic, some plot points are known, but I still found myself surprised.
Nobokov has an amazing way with imagery, they way he describes places, people, events... are simply stunning. The way the words flow together is pure music, a symphony pouring forth from the lips. Makes writers like me feel quite impotent.
Not my favorite classic, but still worth picking up. 3/5.
Amazing imagery examples:
"a distant hill scrambling outscarred by still untamed- from the wilderness of agriculture that was trying to swallow it."-pg 153
"There was elsewhere, hundreds of grey hummingbirds in the dusk, probing the throats of dim flowers." -pg 157.
9. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
I usually read the book before I watch the movie, but I was dragged to see the movie first. I loved the movie, so I was psyched to read the book. The book was just as entertaining and it was so different from the film, so the movie didn't really spoil anything. It was a lighthearted and easy read, good for anyone who needs something to read on the beach. Something to cleanse your mind, relax, and warm under the sun. 3/5.
10. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path
What a change from the previous book. I always wanted to read this book and I was so pissed that I wasn't in one of the classes that read it in high school. Every word of praise I ever heard about this book is completely true. I felt like every word related to me somehow, every situation, every pain. It was short for a classic and I felt myself hungering for more of her work. I will definitely go for another Sylvia Plath novel, as I've been reading her poems like a madwoman. Maybe even a biography about her... she's facinating. Definitely worth the time and effort. 5/5.
NOTE: Around this point, I'm too lazy busy to write reviews for the books I've read, so I'm just going to say whether or not I recommended them.
11. Beyond Genetics by Glen McGee (kind of long and winded, only recommended if you're really into genetics)
12. Paint It Black by Janet Fitch (if you liked White Oleander, you will like this. It's amazing. Also good for Jodi Picoult fans)
13. How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith (if you're a horror movie fan, this is good for a laugh.)
14. Perfect by Natasha Friend (Bullemia/Anorexia novel. Good for high school reading level.)
15. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (classic. hard to get through, put the language is amazing.)
16. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louis Murphy (MUST READ! A page turner, I hated putting it down.)
17. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (She wrote it when she was 19 and her brother in law got the credit. Not at ALL what I expected. For those of you who picture Boris Koloff, this will blow your mind. Really amazing.)
18. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (one of the BEST nonfiction books ever. Despite the morbid topic, I couldn't stop laughing. Roach is hilarious and makes puns throughout the whole thing to make the book entertaining and intelligent. MUST READ.)
19. A Model Summer by Paulina Porizkova (Nice light read. A page turner story about love, sex, drugs, and what it means to be beautiful. If the story of Gia interests you, read this).
20. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I was hesitant to read this but found that it was exactly what everyone said it was. Amazing in everyway, heartbreaking, sad, and rings so very true. An amazing look on modern day Afghanistan.)
21. Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters (A book that answers a question we all have when we walk amongst stranger's graves: who are the people behind the effigies?)
22. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kayson (Strange look at insanity. Was a little disconnected and not what I expected, but still had a charming quality to it)
23. The Fuck Up by Arthur Neresian (It's really hard to give a review of this book. It's about how easy it is to keep slipping further and further into your own demise. It struck home for me.)
24. Suburbia by Eric Bogosian (This play frightened me because it was basically my life. I stand outside of a Dunkin Donuts instead of a 7-11, but it was frightening. Anyone who has ever felt trapped by the norm, by the suburbs, by society standards should definitely pick this one up)
25. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon (This is a collection of the first five comics of the Season Eight Competition. I am really enjoying the season so far- there is a lot of interesting character development. I'm excited to see where Joss takes this)
26. Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon (This graphic novel made me so mad that the show was cancelled because it really rubbed in my face how much more could have come out of it. Amazing read and MUST read for any Firefly/Serenity fan)
27. Design Yourself by Karim Rashid (The colorful pages are bound to keep your interest if nothing else does. It's a book about spiffing yp your life but it is definitely NOT self-help. More like a kick in the ass.)
28. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (If you liked the movie, you need to read the book because it is just so much sicker and very twisted. A dark look into the mental institution system)
List of Books that I Plan on Reading (alphabetical):
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Lion in the Winter by James Goldman
- Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Party Monster by James St. James
- Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kayson
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
- Carrie by Stephen King
- The Cell by Stephen King
- The Shining by Stephen King
- The Stand by Stephen King
- Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
- The Fuck-Up by Arthur Neresian
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
- Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
- Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
- Thirteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
- Spook: Science Tackles the After Life by Mary Roach
- The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle
- The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley
- Bitch by Elizabeth Wurtzel