To continue the trend (why I can’t I be this productive when its not ‘down to the wire’?) I have selected five books to talk at you about. I will also tell you that you should buy them all based on the covers I will provide you with. Get your debit cards ready (and hold on to them, for the love of God. I’ve either lost or destroyed enough of my own in the past month to know to KEEP. AN. EYE. ON. THEM.), and here we go:
5 Books You Should Buy and Read Because I Said So
1) “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
Audrey Niffenegger
This is a romance story. I’m ok sharing this with you. This is because this is a lovely tale of love lost to time (literally). The author weaves an elaborate tale of multiple versions of the main two characters (the lovers) as the male lead goes back and forth through time. It kind of sounds confusing, but let me break it down.
The male lead, Henry, can’t control when he’ll go back or where he’ll go back to, just that it will connect, somehow, to his wife Clare’s past. He will never go in any kind of chronological order and will only ever be confused as he tries to piece his own past with his wife together.
It is split up with time stamps so you know when in the timeline of the story it is taking place, and lets you know from whose perspective you are reading at all times. It is fascinating and fun to read this, because you are thrown about time nonstop yet have markers to help you find your place in the characters’ history. The only downside is it takes a long while to get through. But you won’t care.
There are few books about time travel and love that make me cry at the conclusion, but this one did. The ending had everything it needed and just a bit more. Read it because you like time travel. You know you do.
2) “Syrup”
Max(x) Barry
If I was going to die and I had to take one work of “slick fiction” with me to Hell… It would be Syrup. This book alone got me interested in writing, marketing, and being awesome. It is also a back stab story and has tons of cool word choice, and the way the book is split up into mini-sections within chapters (which makes it feel like you’re reading real fast), so you know I‘d love it.
The story is about Scat and 6 (yes, a woman named 6. Read to find out!) trying to sell ads (and more!) to Coca Cola. Yes, this book is also why I selected to be a Coke fan over a Pepsi fan.
Despite what Rachel Samson thinks (you’ll never really know who that is, so don’t pay attention to it), Max Barry is a brilliant writer and his wit is sharp. Pick this up if you like comedy. Or books. Or things that are good.
3) “Shadows of the Empire”
Steve Perry
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is the rare example of a multi-medium media onslaught in the market of the same exact story. This was a book, a video game, an action figure line, and a graphic novel all at the same time. It was brilliantly done, and for once, all the parts were pretty cool as stand-alone entries into the Star Wars saga.
This book takes place between Empire and Jedi and has Dash Rendar to take the place of a frozen Han Solo. It features some other new characters and mentions Boba Fett at least twice, so it passes my standards test.
Its a quick read, as well, and worthy of a place among Star Wars fiction (haha! The thought of that just killed me… “Star Wars fiction”…).
4) “The Looking Glass Wars”
Frank Beddor
I read an article about a comic book featuring a character named Hatter M on ign.com one day and the concept of a reimagined take on Alice in Wonderland sounded so great I picked up the first issue of the comic. Turns out, the character was based on a book that dealt with the same topic, but was only released in the UK. So I ordered it. And read it. And loved it.
As stated, the book series (yes, series. The new one just came out!) takes place in Wonderland but is far more dark and sinister than the Disney version. Or the original version, actually. Its graphic, steam-punkish, and brutal. And sometimes, just plain mean.
Also, there’s the character of Hatter Madigan, or “The Mad Hatter” who follows a lost Alyss to Earth to find, protect, and bring her home. He’s got a hat that turns into knives, knives in his coat, knives in his wrists, knives on his belt, in his backpack, probably has knives for eyes. Who knows. He’s awesome, so that’s all you need to.
5) “Apathy (And Other Small Victories)”
Paul Neilan
You will hate yourself for laughing at this book. The main character should simply be described by the word “apathetic” in the dictionary from now on.
Entire pages of this book are quotable. The characters are stupid and funny and unsympathetic. You will wonder why you’re reading the book after you get halfway through because you will realize there is nothing to gain from this book, aside from an ache in your stomach from laughing too much.
Of all the books I’ve listed, this is the only one that has the word “Apathy” in the title. So… I don’t know… What I’m trying to say… Read these books! That’s what!
…….
I’ll be back again, tomorrow!
Added June 20, 2017
That Paul Neilan hasn’t written a second book at this point will always make me sad. SAD, I TELL YOU.
This is a solid list of “favorite”books of mine but I would for certain get rid of “Looking Glass Wars” (since I never finished that final book) and possibly even replace “Syrup” with “Lexicon” though that’s up for debate.
I’d recommend “The Hike” by Drew Magaray at this point, though, because that book is fantastic.
Again, this list was just to take up space so I could get paid for meeting posting quota on my old Drake University blog. I was a real go-getter.
Basically you go around and fight things that are THIS BIG:
skylerbartels 