 |
|
| Books #1-20 | Books #21-40 | Books #41-60 | Books #61-80 | Books #81-100 |
81) Dune, Frank Herbert
Wildly imaginative, this is one of the best-selling science fiction works of all time. Driving the sprawling plot is a vast power struggle on the desert planet of Arrakis over control of Melange (a crucial substance). Watch out for those giant worms.
82) The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
Don't confuse the movie, a Hollywood special effects confection, with this powerful work of literature – the two are very different things. Tolkien's masterpiece is, at heart, about the corrupting nature of power. I love the scene in which two best friends exchange the all-powerful ring; even these close friends experience a flicker of distrust. In the movie it's glossed over with a few sparkles of light.
83) Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole
Toole committed suicide in 1969, so never saw publication of his first and only novel. But what a comic masterpiece it is. Its hero, a 30-year-old medievalist who lives at home with his mother in New Orleans, is adept at avoiding reality. But reality (or really, surreality) intrudes, in a story that’s a one-of-kind mix of melancholy and humor.
84) Front Row at the White House, Helen Thomas
One of my heroes, Thomas is an intrepid reporter who has covered the White House from JFK to George Bush. This non-fiction account of her career is the inside scoop.
85) Seabiscuit, Laura Hillenbrand
I resisted reading this one for a long time – c’mon, a book about a racehorse? When I finally broke down I was very glad I did.
86) Marilyn, Doris Leaming
Leaming’s well-researched biography of the troubled Marilyn Monroe is a fascinating read. She skips Marilyn’s early years, devoting greater detail to her more interesting career years.
87) The World According to Garp, John Irving
Odd plot twists and equally odd characters combine – somehow – to give this highly readable book a realistic quality. What a fun book.
88) The Stranger, Albert Camus
A weird book, to be sure. This 1942 existential classic seems divorced from reality (or all too real?) as it tells of a murder, a trial, and in the end, the protagonist’s decision about God. Does anything mean anything? Only if the individual thinks it does, argues Camus.
89) The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
Rand’s ultimate thesis was that all of life is determined by the individual. Or, as she put it, “man's ego is the fountainhead of human progress.” She exemplifies that theory in this tale of a young architect who refuses to compromise.
90) The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
Chapter after chapter, everyone hangs out and drinks in Paris cafes in the 1920s. The book is probably overrated as a classic, but Heminway's clean, well-lit style still makes it an enjoyable read.
91) Catch-22, Joseph Heller
Wonderful book. Set in WWII, this crew of bomber pilots faces a no-win situation known as “Catch-22”: They can request to be grounded if they can prove they’re crazy, but if they ask to be grounded, that proves they’re not crazy (because it shows they fear for their safety – a sign of sanity). My favorite character is a pilot who always chooses to do the least pleasant thing, because he feels it makes his time last longer.
92) The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe
A rollicking good story set in New York City in the 1980s: greed, ambition, media hype. Delicious satire, and a lot of fun.
93) The Firm, John Grisham
Grisham ain’t deep but his legal thrillers are reliable entertainment. A bunch of his are good: “The Rainmaker,” “The Street Lawyer,” “The Last Juror,” “The Client.” His non-fiction book, "The Innocent Man," is also good.
94) Deliverance, James Dickey
Great, well-written story about four regular guys who get attacked on a float trip on an isolated Southern river, forcing them to struggle for survival. The book is better than the movie, but the movie's pretty good.
95) Tropic of Capricorn, Henry Miller
Miller’s frank sexual details made this title controversial when first published in the 1930s, but that only obscured the fact that it’s high-quality literature. An enjoyable read.
96) Woody Allen: A Biography, John Baxter
Highly interesting account of Allen’s metamorphosis from stand-up comic to major filmmaker.
97) Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow
Historical fiction set mostly in New York in the early 1900s. Colorful story, vividly told, celebrating the American melting pot.
98) The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursala K. Le Guin
Entertaining science fiction with a psychological-philosophical bent. Le Guin is a master.
99) The Run of His Life: the People versus O.J. Simpson, Jeffrey Toobin
You’d think the story of the O.J trial would be so well worn as to be unreadable, but Toobin’s telling makes it larger and deeper. His pacing is great and he provides a compelling exploration of race and the criminal justice system. Anytime you see that Toobin byline – he writes for The New Yorker – it’s worth reading.
100) Walden and Other Writings, Henry David Thoreau
Not all of this is particularly readable, but Thoreau’s material about life on Walden Pond, finding value in the simple life, is great.
| Books #1-20 | Books #21-40 | Books #41-60 | Books #61-80 | Books #81-100 |