I once got a question similar to this, and it seemed like a good post topic. (There were a plague of similar posts floating around the blogosphere awhile back too. I encourage other PCVs with blogs to post their list!) I'm not saying this is the best five books ever written, rather the ones that have influenced me the most.
5) Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. This little sci-fi classic upended my worldview the first time I read it. Vonnegut's views on writing are still some of the most profound that I know. (See here to see what I mean.)
4) Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy. This astonishingly brutal story is written with equally astonishing lyricism. It's also one of the few books that improves with the audiobook version. I highly recommend this version read by Richard Poe.
3) Cadillac Desert, by Marc Reisner. This was the first really good nonfiction book I ever read, and the one that remains dearest to my heart. It was the first unarguable demonstration that even in a successful country like the US, vast sections of policy can have basically no connection to reality or the rational needs of people. Reisner's analysis of the situation is probably more poignant today than it was when it was published in 1986; many of the water crises he predicted are taking place now across the West.
2) War and Peace, by Tolstoy. This is probably the best book I've ever read, or perhaps the best book I understood as a really good book. The only book where I've had to sit back and say just meditate on how damn good the book is. I've read Ulysses, and while I could see how someone might think it was a really good book, I don't have the literary chops to appreciate it. Plus, really introspective books are kind of obnoxious. In War and Peace, the story is as ambitious and epic as its title, and Tolstoy succeeds wildly.
1) Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey. This just proves my poor literary taste, apparently. I've loaned this out to several volunteers now, and none have been able to finish so far. But Abbey's caustic wit, his eloquent praise of the desert (my home country) and his trenchant barbs aimed at the very underpinnings of society keep this one fresh for me even after dozens of readings.
5) Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. This little sci-fi classic upended my worldview the first time I read it. Vonnegut's views on writing are still some of the most profound that I know. (See here to see what I mean.)
4) Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy. This astonishingly brutal story is written with equally astonishing lyricism. It's also one of the few books that improves with the audiobook version. I highly recommend this version read by Richard Poe.
3) Cadillac Desert, by Marc Reisner. This was the first really good nonfiction book I ever read, and the one that remains dearest to my heart. It was the first unarguable demonstration that even in a successful country like the US, vast sections of policy can have basically no connection to reality or the rational needs of people. Reisner's analysis of the situation is probably more poignant today than it was when it was published in 1986; many of the water crises he predicted are taking place now across the West.
2) War and Peace, by Tolstoy. This is probably the best book I've ever read, or perhaps the best book I understood as a really good book. The only book where I've had to sit back and say just meditate on how damn good the book is. I've read Ulysses, and while I could see how someone might think it was a really good book, I don't have the literary chops to appreciate it. Plus, really introspective books are kind of obnoxious. In War and Peace, the story is as ambitious and epic as its title, and Tolstoy succeeds wildly.
1) Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey. This just proves my poor literary taste, apparently. I've loaned this out to several volunteers now, and none have been able to finish so far. But Abbey's caustic wit, his eloquent praise of the desert (my home country) and his trenchant barbs aimed at the very underpinnings of society keep this one fresh for me even after dozens of readings.
Really, ruand? Where are those secret, non-literary treasures? No candace bushnell or stephen king?
ReplyDeleteincredible list. Desert Solitaire is at the top of mine, as well.
ReplyDeleteI like old Mr. King well enough, especially his Bachmann books. Just not enough to put in the top five.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Hank the Cowdog and Douglas Adams though.
Tell me Jen, what's your list, and who the hell is Candace Bushnell?
Candace bushnell wrote sex and the city, and other chick lit novels. Twas supposed to be sarcastic. Snarky.
ReplyDeleteOk here is my list. In no particular order. High lonesome, a collection of stories by joyce carol oates. That lady never misses the mark.
Master butchers singing club by louise erdrich. Such a poetic, raw voice.
Reservation blues by sherman alexie. All his novels have resonated very strongly with me, as has his show-off-ey new book of poetry, face.
The war of art by steven pressfield, because we all have demons and need to know we aren't the only ones.
Disgrace by jm coetzee because africa is fucked up in a different way than other places. Is that five?
Well there you go! Sex and the City 2 is supposed to be about the worst movie ever made.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of Joyce Carol Oates but none of the other titles or authors. I suppose I need to get out more. When I get back to the US I'll queue some of those up! Thanks.